May 13

Featuring Brian DeWolf in a solo photography exhibit at the Chapelle St Leonard

And four artists participating in the Fête de la Grenouillère en plein aire competition

Wow! Chappelle St Leonard! What a beautiful place for Brian's beautiful pictures

- Pick up by Karin, et Jean-Pierre at 9:45AM (last arrival at 9.25) transfer to local host homes

- Those Genevans who travel by themselves can arrive in the families either before or after lunch time

- 5:30pm: Gathering at Karin and Jean-Pierre’s home for a buffet dinner, host families participate, with Town Hall Officials.

Nancy H, Katherine, Jean-Charles, Annie, Jean-Pierre, Brian, Rose-Marie & Pierre

- 7.30pm: Welcome appearance from the Mayor Jean-Roger Davin in Karin’s home

Graham's Chocolate (Geneva) had provided 50 special bars with pecans. Quoting Karin's thank you note:

"Bonjour Bob [Untiedt],

I would like to thank you personally for the lovely chocolate you did send us to Croissy.

We did offer them the first evening on the welcome party.

Thank you Bob, this was very thoughtful to send us by Ernie all this beautiful present. We did appreciated both your gesture and your chocolates. Like I have told Ernie, I did not know we could find so good chocolate in USA.

[Graham's chocolates were ] so good and I think it so generous and nice to send them to us. Every body comes and tell me how good they are! And of course, I love it, I am very fond of chocolates and think they can compete with Swiss chocolates."

- 10:00 to 1200 am: Walking tour of Croissy places of interest and special visit of the local museums:

- “Pavillon d’histoire locale” by its president Mr Norbert Fratacci , and Musée de la Grenouillère by its president Jean-Louis Ayme.

Marie-Christine had purchased the material to match her chairs at Les Tissues Colbert in Geneva!

- 2.30to 5pm: visit of SEQUANA (Heritage river boat association) & cruise on the river Seine in an electric powered boat Dénicheur (only 12 passengers possible) + Pierrick+ pilot Jean Pierre Chouquet

Boating on the Seine - Marie-Christine, Jean Claude Chouquet (le Pilot) & Pierrick

- 6.00pm: evening reception ‘Vernissage’ in St Leonard Chapel, official opening of Brian De Wolf's Photography Exhibition; buffet with drinks and canapés during the reception.

Dignitaries at the Grand Opening of the solo exhibition of Brian DeWolf, landscape photographer

Ghislain Fournier (Maire, Chatou - Vice président du Conseil général des Yvelines), Alain Gournac, Sénateur – Maire, Le Pecq, Aline Pascal (Maire, Bougival), Jean-Roger Davin (Maire, Croissy), Pierre Lequiller (Député- Président de la délégation de l’Assemblée nationale pour l’Union Européenne, Vice président du Conseil général des Yvelines), Karin, Véronique Defour (Adjoint chargé Culture, Croissy), Brian, Jony

The Speech of Véronique Defour - Adjoint chargé Culture, Croissy

Brian de Wolf's photography exhibition pays a wonderful tribute to the town of Croissy and moves us for two reasons:

The first reason is that we love Croissy the town where we live. For some, Croissy is their childhood town, for others it is the town where they want to see their own children grow up. Croissy is more of a village, where everybody knows each other and shares the every day life.

To see Croissy through Brian de Wolf's photography makes us realize how privileged we are.

The second reason is that Brian de Wolf as an American shows us a very sensitive and different vision of Croissy and helps us understand our town in another way. We can identify the landscape, the stones, the buildings, the sky and the Seine but all this in a way we hadn't seen before. We thought we knew Croissy and now we see it differently in a unusual way. Only the artist can change our vision to make us see otherwise.

Brian, the city of Croissy wants you to know how grateful we all are. Thank you for taking such good care of our town, a pledge of your sympathy which goes straight to our hearts.

In two years we should be finished with the renovation of the "Château Chanorier" and with the construction of the new building in the park with the new library and the music school, it will surely be splendid. You must come and see it!

Brian, the city of Croissy will not let you go that easily, you must come back!

I would also like to thank Karin de Marco and her team for all the work they have put in to bring together the cities of Geneva and Croissy sur Seine. Thanks to Croissy sans Frontières, a true friendship is born and this exhibition proves it.

The festivities will go on all day tomorrow with an open door to different artist's studios all over town followed by the “Night of the museums"; On Sunday , "la fête de la grenouillère" will take place in the park of the Château Chanorier with many friendly manifestations organised by different associations.

To all, a big cheer for your contributions and enthusiasm! As for the weather…we will see!!!!

- Morning: Genevians group spilts into sub groups: 11:00AM, Visit at Chatou the Nymphee (1777) and at 11:30 the Baillage (XVII c) Henri Claudel's house, son of Paul Claudel (family of Camille Claudel, friend of Rodin).

Marie-Christine starting the tour of the Nymphee and the home of Henri Claudel

- 2.00 pm to 3.30pm: Visit to Louveciennes and Impressionnist sites by J. Garner

And Brian said, "I grabbed this little beauty during Jony's tour of Louveciennes".
Yeah! May you grab many more beauties like this!

- 4.00 to 6.00pm: Once a year, Croissy artists open their ateliers to the public: organized tour in English for the Geneva artists. Stopover for a drink in Chatou at atelier of Pierre Rannaud before dinner.

Pierre & Monique's lovely home
Nancy H, Charron (in mirror) & Jeannette... Artists from Geneva, St Charles, Batavia, Aurora, Elburn, etc....

Pierre pouring champagne, Nina serving; Monique was also serving, though she had been not well!

- 7.30pm: Reception dinner at Maison Fournaise restaurant. Local artists and Genevans have an opportunity to meet & discuss

- During this dinner, the photo expo will be kept opened, thanks to Mrs Brigitte Garner

- After dinner, our whole group come back to St Leonard Chapel to participate in « nuit des Musées »

- Night visit with music of « Musée de la Grenouillere » with welcome of its president Jean Louis Ayme

- 10:30 am – 5pm. Open air painting competition in the Croissy area with Geneva artists participating in this contest

Costumes visit Brian's exhibit, open during the Fête de la Grenouillère

The Fête - Something to eat and drink, with constant entertainment!

Jony, Anne-Marie, René, Jean-Pierre (blowing the coals), Jean-Pierre, Alain

- Morning departure from Croissy with transfers according to the specified schedule

- Photo expo is open daily from 3PM to 8 :30PM . ( Guard shift to be organized by CSF members).

- May 19^th 8.30 pm: Choir of “le Concert de Polymnie » at the Chapel St-Léonard

- Monday May 25: Dismantling expo, transfer to buyers, cleaning expo place, & key return (Pierrick)