I happened to be in Deauville, the Normandy seaside resort which could be compared to Easthampton, for a golf tournament, when I heard that Les Franciscaines, a new cultural space set in an old Franciscan convent was opening the very same day. What a wonderful coincidence. This turn of the century resort which is now very, very busy with weekenders … Read More
Drawings of Paris are exceptional at Galerie La Nouvelle Athènes
It is an exceptional work of research that was performed by the two owners of Galerie La Nouvelle Athènes, Damien Dumarquez et Raphaël Aracil de Dauksza, in finding out more about obscure artists who represented the monuments and streets of Paris for the 1889 and 1900 Expositions universelles. Three drawings of the Eiffel Tower (1888) are very rare but I was … Read More
Musical chairs in the museums
It all started with the departure of Jean François Hebert after eleven years spent as President of château de Fontainebleau. He was very much loved and renovated many parts of the castle including the theatre. He has been named Directeur Général des Patrimoines et de l’architecture which includes all public museums, archives and architecture including listed landscapes. To replace him, … Read More
Bamiyan, twenty years later.
You probably remember the traumatic destruction by the Taliban of the two monumental buddhas (38 m and 55 m high) in Bamiyan, Afghanistan on March 11, 2001. Just a few months before 9-11. To celebrate the anniversary of this tragic event, Musée Guimet has organized a small but charming exhibition with the different elements it owns from the diggings by … Read More
Young artists show at l’Institut de France
Pavillon Comtesse de Caen is this little gallery within the Institut de France (Académie Française) on the right side of the building. It often has charming exhibitions of laureates or memorable ers of teh Academy, which are free and at the moment (until March 21), eleven alumni from the prestigious French Academy in Madrid (Casa de Velazquez), show their work … Read More
Jean Dunand is everywhere this week!
Editions Norma is a remarkable publishing house which always publishes refined books with the greatest care. Founded and run by Maïté Hudry, it specializes in 1920 to 1970’s architecture and design, but has recently published the catalog of an exhibition of sneakers “Playground” which took place in Bordeaux. And their latest publication is about “Jean Dunand”, by Amélie and father … Read More
Romainville, a communist town turned center for contemporary art
I am sure that very few of you have heard of Romainville, a town of 28 000 inhabitants just north of Pantin. Its castle used to belong to Maréchal de Ségur in 1723 when only 400 people lived there. It is now, after thirty years of communist and socialist management, an upcoming capital of contemporary art with soon six galleries … Read More
Touring around Bordeaux vineyards is very uplifting!
For a few years, I had wanted to try the new golf course of Grand Saint-Emilionnais, designed by Tom Doak for the Mourgue d’Algue, a famous family of golf champions. Gaëtan used to run the Lancôme Trophy, one of the most memorable French Professional golf tournaments and his wife Cecilia and daughter Crystel were both great amateur players. Late … Read More