posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 27
This fall, parisian events was asked to organize a lunch at the Mona Bismarck Foundation in honor of the American painter, Barbara Ernst Prey. The request was to build a lunch around the theme of the featured image of the show: Family Portrait- a cluster of bright red Adirondack chairs scattered in a field of tall grasses and wildflowers.
Using these and other elements from her paintings, we created an Autumn in New England-themed lunch reception. We used the deep reds for the menus and floral focal points, and paired it with
Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 16
A sea of faces and a plane suspended from the ceiling at the Centre Pompidou, Paris. The plane is created with thousands of strands of tiny lights. Photos by Jordana Shalhoub.
For the Writers Island prompt, “message in a bottle:”
Living in San Francisco, I was involved in a romance with a poet who lived in New York. He wrote beautiful deep poems for me; in those days the only poem I’d written in many years was political. Searching for a romantic gesture, I remembered the fictional images of pirate ships, sailing the high seas; shipwrecked people stranded on deserted islands, rolling messages in bottles and tossing them into the ocean, in the fleeting hope that someone would find them; fair maidens being rescued by handsome soldiers; the stuff of swashbuckling adventures starring Errol Flynn.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 3
As said in a previous post, the Eastern part of Paris is still little known by tourists, but it has gotten better since a couple of years. The Canal Saint Martin area is, like the Aligre Market area, a residential neighborhhod, full of
posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 29
Eden Morfaux is sending a shout out into the streets of Paris. Or, better, the ultimate tool for a shout out: A series of eight gleaming, white pulpits displayed for a day at Le Cube Rouge, normally a boutique showing classic 50s/60s furniture (Charles Eames, Arne Jacobeson, George Nelson), then deposited on a corner or sidestreet or park in the 14th arrondisement. (Below, one of Eden’s pieces in the Parc Montsouris). Morfaux is clearly an artist with a social vision and a minimalist aesthetic: Parisians speaking out to anyone willing to listen. He will close out his exhibition tomorrow, Sunday, by placing the last piece not far from Denfert-Rochereau, a gift to street people, passersby and kids to do with what they choose. “One of the pieces was smashed in two,” he says. “The others have endured rain, a little grafitti, pigeons.” (See Eden’s site for more images of the works scattered about in public places).
Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 18
Photograph of funeral stone at the Institut de l’Monde Arabe, Paris by Jordana Shalhoub
For the Writers Island prompt, “The Gift:”
These linked poems were inspired by this remarkably-preserved stone funeral heart that has withstood ravages of many centuries. While writing the poems, “sailing on a new ocean,” a line from a piece by Kristen Robinson leapt to mind and was incorporated within the poems. These are rough drafts, as thanks to guests, I’ve had little time to myself when I’m not exhausted; therefore, not in full creative mode.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 17
The Devon Guild of Craftsman at Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, England is set next to a swiftly-moving stream. The soil’s high iron content turns the water a brownish-red. The gallery on the edge of Dartmoor National Park is showing selections from area artists and craftsman created for the “Carbon Footprint” themed competition.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 9
Artful presentation and delicious food at The Gallery, 41 Fore Street, Topsham, England. Pictured is the “Calypso experience,” a delicious seafood melange, perfectly seasoned. Mark Wright and Paul da Costa Greaves’ award-winning restaurant features fresh seafood and organic ingredients. The restaurant also offers local products, including organic chocolate and Luscombe of Buckfastleigh organic lemonade, ginger beer and juices. David and I have dined at The Gallery on three separate trips and been impressed by the wonderful food and excellent service. If you’re ever in the area, make sure to have a meal here; you won’t be disappointed.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 4
Stanley Greene is one of the craziest people I know. He’s usually all in black leather in the dead of summer, toting a kilo of jewelry, sporting strange hats or a newly razed and shiny head and is often just off the plane after a month photographing a war zone. (Photo
posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 3
Paris has free public toilets, the sanisettes, but as you may have noticed, you never know where to find them !
Philippe Dorcourt, an original person and certainly a man who loves Paris, decided to come to your help.He researched all the sanisettes, and published the Pause-pipi Guide, the one and onlyguide that publishes the exact location of all sanisettes in Paris.The guide comes in the form of a 36 pages e-book, with maps of each arrondissement, indicating the exact location of all the sanisettes
posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 25
Yesterday’s edition of Le Figaro had an article on a new Eiffel Tower being constructed in China, yet another in a long list of replicas around the world. So add another dot to the Eiffel Tower map.
I already knew about Las Vegas (left). But Paris,Tennessee (right), was news to me.
Read the rest of this entry »