Selling Hats - Paul Conneally, Cannes, 2014

'Selling Hats'

Paul Conneally

Cannes 2014

'Prophylactic' - Paul Conneally - Cannes - 2016

'PROPHYLACTIC'
Paul Conneally
Cannes 2016

You can find 'PROHYLACTIC' a found splacist artwork by Paul Conneally in the old port of Cannes:

A Towel and Trunks

early morning sun
he stakes his place on the rocks
a towel and trunks

Little Onion

Photograph: Paul Conneally, Cannes, 2016

Cannes From The Hip 'On Your Bike'

'On Your Bike!'
Cannes From The Hip

This older lady doesn't want the bother of weaving in and out of the people walking La Croisette and chooses instead to take her chances with the automobiles and motorbikes along the boulevard itself. Even in the mid-summer heat she manages to maintain a certain style one that comes with confidence and a sense of purpose.

Paul Conneally
Cannes 2016

Cannes From The Hip 'Seated One'

Cannes From the Hip 
'Seated One'
Paul Conneally
Cannes 2016

Wish You Were Here

The public beaches in Cannes are truly egalitarian.

Everyone is welcome no matter their age, gender, race, sexuality, or body shape.

People have been coming to La Plage for generations and save for a few changes in fashion and technology the scene today is probably very similar to that of fifty years ago.

sand between her toes
she writes for the tenth time
'wish you were here'

Little Onion

UPDATE: The decision of the Mayor of Cannes to institute and enforce a 'BURKINI BAN' on the beaches of Cannes makes the idea of them being egalitarian redundant. Terrible decision!

Photograph: Paul Conneally, Cannes Plage, August 2016

Château de Mouans

Chateau de Mouans - Mouans-Sartoux, France

"The original Chateau de Mouans was built in 1504-1510 by Jean de Grasse, and remained in the Grasse family until 1750, when the Villeneuves took control. In 1572 the Pompée de Grasse was assinated, and in 1597 the chateau of Mouans was destroyed. It was rebuilt by Suzanne de Villeneuve, the widow of the Pompée de Grasse. Suffering various amounts of destruction and rebuilding over the centuries, the chateau has finally been rebuilt, especially following the original basic design with its rare triangular form and three towers.

Today the chateau houses an art museum, L'Espace de l'Art Concret, with 25 rooms and two resident artists."

Text: Provence & Beyond http://www.beyond.fr/villages/mouanssartoux.html

Photograph: Paul Conneally 2016

The Eiffel Tower by Laurence Jenkell

The Eiffel Tower - Laurence Jenkell

Candy shaped building block sculpture outside the Grand Hotel, Cannes.

Paul Conneally
July 2016
Cannes

Five Hundred Yards

An elderly couple sits down in the shade for a while.

They take the weight off their feet and watch the world go by.

His leg gently rests against her knee.

Years ago they walked La Croisette a small hand each between them.

A little girl lifted and swung every ten steps along the way.

Just ten minutes sat here and off again.

five hundred yards
of bonjours
an espresso
at Bar 72
and then home

Little Onion

Photograph: Paul Conneally, Cannes, 2016

Kiosk LE 8 La Croisette - Cannes - France

The promenader on La Croisette in Cannes is prone to get hot, thirsty and sometimes even hungry as one walks, jogs, skates or cycles up and down this most famous of seafronts.

It's a good job then that there is a series of food and drink kiosks along its length and beyond right around to the public beaches of Cannes La Bocca. Each kiosk is numbered which is useful for meeting up with others or as an aide memoire to where you parked your car.

Kiosk Le 8 is situated near the merry-go-round at the Palais des Festivals end of La Croisette.

It's hard to resist something cold and sweet on a hot French Riviera summer's day:

the ice-cream seller
points out the way to me
with an ice-cream

Little Onion

Photograph and text: Paul Conneally 2016

Early Morning Bathers - Cannes 2016

Between around 7.30 and 10 in the morning is primetime for bathers, many of them middle to old age, on the public beaches of Cannes. It's fairly quiet at this time and the sun is warm without being burning hot. They come without ceremony and if getting changed do so under a handheld towel. Grandfathers and Grandmothers sometimes with their grandchildren but most often alone wading out into the warm shallows and beyond. And then it's up on to La Croisette for a coffee before a visit to the bakery for the first baguette buy of the day.

morning shadows
a swim first he thinks
then home for a shave

Little Onion


Photographs: Paul Conneally, Cannes, 2016

Candy Sculpture No. 2980 by Laurence Jenkell 2015

Laurence Jenkell's large candy sculptures have been a feature around Cannes, especially along La Croisette, for a few years now. The artist has had an obsession with the 'candy' form making many many variations on the same shape. She works from a studio in Vallouris, which is just outside Cannes and which plays host to many other artists too.

I like Jenkell's candy sculptures and don't tire of them but this presentation in the gardens of the Grand Hotel in Cannes is for me blighted by the over large text plaque featuring the artist's name and the contact for her gallery / agent. But then again this is Cannes.

Paul Conneally
Cannes
July 2016

Summer Haze

After a long journey to the Port of Dover due to traffic chaos caused by 'increased security measures' put in place by the French border forces we are waved through without showing our passports and straight on to a waiting ferry.

summer haze
a gull crossing the channel
on a ship's mast

Little Onion

Photo: 'Onboard the Pride of Burgandy Cross Channel Ferry' Paul Conneally 2016

#haiku #boat #ferry reading #photography #sea #sailing #poetry #mindfulness

Cicadas and Ringtones

piercing stones
all along the promenade
cicadas and ringtones

Paul Conneally
Cannes 2015

Paul Conneally

Too Hot To Shop

too hot to shop
wasps drinking from
a town fountain

Paul Conneally
Mouans-Sartoux
August 2015

A Summer Dress

the market stalls pose
so many questions
a summer dress

Paul Conneally
Mouans-Sartoux
August 2015

Compression de Porsche' CÉSAR 1990

'Compression de Porsche' CÉSAR 1990
Photo: Paul Conneally, Mougins 2015

Half-Way Home

In the South of France it seems Picasso lived everywhere - his picture is found on wall after wall and somehow he always looks just right.

half-way home
a drunk relieves himself
into the Mistral

Paul Conneally
August 2015
Mougins

Le Banc Des Gênérations' Niki De Saint-Phalle 2002

'Le Banc Des Gênérations' Niki De Saint-Phalle 2002

Mougins, France, 2015

Photo: Paul Conneally

http://nikidesaintphalle.org

Socca Vendor

Socca is traditional dish from Nice made from chickpea flour.
This vendor is in the market at Mouans-Sartoux, France.

still elegant
eating finger food
her summer hat

Paul Conneally
Mouans-Sartoux
July 31 2015