Comfortably installed on his motorized pallet truck, the dragon advanced with a crash and force of flames in the alleys of Draguignan, Saturday July 1st.
Accompanied by medieval knights and cheerful villagers, the monster celebrated its ninth return to the city that bears its name with music.
Along the way, myriads of craft workshops have sprung up on rue de Trans, in the middle of artists’ galleries, ready to inspire children. Who hastened – all smiles – to paint, sculpt, glue and draw.
Children delighted by the workshops
Sonia, potter, gently guides the children’s hands. One false move, and their entire creation risks collapsing… Photo Philipe Arnassan.
The colors, for example, sprung up in front of Myr’s studio. Place of creation on wood where Myriam Ferreri, painter on furniture, encouraged the little ones to make their shield or their fairy wand… out of paper. “I gave up the wood, it’s too hot”justifies the artist.
On the other side of the rainbow path, it’s the turn of Éric Vivet, cabinetmaker and carpenter at Intemps Déco, to let young people express themselves on plaster sculptures.
The mechanical dragon was proud to show off to the rhythm of the participants’ flutes and drums. Photo Philippe Arnassan.
Despite the fun and the laughter of excitement, the concentration remained. Behind the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions (ATP), the giant wooden games hid a pottery class, led by Sonia.
With their hands in the clay, the children learned to painstakingly create their own bowl on a professional potter’s wheel. “We press in, and we pushguides the craftswoman. Be careful, you must not shoot it otherwise it breaks!”. Not easy…
The children had fun painting plaster dragons at Timeless Deco. Photo Philippe Arnassan.
Dragons drawn by pro artists
Élise Candaele, a versatile artist, gave free rein to her imagination to create this graffiti dragon. Photo Philippe Arnassan.
The Dragon Festival was also an opportunity for experienced artists to create superb dragons.
Faced with a white canvas, Élise Candaele, a graduate of the Beaux-Arts de Marseille, did not skimp on the colors. In front of her, a fluorescent reptile emerged in the blink of an eye! “I did it on my inspiration, without a plan beforehand,” she says.
Not far from there, Yann Senotier, painter and muralist, brought out on a wall of the market place the terrible purple dragon of Merlin the Enchanter: Madame Mim. Monsters in all their states!
The program for Sunday July 2, 2023
For this Sunday, July 2, the Dragon Festival continues.
– Bravade and folklore parade from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., offered by the Bravadeurs de la Vallée de l’Argens. Departure from Place Cassin.
– Dragui’Boules 2023 family pétanque challenge offered by the Table Ronde 269 association. From 10:30 a.m., in the Market car park. Family competition in chosen doublet (10 euros per team). Egg shooting competition and archery competition. Many prizes to win. Parents/children competition under 12 (in pairs). Snack bar, sandwiches and barbecue on site. Registration on site from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
– Craft market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Place du Marché and Rue des Marchands.
– Paper Dragons workshop: creation of origami dragons from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. by the Caval’Art association, rue de Trans. Reservation at 06.84.15.60.13/06.79.71.05.66.
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