Death of two artists adopted by Anjou

After living most of his life in Barcelona, Josep Grau-Garriga, who was born in Catalonia in 1929, chose to create his works on the banks of the Loire, in Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire. Originally a painter, he learned the techniques of tapestry-making with Jean Lurçat. Some of his works are on exhibition at the Contemporary Tapestry Museum in Angers. 

Born in 1923 and former Director of the School of Arts Deco in Strasbourg, François Cacheux opened a studio at Port Thibault in the municipality of Sainte Gemmes sur Loire. He had a great fondness for Anjou, and in 1999 made the region a gift of 70 drawings, 12 pastels, 22 bronzes (busts and small sculptures) and a large sculpture, “La Loire Pensive”. Some of his works are on view in the Botanical Gardens Arboretum in Angers. 

On the web:

• Angers : the artist Josep Grau-Garriga is no more (France 3, 30/08/2011)
• The Catalan artist Josep Grau-Garriga died yesterday in Angers (Ouest-France, 30/08/2011)
• Death of Josep Grau-Garriga: the City of Angers loses a friend (Ville d’Angers, 30/08/2011)
• Death of the sculptor François Cacheux (Ville d’Angers, 11/08/2011)
• François Cacheux: a story of friendship and generosity (AngersMag.info, 12/08/2011