Q I have been married to a Frenchman for ten years. From the get-go, I have had a huge problem with my mother-in-law who was disappointed that her son married a Yankee and has never tried to hide her disdain for me and for my country. Whatever I do or say comes under her critical scrutiny – how I dress myself and the kids, how I set the table, how I speak French, my choice of au pairs, the children’s schooling… Both my father-in-law and my husband kow-tow to her as I see it, and neither of them steps up to the plate for me. My relationship with the latter has suffered as a result. I’m at the end of my rope and am hoping for some tips for dealing with her. Continue reading “French Mother-in-law Problems”
Summer Holiday Question
Q My French boyfriend and I are fighting over how to spend summer holidays. We have planned a 10-day camping trip in Wyoming, but I intend to stay in the US on my own for an extra week to visit some former college classmates in California. My boyfriend insists that he should come with me, even though he knows none of these people and speaks very little English. He gets very upset when I explain that I want to do this without him, saying that such a plan is not good for our couple, that I am being selfish, and that if I really loved him, I’d want him along. In my opinion, his lack of understanding shows not only the limits of his caring, but also a lack of appreciation of all I do in France to adapt to his culture… Continue reading “Summer Holiday Question”
Emmet Gowin Paris Restrospective
“There are things in your life that only you will see, stories that only you will hear. If you don’t tell them or write them down, if you don’t make the picture, these things will not be seen, these things will not be heard,” says the photographer and teacher Emmet Gowin. One can imagine him saying such a thing to his photo students at Princeton University where he taught for 36 years. Gown through his teaching and work is one of today’s most influential living photographers. Continue reading “Emmet Gowin Paris Restrospective”
David Poe’s French Kisses
A new book of short stories “French Kisses” by David Poe draws on his thirty years living the expatriate life in France. His well crafted stories have the taste of a mature wine. He is clearly someone who knows the culture here and is a man who knows what you get living a life abroad… and also what one gives up with such a life. Continue reading “David Poe’s French Kisses”
Paris Terrasses, Outdoor Dining in Paris
One of the summer pleasures of Paris is having a drink at an outdoor cafe terrace. “Paris Terrasses, Outdoor Dining in Paris” published just in time for the season is a new 2014 updated bilingual guide to Paris’ outdoor dining gems ranging from terraces on rooftops such as “Les Ombres” decorated by the archtect Jean Nouvel at the Musee Branly with its stunning view of the Eiffel Tower to more intimate settings such as the inner terrace at the Entrepot, a multicultural venue with live music, theater and home of Paris’ legendary art movie house. Continue reading “Paris Terrasses, Outdoor Dining in Paris”
Dear Conjunction Theatre Company
Dear Conjunction Theatre Company has been bringing Parisian audiences the best in bilingual theater since 1991. During that time they have produced over 30 plays from Harold Pinter to Mike Leigh to Yasmina Reza.
“Bilingual theater is not easy,” says Les Clack .” We tried alternating performances with three nights of a play in English and then three in French. For that one needs to find just the right actors and play… We are now focusing on English language plays that sometimes include some French such as “More lives than just one.” where I do a segment from “Salomé, which was Oscar Wilde’s only play in French.” Continue reading “Dear Conjunction Theatre Company”
Martin Parr’s Paris
Paris’ Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) with a salute to British photographer Martin Parr gave him carte blanche to photograph Paris. For two years he pictured la vie parisienne with his trade mark style from tourists on the Champs Elysee to Bastille Day to Paris Plage to a day in the life of the Goutte d’Or neighborhood. Continue reading “Martin Parr’s Paris”
Robert Mapplethorpe Paris Retrospective
Back in 1989 Robert Mapplethorpe’s photography exhibition “A Perfect Moment” was cancelled by the Corcoran Gallery in Washington due to pressure from conservative politicians. His homo-erotic and S&M pictures at the time fueled a national debate over public funding for the arts. Some of these controversial pictures and approximately 200 other images spanning his career from the early 1970’s until his death at 42 of AIDS are currently part of a large retrospective of his work exhibited at Paris’ Grand Palais . Continue reading “Robert Mapplethorpe Paris Retrospective”
The Lighter Side of Paris
I once asked the French photographer Boubat if he was a romantic. He responded saying no “I’m a humanist. I’m interested in photographing people. There’s enough bad to be seen in the world. I like to photograph and show what is good.”
French Humanist Photographers were among the best at portraying poetic moments and showing what was good about life after WWII. Now a new book “The Lighter Side of Paris” (Paris qui rit!) brings together such photographers as Boubat, Doisneau and Kertesz, who not only captured the poetry of daily life but the funny moments too. This book features a collection of humorous pictures of Paris that bring a smile. The photographs include work by such stars as Henri Cartier Bresson and less known pictures by a very funny René Maltete as well as many remarkable anonymous photographers. Although most of the photos date from the post WWII period, several were taken in the 20’s and 30’s with a few capturing drole moments in the Belle Epoque. Continue reading “The Lighter Side of Paris”
I Met my French Boyfriend in the US
Things have gone steadily downhill since my arrival in Paris
Q I met my French boyfriend in the US, and we had a passionate relationship there for one year. Then, as the government wouldn’t renew his visa, he returned to France, and I moved here 18 months ago so that we could be together. I am really unhappy and homesick, and now blame my boyfriend for not doing enough to help me. All his friends are French. I don’t speak the language, and I can’t find work; he yells at me when I complain about France…. I love him but can’t decide to what extent the relationship is worth this big sacrifice I’m making. Continue reading “I Met my French Boyfriend in the US”
James Startt’s Walking Billboards
“Walking billboards in contemporary culture” is how photographer James Startt describes his new series of pictures “J’ecrit donc je suis” recently exhibited at the Galerie Agathe Gaillard. For these photographs, Startt- well know for his pictures of Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France- takes his camera to the streets to investigate how the lowly T-shirt serves as a medium for many messages. Continue reading “James Startt’s Walking Billboards”