Petition of the artists against the settlement of a waste water treatment plant on the Valley of Kerzellec (Le Pouldu, France)

Friday the 11th of December 2009, the town council of Clohars Carnoet  (Finistère) voted for the Valley of Kerzellec, painted by Gauguin and his companion De Haan, being the right place for a new waste water treatment plant. Wednesday The 15th of septembre 2010, the same town council voted for the next step : acquisition of the land, and if necessary, expropriation.

As there are other possible locations for a waste water treatment plant in this town, we, artists, poets, and other people from the cultural sector, we raise firmly against such a terrible choice.

Located in le Pouldu, a small village by the sea, the valley of Kerzellec inspired Paul Gauguin and other painters from the « Ecole de Pont-Aven » at the end of the nineteenth century. : 2 paintings (« Ferme au Pouldu », « Paysage at Le Pouldu »), from Gauguin, and 2 others from De Haan (« la ferme de Kerzellec », and « La vallée de Kerzellec »). Today, one can still recognised two houses of the Valley on the paintings of these artists. The future waste water treatment plant would be located on this very landscape.
Settled in the middle of houses and fields, it is a quite préserved place, located on the Chemin des peintres, a promenade that underlines the artistic history of Le Pouldu at these times. Peasants continue to grow wheat and corn in the land. It is a powerful symbolic place, a place for inspiration and influence. But it was never protected by the law, and houses were recently built at the very near west side of the valley. It is like a forgotten story that suddenly comes out.

For the first times since 50 years, a major exposition is taking place in London, at the Tate Modern (30th september 2010- 16th January 2011) : « Gauguin , maker of myth », with about a hundred of paintings from the artist. Such an event is an international event.

The construction of a waste water treatment plant on the valley of Kerzellec is also an international troublemaking event. France image of « major nation of culture » will be definitively damaged : how does France honor the artists that contributed to its international influence ? just by scorn, bringing all the waste to their place of inspiration and work ! How could France react if some similar damaging project occur in another country ?
What about the economic development of the town ?

The artists contribute to the influence of the places they work and live in. We are all involved and we believe that we can save the Valley of Kerzellec.

Yes, we can, yes, we want to save Kerzellec !

Sign here and specify your name, occupation, city: sauvonskerzellec@orange.fr