Wandering the Streets and Photography Exhibits

Friday October 2 was beautiful-- apparently it's Indian Summer in Paris--- blue, blue skies and a high of 18C.  We started our day with a coffee at Strada Cafe and then wandered over to Shakespeare and Company, where Alain bought a copy of And the Show Went On: Cultural Life in Nazi-Occupied Paris, by Alan Riding, who were had heard read there a few years ago.  I had read the book already--very interesting analysis of those in France during WWII who collaborated, those who resisted, and those in-between.

Alain with his new book

The store is now run by George Whitman's daughter.  George died in 2011.  He wrote this message in 2004.

We then walked over to the Marais to do some window shopping.  Many of the small art galleries in the 'hood have been converted to showrooms for Fashion Week.  Unfortunately, one needs an invitation to enter.  Lots of very neat clothes/ shoes/jewellery on display.

We passed an installation called "Dragged" which will be lit for Nuit Blanche on Saturday night

We walked by a small boutique where an artist was painting running shoes-- the store was closed, but will be open in a few days.  The artist is Yoshi Itu and the installation is called "Walk- Wearable Art".   I took a fleeting photo as we walked by.

Yoshi Itu- painting running shoes

We stopped for a late lunch of a salade haricots verts at Cafe Charlot.  Parisians can still smoke outside.  It was very warm and great to eat on a terrace.

Alain with green bean salad and coffee

We passed a woman wearing a very cool hat.

Neat hat.... all black

We then went to a men's clothing store, Han Kjobenhaven, (it means Man from Copenhagen), where Alain got a pair of very cool pants and a top.  The designers are two men from Copenhagen.  We were familiar with their store in New York.

At about 7:00 p.m. we went over to the Maison Europeenne de La Photographie to see a number of photography exhibits.  It was open late until 8:00 p.m.  We had time to see all but one of the exhibits.  All were a very high quality.

Poster for exhibits--- taken outside after we left

The first show was entitled Alber Elbaz/Lanvin: Manifeste.  Elbaz has been the Artistic Director of Lanvin since 1998, and does not do social media.  This exhibit was orchestrated by Elbaz and his team of photographers.  The exhibit showcased the process of design, photographs by a number of different photographers, and a room of photographs, patterns, and deconstructed clothes.  The theme of the dialogue between fashion and photography worked very well.

Elbaz designs with black sharpies--works in progress in photos

Photo, ribbon dress et moi

Pinning dress and design

The next show was a powerful exhibit entitled Guatemala, by John Edward Heaton ( b. 1951 in Paris to a French mother and American father).  Heaton is a traveller and visual anthropologist who has spent the last 35 years in Mexico, Guatemala and central America.  This exhibit paid homage to Guatemala.  Extremely beautiful and moving pictures.  Heaton's archives have up to 100,000 pictures dealing with worldwide customs, traditions and architecture.

2011

2011

The last show we saw was by Jean-Pierre Laffont (b. 1935 Algeria, presently living in New York) entitled Turbulent America.  Laffont is a photojournalist and most of the pictures in the exhibit were from the late 1960s to 1990.   We were a bit rushed, so didn't take many photos.  Great shots of grimy New York in the early 1980s, flower power, black power and political figures.

Manhattan 1975

After the photography exhibits, we walked towards the Seine and then onto the left bank where our apartment is located.  We passed a beautiful garden at Hotel de Sens.  The flowers are lovely in the early fall.

On the walk back, we saw a memorial plaque to 112 inhabitants, including children, of an apartment building near the river on the left bank.  They were deported in 1942 to their deaths.

As we crossed the river, we saw the Eiffel Tower flashing with lights--- very cool.

Tour Eiffel with lights

We stopped at a lovely wine bar to buy a bottle of wine and then went back to the apartment, where I worked on the blog and Alain cooked dinner.  It is so amazing to have had five days with perfect weather in Paris.  Another 20,000 plus step day.