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Arts & Entertainment

Exchange Committee Members Become 'Americans in Croissy'

Actually, these Americans are part of the cultural exchange that visited Geneva's sister city, Croissy-sur-Seine.

  • Editor's note: This is a report from the Geneva delegation's visit to Geneva's sister city, . A group from Croissy had in September and October.

If you ever get a chance to visit Croissy-sur-Seine, you’ll find that it’s actually better than Paris. All the beauty, wonderful food, boat rides on the Seine, and 2-year-old children speaking fluent French, but without the pigeons.

Our delegation of 17 who visited Croissy from May 26 to May 29 can testify: cultural exchange rocks. Walking tours through narrow streets once painted by the Impressionists, a welcome reception of champagne and cabaret, singing, a trip to Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny, a meal cooked in a hands-on French cuisine lesson, a wine-tasting of Loire Valley and Bordeaux wines—time and again our gracious French friends immersed us in French art, history,culture, and everyday life.

Six of us were artists: Claudia Engel-Rush, Diane Gabriel, Kari Kraus, Nancy McGuire, Sharon Sychta and Linda Strong.

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We returned the favor the French artists had done us in Geneva () and Batavia (Water Street Studios) last September, exhibiting their art in a three-day exposition at the Chateau Charonier in Croissy. More than 600 people saw their work. A few of them even had the courage to try their hand at an "on the spot, open-air" painting competition at the Fete de la Grenouillere, a local festival.

Here’s what our artists themselves had to say about their personal and artistic experience:

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“It was like a spectacular dream, filling the senses, chasing it as it drifts away ... all too fast. A sensual feast: the tastes, the spring scents, the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the stones cut centuries ago. The energy and grace of our hosts, the beauty of Croissy, steeped in art and history. An experience to reflect upon and treasure.” —Claudia Engel-Rush

“Not only were we treated like royalty by our hosts and hostesses at all the events/soirees, but I was exposed to a historical and cultural viewpoint that I found invaluable. This entire experience proved to be a ‘once in a lifetime’ adventure inhow the love of art in all of its forms truly unites us all.” —Diane Gabriel

“My time in Croissy was one of the most remarkable experiences I have ever had. I grew tremendously, both on a professional and a personal level. As a young artist just a few years out of school, it is rare to have the opportunity to travel across the world to showcase the work that you are doing and your point of view.” —Kari Kraus

“The painting competition was such great fun!” —Nancy McGuire

“At the opening of our exhibit, each of us American artists was introduced and our biographies read in front of a crowd of French art enthusiasts that included the deputy mayor of Croissy. It was the highlight of my trip. It was inspiring to see what a high regard the French people have for art. The conversations about my artwork left me on a high that I will never forget and and have stirred me to continue creating my art.” —Sharon Sychta

“Meeting other artists and seeing their work, as well as sharing our own, created possibilities for learning and understanding that only happen in face to face encounters. But the most meaningful part of this exchange for me was getting to know our hosts and the other individuals in the group. That people to people connection was the heart of the exchange for me, and an opportunity that is rare to experience when visiting another country and culture. I returned to Geneva knowing that I had made new friends.” —Linda Strong

Cynthia Albright, ICEC president, headed the delegation. On Sunday night, at the gala farewell dinner, Cynthia presented the delegation’s gift to Karin DeMarco, president of Croissy Sans Frontieres: an iconic view of Island Park in winter by local photographer Brian DeWolf. Our French friends were astonished by the similarities of Brian’s photo to views along their beloved Seine. What an experience for us all!

Future possibilities for growing our cultural relationship with Croissy include a music exchange and an exchange of art between young artists in Croissy and Geneva. As they did last summer, teenage French students will be here in the Fox Valley, staying in local homes and experiencing Chicago and our own area.

The ICEC sponsored an ice cream social for the young people last summer and hopes to doa similar event this summer. If you have any interest in helping with this event, meeting the French students, or hosting other students next summer, please let us know.

The committee is also exploring possibilities for an additional “sister city” relationship with a Swedish city. As always, we express our gratitude to all of the wider membership of ICEC, for supporting our events and efforts, and we inviteyou to communicate to us any ideas you might have for furthering our mission ofinternational cultural exchange.

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