Renoir Walk here to stay
The Renoir frames at Moulin Huet, which encourage passers by to pause and appreciate the very views that inspired the French artist's paintings, will become a permanent public exhibition.
25 June 2020
Art for Guernsey has announced that planning permission has been granted to make the Renoir Walk a permanent fixture in the Moulin Huet valley, The Lieutenant-Governor, His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder KBE CB, joined the extended Art for Guernsey family to inaugurate the walk and officially declare it open.
Renoir has a special significance for Guernsey as the famous Impressionist spent just over a month on the island in 1883 and worked on 15 paintings during his stay, the majority depicting views of Moulin Huet. Last year Art for Guernsey celebrated his importance to our island with a unique exhibition, exclusive events
and a Renoir Walk.
The Renoir Walk encourages participants to follow in Renoir’s footsteps and appreciate the views that inspired his paintings. Five steel frames were especially commissioned to echo the ornate frames Renoir chose for his own artworks, but with a contemporary twist.
These frames are strategically placed along the route, allowing viewers to stand in the exact spots where Renoir worked on his paintings, and to see Moulin Huet bay from the same perspectives as the Frenchman did. It was the overwhelming popularity of the Renoir Walk that inspired Art for Guernsey to apply to keep the frames permanently in situ as an asset for the community, and the team would like to thank the public for the numerous positive messages received during the application process.
Since they were installed, the corten steel frames have weathered, and harmonise beautifully with the landscape. The temporary panels adjacent to the frames have now been replaced, and QR codes can be scanned with a smartphone, allowing walkers to listen to a fascinating audio guide conducted by Mr Cyrille Sciama, a world authority on Renoir and Art for Guernsey’s guest of honour when the walk was first opened. A free-to-print pdf is available on the Art for Guernsey website, to guide you along the route and even inspire you to produce your own piece of art.
David Ummels, founder of Art for Guernsey, said: ‘It’s fantastic news that our application to keep the Renoir Walk in situ has been successful. This wonderful walk has now become a permanent asset – at no cost to taxpayers - to inspire the local community, support the tourist industry and help islanders to reconnect to their cultural heritage and celebrate the beauty of a part of Guernsey that continues to inspire artists. We are very pleased that His Excellency, a keen walker, will officially open the walk for us.’
The Renoir Walk is just the beginning of Art for Guernsey’s commitment to shine a light on this important part of our cultural heritage.
A major announcement will be made in the near future about the exciting plans the team has in store to further capitalise on Renoir’s significance to Guernsey.
Details of the walk, along with a map , can be found on the VisitGuernsey website here.
