While wildfires have destroyed much of the forests in the southwest and southeast regions of France, remarkably, the Calanques of Marseille and Cassis have remained unharmed during this fire ravaging heatwave season and remain open to the public on most days. It gives the feeling of grace then to keep visiting here the mountains and forests.

Sun, drought and wind can trigger unexpected wildfires anytime, not to forget that some fires are started by people. During the summer season, surveilling teams of the Calanques National Park see to it that visitors treat Nature respectfully and stay safe. Overcrowding of the popular Sugiton site is avoided by visitors having to make advance reservations.

With this year’s heatwave season having started in May, and there is no end in sight yet, I have been hiking only once a week and as early as possible, arriving before eight O’clock and returning home before ten. Already before 9 it gets warm and I can hardly imagine who would want to spend a daytime outdoors but today also indoors can be as warm.

Without a playful wind, the exposition at Centre de la Vieille Charité would not come alive. Marseille-based artist Adrien Vescovi was offered to take all of the space of the Centre to display his colorful work of dyed sheets, hanging them at every opening of all outdoor galleries while sun and wind do the rest. A gentle immersion in colors of shifting shades.

The sheets are hand dyed with natural pigments resulting in soft pastel colors while sunlight and wind make for the performance – the changing sunlight intensity alters the colors while the wind triggers unexpected movements. The exposition is called Dormir Comme Le Soleil – Sleep like the Sun. An inspired artist’s expression of sunkissed Marseille.

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