27 July 2016 — Local government officials and longtime inhabitants of the picturesque town of Plestin-les-Grèves in Brittany, France, paid tribute to impressionist and cubist painter Macario Vitalis, through an exhibition of his paintings at the town’s Cultural Office. Vitalis became an honorary citizen of Plestin.

This initiative was led by the President of the Cultural Office, Ms. Jeanne Eliet, and the Mayor of Plestin, Mr. Christian Jeffroy. The exhibition entitled, “Vitalis, the Plestin Years (1946-84)” featured 80 of the painter’s artworks.

 “A symbiotic relationship was established between Plestin and Vitalis, in the same way that it was established in other towns in Brittany such as with artists like Gauguin and Sérusier in Pont-Aven,” said Mayor Jeffroy.

The paintings belong to private owners among the “Plestinais” (the locals of Plestin). Also present was Mr. Pierre Lambert, the Prefect of Brittany’s northern administrative department, Côtes d’Armor.

 “It has been almost three decades since Macario Vitalis’ death and yet we are here now to remember this remarkable man that once touched our lives. It is by his example that we have been able to experience a true “people-to-people” connection between the Philippines and France,” said Philippine Ambassador to France Maria Theresa Lazaro during the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

Around forty guests attended the exhibit.  Among them are those who personally knew Macario Vitalis.  Other Plestinais were also in attendance to celebrate the artist’s life and works.  Vitalis’ two grand artworks can be found inside their town hall.

Apart from his artwork, the exhibition featured photos, letters, and other of Vitalis’ keepsakes. A short film/documentary about Vitalis’ time in Plestin created by Raymond Espinar and Gérard Brunet was continuously shown at the exhibit area.

A printed timeline of Vitalis’ life in France indicated that he had moved permanently to Plestin in 1953.  In 1986, he travelled back to the Philippines where he met his unexpected demise three years after, at the age of 91. END