James Jacobs’ debut novel “No Ordinary Season” revisits life in small town America. A first impression could be this is just another coming of age book. It is much more than that. Appearing a century after Sinclair Lewis’ iconic “Main Street,” Jacobs’ book, situated in the fictional town of River Bend, Indiana, portrays a town with some of the provincial attitudes and prejudices of Lewis’ day. Continue reading “No Ordinary Season”
Nils-Udo’s Black Bamboo
“Black Bamboo” is the title of artist Nils-Udo’s monumental installation temporarily occupying two floors at the Fondation EDF in Paris (until Feb 02, 2020). Since the artist’s work is usually seen outdoors, often times in remote areas, this is a rare opportunity to see his work indoors in an urban setting… and it only costs the price of a metro ticket (if you are already in Paris). Continue reading “Nils-Udo’s Black Bamboo “
Cuban Posters Revisited in Paris
The Musée des Arts Décoratifs exhibition Affiches cubaines: révolution et cinéma, 1959-2019 (Cuban Posters: Revolution and Cinema, 1959-2019) looks at Cuban poster design with a focus on the golden era of the 1960s and 1970s. This exhibition is a rare look at a group of artists who created a unique approach to poster design and also a chance to revisit the Cuban political and cultural context for the work (to February 02, 2020). Continue reading “Cuban Posters Revisited in Paris”
Degas at the Opera
For the Paris Opera’s 350th anniversary the Musée d’Orsay features the exhibition ‘Degas at the Opera,’ co-organized with the National Gallery of Art in Washington DCs, showing paintings, drawings, sculptures and pastels by the artist, including iconic works such as The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer, Foyer de la Danse or La Loge (to January 19, 2020). Continue reading “Degas at the Opera”
Leonardo da Vinci Louvre Exhibition
The big Paris exhibition this season is “Leonardo da Vinci” at the Musee du Louvre (until February 24). It features a unique group of artworks that only the Louvre could bring together complementing its own outstanding collection of paintings and drawings by the Italian master. Continue reading “Leonardo da Vinci Louvre Exhibition”
Toulouse-Lautrec Resolutely Modern
The “Toulouse-Lautrec Resolutely Modern” exhibition at Paris’ Grand Palais revisits the work of this popular post-impressionist painter world-renowned for his studies of life in Montmartre (to January 27, 2020). His cabaret nightlife paintings are indelibly linked in the public imagination with Belle Epoque Paris. Continue reading “Toulouse-Lautrec Resolutely Modern”
Trees Exhibition at Fondation Cartier
Artists, botanists and philosophers contemplate the world of trees with the exhibition “Nous Les Arbres,” at the Fondation Cartier Pour l”Art Contemporain through drawings, paintings, films and installations. It includes a diverse array of work from internationally recognized artists, such as photographer-filmmaker Raymond Depardon to indigenous Yanomami Amerindians living in northern Brazil depicting the trees they use for food, medicine and shamanic rituals (to January 5, 2020) Continue reading “Trees Exhibition at Fondation Cartier”
Sense in the City, Paris
Imagine waking to the peals of morning church bells in a small French village or devouring fresh flakes of a buttery croissant you’ve just dunked in coffee at a street-side café in Paris… When we’re travelling, a picture-postcard location, and a good view of it is always appealing. We want a hotel room, restaurant table or lookout that allows us to gaze in awe across an exotic landscape. Continue reading “Sense in the City, Paris”
Dear Conjunction Stages “Scaramouche Jones”
Paris’ English-speaking theater company Dear Conjunction is back this season with Justin Butcher’s play “Scaramouche Jones,” performed by Leslie Clack and directed by Patricia Kessler, at the Theatre Nesle (Nov21 to Dec 7, 2019). Continue reading “Dear Conjunction Stages “Scaramouche Jones””
City of Dark
How safe is a city built on a void? Hundreds of kilometers of abandoned quarry tunnels snake under huge parts of Paris. It is illegal to penetrate the city’s’ underground world, yet every year thousands of subterranean explorers do just that. Drawing on Paris’ underground urban legends, Canadian author and long-time Paris resident, Claire Dickinson dares us to imagine —with her new book “City of Dark”— what would happen if that world were taken over by terrorists. Continue reading “City of Dark”
J’Veux du Soleil
A new French documentary film “J’Veux du Soleil ” (I Want the Sun), directed by Gilles Perret and Francois Ruffin, looks at the rural discontent fueling the Gilet Jaune (Yellow Vests) movement. Continue reading “J’Veux du Soleil”