A new vintage

A day of mixed emotions today as I took down Teleri/Chaiselongue’s exhibition in the village. It’s the first day of la rentrée – the return to school – and it seemed right to turn a page and deliver some of her photographs to the people who had bought them. But hard nonetheless not to feel a lump in my throat as I remembered the excitement and the high hopes of the opening, and the projects for future shows which won’t now happen.

On the other hand, time now to think of the fruits which I hope the exhibition might bring: I decided after Teleri died that I couldn’t accept proceeds from her sales, and that I would like instead to pass them on for the next generation of young photographers in the village, to help them record their views of their home. Everyone told me to contact Monica Coulshaw, the energetic young president of the Association des Parents d’Élèves, so I gave her a ring. She suggested we meet straightaway in the cafe, where with her consent I took the photo above, and I spent a very pleasant hour chatting with her and turning over between us the possibilities for sponsoring the children’s activities at the school. It’s very early days – the project is just a few hours old – but my suggestion fitted well with ideas she’d already had, and she showed me that she’d already written Teleri’s phone number in her purse.

She and her husband are winemakers in nearby Roquessels – incidentally my favourite terroir – and since this year’s vendanges will start any day now, the notion that something of promise will soon start was reinforced.

We don’t know at the moment what will be needed: perhaps a camera or two, perhaps support to bring a photographer to the school to lead some workshops, perhaps support for exhibitions, for publishing a calendar with children’s photos, for competitions, or a combination of all these.

It’s exciting, it’s very worthwhile, and while I wouldn’t demand that Teleri’s name has to be commemorated, I hope she would have approved. Personally I’ll be content to think that her work will continue to bear fruit, and I’ll support the project indefinitely. It struck me that if any of Teleri’s friends and fellow blippers wanted to lend any sort of support to the project, that would be very welcome. For example if you know of a French-speaking photographer near here who would be willing and able to run workshops for children, that would be brilliant. Expect further updates.

I started today on the way down, and ended on the way up. Some variety of this roller-coaster is a daily theme, but it’s nice to end on the up.