Vox Populi

 

Vox Populi is a Latin phrase which means, "Voice of the people". Pascale Palun the owner of Vox Populi showroom/studio in Avignon listens, then gives a voice to old worn things.

Two pairs of satin shoes from the 1800s sit on a chair of equal history. The chair has been stripped of its brocade, left in its muslin cotton undershirt. The satin shoes most likely were for a bride, now they are filled with straw.

 

 

 

The bride who wore them stands by in spirit, no longer needs to sit instead she smiles down on Pascale for honoring her shoes on a familiar throne.

The voice of the people, the voice of history, is a sound that creatively moves us to feel something we often cannot label, allows us to be stirred emotionally without understanding why, and can conjure up a silent beauty that only our hearts understand.

 

 

 

One of many of Pascale's trademark items are sconces made from glass negatives. Pascale frames the negative in a flat iron, then creates a see-through frame in thin rod irons, the light she puts behind the negative, forming a reverse shadow box.

I have known Pascale for over ten years, her creative work is handmade, using only antique items, her eye for detail is nothing shy of perfection. Vox Populi has influenced many artists and has been unfortunately copied by large companies.

Yet her style holds true: Hand made, using antique items with her signature eye for detail.

 

 

 

 

Thin round tube iron work is her main love. Pascale makes chandeliers, sconces, birdhouses, typewriters, cages, etc from twisting, curling, looping thin iron into lace and lattice.

Then she dangles and decorates her iron pieces with crystals, bobbins, ventouses, and other antique items.

Under crystal domes that are hand blown Pascale has created paper thin gauze skull mask, or as she says, "the skin".

Her studio is a cabinet of curiosities, one literally does not know where to look first.

 

 

 

One of my new favorites of Pascale's artistic endeavors is her oversize, life-size portrait cushions. I bought the one with the man's portrait. Ange or Angel was his first name, he was the son of the original owners of her showroom/studio, which is a 1800s massive, beautiful old home in the center of Avignon that has never been restored...ever. Even the toilet which is a porcelain god that I can worship to, and wanted to take home, is in flo blue with a lid like a chair top!

Pascale made a print of Ange's portrait (that hangs in her studio), then transferred it to fabric creating a cushion.

French Husband said, "It is like I will sleep with an angel." I poked him reminding him I already have one by my side.

 

Pascale Palun, who hates to have her photo taken. I told her I know few who do. I also told her she was beautiful, in which like many of us, cannot take a compliment said, "I would rather you take a photo of my objects, of things I have collected."

But you know beauty cannot be contained, it is a source that has no boundaries, it runs with those who are willing to release it, hold it, share it most of all live it. Pascale breathes it giving it wings.

 

 

 

 

A blogger friend Jackie, from Bliss Farm Antiques, came to France to visit. After spending a day together we went to Vox Populi in Avignon to visit Pascale. Jackie interviewed Pascale for her blog. You can read more about Pascale on Jackie's blog when Jackie returns to Boston.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A glimpse into a small section of her studio making my hands itched with creative desire to do something, I don't know what, it was stronger than me. Have you ever felt like that? Where your senses are heightened, your hearts start racing and you feel creative energy exploding inside? Going into Pascale's (and her husband Bruno's) studio: showroom made me feel as if I had fallen in a river of inspiration! I could not help dive deeper and emerge goldenly.

 

 

 

17 rue thiers
84000 Avignon

04 90 85 70 25
04 90 87 56 25

Lundi à Vendredi

De 10h à 17h30 sur rendez-vous.

[email protected]

Vox Populi click here to see more....

 

 

 

 

Vox Populi the voice of the people, Pascale artistic way will cause your inner child to sing, and maybe do a cartwheel too.

 

Comments

[Kiki]

Corey; I wouldn't bet on it but it just might be that just when we left England to return to Switzerland, we visited friends in the South of France and passed Vox Populi with a most glorious and unforgettable hand made 'lustre' on display. We nearly wrecked the shop window because I just wanted this chandelier SO MUCH. Helas, we didn't have the space it needed, we had (and still have) other hanging (and standing, and wall fixed and lying about)lights and it was too expensive for us - but boy, what a tremendous joy to 're-find' this shop.... I would love to visit again but it seems that since we live now in France we don't get to holiday in France any longer... we tend to go visiting our families in Switzerland or we go singing somewhere interesting!
Thank you - I also devoured the two French interviews on the site of VP.... what a delightful couple!
Gros bisous
Kiki

[Marilyn]

My heart would definitely go pitter-patter to stand in the midst of this studio. Amazing, beautiful, and so much talent. I could dream here.

[Sharon Penney-Morrison]

A sure visit the next time I am in France. So many things to see and so little time. She is amazing and beautiful. I was lost in your pictures of her talent.

[Rebecca from the pacific northwest.]

This is the most glorious place; your photos are wonderful and tantalizing to me, making me want to see and experience the entire space you actually get to stand in the middle of! (I'm being driven to ecstatic excess of prepositions here.) Haven't been to Avignon yet, but I think it's going on the list for next trip there, especially to get to see Vox Populi.

Pascale is indeed beautiful, and I love all her hair tumbling down her shoulder. You draw the most unique, lovely people to yourself. Or you are drawn to them. thanks for sharing them with us.

[Chris Wittmann]

What a lovely talented lady and you are so fortunate to be able to visit her wonderful shop!

[done]

What lovely work, she reminds me of someone I met once named Claudia, she had a knack for restoring things as well. It is a gift.

[denise]

amazing! the world is filled with such creative people. so much so that we do not realize until we are exposed to them. thank you corey for exposing us..Bestest,Denise

[martina]

Magnifique (in all caps, with 15 exclamation points)

[Ed in Willows]

Maybe you should take all those broken crystals from your candelabra to Pascale's and have her make something beautiful out of them with her iron work.....or maybe she could put it back together for you.

[Rhonda]

Oh Corey, I feel like the angels smiled on me with this post! What a studio, a real French studio. Thank you ever so much for a glimpse inside what must be pure heaven.

You are so right and I have chills saying this but these antiques do speak to us.

You make me want to pull out my finds from France and create with them....I just love them so much! Especially, the finds from your shop.

[Christine]

It's moments like this when I think I was born in the wrong country or switched at birth, lol! What incredible photos, what fabulous inspiration! Thank you so much!!!!

[alena]

on my list
wow
beautiful friend
creativity is such a gift

[jend'isère]

The spirit of Touissaint is timely with your visit with this magician. Her emphemeral renewal creates with beautiful flair!

[Julie in Provence]

Corey thanks for sharing this lovely place with us. I can't wait to visit!

[Shelley Noble]

What wonderful things!

[monique]

oh mais pourquoi, je ne gagne jamais au loto !!! grrrrr !!

mo

[Amy Kortuem]

What a magical place! Thanks for the tour and the inspiration.

[Tracy]

I might have to remind myself to breath if I went to this studio.

[Debra]

C, as an artist, love this - want to be there, the desire to get creating again is burning inside. When will my path lead me to France? that's the question

[littlebadwolf]

you do know, my dear, that 'worshiping the porcelain goddess' is a euphemism for 'throwing up in the bathroom. one of the good reasons for keeping church and state apart! m

[done]

She sometimes worked in jade, a resilient and unique stone.

[Rebecca from the pacific nw]

You wrote about her many "chandeliers, sconces, birdhouses, typewriters, cages, etc from twisting, curling, looping thin iron into lace and lattice." Could you sometime show us more of these, please?

[French la Vie]

Hi R

I will.
Pascale will be in a major publication, and wasn't allowed to let others take overall photos just yet.
Her site shows her work, I linked to it.

Thank you for asking,

C

[French la Vie]

Hi LBW

I know.

Tongue in Cheek is my name.

C

[mimi]

This studio is amazing! Thank you for sharing with us. I do understand what you are saying about creative energy ... Hoping to find that creative outlet in my own life. Thanks again for the inspiration!

[pascale]

Corey...
Comme une plume emporté par le vent, tu t'es posé délicatement dans mon univers,
heureuse de t'avoir vue ainsi que tes deux amies...
les coussins sont arrivés!!!!!!!!!!!

merci pour ton écriture, malgrés qu'elle soit en anglais, beaucoup de délicatesse...
teleph moi ...
A bientôt.
Pascale