French photographer and filmmaker Eli Lotar (1905-1969) is featured with a retrospective at Paris’ Jeu de Paume. Although now he is not known by many outside the cognoscenti in the late twenties and thirties he was considered among Paris’ top photographers (to May 28, 2017). Continuer la lecture de « Eli Lotar at Jeu de Paume »
Mike Zwerin’s two hats
Jazz Feature, February 1997
With his trademark hat and cigarette, Mike Zwerin is a recognizable figure in any Paris jazz club. In fact Zwerin wears two hats, as a trombonist and as a columnist for the International Herald Tribune. We met recently in his comfortable home in the 11th arrondissement to discuss both « chapeaux. » Is it tough living a double life? « It’s not quite a double life because both jobs involve music. But it is very hard to mix the two. If I go to play at a festival, it never crosses my mind to do any interviews on the side. I’m there strictly as a musician. » Continuer la lecture de « Mike Zwerin’s two hats »
Karel Appel at Musée d’Art Moderne
When many people hear the name of the Dutch artist Karel Appel (1921-2006), they say oh, yeah that COBRA guy. Now a mini retrospective « Karel Appel, l’Art est un Fete! » at Paris’ Musée d’Art Moderne shows that he was much more than that (to August 20, 2017). Continuer la lecture de « Karel Appel at Musée d’Art Moderne »
Paris Street Rambles
Matthew Lancit’s new documentary film « Flâneurs – Street Rambles » will be screened at Paris’ Mac-Mahon Theater (Friday, March 3, 8:30PM). Between film projects and following the birth of his daughter, a Canadian in Paris must confront his slacker lifestyle and decide if there is something in it worth passing on to the next generation, or if he is better off getting a job. In search of the remaining traces of flâneurs (19th Century wanderers of Paris), he takes his daughter on a series of poetic strolls in which he assumes the role of a contemporary flâneur and crosses the path of people who help reveal the relevance of such a figure today. Continuer la lecture de « Paris Street Rambles »
Decisive Moments Revisited
Seeing the exhibition « Images à la Sauvette » at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson is for many photographers almost like touching treasured saints’ relics. The exhibition is a selection of vintage black and white photos —along with the original maquette— from Cartier-Bresson’s legendary book. Continuer la lecture de « Decisive Moments Revisited »
Francois Kollar, a Working Eye
The Jeu de Paume hosts a retrospective of Francois Kollar’s photographs (to May 22). Although little known outside the photo cognoscenti Kollar was among the most innovative and experimental of France’s commercial photographers during the 30’s and 40’s. Considered a French photographer Kollar— like many other important photographers such as Robert Capa and Brassai who made their careers in France —came here from Eastern Europe. Kollar moved to Paris from Hungary in 1924. He lived and worked the rest of his life in France until his death in 1979. Continuer la lecture de « Francois Kollar, a Working Eye »
English-speaking Paris
Many American residents joined nearly a thousand Parisians as they marched near the city’s iconic Eiffel Tower demonstrating their worries about Trump’s agenda. Continuer la lecture de « English-speaking Paris »
Loire Plein Air Painting Workshop
Treat yourself to a week of painting taught by Tom Hughes May 20-27, 2017 while discovering the magical troglodyte village of Trôo. Perched above the river Loire in the northern Loire Valley this remarkable village features unique cave houses dug into the hillside that provide stunning views over the village, river and valley. Continuer la lecture de « Loire Plein Air Painting Workshop »
Eternal Sites at Grand Palais
According to UNESCO the six World Heritage sites in Syria have been damaged, pillaged or completely destroyed. With stunning 360 degree panoramic 3D visuals the « Eternal Sites » exhibition (until January 9, 2017) virtually revisits four major archaeological sites: Khorsabad (Iraq), Palmyra (Syria) the Great Mosque of Damascus (Syria) and the Kerak Crusader Castle (Syria). Continuer la lecture de « Eternal Sites at Grand Palais »
Oscar Wilde at Petit Palais
« They say that when good Americans die » Oscar Wilde once said « they go to Paris… » Graffiti scribbled on Wilde’s tombstone in Pere Lachaise cemetery says « Here lies the greatest man who ever lived. » Maybe not the greatest as some of his fans think, but Wilde certainly was among the most clever. His aphorisms still bring a smile. For example about life he philosophized: « There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. » Continuer la lecture de « Oscar Wilde at Petit Palais »