I was totally excited to finally get to Villers Cotterêts after a series of mini disasters (the opening visit was cancelled) and an hour and a quarter of driving from Paris. The small town of 10 000 inhabitants, is pretty dreary and the castle which houses the new Cité Internationale de la Langue française stands out like a meringue among … Read More
The Patrimoine culturel is a big French issue
There were newcomers and the old traditional attendants at the Salon du Patrimoine culturel in the Carrousel du Louvre and it is always amazing to find unique specialists of French art de vivre who cater mostly to historical places. They are not all geared at the restoration of castles and churches but the 300 participants all use exceptional materials and … Read More
The Salon du Patrimoine Culturel is more ebullient than ever.
I am always full of expectations when I go to Carrousel du Louvre for the annual meeting of Salon du Patrimoine culturel, a fair devoted to the artisans who cater to castle owners and public monuments and mostly a mine of good addresses. And there are quite a few booths with pictures of Notre Dame, the Grand Palais and Versailles to … Read More
Musée Guimet and its women ceramists are a winner
The title of the new exhibition at Musée Guimet is strange, “Touch Fire, Women ceramists in Japan”, but the result is wonderful and even if I don’t agree on today’s constant attitude of singularizing women artists over men, the story behind the show is interesting. It is putting forward three generations of women ceramists, who were at last allowed to … Read More
Fondation A.R.CA.D celebrates its 15 th anniversary with great news
It’s always fascinating to meet brilliant oncologists who are uniquely modest and the celebration of the 15 th anniversary of the A.R.CA.D Foundation for digestive cancers at Cercle Interallié, was a great moment of scientific excitement and family spirit. The President founder, Professeur Aimery de Gramont, was surrounded by his disciples who have all become successful researchers themselves. With Mariella … Read More
Fondation d’Entreprise Hermès reveals its talents in Pantin
It’s always a huge effort to go to Pantin, a suburb north of Paris where Chanel and Puiforcat have their factories but also, and this is the reward, is an area where much contemporary art is taking place. On the ground floor of Magasins Généraux, Fondation d’Entreprise Hermès is showing the result of 10 years of artists’ residence in its different manufactures … Read More
Ceramics and Joseph Beuys at MAM, and still Josef Albers of course
“Les Flammes” is the title of the new ceramics exhibition at Musée d’art moderne de la Ville de Paris, MAM, which is huge and very varied and puts the focus on the different techniques and types of earth. Taming the temperature (up to 1 400°) and size of the fire is a key element, thus the title Flames given to … Read More
In Compiègne, speed takes many faces
Two years ago, Rodolphe Rapetti, director of Château de Compiègne, had impressed us with a fabulous car show “Concept car-Pure Beauty” consisting of models with the most brilliant designs, which had invaded the first floor salons and everyone, young and old, enjoyed it. This week, a new exhibition called “Vitesse“, (Speed) is opening with a wide range of vehicles from … Read More