Cities x Design

I found this website the other day on a wander through the web, Cities x Design. Conceived by a couple of young journalists/designers/sociologists, the website documents their travels across America, conducting interviews and taking video footage about how the financial crisis has affected certain areas. But the site really focuses on what the future holds and how innovative design thinking can help build up towns and cities that may be on hard times. A recent entry about Detroit features an interview with an AIGA educater who discusses how this city could be a laboratory for innovative and sustainable design. They also feature burgeoning social and art movements by local activists, artists and designers in Detroit, such as the powerhouse project and plot 63, encouraging and inspiring happenings.

Eventually the findings will be compiled into a film and book but it is fun to follow their adventures, and keep informed about local movements in the States.

Textiles and Tunisia

Check out these beautiful fabrics handmade in Tunisia, found at Le Comptoir de Tunise, 30 rue de Richelieu. The colors are fantastic-bright pinks and oranges mixed with soft greens and blues. There was just something different. Also-gorgeous hand blown glass jars and bowls. This lovely boutique just opened a small cafe upstairs which looked worth a future visit.

Three gallery shows:

Many galleries have rented out their space this week as fashion showrooms, but a few have kept their doors open and merit a visit.

Galerie Xippas: Vera Lutter, This German born, NYC based artist shows eleven large, black + white photographs taken during the last 10 years using a pin hole camera. The works focuses on urban landscapes, industrial sites, and architecture-including old factories and skyscrappers. The images are kind of ethereal and ghostlike despite the subject matter not being super interesting.

Galerie Chantal Crousel: Fabrice Gygi- The Swiss artist presents, as the press release states, "works that can be related to three catagories: jewels, machines and signs." The exhibition consists of several sculptures, a few large, mainly steel or metal works that have a sort of violent,industrial (with slick production value), and fetishistic vibe.

Galerie Almine Rech: Another Swiss artist though now based in NYC, Ugo Rondonine presnts several large scale paintings that resemble the milkyway, dark, starry, luminecent, as well as two large, wood doors which have been covered in black wax or resin and upstairs is a cast wax, large hanging lightbulb. His work is frequently a melange of media and meanings, often referring to fantasy and desire. This show gives a feeling of Grimm fairytales or perhaps German romanticism in the 21st century.

Vintage Fashion hits the 17th

Towards end of spring a new boutique opened up in the 17th, Bastien de Almeida. It is a gorgeous shop, it's slick, dark interior is more typical of the Marais then Batignolles, so all the more lucky for us up here that it arrived. It stocks impeccable vintage threads that would make any Mad Men fashion victim swoon with envy. Yves, Sonia, Balenciaga are some of the big names, but many items here are not of the designer label, but classic dresses and suit/jacket ensembles that were popular and elegant in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Bastien de Almeida, 46, rue La Condamine.

There is also a great selection of photography based books and the cherry on the cake is they offer sewing courses once a week. I can't wait to get started! I have been wanting to take a proper class in "couture" and here it falls two steps from home.

Fall in Paris: Let's Begin Again

Fall in Paris- Although the leaves started changing in our neighborhood at the end of August and I was nervous we wouldn't get any fall weather this year, September has turned out to be a lovely month-minus a few hyper-gray days here and there. I side with the Jewish calendar with having the new year begin in the fall rather then the Roman calendar of January. Since childhood, unless you went to one of those year around schools, we go around with the notion that September is the new "school year," and then as we get older, the feeling of September, following a nice summer, feels like a time to start fresh. In the arts and culture world, September starts the "new season" of exhibitions, shows, books, etc.

If we are lucky enough for an Indian summer like we had here in Paris last week, then you still feel the energy of summer and feel motivated to start new projects and be productive--at least until winter fully takes hold. Whereas in January, unless you are in the southern hemisphere, it's much harder to feel rejuvenated and inspired to begin anew, make resolutions, etc. In reality, most of us feel bloated from holiday drinking and eating and depressed at the cold weather in store for at least 2-3 more months.

Bref, It's fall and Paris has regained its momentum after a sleepy August. I have to say I loved being in Paris in for a couple of weeks in August. People were friendlier, riding a bike was a joy and there were never lines at the market--even if only 2 vendors were working. But it is hard not to be affected by the energy of the new art season. Posts coming tomorrow for some worthwhile shows.

Momentary Hiatus

Clearly I have not been properly updating recently therefore I am declaring my momentary hiatus this summer in order to get ready to be married in September and ponder new and updated ideas for blogging. Happy Summer! Back mid-september.

Rooftops in Tangier: The 8

I think I prefer Tangier from above, observing the scenes and sounds around me. Of course being inside of it all is exciting and sensory in a different way. Four filmmakers and four poets/writers pairing off to film the sights, scenes and sounds of Tangier in Super 8...what will develop?