New mural unveiled celebrating St Helier’s ties with Avranches, France
On Wednesday 23 June 1982, the Parish of St Helier became formally ‘twinned’ with the town of Avranches in Normandy, France, for the purpose of cultural, educational and social exchanges.
Over the last few decades, the Parish has strengthened their relationship with Avranches, with Parish representatives attending the annual Twinning Games in Granville each year, multiple exchanges of school students, and different cultural exchanges, including art and music.
In the latest exchange, led by Constable Simon Crowcroft and Procureur du Bien Public, John Baker, a famous poster by artist Albert Bergevin has been recreated as a mural by local artist James Carter, AKA Midnight on Old Street.
The mural is entitled ‘Avranches – Baie du Mont St Michel’ and depicts the view over the bay of Mont St Michel. ‘Saint-Jean-de-Tomas’, ‘Carolles’, and ‘Genêts’ listed at the top of the image are all small towns in Avranches.
The original artwork was created by Albert Bergevin, who was born in Avranches in 1887. Bergevin frequently visited Paris, attending classes and gaining notoriety as a painter, printmaker and poster artist. He was mobilised for World War 1; at the end of which he worked in the Army Photo Archives. In the post-war years, he exhibited regularly at the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Indépendants, as well as abroad, particularly in Japan. In 1928, he settled permanently in Avranches with his wife Marie-Jeanne Seguin and their two sons. Bergevin led a quiet life in Avranches, working as a teacher at the Collège d’Avranches for some time and working in his studio at Saint-Jean-le-Thomas. Following his death in 1979, the garden of his studio became the municipal park of Avranches, and a room at the Avranches Municipal Museum was dedicated to him, where some of the fifty paintings he donated to the museum can be viewed.
James Carter AKA Midnight, a local creative, graphic designer, illustrator and street artist with over a decade of experience in the creative industry, was tasked with recreating the famous image. With a passion for street art, Midnight has undertaken several community projects, hosting sessions with young students and collaborated with Art House Jersey. He has painted murals around the Island, including at Victoria College, Police HQ, and Springfield School.
The project has been finished with the installation of covered bike stands. A formal unveiling will follow in due course.