PNC Spearheads LaPorte County Summer Provence Festival

WESTVILLE – Purdue University North Central has taken the lead in bringing the unique festival, “Provence at Purdue North Central and the Pleasures of LaPorte County,” to the county on July 26 through Aug. 8 and has invited county businesses and organizations to join the celebration.

The idea for the Provence festival was generated last July, when more than 175,000 sunflower seeds had bloomed into a field of gorgeous sunflowers on PNC’s more than 305-acre campus. As visitors came to take photos, look for birds, or to take in the vast display of nature. PNC’s administrative staff, including Judy Jacobi, marketing director and coordinator of the Odyssey Sculpture and Arts Program, thought the scene was reminiscent of artist Vincent Van Gogh’s painting of sunflowers from his years in Provence, the sunny southeastern region of France. Research proved that the region actually bears many resemblances to LaPorte County and the idea of expanding the opportunity to all of LaPorte County took root.

“We welcome LaPorte County businesses, non-profit groups and organizations to participate in any creative way that lends itself to the Provence theme,” said Jacobi.

Mary Koselke, manager of Continuing Education, will offer a variety of not-for-credit classes for children and adults to provide an out of the ordinary opportunity to learn more about French customs and culture.

The LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau (LCCVB) will include descriptions of visitor-friendly events offered by participating organizations in an expanded quarterly calendar. Forms are available from David Dabagia, at david@laportecountycvb.com or by calling 872-5055 or 326-8115. The deadline is May 14.

For information about the LCCVB, contact Jane Daley at jane@laportecountycvb.com.
Support for the festival has come from Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie and LaPorte Mayor Leigh Morris, and the Michigan City and LaPorte chambers of commerce.

“Many we have spoken with agree that this is a great opportunity to bring a common theme to our county, which could present LaPorte County as a beautiful destination for out-of-towners as well as members of our own communities who love and treasure the arts, natural beauty, good cuisine, leisure and lifelong learning, fun, and the healthy experience that this affords them,” Jacobi said.

Some organizations are planning:

• PNC will offer Van Gogh’s fields which will be five times larger than last year’s plantings. The Continuing Education Department, in collaboration with the Jack and Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts, will offer mini-courses for adults and children. Also planned are free lunch-time learning sessions, jazz concert, art shows and stargazing with a newly acquired telescope - a la Van Gogh’s famous work, “Starry Night.”
  
  
• Lubeznik Art Center Education Director Ed Shelton and Michigan City Boys and Girls Club Director Allan Whitlow are working on a collaborative work to be created by the children of the Boys and Girls Club to be displayed during the two-week festival at PNC.
  
  
• A new art gallery opening in Michigan City will feature a show of Antique Art Deco Electric Fans.
  
  
• Friendship Gardens will ready their 90 varieties of roses, a major part of French perfumes.
  
  
• Several Michigan City and LaPorte Bed and Breakfasts are planning “Provence” getaways, including French café-style dining.
  
  
• Several restaurants are planning special provençal features on their menus.
  
  
• The Michigan City Public Library will host a Rendez-vous with French Cinema.
  
  
• For a list of more than 50 suggestions for ideas to “adopt,” go to www.pnc.edu/provence.

“We would like to get a ‘critical mass’ of businesses and clubs to participate this first year. Individuals can plant gardens of lavender, sunflowers, among other typical blooms in gardens or decorative containers – in fact, The News-Dispatch is sponsoring a garden contest with prizes. Farmers may plant the first several row of their fields with sunflowers to create a corridor of natural beauty. Merchants can decorate windows in similar themes, and, if allowed, restaurants may offer dining al fresco – outdoors - with tables and umbrellas, as is done in Provence. The ideas are almost limitless,” said Jacobi.

Contact Jacobi at jjacobi@pnc.edu , or 872-0527, ext. 5593 or 785-5593. The City of LaPorte liaison is Nancy Porter, at nancyporterlaporte@yahoo.com

The next planning and information meeting is April 20 at 4:30 p.m. at PNC, Technology Building Room 109. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Jacobi.

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