Sheila Hicks worked around the Angel statue of the Mansart designed courtyard at Carnavalet

There is something whimsical about Sheila Hicks’ woolen art “ApprenTissages” exhibited in the courtyard of Musée Carnavalet until October 2. At the inauguration, the boxwood and flower bushes gave a welcome freshness to an overheated Marais. Hôtel Carnavalet was designed in the Renaissance and finished in the 17 th century by Mansart, is closing for renovation soon and Festival d’Automne had the great idea of asking its curator, Valérie Guillaume to host an exhibition of the Nebraska born artist.

So she invaded the boxwood with her bright colored wools and hung large tapestries from Cour des Marchands-drapiers and Cour de la Victoire’s windows. Art dealer Jérôme and Emmanuelle de Noirmont pointed out that the best view to see the work was from the second floor. So don’t hesitate to climb in the museum which is free. The crowds were young and enthusiastic with a mix of theater goers and music fans who are celebrating the Festival d’Automne’s new season.

Sheila Hicks, a Parisian by heart for forty years, opens the Festival d’Automne

Choreographer Lucinda Childs is at Théâtre du Châtelet and at Thaddeus Ropac, and Polish director Kristin Lupa will be at Théâtre des Abbesses with “Wittgenstein” and de la Colline with “Place des Héros”. Tilda Swindon comes back with Olivier Saillard to Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.

This year many events will take place in the banlieue, in Ivry sur Seine and in Nanterre, Gennevilliers, Aubervilliers, Cergy Pontoise and Choisy le Roi. Many events are free and all are surprising. (Sheila Hicks is also at Frank Elbaz until October 10)

Sheila Hicks is Festival d’Automne’ image this year