In 1986, the city of Mérignac (the 2nd largest city in the Gironde region of France) turned its old church of Saint-Vincent, built between 1122 and 1131, into an exhibition hall. After a few photography exhibits (Jean Dieuzaide, "Tendance floue"…), Daniel Margnes, associate Mayor in charge of culture, reinforced this direction by signing a partnership with the Maison européenne de la photographie in Paris. Jean-Luc Monterosso, its Director, shared a few exhibitions and collections with this city near Bordeaux.

As such, it will be offering until September 2nd, an exhibition of works by Helmut Newton / Alice Springs from the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) collection.

This selection is at once an echo of the Helmut Newton retrospective featured at the Grand Palais in Paris and of that by Alice Springs. 
Among the 80 prints on display are some Helmut Newton classics, fashion shots from the years 1960-1980, but also a collection of more intimate shots and self portraits of the two artists. 
Helmut Newton’s wife, June Newton, began her own career in photography in 1970 with the pseudonym Alice Springs, replacing her ailing husband for an ad campaign about “Gitane” cigarettes. The well known career that followed included portraits of actors, musicians and artists selected over a 40 year period.

Bernard Perrine
Bernard.Perrine1@orange.fr

Helmut Newton / Alice Springs
Collection de la MEP
Until September 2nd, 2012
Vieille Église Saint-Vincent
Rue de la Vieille Église
Mérignac
+33 (0) 556 188 862
Tuesday - Sunday - 2pm to 7pm