Posts Tagged ‘museum’

Steve

On-Site Martinique: Vive Le Art des Caraïbes at La Case à Léo

Caribbean art on display at La Case a Leo/SBPR

Last week we clued you in on the U.S. history lesson to be learned at Habitation Clement in Martinique. This week, we turn our studies to art. Specifically, Caribbean art, like the beautiful works you see pictured above, which are currently hanging on display at La Case à Léo, also located at Habitation Clement in Martinique.

A former rum plantation/distillery cum rum museum may seem like an odd place to find such fine works of art displayed in such an elegant fashion, but as we said last week, Habitation Clement is no ordinary tourist attraction. I’ve traveled to Martinique 6 times in the past 3 years and have visited Habitation Clement each time. Unlike other attractions that I visit repeatedly over time, there’s always something new to see and experience here. On my latest trip a couple weeks ago, the art at La Case à Léo was that special new discovery for me.

Sculpture at La Case a Leo/SBPR

Housed in the plantation’s former coach house, La Case à Léo hosts exhibits and events under the auspices of the Foundation Clement, a philanthropic group dedicated to preserving the arts and cultural heritage in Martinique. The primary exhibition season runs from December through April with the works of 8-9 artists featured for 10 days each.

Bright white walls combine with nicely balanced natural and artificial lighting to really make the brightly-colored pieces pop.

Just as Paris is a mecca for history, the fine arts and culture, so too does Martinique pay homage to its history and rich cultural heritage with an extensive network of museums rivaling that of many European capitals.  More than 25 of these cultural venues are scattered throughout the island, each intimate in size and thus ideal for easy visiting for a wide array of age ranges and intellectual interests. Habitation Clement has always been 1 of my favorites; La Case à Léo just makes it that much better.

Steve

On-Site Martinique: American History in the French Caribbean

La Case des Presidents, Martinique by Steve Bennett

There are very few signs of America in Martinique. You can find U.S. car rental companies and the ever-ubiquitous Coca-Cola, but even the island’s few McDonald’s restaurants espouse a decidedly French flair, elevating the simple fast food burger to near heights of gourmet gastronomy. This isn’t surprising, of course, owing to Martinique’s status as an overseas region of France, but it does make the simple cottage pictured here with the Stars & Stripes flying overhead all the more curious.

This is La Case des Presidents, one of several points of interest at Habitation Clement, a mixed-use museum, botanical garden, art gallery, and more located on the grounds of the historic Rhum Clement Distillery.

Arguably the island’s most sophisticated tourist attraction, and certainly a must-stop for me every time I’m in Martinique, Habitation Clement offers enough history and information on rum production, local flora and art to keep you busy for several hours. There’s even free rum-tasting, which of course is always a plus for Uncommon Caribbean.

We’ll share more on some of the other attractions and the rum at Habitation Clement in future posts, but for now let’s focus on the American history lesson to be learned here.

Remember the first Gulf War (aka: Operation Desert Storm) back in 1991? As opposed to the endlessly ongoing Iraq War, Desert Storm only lasted a few months, as U.S.-led coalition forces were successful in driving Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi Army out of Kuwait. During the weeks and months that followed, a series of talks among the coalition leaders took place in varying spots around the world in an effort to chart a peaceful way forward in the Middle East. One of those places was the humble cottage pictured above.

On March 14, 1991, President Francois Mitterrand of France and U.S. President George H. W. Bush met here for a couple hours. According to a New York Times account, they didn’t agree on much, but in keeping with the tranquil natural surroundings, the talks were congenial.

Today, Le Case des Presidents houses archival print and video footage of the summit meeting, providing visitors with a unique perspective on the historic event within the small space in which it occurred. As an American, it’s pretty neat to sit in this tiny house, amid lush surroundings, watching a videotape of Marine One touch down in a nearby clearing. Hail to the Chief plays as the President of the United States walks purposely up the same path you just followed to this peaceful place – it’s inspiring, no matter what your politics.

Habitation Clement is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except during the month of September. Adult admission is €7 (approx. $8.63). Kids 7-18 pay €4 ($5). Entry is free for kids under 7.

Rum mixes well with American History at Habitation Clement. If only my college professors had been hip to this…

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