12.5×17″
Pencil, charcoal, watercolor, & ink
2009
Another French Cistercian ruin. Contrary to the impression given in this show, there actually are Cistercian monasteries that aren’t in ruins. By definition, however, active monasteries don’t exactly cater to tourists…..and the restored, inactive ones are, predictably enough, pulsating with (mostly bored) tourists. Consequently, I avoid them. I recall the time I finally got inside Sainte Chapelle; it was a rainy day, and I was surrounded by a busload of Japanese tourists flailing around with “Hello Kitty!” umbrellas. I was afraid that I’d never get out of there with both of my eyes intact.
