\u201cWe were so happy to have found a place that suited us, by chance, in this remote place, away from other parties,\u201d says the long-time Arles resident. \u201cIt was a magical, improbable, very joyful, and pretty moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a place dedicated to the taste and the image,\u201d says its founder, Jonathan Pierredon. Pierredon utilizes the \u201ce\u201d in L\u2019Aire to imply its relation to an aerie or nest. L\u2019Aire d\u2019Arles is \u201ca home for all the eagles and falcons,\u201d he says. L\u2019Aire d\u2019Arles rises from the hill just above the Arles amphitheater and the Roman theater. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a place to party, gather, share and discover as on any day of the week, especially during the opening week of the Rencontres d\u2019Arles photography festival, there is something different happening on each of the three levels of this restaurant\/bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many venues in Arles to grab a bite or a drink, but none compare to the versatility and diversity that L\u2019Aire provides. Throughout the year, L\u2019Aire d\u2019Arles rotates both its menu and exhibitions. It presents installations of photography and videography from all over the world, music from Brazilian flamenco to Memphis underground vinyl, and food brought to Arles by chefs from Madagascar and Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you find the bathroom on the second floor you may come upon an entirely different performance and forget to return to the floor where you started. The sight of the bartenders mixing cocktails welcomes you inside and the aroma of the kitchen floats you upstairs. You can draw on the chalkboard along the stairs, or appreciate the drawings of other patrons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second floor is a velveteen lounge space where you can sit and talk as you dissect the everchanging art installations on both the walls and podiums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And on the third floor, the sound of music and the breeze of fresh air call you to the dance floor and terrace where you can sit back and watch projections on the ancient walls of the city, dance the night away to music, or refresh yourself at the mini-bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n L\u2019Aire d\u2019Arles welcomes artists and guests of all sorts and styles as all events are free and open to everyone. Pierredon has no criteria for who can share their work. He welcomes all types and techniques of music, art, photography and creation and works them into the venue\u2019s busy schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arles is not known for its party scene and can be thought of as a small and sleepy town. It can be difficult for amateur artists to have a place to share their works, but L\u2019Aire gives them a platform. L\u2019Aire also invites the students of MoPA, Arles\u2019 prestigious school of animation, to share projections of their films, and it hosts an annual auction for the student work of the National School Sup\u00e9rieure de la Photographie, with an exhibition floor and gavel bidding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n None of this would be possible without the tireless effort and passion of Pierredon and his staff. \u201cLife is full of time, [but] time goes fast,\u201d said Pierredon, sharing his mentality as a business owner, exhibition facilitator and active father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pierredon has worked many jobs, including videography for an advertising agency. The time he spent away from his son did not seem justified by pushing a company\u2019s agenda. He wanted that time to have value, reason and passion. In his current work, Pierredon can share his excitement with his son in hopes of instilling verve for community and creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He focuses his energy on things that inspire him and that he can look back on and say that he is proud of. \u201cIf anything can inspire me, I\u2019m running and jumping.\u201d He loves what he does, the community he can welcome, and values the opportunities the city of Arles has offered him. Story and photos by Louis Denson Claire Nys, and six of her friends were returning home after leaving multiple parties that they didn\u2019t enjoy on a festival evening in Arles when they happened to pass by L\u2019Aire d\u2019Arles. Inside, they saw people happily dancing. \u201cTwo girls dressed in long dresses, like two princesses\u201d especially caught … Continue reading Arles’ Performance Aerie<\/span> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/projects.ieimedia.com\/2023arles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/DENSON_FINALESSAY02-1024x576.jpg\")
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The feelings of appreciation are reciprocated by the Arlesian people as well. Pascal Ansell, a musician and language teacher at Arles \u00e0 lacarte, <\/em>says, \u201cJonathan has a very rare and special energy that is exceptional in Arles. He does things for the hell of it; he promotes so many events and wants to support people in what they are already doing. That is so, so precious in the Camargue as there is very, very little of that energy to go around.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"