NOIR et ROUGE (Black and Red)

Marques Vickers fourth poetic edition continues his probe into the challenge of artistic creation amidst the present cultural obstacles and noise imposed by contemporary society and self. Circumventing these clouded layers into lucid rhythms offering clarity of expression can only be expressed by loosen consciousness.

His title Noir et Rouge (Black and Red) is a playful reference and reverence towards the French writer Stendhal's Rouge et Noir, a then insightful portrayal of the ambitions and conflictiveness of protagonist Julien Sorel. In the process of the narrative, his fundamental beliefs are tested with regard towards the church (noir) and the military/society (rouge). Any contemporary society remains a prone and easy target for ridicule and criticism over identifiable hypocrisy.

Vickers acknowledges the evident shades of today's discord while internalizing the struggle to express his own perspective and judgment. The risk for any poet is to expose unfiltered impressions that one might normally shield publicly. Candid exposure is frequently awkward. Truth and genuineness does not encourage such discretion.

Vickers further addresses the problematic ongoing themes of attraction, desire, and articulating affection. Several of his subjects are antidotal, many autobiographical. Each work attempts to clarify the fermenting and fully developed process evading simplistic clichés and single-dimensional advice. Resolutions offer few uncomplicated answers in the ultimate attempt to cultivate equilibrium.

Visual Artist, Writer and Photographer Marques Vickers is a California native presently living in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle, Washington regions.

He was born in 1957 and raised in Vallejo, California. He is a 1979 Business Administration graduate from Azusa Pacific University in the Los Angeles area. Following graduation, he became the Public Relations and ultimately Executive Director of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce between 1979-84. He subsequently became the Vice President of Sales for AsTRA Tours and Travel in Westwood between 1984-86.

Following a one-year residence in Dijon, France where he studied at the University of Bourgogne, he began Marquis Enterprises in 1987. His company operations have included sports apparel exporting, travel and tour operations, wine brokering, publishing, rare book and collectibles reselling. He has established numerous e-commerce, barter exchange and art websites including MarquesV.com, ArtsInAmerica.com, InsiderSeriesBooks.com, DiscountVintages.com and WineScalper.com.

Between 2005-2009, he relocated to the Languedoc region of southern France. He concentrated on his painting and sculptural work while restoring two 19th century stone village residences. His figurative painting, photography and sculptural works have been sold and exhibited internationally since 1986. He re-established his Pacific Coast residence in 2009 and has focused his creative productivity on writing and photography.

His published works span a diverse variety of subjects including true crime, international travel, California wines, architecture, history, Southern France, Pacific Coast attractions, fiction, auctions, fine art marketing, poetry, fiction and photojournalism.

He has two daughters, Charline and Caroline who presently reside in Europe.