Tarsila do Amaral. Painting Modern Brazil

The Musée du Luxembourg in Paris hosts a Tarsila do Amaral retrospective, “Peindre le Brésil Moderne,” revisiting the work of a central figure of Brazilian modernism (to February 02, 2025). This exhibition (with around 150 works) is surprisingly her first retrospective in France. Until recently the artist— called the Brazilian Picasso— was rarely exhibited outside her home country. Continue reading “Tarsila do Amaral. Painting Modern Brazil”

Tale of Two Trees

©Anne-Sophie Emard. Galerie Odile Ouizeman occupies the amazing Maison Galvani designed by architect Christian Pottgiesser

Galerie Odile Ouizeman is showing Anne-Sophie Emard’s immersive installation “Twiinning Trees, Le bois est un document,” which poetically links two lime trees (tilleuls)… one located in the gallery’s indoor garden, and the other, a remarkable 400 year-old lime tree growing on botanist Sylvain Pouvaret’s arnica herb farm (located in the Auvergne, Puy-de-Dome).

The exhibition is a collaboration with “le projet Silvae and the Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels d’Auvergne” (to December 10, 2024) Continue reading “Tale of Two Trees”

Rodin’s Invisible Balzac

Auguste Rodin, “Etude de robe de chambre pour Balzac” 1897

The Musée Rodin hosts a temporary exhibition “Corps In-Visibles,” drawing on a series of sculptures and studies from the museum’s collection along with 19th century garments from the Palais Galliera. This fascinating exhibition revisits how Rodin created one of his most iconic works: “Monument to Balzac.” (to March 02, 2025). The point of departure for this exhibition features the ghost-like “Study for Balzac’s Dressing Gown,” an empty plaster garment suggesting the body it covered… reminiscent of “The Invisible Man” sci-fi thriller. Continue reading “Rodin’s Invisible Balzac”

L’Age Atomique Revisited

Bruce Conner, “Bombhead” 2002

The Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris host “L’Age Atomique” Les artistes à l’épreuve de l’histoire,” an exhibition revisiting how the era is depicted by artists from the forties until today. Bringing together some 250 works—paintings, drawings, photographs, vintage movie clips, installations and documents –the exhibition includes rarely seen works by such major artists as Francis Bacon, Lazlo Moholy-Nagy, Le Corbusier, and Salvador Dali (to February 09, 2025) Continue reading “L’Age Atomique Revisited”

Montmartre Fetes its Wine

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Monmartre © Miyazaki
 

That the Butte’s wine is almost undrinkable has never gotten in the way of what has to be one of this capital’s best annual fests! This year the Fete des Vendanges de Montmartre takes place Oct 9-15, 2024.

As with any good party, this one has something for everybody: it’s part folklore, with fraternal orders from the winegrowing regions of France turning out in traditional robes and quirky hats, and part Arbor Day parade, complete with Harvest Queen, marching bands and street theater. Continue reading “Montmartre Fetes its Wine”

Half An Hour From Paris

Many guides claim to be for and by insiders, but this one truly is. Annabel Simms—living in Paris since 1991—delights in exploring the Paris countryside by train and sharing  ideas with her friends for discovering little-known travel gems. This summer she updated  the book with two new chapters including Brunoy and the Parc Saint-Cloud, while adding color photos and maps. Her previous book “An Hour From Paris” is a long-time favorite for both visitors and ex-pats. Continue reading “Half An Hour From Paris”

Voilà, a new vegan cookbook

“Voilà Vegan,” written by an American expat patissière in Paris, is a new cookbook on plant-based deserts. The author, Amanda Bankert (a Le Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef) has taken up the challenge —some might say quixotic—of convincing Parisians that vegan pastries (sans butter and eggs) are as tasty as traditional French patisseries. “When I was studying pastry at Le Cordon Bleu, flaxseed eggs and aqua-faba were not included on the syllabus.” says Bankert. “Yet, in a country that reveres butter and cream, my little vegan bakery is frequently included in lists of Paris’ top pastry destinations.” Continue reading “Voilà, a new vegan cookbook”

Jazzy Dance Rendez Vous

Chanson, tap dance, joie de vivre with a Frenchy jazzy cabaret on a barge on the Seine in central Paris? Sounds good to us!  Check out the “Parisian Time Step” show–July 28 and August 04, 2024– from tap dancer Ruby Boukabou and singer/ dancer Wendy Lee Taylor (Lido de Paris) with piano by Philippe Petit and Cédric Caullaud on double bass. The show is a fun celebration of Paris, music and tap dance where the audience time travels back to the Belle Epoque with its cheeky polkas; 1930s music halls and smokey 1940s-50s Saint Germain jazz bars. Continue reading “Jazzy Dance Rendez Vous”