L'art

Turbo by Baptitse Debombourg, Galerie Patricia Dorfmann, Paris

“If you want to really hurt your parents, and you don’t have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”
-Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country, 2005

Les Essentiels: Trey Russell

(Trey at Versailles)

It's no mystery, September is my favorite month. Having grown up in the desert of Arizona, September signified the beginning of manageable weather. But more importantly it meant new outfits for the new school year. I could milk the new school clothes by combining every possible combination until the inspiration (or the clothes) wore itself out. Which usually happened just in time for Christmas... and a whole new batch of outfits and combinations.

So it delights me to no end to have had one of my oldest and dearest friends and fellow fashionista come visit me in Paris during the month of September. Trey Russell is the stylish owner and creative force behind Aris on the Coast in Laguna Beach. Over a bottle of Sancerre, I asked him to share  his 10 essentiels for the month of September.

Ten things Trey Russell can't live without in September: 

1. 2 cups of coffee with creme first thing in the morning.
2. Pizza. I seriously can't live without it. Any kind, but right now fig is my favorite topping thanks to Pink Flamingo Pizza in the Marais.

(Pink Flamingo pizza)

3. Swimming. The bigger the pool the better.
4. Flowers. Single arrangements, cut low. One variety, one color, tres chic.

(All white floral arrangements in the lobby at the George V, in Paris)

5. Diptyque cologne and candles. Right now I am obsessing over the Coriandre candle and the Eau de Lierre fragrance. They are both grass scents and perfect for the transition from summer nights into fall days.
6. Le cinema. Melancholia tops my list for a must see this month. Loved it!

(Melancholia by Lars Von Trier)

7. Aviator sunglasses. No brainer.
8. Eddie. (Trey's adorable pug who holds court at his boutique in Laguna Beach)

(Eddie aka Eduardo)

9. Texting. "There, I said it." I can live without Facebook, the phone, email, but I seriously can't live without texting.
10. My Porsche.

Confiance

Faith (Eng)/ Confiance (Fr.): noun; Confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept. Belief that is not based on proof.


I recently read a New York Times article about a Tony award winning playwright/performer , Sarah Jones, who recently received a commission from the Lincoln Center to develop an unspecified show. She has no idea what it will be about or what she will create, yet the clock is ticking to create it. Her specialty is to scour the city streets of New York City in search of people who represent "cultural fault lines that unite and divide the city" and to pluck these characters ripe for her own inspriration.


Although I am not a playwright, a performer, nor a New Yorker, I do have a few things in common with Ms. Jones. 

• I have been given a commission from the universe to create the life of my dreams, and have also been gifted the backdrop of Paris. 
• I search the city for inspiration and find myself eavesdropping on conversations in languages that I don't totally understand, peering in apartment windows at dusk to imagine the life within it, chameleon-ing myself to whomever I am interacting with out of authenticity in the moment.
• I don't know what my story will be, but I go in search of it and trust that it is unfolding exactly as it should. To be doing it in Paris at this moment gives me the peace of mind that I am in the right place for right now.

“I’m practicing a kind of meandering faith, or faithful meandering, I just trust that something is coming. I don’t know what it is. But I’ve been a straphanger all my life; I know what it’s like to not know when the next train is coming, but I trust the subway.”
- Sarah Jones, Unlicensed anthropologist, an explorer of the cultural fault lines that unite and divide the city, Tony award winning performer and playwright


Click here to read the entire NYTimes article--Sarah Jones, Scouting the City for Her Characters.

une situation

"I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.” I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

— Maya Angelou

Janvier: les cinq premiers

It is hard to keep up with all the reasons why I adore Paris. In an effort to put them into words/images, here is January's top five list of the things that make me happy in Paris.

1. Handwritten notes.

I have received more handwritten notes in the one month that I have lived here than I receive in one year back in the states.

My first handwritten note was taped to the front door of my apartment by my crabby-ass, crazy neighbor.  I, of course, handwrote my rebuttle (with some localization help by my French friend who is a stickler for French nuances).  A couple of weeks later, I received another handwritten note in my mailbox. This one is from an anonymous source instructing me that I must have a couple of professional plaques made for the intercom and mailbox as the inkjet printed version that I have inserted into the slot will no doubt give all the other tenants license to junk up all of the common spaces (uh, okay).

Just when I began to think that I was being singled out and was beginning to take it personally, a friend gave me some great insight... "Just because you are getting handwritten notes, don't think that you are special or that it is personal. It isn't that way in France. In the US, you write a note when you want someone to know how meaningful and special they are. In France you handwrite a note because you refuse to accept and don't know how to use any other forms of nouvelle communication, like a phone, email, etc."

Sometimes, it feels really nice to know that it's them, not me.

2. Baies candles and the Diptyque mothership right down the street.

Diptyque's flagship boutique on St. Germain

Anyone who has ever been to my house in the states knows that I love Diptyque's Baies candles. I suppose you could say that it is my home's signature scent. So, when I realized that Diptyque's original flagship store was a 4 minute walk from my apartment in Paris, I couldn't get there fast enough.

My knowledge of Diptyque (thanks to my friend Trey) seemed to impress Jean-Luc at Diptyque. And while I intended only to stock up on a couple of Baies (and perhaps an eau de toilette for good measure), what I came home with was another story. Jean-Luc stock piled my bag with every scent that he thought would be sympathique with my taste. Plus, a book about Diptyque and the formulas for their scents to further my Diptyque education.

In addition to an apartment that smells like home, I have a couple of brand new scents that are awakening my senses.

3. Octopus by Philippe Decouflé

My darling girlfriend had a recent Friday night free (her parents would watch her 3 year-old over night). Her desire was that we somehow secure tickets to a sold out (and highly sought after) dance performance of Octopus that was choreographed and directed by Philippe Decouflé at Théâtre National de Chaillot. I assumed that this task was impossible. Alas, proving once again that she has magical powers for manifesting ANYTHING she wants, we miraculously had two tickets for the Friday night performance. Not just ANY two tickets; we would be sitting in the front row, center stage for the performance.

Théâtre National de Chaillot

I experienced a dance and musical treat unlike anything I have ever seen before. The dancing, the costumes, the artistic back drop, the live music and the subject matter was beyond my wildest dreams. If I were to try and explain the theme, I would say that it was one of love and beauty; of contrasts and opposites. With co-dependency, jealousy and independence as some of its sub-themes. Here is a small glimpse. 

 Oh, and the live music that I mentioned could have been a show unto itself. Nosfell performed live on stage with a partner who periodically chimed in on the cello, piano, and drums... like ya do.

4. Half a baguette.

I have been getting very concerned about my carbohydrate intake and its aftermath. Much like it is for every other Parisian, it has become part of my routine to pick up a baguette at some point almost everyday. God forbid I be without one when searching for a conduit for my cheese, avocado, nutella, etc. Yet having a baguette in my apartment means that I inevitably end up eating the whole freaking thing. So I was delighted to learn that you can ask/pay for half a baguette. "C'est normale." Whew!


5. Paol's Tour of the Basquiat Exhibition.

Paris is hosting the largest Jean Michael Basquiat Exhibition until January 30th at the Musée de' Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (MaM). Usually when I go to the museum, I go by myself equipped with some form of soundtrack... like music or an audio track to explain the work in more detail.

This time was different.

I was given a guided tour by Paol, who works at the Musee de' Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Paol is a friend of my Parisian friend, so he gave us the tour entirely in French. I chose to go it without a parachute (i.e. no English translation pamphlet as back up) and therefore, found myself paying rapt attention. Here are five things I learned about Basquiat:

- He had a long-term girlfriend, Suzanne Mallouk, who is now a Phychiatrist.

- In the early 80's he cheated on her with pre-fame Madonna.

- Suzanne beat up Madonna as a result, at The Roxy.

- Basquait paid tribute to the scuffle in a couple of his paintings. (like this one below with an image of Suzanne wearing big shoes, and several punching fist references)

- His art career was short, from age 20 until he died at 27. In that time he created over 1,000 paintings and 2,000 sketches.

- He was obsessed with Charlie Parker.

And while his painting were A.M.A.Z.I.N.G, they also came infused with little bits of inspirational wisdom.

Good luck Février, you've got some big shoes to fill.