Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Jan and Janet's Excellent French Adventure


Jan Lipes, an American physician and painter, and his wife, Janet, are looking for a handicapped-accessible Provence rental for one month (May, June or September) in 2010. They'd like an apartment or small villa with 3+ rooms, plenty of air and light. They don't need a pool but they do need a garden or terrace. They're looking anywhere between St. Remy and Villefranche but prefer the St. Remy, Avignon and Aix areas. Jan speaks French and is eager to meet people, so the Lipes prefer to rent something not too isolated.

Jan's paintings, by the way, are wonderful to begin with but even more so once you know his story. He has lived with multiple sclerosis since 1979. After he left medicine in 1993, he began painting (with no training), using his left (non-dominant) hand because his right arm had stopped working well. "My whole story is quite serpentine, mysterious and ultimately life-affirming," he tells me. "Meanwhile, if there is anything I can do to help this effort to get back to my beloved France next year, I'll do it! I may be a New Yorker by birth, but my soul is French!"

You can see more of Jan's work at www.janlipes.com. Pictured above is Summer New Hope.
If you have or know of something for Jan and Janet to rent, please email them at jklipes@comcast.net.

5 comments:

  1. Julie. First, thanks for showing Jan's work. It's beautiful. Love the way he captures the light. I can see why he would like to spend some time in Saint Remy. I would suggest Sam and Lucy Bakr's rental in Saint Remy. Beautiful, right in town, with a pool and mostly one level. When They get there it would be great to introduce Jan to Andreas Van Pouke who lives and paints in Saint Remy. Think they would enjoy each others work. Thanks Again and good luck in the hunt, Daniel

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  2. daniel-hale.blogspot.comSeptember 15, 2009 at 4:55 PM

    Julie, Thanks for the post on Jan's work. It is beautiful. Love the way he captures the light. I can see why he would like to spend some time in Saint Remy. I would suggest Sam and Lucy Bakr's rental house in Saint Remy. Its mostly one level right in town and beautiful. Also when Jan gets to Saint Remy it would be great to introduce him to Andreas Van Poukes' work. He lives and paints in Saint Remy. I think they would both enjoy seeing each others work. Thanks again and good luck in the hunt! Daniel

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  3. well it sounds as though you may have a place and saint remy is my favorite place to stay....aaaahhhh heaven on earth...

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  4. The Chambre d'Hôtes La Commanderie in Vernègues is handcap accessible and has the label Tourisme et Handicap en Provence.

    http://www.visitprovence.com/idt/chambres-d-h-tes/la-commanderie-n-240416/123-13T1Pva1t1.html?dist=1&client=CDT13&sign=&LANGUE=1&public=GP&numero=0

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