Saint-Jean Lespinasse. An exceptional evening at Espace Orlando

On Friday, November 24, a friendly and cultural evening was held at Place Orlando in Saint-Jean Lespinasse, honoring the writer and poet William Merwin, and the painter and potter Peter Orlando, both Americans who became presenters of a parallel journey. The principle of the evening was the partnership between the “In the Footsteps of William Merwin” association and the Orlando Association, in order to organize a pause for readings of W. Merwin’s texts, accompanied by an exhibition of Father Orlando’s works.

After a welcoming speech by Helen Braddell, President of the Orlando Association, Helen Serres, Landscape Designer for DPLG, introduced the model of the venue, a barn that has been transformed into this beautiful cultural space in Orlando. Lawrence Muto, Assistant Curator of the Orlando Society Gallery, presented the artistic journey of Peter Orlando and his works, which were depicted in a unique exhibition of about ten paintings. Jacques Delmas, President of the “In the Footsteps of William Merwin” Association, stressed the tripartite interest of the meeting: the partnership between the two associations, the promotion of local architectural heritage, and the encouragement of cultural and artistic works. It was then the turn of the evening’s hosts, Eric Louviot and Romilly White, to read alternately in French, English or in two voices some thirty poems by William Merwin, Christian Pupin and Bernard de Ventadour including excerpts from The Call of Cos, La Renarde, les Fleurs de Mai de Ventadour… After the performance The evening continued with a tasting of delicious soups and borrels (baby buckwheat or buckwheat crepes) cooked and served by Hélène Serreis.