A tableau vivant recreating Georges Seurat's iconic painting, Un dimanche après-midi à l'Île de la Grande Jatte, featuring the Yellow Springs community in 2025. (Photo by Valerie Kosheleff)
A grande day indeed
- Published: November 22, 2025
On Oct. 12, 28 Yellow Springers came together to honor Helen Birch Bartlett, for whom Glen Helen Nature Preserve is named, and mark the 100th anniversary year of her death.
Those gathered joined in creating a tableau vivant and music video inspired by George Seurat’s iconic painting “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” The Seurat work was chosen because Helen was the painting’s last owner before she donated it, along with other Impressionist works, to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Created, directed and produced by villager Valerie Kosheleff, the celebration produced two music videos — a main and extended version — which are viewable on YouTube under the name “La Grande Jatte de Yellow Springs.”
In addition, Bill Kent has produced 8 by 10 prints of the painting homage that are available for pickup from Kosheleff, who says the project would not have been possible without the support of the YS Arts Council, the YS Community Foundation and the Public Arts and Culture Commission.
Kosheleff also reports that a short documentary of the project is in the works, and volunteers with storytelling or editing experience are being sought. Email ValerieKosheleff@gmail.com for a copy of the photo or to contribute to the documentary.
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