Michel Sarda
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Michel Sarda was born (1942) and raised in Paris. He was trained as an architect at the Paris Ecole des Beaux-Arts, graduating first in a class of 1500, and in 1969 he opened his own architectural firm.
In 1984 the socialistic economic environment of Francois Mitterrand’s new government brought an end to Michel's successful fifteen-year career as an architect and urban planner. That year, he moved to Phoenix, AZ; and in 1989 he launched a new career as author, photographer and publisher while maintaining his architect's credentials.
Under the imprint of Bridgewood Press (www.bridgewoodpress.com) Sarda published popular photo-essay books on Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe (the "Valley of the Sun" series) and another on the Greater Phoenix communities. He also published monographs on Arizona sculptor, John Waddell and the late California painter, Marion Pike.
Michel's other writings include the bilingual book of poetry EPARS/SCATTERED and the ARIZONA MILLENNIUM TRILOGY, photo-essay books on Arizona artists, philanthropists and community leaders. Soon to be published are a bilingual edition of his FABLES and a second book of poems, PRIVATE CELEBRATIONS. Also coming are CONVERSATIONS WITH PAOLO SOLERI. Soleri is an Italian-born, fellow-architect and philosopher, who created the futuristic model city of Arcosanti in the high desert north of Phoenix.
One of America's great cultural assets, Sarda (now an American citizen) is Arizona's pre-eminent art photographer. His nature photos and portraits of dancers and others are exhibited in art galleries, Arizona State University and the West Valley Art Museum in Phoenix. Current photographic works include DANCE: ART IN MOTION; A SENSE OF FORM and SPIRIT OF THE ROSE (www.sardastudio.com). He plans to release the book, ARIZONA DANCERS and a second TRILOGY of portraits of Arizonans for the 2012 Centennial of Arizona Statehood.
After heading the 1989 Arizona Committee for the Bicentennial of the French Revolution, Sarda was elected President of the Alliance Francaise of Greater Phoenix (1990--1993) and to the Board of the Federation of Alliances Francaises of America.
In 1992, together with his wife, Donnalee, Michel established the Art Renaissance Initiative (www.artrenaissance.org) which commissioned AN AMERICAN REQUIEM, composed by James DeMars. AN AMERICAN REQUIEM premiered in Phoenix in 1994 and has been performed in San Francisco, New York, Washington and Paris. The NYC production at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, was broadcast on 80 PBS stations. Michel also produced 9/11 memorial performances of AN AMERICAN REQUIEM in 2002, 2004 and 2006 in Phoenix. The work is available on CD.
In 1997 Michel Sarda created the nonprofit French Institute of Arizona, and for 15 years, with slide shows of his photos, he has lectured nationwide on French art, music, literature and architecture. He is a member of the National Speakers Bureau of the Federation of Alliances Francaises USA.
In 1998, Sarda, an authority on Vivaldi, created the Arizona Vivaldi Festival, the largest event of its kind dedicated to the Venetian composer. Offerings have included the American premieres of the oratorio, JUDITHA TRIUMPHANS and the operas, LA FIDA NINFA and OTTONE IN VILLA.
A six-year collaboration with noted French movie director, Jean Cherasse, culminated in the 1984 screenplay of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s unfinished, LORD OF THE SANDS and a collaboration on THE DEVIL'S BREATH. Sarda went on to write historical treatments for the movie industry, including LAFAYETTE THE INSURGENT, IO VIVALDI and FOREVER. Not yet produced, the films are in development status.
In 2000, in recognition of his efforts in promoting French culture in the United States, and for his own body of work, Sarda was knighted in the Order of Arts & Letters by the French government. In 2003 he received the Emmanuel-Robles International Poetry Award.
For the past fifteen years and ongoing, a genial, witty Michel has organized and hosted a spirited monthly luncheon at Vincent's Restaurant (owned by French chef, Vincent Guerithault) in Phoenix. Sarda presents guest speakers from the artistic and literary worlds followed by some very lively discussion.
The indefatigable Sarda keeps one abreast of cultural events presented by his non-profit Art Renaissance Foundation through a bi-monthly newsletter. In the "Bulletin," Michel writes a column in French under the nom de plume of "Cyrano" with thoughts on the world situation.
