Lera Dubitskaya, Cecilia Edefalk, Francesca Facciola, Lydia Freier, Ellen Gronemeyer, Yayoi Gunji, Philip Hinge, Nikki Katsikas, Dylan Solomon Kraus, Olivia van Kuiken, Emily Drew Miller, Scott Reeder, Emily Sundblad, Spencer Sweeney, Cynthia Talmadge, Marika Thunder

This exhibition takes its title from a part of the year along the Côte d’Azur known by the locals as la saison creuse (the off-season), which lasts from October to late February. The seafront boulevards are calm and serene, the beaches are deserted, and many upscale restaurants and hotels shut their doors. This is the perfect time on the French Rivera for many who live here—a moment of authenticity in a place that is otherwise shaped by, and so dependent on, visitors from around the world. This is when we can wander for hours in the little magical alleys around Juan-les-Pins; explore the grand Belle Époque villas in Cimiez; find ourselves utterly alone in an olive garden around Saint-Paul de Vence; take in the vibrant red of the Estérel cliffs; or stroll in solitude through the medieval village of Eze, with its old churches, tiny walkways, and spectacular views of the Mediterranean. This is the season for solitary walks in the forests between Grasse and Mougins, or for experiencing the iconic Nice flower market with nary a foreigner around. Even while shops and some restaurants remain open, this is when, particularly around the beach towns like Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Raphaël, or Fréjus, usually central hubs during the summer, a sensation of abandonment persists. We also find a darker, less intense, yet still magical light that paints the region into an oasis, temporarily removed from the rest of the world.

This exhibition explores sentiments of serenity, authenticity, and ghostly tranquility in a place that during its high season is brimming with life—indeed, with almost too much activity. It grasps the spirit of a region that is relaxing after a big tempest, the calm before the next inevitable storm. Many of the works capture the unique light of the Côte d’Azur and its lush vegetation, highly diverse landscapes, and extravagant architecture, yet also hint at the melancholy permeating this otherwise so lively place.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a book published by HMW Books, which will include all works by the artists as well as photographs taken along the French Rivera during la saison creuse.