An award-winning exhibition of exceptional medieval alabaster sculptures from the tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy located at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon opened at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco on Saturday, August 20th. To celebrate this opening of this exhibition, Dijon’s Senator-Mayor, François Rebsamen, brought to San Francisco the Dijon Must’art cultural activities program.
Dijon Must’art is a citywide, weeklong project celebrating the creativity and vitality of Dijon. A delegation of Dijon City Hall representatives, Michelin-starred chefs, Burgundian food & wine professionals, businessmen, brand executives and journalists all atttended the this series of events from August 18th to 24th.
“Dijon mustard is appreciated around the world,” said Senator-Mayor Francois Rebsamen. “I was delighted to learn last year that President Barack Obama had ordered Dijon mustard with his hamburger, so of course I personally sent a case to the White House.” He added, “It’s a healthy and tasty choice.”
While mustard may be the first thing that comes to mind when we hear its name, Dijon is also the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy, with a rich history, flourishing art scene, and firm commitment to sustainable development. Located in the heart of Burgundy, the city is home to historic architecture, inviting public gardens, and charming cobblestone streets with outdoor cafes. Dijon is known for its exquisite cuisine and high-quality specialty products that are often exported to the United States. The wine heritage of the Burgundy region dates back to medieval times, and today the wines of Burgundy are considered among the finest in the world. In 2009, L’Entreprise magazine named Dijon the most attractive city in France for the second year a row, noting its beauty and continued economic growth.
“Dijon Must’art is a project that is close to my heart, and the heart of my city. It is a wonderful opportunity to share what we treasure most,” said Rebsamen. “Our program of events celebrates the historic journey of ’The Mourners’ across the United States. Never before have these superb statues been viewed outside of their original context within the tomb of the Dukes of Burgundy. In addition, this exhibition allows these works to be seen from a unique 360-degree perspective.” Since the Mourners exhibition has come to the United States, it has received the Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC) annual Award for Excellence, and has gained two spots on The Art Newspaper’s Medieval Top Ten exhibitions list, for shows at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Saint Louis Art Museum.
In the spirit of culinary camaraderie, five Dijon chefs with three Michelin stars, including; Stephane Derbord William Frachot , Yves Rebsamen, Jean-Pierre & Alexis Billoux were welcomed at the Fairmont Hotel’s San Francisco kitchen, where Chef J.W. Foster has generously offered to assist the Must’art chefs cook up a feast of creative Burgundian culinary delights to share with Bay Area culinary enthusiasts.
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