I Prefer Paris

Children’s Drawings of Notre Dame

 I want to thank everyone for watching my live Rue de Martyrs Food tour last week and also for your generous tips to my PayPal account. I'm sorry I couldn't thank all of you individually, but know I really appreciate it. CLICK HERE to watch the video and CLICK HERE if you would like to leave a tip in my PayPal account (you don’t have to have a PayPal account), which I would greatly appreciate, as I do these tours free of charge for France.fr  Enjoy! 

I was in front of Notre Dame last week doing research for a future tour. There’s been a temporary wall installed in front and on the sides of the cathedral while during the reconstruction from the 2019 fire. 

On the parvis in front, is an exhibition of drawings of Notre Dame. Six months after the fire, the archbishop of Paris, Monsignor Michel Aupetit, started a campaign requesting grade school children from France and around the world, aged from four to sixteen years old to “Draw me Notre-Dame: The cathedral you know or the cathedral you imagine. 

There were close to 6000 drawings submitted from all over France and countries such as Poland, the U.S., Germany, and Germany. 

Eva Jospin at Versailles Palace

In the Orangerie at the palace of Versailles is an amazing and formidable art installation. Eva Jospin, who created a set for the house of Dior for the autumn-winter 2021-2022 haute couture collection, was invited by the head designer of Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri, to create an installation at Orangerie in Versailles.

Jospin has executed an incredible tapestry extending more than 3500 feet on a single, continuous wall. Influenced by art, architecture, and literature, Jospin used the Salle aux Broderies in Rome's Palazzo Colonna and Virginia Woolf's novel A Room of One's Own as a basis for the work. The tapestry was executed by artisans from the Chanakya workshop and the Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai. The result is a phenomenal work of art that can’t be missed.

Until September 29, 2024

L’Orangerie at Versailles

Entrance fee is 10€

https://en.versailles-tourisme.com/exhibition-of-eva-jospin-at-the-palace-of-versailles.html

 

Musée du Domaine Royal de Marly

A few weeks ago, I received an invitation to view the new exhibition at the Musée de Domaine Royal de Marly plus a tour of the grounds.

The noise levels in Paris have become unbearable in the past months, with construction for the Olympics and sirens wailing out of control, so an invitation to leave Paris for the French countryside in a serene setting was a welcome relief.

A small group of journalists and I gathered in Paris, and we were escorted by a van to the Domaine Royal de Marly, about 20 minutes away.

 

We were welcomed by Karen Chastagnol, the manager of the museum, who had a warm and cheerful manner. She served us coffee and Madeleines, while the people in the group mingled.

A few moments later she shared the history of the chateau.

Located almost equidistant between Chateau de Versailles, and Saint Germain en-Laye, the Domaine Royal de Marly was commissioned to be built in 1679 by King Louis XIV, as a hunting ground and resort to escape his duties and responsibilities at Chateau de Versailles. It became the ultimate playground for the king and only very specially, selected guests, and only between 60 and 100 guests were invited. It was a much sought after invitation by the royal court and the aristocrats, and you had to be on the A- List to be invited. Not only did the chateau serve as a hunting ground, it hosted balls, lavish dinner parties and banquets, concerts, theater, and allowed guests to gamble. One of the other important facts about the chateau was the flamboyant fountains that were powered by a very advanced and elaborate water system that pumped through 14 paddle wheels and 259 pumps that were powered by the Seine River and traveled about .35 miles by to the reservoirs to pump the water to the fountains.

King Louis XIV

The exhibition, The King’s Horses: The Marly Horses, Masterpieces of Equestrian Art, is presented in tandem with the Equestrian Olympic events in Versailles.  Focusing on the essential role the horse played in society and culture in that era, with a hundred paintings, sculptures, engravings, and drawings horse accessories, Karen led us through each room, with a very detailed and entertaining presentation and a thorough history.

After the museum exhibition, we strolled with Karen on the huge grounds of the chateau, which measure over 1200 acres. The front garden is highly manicured with topiaries and delicate, white statues on pedestals and the rest of the grounds have wide open meadows, ancient, tall trees, and a massive pond.

Even though the park grounds are open to the public, there was no more than a dozen people there. The stillness, serenity, the heavenly greenery, and the sky dotted with puff clouds, made for an exceptional morning.

The King’s Horses: The Marly Horses, Masterpieces of Equestrian Art

Through November 3, 2024

Musée du Domaine Royal de Marly

1 grille Royale- Parc de Marly, 78160 Marly- Le- Roi

https://musee-domaine-marly.fr/

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 2pm to 6pm

 

 

Alaia/Kuramata- Lightness in Creation

The Fondation Alaia always has exceptional exhibitions and the newest show Alaia/Kuramata- Lightness in Creation, is a fascinating study of two master creators.

Azzedine Alaia was one of the greatest couturiers of the 20^th century, creating stunning, form fitting garments worn by top models and celebrities. Shiro Kuramata, from Japan, designed innovative furniture that referenced ancient Japanese decorative arts but modernized it with his personal vision of furniture in the future. He passed away in 1991.

Alaia was an avid collector of furniture from many periods, and he attained many of Kuramata pieces and organized an exhibition of Kuramata’s furniture in 2005. Fast forward to 2024, twenty years later, the Fondation Alaia has decided to combine the talents of Alaia and Kuramata together. Curated by Carla Sozzani, an editor, book designer, and the owner of the world-famous store 10 Corso Como in Milan, and Olivier Saillard, a top curator of fashion exhibition, the sleek and flowing silhouettes of Alaia’s dresses alongside the futuristic look of Kuramata’s pieces terrifically complement each other.

Upstairs, is a moving tribute to the greatness of Alaia’s designs. In 1989, the year of the bicentennial of the French Revolution, Paris went all out to celebrate the momentous occasion. Alaia was commissioned to design a gown for Jessye Norman, the greatest opera singer of the time, who was going to sing La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France. He designed a stunning gown of red, white, and blue with a dramatic hood, using the fabric the French flags are made of. Make sure you see the amazing video of Norman singing La Marseillaise at the opening celebration on Place de la Concorde.  

One last, special treat was a literal window inside of Alaia’s atelier. He never allowed anybody into his private studio except his staff until he died in 2017. For the first time, the public can see his atelier just as he left it when he died.

18 rue de la Verrerie, 75004

https://fondationazzedinealaia.org/en/

Alaia Atelier 

La Chair du Monde at Musée de la Chasse

I haven’t been to the Musée de la Chasse in ages, but I know they always have unique exhibitions. Walking by there a few days ago with a tour client, I saw there was an intriguing new show and I returned yesterday. 

La Chair du Monde by artist and sculptor, Tamara Kostianovsky, is a series of 30 sculptures created with up-cycled textiles and clothing fabrics. The striking pieces include the interiors and stumps of tree trunks, hanging bird sculptures, and flower tableaus with 3D birds. 

Kostianovsky uses La Chair du Monde (the flesh of the world) as a reference to the Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy in his book Phenomenologie de la Perception from 1945. 

Until November 3, 2024 

62 rue des Archives, 75003

https://www.chassenature.org/en/expositions/la-chair-du-monde

 

 

Ellsworth Kelly- Shapes and Colors, 1949-2015

Celebrating the centenary of Ellsworth Kelly’s birth, the Fondation Louis Vuitton has mounted one of the largest retrospectives of his work in Europe. Over 100 paintings, drawings, collages, and photos are display, focusing on Kelly’s post WWII works until 2015, the time of his death.

Kelly's minimalist paintings, which look deceptively simple, are powerful and bold with their geometric shapes. Even looking through the photos I took, I still got a chill, before I edited them for the blog. Seeing them live, they are a revelation, and an unparalleled experience.

After Kelly fulfilled on his military service in 1949, he moved to Paris for six years, and move to New York in 1954.

The works come from major art institutions and private collections including Centre Pompidou. The Glenstone Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum in New York.

Until September 9, 2024

Fondation Louis Vuitton

https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/en/events/ellsworth-kelly-shapes-and-colors-1949-2015

Paolo Roversi at Dover Street Market

Photographer Paolo Roversi is having quite a year in Paris. 

On March 26, the Palais Galliera opened a major retrospective of Roversi, focusing on his incredible career of 40+ years with 140 astonishing images of his fashion and beauty photos. Now there’s a second tribute to Roversi in Paris. 

Last week the Dover Street Market opened in the former, 17^th century palace of Madame Sevigne. The new space is much more than another fashion shop in the Marais; it not only houses fashion and accessory collections of upcoming, young creators, it’s also a cultural center with live events and a gallery space. 

Walking through the cobblestone courtyard other day, I was stunned by the striking, columns adorned with Roversi’s photos. The light wood columns were designed by Rei Kawakubo, the founder of the iconic Comme des Garcons label and she also designed the minimalist interiors of the building. 

Another wonderful surprise was a beautifully curated exhibit of Roversi’s work on the lower level of the cultural center. The photographs are displayed on a cylinder-shaped wall in a dark room with just the photos illuminated. 

Dover Street Market

35-37 rue des Francs Bourgeois, 75003

https://www.doverstreetmarketparis.com/

Irises at Monet Gardens, Giverny

I did a tour of Monet’s gardens and house in Giverny yesterday, and walking through the rows of gorgeous, May flowers, the irises were in full bloom. The stunning colors of deep purple, lavender, dark red, and two-tone ones with combinations of purple and pale pink, and pale blue and purple, stood out so much, that they demanded having photos taken of them. 

Brancusi at Centre Pompidou

 

Centre Pompidou is presenting an unprecedented exhibition of the artist Constantin Brancusi, with 120 sculptures along hundreds of other works including photographs, drawings, films, archives, tools, and furniture. The Brancusi atelier, donated by the artist to France, has been a permanent fixture at the Pompidou for over three decades in a separate building, has been moved and is part of the exhibition. 

The exhibition follows Brancusi’s creative path starting with his studio work in the early 1900s and continuing with some of his iconic and controversial sculptures in wood, brass, and stone such as The Kiss, The Sleeping Muse, The Wisdom of the Earth, The Prayer, and his masterpiece The Endless Column. The animal kingdom was an integral theme in his later works with sculptures of crocodiles, seals, and turtles. 

Taking in the exhibit last week, I was overwhelmed and dazzled by the endless beauty and the stunning forms of the sculptures. I loved the contrast between the smooth, sensual like sculptures set against the rough wood bases which they are placed on, which are pieces of art on their own. 

Until July 1, 2024

Best to buy tickets in advance 

Centre Pompidou https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/program/calendar/event/mb7ZAkc

 

 

Brancusi at Centre Pompidou

 

Centre Pompidou is presenting an unprecedented exhibition of the artist Constantin Brancusi, with 120 sculptures along hundreds of other works including photographs, drawings, films, archives, tools, and furniture. The Brancusi atelier, donated by the artist to France, has been a permanent fixture at the Pompidou for over three decades in a separate building, has been moved and is part of the exhibition. 

The exhibition follows Brancusi’s creative path starting with his studio work in the early 1900s and continuing with some of his iconic and controversial sculptures in wood, brass, and stone such as The Kiss, The Sleeping Muse, The Wisdom of the Earth, The Prayer, and his masterpiece The Endless Column. The animal kingdom was an integral theme in his later works with sculptures of crocodiles, seals, and turtles. 

Taking in the exhibit last week, I was overwhelmed and dazzled by the endless beauty and the stunning forms of the sculptures. I loved the contrast between the smooth, sensual like sculptures set against the rough wood bases which they are placed on, which are pieces of art on their own. 

Until July 1, 2024

Best to buy tickets in advance 

Centre Pompidou https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/program/calendar/event/mb7ZAkc

 

 

Photographer Paolo Roversi at Palais Galliera

The Italian-born photographer Paolo Roversi moved to Paris in 1973 and over the next 50 years, he became one of the top fashion photographers in Europe. He’s worked for some of the most prestigious magazines and fashion brands including Vogue France, Vogue Italia, Egoïste, Yohji Yamamoto, Romeo Gigli, and Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons.

His style is more like romantic, Renaissance portraits, with blurry, sepia-toned images in black and white and color. There’s a mystery and depth to the photos that are usually missing in most fashion photography, which tends to be slick and more commercial-driven.
The exhibition displays 140 magnificent and unique photos.

Until July 14, 2024
Palais Galliera 10, Avenue Pierre Ier de Serbie 75116
https://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/paolo-roversi

Experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens, and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Shopping Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, Emily in Paris tours, and Chocolate and pastry tours.

Tours start at 275 euros for up to 3 people, and 85 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you, my insiders, Paris.

 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com