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Arcabus
was born in 1926, he graduated at the Ecole nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
of Paris. He has given exhibitions of his work in France (Paris,
Lyon, Grenoble, Marseille, Strasbourg...)
as well as in other countries (Berlin, Ottawa, Francfort, Ostende,
Panama, Luxembourg). His works can be found
in Canada, Japan, the United States of America and Mexico : as well as in
different public collections such as the Museum of Grenoble, the National
Library of Paris, Pinacothèque internationale of Waterloo, the University
Museum of Ottawa in Canada and the Cuernavaca in Mexico. He has also contributed
to many private collections. Has has often worked for the French government
and local authorities creating mosaics, frescoes and stained glass windows.
His work can be seen in the Préfecture and Political Sciences’ Institute of
Grenoble, the Chamber of Guilds of Chambéry,
a Metz secondary school, the Ecumenical Church
of Chamrousse and St Augustin’s Church in Grenoble.
The
Church of Saint-Hugues-de-Chartreuse,
started in 1953 and finished in 1986, is a complete example of the use of
sacred art in all its aspects. It received an heritage bursary from the local
authorities because it is visited by more than 100,000 people a year.
His
work in the field of the theatre, from 1961 to 1972 lead Arcabus to create
costumes and scenery for The Danse of Death by Strindberg , The
Diary of a Country Parson by Bernanos & The Righteous by Camus
with the Comédie des Alpes troop. Ths work continued with A Soldier’s Story
by Ramuz & Stravinsky for the opera house of The National Centre for Arts
of Canada. He was resident teacher at the School of Decorative Arts of Grenoble
from 1950 to 1969, visiting artist for the Canadian National Arts council
and resident teacher from 1969 to 1972 at the University
of Ottawa, where he founded
and directed the Experimental Workshop Collective. On his return to France he founded the Eloge de la main workshop
at the University
of Grenoble.
Since
1986, he lives and works in St Pierre de Chartreuse, near Grenoble. Whilst completing
his painting works, shown in an exhibition of 95 of his pictures in the City
Hall of Grenoble in 1993, he has continued work of a more architectural order.
The School of Grésivaudan at Meylan,
The water purification plant of the valley of the Grésivaudan (painting and
sculpture), the basilica of La Salette en Isère (painting), the church of
Saint-Ismier en Isère (windows), the Church of Notre-Dame des Neiges at the
Alpe d’Huez finished 2002 (windows), the cathedral of Saint-Malo (alter, font
and furniture), the church of Saint Vincent de Paul in Grenoble (frescoes),
the cathedral of Rennes (furniture, sculpture), the Chapel of Torre de Roveri
in Bergamo in Italy (windows, frescoes, sculpture and furniture), the church
of Corbel (windows) the church of Saint
Paul à Meythet (Annecy) (fresco de 72
m) the church of SaintPierre
à Cognin (Chambéry) are among many of his works.
www.arcabas.com
Bibliography
Arcabas, Saint-Hugues
de Chartreuse, written by François BŒSPFLUG, photos by Helmuth Nils LOOSE,
Ed. du Cerf – Ed. du Tricorne, 1994, 182 pages.
Le polyptique
de l’enfance du Christ et autres œuvres : Arcabas, written by François
BŒSPFLUG photos by Joris LUYTEN et ALLEGRET, prefaced by H. E. Cardinal Godfried
Danneels, Ed. Halewijn, Anvers 2002, 110 pages.