10 February 2012 the Teaching Centre of Le Puy Lacemaking of Institut de Recherche Innovation Développement des Arts Textiles of le Puy en Velay city displayed an exhibition “Vologda lace – the lace of Tsars”

This exhibition was open thanks to cooperation with Madame Mic Furisco, the vice president of French Association of Lace and Embroidery, one of the founders of International Organization of Needle and Bobbin Lace. She presented her collection in Vologda at the exhibition “Charms of European lace” last year. Now it is turn of the French to admire the work of our lace-makers. The exposition in Puy will be open for almost whole year – up to the middle of December.

Yulia Evseeva, the manager of the Museum of Lace, who was present at the “Vologda lace – lace of Tsars” exhibition opening said that our exhibits cause the French to admire its monumentalism and gracefulness. The surroundings also made the exhibition unusual: it is being displayed in a small historic building with casemented ceilings built in XVI century. Vologda lace naturally suit the atmosphere of the rooms. The honored guests at the opening ceremony were Laurent Wauquiez, the major of the city, and some officials.

Le Puy en Velay is a little town with 30000 people living there but due to tourism development the number of visitors exceeds the number of citizens. Le Puy is the beginning of one of the popular pilgrims routs, since in the Middle Ages it used to be one of the socially accepted religious centers, with a residence of bishops-counts.

Vologda State Open Air Museum representatives also showed a presentation in the Teaching Centre of Le Puy Lacemaking. During the presentation, which was devoted to Vologda Oblast, they told about traditional Vologda art and about Museum of Lace. Professional and friendly contacts, which soon can grow into productive cooperation, were settled. In Paris our townsmen met Jun Jacques Durand, the organizer of a yearly fair Needle fest, where you can buy goods for sewing, embroidery and lace-making. He invited the Museum of lace to take part in the fair this year. Vologda delegation also got acquainted with the president of Kale Museum of Fine Arts, this fact encouraged ideas of new projects on exchanging exhibitions with France.

Irina Sorokinа.
The photo from the exhibition “Vologda lace – the lace of Tsars”
Is provided by the Museum of Lace