Nouvelle Laurentine / Hors les Murs manifestations de la Maison Laurentine

The Chateauvillain Region has been famous since the 15th century for iron smelting, using the two rivers : the Aube and the Aujaon. Iron was melted in stoves and washed in the rivers. The residue of the smelting process is called scum—black stones, shiny as glass— which you can still find on the ground in Marmesse. The wash house of Marmesse was used both to wash both laundry and iron.

The wash house of Marmesse has the shape of an Iranian garden pond ; it is a rectangle of stone traversed by a stream of water. The water reflects itself on the walls.

As a homage to the history of the mineral, a suspended ceiling of “scum”, collected by the residents of Marmesse, will serve as an echo to the rectangle of water, changing the laws of gravity (weight suspended over water). The piece will also evoke the first step of alchemy : blackening, the melting of iron, powder and salt under the sign of putrefaction.

An exhibition about the history of the mineral will take place in the church of Marmesse.