Rare lithographs on loan from Thonon les Bains – 17th and 18th century etchings of early French landscape offer history lesson

Published 4:32 pm Monday, November 24, 2008

By Ruth Longoria

The excitement level was high Wednesday afternoon as Parks and Recreation department staff lifted the lids on two large crates that had just been delivered to the new Community Center at Mercer View.

There were whispers of “Oh my!” and loud exclamations of “Look at that!” as brown paper and bubble wrap was removed from some of artwork that will soon line the inner entrance walkways of the new center.

Seventy 18th and 19th century etchings (lithographs) arrived last week from the Island’s sister city of Thonon les Bains, France. The artwork is on loan to the Island in honor of the opening of the community center and the five-year anniversary of the sisterhood between Mercer Island and its sibling French town. Portions of the collection will be displayed at the Mercer Island Library and City Hall through May. But for now, the lithographs will grace the walls of the new community center.

“We’re really excited to have these ancient pieces of artwork here,” said Beth Brennen, the city’s Arts Council gallery chair and a member of the Sister City Association.

Brennen, who has been to Thonon les Bains twice since the Island began its sister relationship there, said the drawings will enable Islanders who can’t go to France a chance to better understand the city’s topography, history and beauty. And, for others, it will be incentive to travel there.

Sister City Association member Jane Meyer Brahm watched with Brennen as community center director Charlie Bryant carefully unearthed some of the artwork from the cardboard confines of the crates. “Oh, isn’t that beautiful,” Meyer Brahm said of a landscape that depicted the then-quaint village along Lake Geneva.

The paintings aren’t new to Meyer Brahm, who first saw them at an exhibit in Thonon les Bains, while on her honeymoon there a year ago. When she returned to the Island, Meyer Brahm suggested to the Sister City Association that the exhibit be brought here. A love of art is one of the many enjoyments Islanders share with the residents of Thonon les Bains, she said.

“There are a lot of similarities. We’re both cities on a lake, with similar populations and topography. And they are about an hour to the French Alps, like we’re about that to the mountains,” Meyer Brahm said. “But, I suppose the main similarities are that they are very proud, fiercely independent people.”

Brennen agreed that the similarities between Islanders and their French sisters extends to their personalities. “They love to talk, socialize and laugh. They are warm, outgoing people, very much like us,” she said.

The bond between the Island and Thonon les Bains is the main reason that city’s lithographs were selected to kick off the community center’s new art gallery, said Diane Mortenson, community center coordinator. “This is a great way for the community to get to know our sister city,” Mortenson said. “We’ve already bonded with them, now our people can get jazzed up to go visit them.”

The French lithographs will be on display at the Community Center at Mercer View at the center’s public Grand Opening, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec. 10. The dedication of the center is planned for 11:30 a.m.

Residents also can attend the Sister City Association’s gala reception on Dec. 9, RSVP to the Sister City Association by calling 236-3476.