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Quercus Suber

**Cork Thursdays**

OPEN TO ALL AND FREE!
No Reservation Required

Every Thursday this summer, enjoy a program curated by Forêt Modèle de Provence that highlights different perspectives on the cork oak, an iconic tree of our region. This includes concerts, conferences, and discussions.

Renowned experts and speakers will share their knowledge, exploring the environmental, economic, and cultural aspects of this species.

Thursday, July 4
Eco-design and Craftsmanship, presentation by Studio Sénac

With Sandra Barbier, founder of Studio Sénac; Julien Le Goff, designer and architect (Ju. Studio), Perrine Besson, cabinetmaker (Tadaam Mobilier), Liliane Soares, ceramicist (madamesolo), and possibly Charles Dutelle, cabinetmaker.

Studio Sénac aims to minimize the ecological impact of its productions by bringing together designers and craftsmen who share a love for beauty and craftsmanship. As a member of Forêt Modèle de Provence, the new Marseille-based publishing house Studio Sénac is committed to preserving natural resources and developing the local wood industry, using ash and chestnut wood from the Maures Forest for the U. Swing designed by Lily Saillant.

Alongside its publishing activities, Studio Sénac is developing a gallery opening in the fall in Marseille to support design creation and showcase artisanal skills. Sandra Barbier will be accompanied by designers and craftsmen whose work integrates eco-design approaches: Julien Le Goff, designer and architect (Ju. Studio), Perrine Besson, cabinetmaker (Tadaam Mobilier), and Liliane Soares, ceramicist (madamesolo).

Thursday, July 11
24 String Quartet Ensemble - classical guitars

24 String Quartet Ensemble,
performing A. Vivaldi, C. Debussy, S. Joplin, M. Ravel.

The 24 String Ensemble is a talented formation with a promising future. Each concert is enchanting, exuding enthusiasm, energy, authenticity, and humor. These four Italian guitarists are exceptional musicians whose remarkable camaraderie generously expresses their pleasure in playing. They master a high level of technique and find perfect cohesion in an intelligent synthesis of their diversities.

Thursday, July 18
Concert by Anaïs Cartereau

Anaïs Cartereau, a pop-rock singer-songwriter, lived in Finland for five years, performing music with several tours (Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain). She has relaunched her project in the South of France for the past two years, with regular concerts.

All of her songs are original compositions. She will perform a first part on guitar and a second part on piano.

Thursday, July 25
How to structure a local resources offer and address challenges?

With Léane Quernec, project manager for FIBOIS SUD, and testimony from Nicolas Jezequel, mobile sawyer.

Thursday, August 1
Julien Guimard, writer and creator of local initiatives

Julien has become a key figure in ecological transition projects in the region, creating and organizing the Farlède organic fair, the Soléu association, the Gapeau Valley in Transition, the cooperative store La Cerise sur le Gapeau, and the local currency la Fève, among other initiatives.

Guided by this small idea over the past 25 years that nothing, absolutely nothing, is unreachable with attention, intention, and perseverance, accepting the twists and turns because, ultimately, the importance lies in the journey, in the desire to create, support, and transmit.

Besides all his commitments, he is also the author of two books he will present: Zones à Défendre and L’ombre de Cybèle, accompanied by his publisher, Daniel Bombert.

These sparks that sometimes became flames around me, and which I am so proud to have helped ignite.

It will undoubtedly be a beautiful summer rendezvous.

Thursday, August 15
Concert by Anaïs Cartereau

All of her songs are original compositions. She will perform a first part on guitar and a second part on piano.

Thursday, August 22
André Sandel, live creation of an artwork

André Sandel is a painter, draftsman, and sculptor from Hyères, representing France in several international competitions. He has developed his art in various materials: bronze, wood, metal, clay, marble, as well as ice and sand sculpture.

Also practicing painting, he will create an artwork live in connection with the current theme (cork oak, of course).

Thursday, August 29
Press conference to launch the next competition and its theme

With Philippe Duparchy (President of Forêt Modèle de Provence), Nicolas Plazanet (coordinator), Villa Noailles, and Escoulen School.

FROM JUNE 28 TO SEPTEMBER 1
Exhibition of finalists in the Liège du Var competition in partnership with Forêt Modèle de Provence, as part of the 18th international design festival, Design Parade Hyères.

About Quercus Suber

Valuing local resources is a key objective for the art center. It is a platform for discovery for the younger generation and a resource center for established designers who rely on its network of artisans and producers for their projects.

Regarding the cork oak sector, several projects have emerged thanks to this ongoing commitment: the Dutch duo Odd Matter with the MASS, and last year, the first French production Made in Situ by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance.

For seven years, Villa Noailles has partnered with Forêt Modèle de Provence to co-organize a competition open to projects by designers using cork from Var.

**The Cork Days of Var**

This will be the 6th edition of this flagship event: exhibitions, woodturning demonstrations, and the Quercus Suber competition awards on the agenda.

Les journées du liège du Var

The Cork Days of Var is an annual event showcasing the creations of the Quercus Suber Art and Design Competition, promoting the cork oak of our region… It started with a realization: 100 years ago, we harvested 10,000 tons of cork per year, with 150 companies and 2,000 employees. Currently, the harvest is only 200 tons, with a single company and around 5 employees in the cork sector. Action was needed to save a part of our history, hence the partnership between the villa Noailles and Modèle Forêt de Provence. Daniel Bombert, a jury member, sums up the competition as follows: “In my opinion, design is beauty within the constraints of function, while woodturning is beauty within the constraints of woodworking.” This event is organized by the Model Forest of Provence, recognized as being of public interest and created at the initiative of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, Villa Noailles, a national art center, and the woodturning school Escoulen, with the support of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, the Var department, and numerous associative and private partners.

In 2024, the event will take place on SATURDAY, MAY 4, AND SUNDAY, MAY 5. The villa Noailles, designed by architect Robert Mallet-Stevens, is labeled as a “national art center,” the only art center in France that builds its program around architecture, fashion, and photography (International Festival of Fashion and Photography), and design (Design Parade in Hyères and Toulon), supporting and showcasing young creators every year.

The QUERCUS SUBER Competition

The QUERCUS SUBER Competition is open to students and professionals, highlighting cork oak through two disciplines: WOODTURNING AND DESIGN. The pieces will be exhibited until May 12, and all pieces in the Design category will also be present at the largest annual event: the Design Parade Toulon/Hyères, at the Annexe Gallery. Accompanying this exhibition, the Model Forest of Provence will organize weekly “Cork Thursdays,” a series of concerts and lectures.

Full Program Saturday, May 4, from 1 pm to 6 pm and Sunday all day (10 am to 6 pm), at the villa Noailles:
• Exhibitions: the creations of the 2024 Quercus Suber Art and Design Competition, categories Design and Woodturning, on the theme this year of Natural Cork, without the addition of chemically derived materials (with the participation of Camondo School and Escoulen);
• Woodturning demonstrations by the ESCOULEN school;
• Watercolors on the Maures Forest by Axel Champloy;
• Exhibition of the photo report on cork oak forests by Jean-Baptiste Warluzel;
• Jury deliberation => Saturday, May 4, at 4 pm, awards ceremony for the Turning and Design categories followed by a reception (over €3000 in prizes awarded);
• Public Prize for Woodturning “Movements and Landscapes” and Public Prize for Design “Toyota Europe Design Development”: visitors can vote for their favorite piece. The selected participants will win €300;
• Free distribution of the Cork Gazette: 44 pages to learn everything about the news of the Var cork sector and a review of the achievements of designer Noé DUCHAUFOUR-LAWRANCE and his Made In Situ project, promoting cork oak. Note that alongside the Cork Days of Var, on the parvis of Villa Noailles, the 4th edition of the Peony Festival will also take place: peonies from Hyères and surrounding horticulturists as well as creative workshops.

Modèle Forêt de Provence and the villa Noailles: A Continuity of Partnership

Jean-Pierre BLANC, Director of Villa Noailles, and Magalie GUÉRIN, Deputy Director:
For the villa Noailles, which always advocates local anchoring and the promotion of creative and economic actors in the region, it is important to continue supporting and developing the Cork Days, which have been very successful with the public. It has become an essential event; in 2022, more than 1200 visitors in one weekend, and in 2023, 3000. the villa Noailles, known internationally for supporting young creators in the design sector, is pleased to provide this platform to promote a local resource. Our collaboration with local stakeholders, particularly the Model Forest of Provence, has brought forth very beautiful projects with accomplished designers. We can mention the Dutch ODD MATTER who designed the boutiques, Isabel MARANT, and furniture with European galleries, and recently Noé DUCHAUFOUR-LAWRANCE.

Partners

This event is supported by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, the Var Department, and the Toulon-Provence-Méditerranée Metropolis.
The event is also supported by private partners: Château Léoube; Toyota Europe Design Development; Club 55; Diam Bouchage; Falaize Bois Energie; Movements and Landscapes; Idex-Sylviana, biomass plant in Brignoles; Estandon Cooperative in Provence; Charlie Marrons; Greendays Agency; the Junqué Cork Establishments.