Residents of Lons-le-Saunier are invited to vote for their preferred mural design that will transform a facade at the Salines crossroads. The public voting initiative runs until November 3rd, giving citizens the opportunity to contribute to giving a new face to this prominent location at the entrance of Salines Street. This project reflects the city's commitment to highlighting art in public spaces.
The selection process began with approximately twenty artists submitting sketches to the municipality. After careful consideration, five projects by four different artists were chosen as finalists, each offering their unique vision for the future mural. The artists were required to meet specific requirements: the mural must integrate with the surrounding environment and showcase the city's cultural assets and heritage.
Sophie Charvin Vuitton, known professionally as Vuitton Décors from Courbouzon and a Lons-le-Saunier native, has two proposals among the finalists. Her first design features a trompe-l'oeil on the facade. "This is a location that's visible when entering the city. I really wanted to give something to see in detail. The idea is to always have something to see even when passing by several times, but also to give the desire to stop. There's also the idea of not getting tired of the proposed image," explains Sophie Charvin Vuitton.
Her trompe-l'oeil design creates an opening to the sky by repeating the building's architecture. The arcades are integrated under a balcony whose railing recalls that of the green path viaduct. A child descends on a zip line, referencing the recreational activities available in Lons-le-Saunier, such as tree climbing adventures. Accompanying this descent, images of the city scroll by like postcards, featuring the downtown area with the beginning of Arcades Street and the city's former salt works.
Sophie Charvin Vuitton's second proposal starts with a hand tearing a page to reveal the city. A poster illustrating Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle recalls his roots in Lons-le-Saunier. The arcade architecture is highlighted, always featuring the green path viaduct. "I wanted to convey the fact that the city has focused on bicycle circulation. Streets have been modernized by integrating bike lanes. I wanted to emphasize that," adds Sophie Charvin Vuitton.
Lucy Desbordes, working under the artist name Lucy Lucy, was also selected. The artist has family ties to Bletterans, where one of her murals can be observed. For her Lons-le-Saunier proposal, she drew inspiration from the historical heritage. "I wanted to highlight the history of the municipality, which is linked to salt. The mural is at the Salines crossroads after all. It's a tribute that can be made in this location, evoking part of the city's history. The idea was to create a woman in the center with graphic elements that recall salt. The blue waves refer to the thermal waters of Lons-le-Saunier. I wanted to identify the character as a guardian of the city and the history of salt in my reflection," explains Lucy Desbordes. Her creation could be completed using a lift in eight days of work.
Pierre-Olivier Houdré also gained recognition for his project, despite having no connection to the Jura region. He resides in the Paris region and, although he has already covered much of France with murals, this would be his first work in Jura if he wins. His artwork also features a female divinity who could be the mistress of the place through painting. "I also know that the lynx is an emblematic animal of Jura. I also added a silhouette of Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in silhouette as well as the thermal dimension with the salt waters," indicates the street artist. Pierre-Olivier Houdré stated he could complete the mural in ten days in the broadest possible estimate.
The final competing design comes from artist Pink, who also wishes to evoke a female representation that suggests healing with thermal waters. Blue dominates the composition, emphasizing the thermal dimension and references to the salt works. The winning mural could be visible on the facade by the end of the year or during next spring, with weather conditions being taken into account.
Citizens can vote for their preferred mural on the municipality's website at lonslesaunier.fr. The community engagement initiative demonstrates the city's dedication to involving residents in public art decisions that will shape the visual landscape of their community.
