THE ART EXHIBIT FIAC IN THE STREETS OF PARIS

LA FIAC "HORS LES MURS".

Angela Bulloch, Heavy Metal Stack of Six

 Friends and I spent a day strolling through the streets of Paris last weekend to discover what art pieces on streets and places of Paris, in a few stores like Louis Vuitton, and cafés like the Café de Flore, (both in St Germain), one could encounter during the FIAC (Foire International d'Art Contemporain), Hors les murs: outside of the usual venue le Grand Palais on the right bank. 

 One could see a good number of pieces in the Jardin des Tuileries near the Louvre (including the piece above).

Xavier Veilhan, Rayons

My favorites: Ai Wei Wei's Chinese Zodiac signs "planted" all around one of the Jardin des Tuileries' pools. I still love them just as much as when they were on show in New York City in 2011.

Ai Wei Wei, Circle of Animals

And then there were these "installations" by the glass manufacturer/builder St Gobain which I found playful and stunning in spite of their lack of recognition as  "ART" but who were there, on the edge of the Place de la Concorde, to celebrate their 350 years in business. 4 "kiosks", were there to be "visited" but we chose not to queue, but rather, we just lingered and admired…

This kiosks I found to be the most impressive, its reflections in striking contrast with the surrounding curlicues, gold detailing and vert de gris pedestals of the Place de la Concorde.

These pieces will be on display until the end of the month.

au revoir.

THE LOUXOR CINEMA HOUSE

LE CINEMA LE LOUXOR

Now

In the 20's

In the 10th arrondissement of Paris, on the corner of boulevard de la Chapelle and boulevard de Magenta, stands a stunning cinema house built in 1921.The Louxor is a remarquable example of "ancient" architecture typical of the 20's. It's neo-egyptian façade— it takes its name from the Egyptian city of Louxor - is adorned with cobalt blue, black and gold mosaics designed by a well known decorator of the time by the name of Amédée Tiberti, and the work of the ceramics company of Gentil and Bourdet, of Billancourt.

The cinema fell into serious disrepair for a number of years but was registered as a Monument Historique in 1981. However it closed in 1988 after a short life as a night club.

Happily it reopened in 2013 after an extensive renovation, and luckily for me, it is now my "corner movie house", if you will.

Flowers, scarabs, and cobras abound as do references to Egyptian deities.

A large winged disk glows at night on upper terrace.

The night time view from the terrace onto the recently renovated Barbes Metro station is surprisingly spectacular.





au revoir.