Francaiszen

L'officiel Tsunami

2005-01-22T19:47:00.000+01:00

ecozen - animals ecology philanthropy

I am very pleased to see that one of my favorite essential magazines L'officiel is helping the Tsunami victims, Bravo!

Do leave a comment about other initiatives you come accross.

Code Louvre

2005-01-22T15:13:00.000+01:00

IMG_0377
Originally uploaded by cyberedge.

artzen - art culture info expo
francaiszen - la vie
bookzen - literary reviews

The makers of the film of the Da Vinci Code with Tom Hanks, have permission to shoot inside the Louvre Museum. They will probably start shooting in May. The louvre is only funded by it's visitors which is the agrument for charging such exhorbitant fees for filming there. This has caused many filmamkers to use alternative chateaux...

Le Figaro - "Le Louvre exige plus de 50 000 euros par jour pour un tournage dans la cour Carree."

BBC - Louvre allows Da Vinci Code shoot

"The Dan Brown Code" by Dennis Neuenkirchen is a very interesting and amusing article, that questions the accuracy of Dan Brown's research about Paris. It is on one of the essential Parisian websites Bonjour Paris . Run by Sarah Gilbert herself a highly acclaimed novelist and writer.

Explore Da Vinci Code Secrets with Canals of France
Canals of France is offering 8-day itineraries that explore the controversial sites, history and brotherhood made famous by Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code.

Chirac opens high way

2004-12-14T22:49:00.000+01:00

The highest viaduct in the world - 343m (1,125ft)

On 14 December, the President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac, officially opened the Millau Viaduct in France's southern Aveyron region. The Viaduct completes the A75 motorway across the Massif Central, creating a direct link between Paris towards Barcelona, and spans the Tarn Gorge to alleviate the notorious traffic congestion throughout the area.

Designed by Foster and Partners in association with an engineering group led by the French engineer Michel Virlogeux, the Viaduct illustrates how a collaboration between architects and engineers can result in a structure of breathtaking beauty.

- BBC "French construction group Eiffage - that built the Eiffel Tower - financed the project in return for the right to collect receipts from a bridge toll for 75 years".

- Le Figaro

Napoleon's consecration anniversary

2004-12-03T13:06:00.000+01:00

artzen - art culture info expo

Two hundredth anniversary of the coronation of Napoleon, 2 December 1804.

Jacques-Louis David 1748-1825
The Consecration of Napoleon (2 December 1804) : detail 1806-1807 Paris, musee du Louvre INV. 3699 © RMN/ Arnaudet - Blot

Two hundred years after the Consecration of Napoleon in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and the Emperor's commission of a major painting commemorating the event, the Louvre organizes an exhibition of about fifty works paying tribute to the celebrated painting by David.

The special exhibition is on show from 21 October 2004- 17 January 2005

Sponsored by Chaumet.The Napoleon Foundation is a partner of the Louvre Museums for this exhibition.

France Marks Napoleon's 200th Anniversary article about the celebration.

Who's Who in France?

2004-12-03T11:35:00.000+01:00

...or shouldn't it be Qui est Qui en France?........the French language police should have scuppered le title! But one supposes that all the Academie Francaise is in the book, so, c'est normale, qua! Of course the book is en francais.

One can look people up online, but it is 5 euros to read the full entry. The Actualites page is quite fun.

Who's Who in France
Accueil du Who's Who. Rechercher, Rechercher, Qui sommes-nous ? Qui sommes-nous ? Nouveaux entrants, Nouveaux entrants, ...

Mariella BERTHEAS, part of the WWF France is one of the new people.

Dictionnaire de l’Academie francaise

One of the new Mots etrangers included in the 9th edition of the dictionary is cover-girl

note: no accents were hurt for cette article!

Salon Nautique de Paris - Prix Litteraire

2004-12-03T10:10:00.000+01:00

Not to be missed, all the great French sea dogs will be there. Find a boat for your holidays and the best boating book to read in your cabin...

bookzen - literary reviews

4-13 December 2004 the 44th Salon Nautique de Paris is gaining impetus with new attractions, a new area dedicated to Fishing (Village de la Peche) which will delight well-informed fisherman and initiate youngsters, not to mention the show's main attractions.

3rd Prix Litteraire Salon Nautique - le Point

The sea, maritime adventures, tales of great voyages, the islands or maritime regions…there are so many subjects for novels, travel diaries and other books!

The French Nautical Industries Federation (FIN), the Syndicat National de l'Edition (SNE), and the magazine le Point have joined together to pay tribute to works whose subjects centre around the sea. A judging panel, composed of personalities from the world of water sports and publishing, will award a prize to a novel and a finely illustrated book.

List of competitors

The winners will receive their prize at a ceremony held on Wednesday 8 December at 6.00 pm in the Forum des Navigateurs.

Alfred Stieglitz and His Circle Musee d'Orsay

2004-11-17T16:05:00.000+01:00

fotozen - private view
artzen - art culture info expo

October 19, 2004 to January 16, 2005
New York and Modern Art.
Alfred Stieglitz and His Circle (1905-1930) Musee d'Orsay Temporary exhibition galleries

Publications
New York et l'art moderne, Alfred Stieglitz et son cercle, 1905-1930
collective work

Blogexplosion

2004-11-14T16:38:00.000+01:00

This seems to be working, it can be addictive...

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Paris Photo 2004

2004-11-10T10:56:00.000+01:00

fotozen - private view

Folded Lace, Photogenic drawing negative, circa 1842. 18,4 x 22,3 cm, Schaaf 3803 Courtesy Hans P. Kraus, JR. New York

Paris Photo 2004 - November 11-14 2004 Carrousel du Louvre, Paris
The exhibitions shows photography by 19th, 20th and 21st-century photographers.

Founded in 1997, Paris Photo has earned a reputation as a must-see event, the world's premier fair of photography in all its variety.

Prix BMW-Paris Photo

Au revoir Canelle

2004-11-03T14:42:00.000+01:00

This is utterly outrageous and frightfully sad. They shouldn't have been shooting the wild boar for "Sport" in any case.

ecozen - animals ecology philanthropy

Fury at killing of Pyrenean bear Only about 15 brown bears are thought to remain in the Pyrenees. One of the last remaining bears in the Pyrenees has been shot by hunters, to the fury of French environmentalists.

The 15-year-old female - known by game wardens as Cannelle - was surprised with her 10-month-old cub in the Aspe valley by a party on a wild boar shoot. Read more via...BBC

Ligue Roc - the association for the preservation of wildlife and the defense of non-hunters

Plums

2004-09-19T23:02:00.000+02:00

Nature Notes by K

ecozen - animals ecology philanthropy

One sure sign that summer is passing, other than the yellowing and falling of the first leaves, is the passing of the plums. Now when we walk beneath the plum tree that just a week ago dropped a score of succulent plums into the rich thick grass overnight, we find only seven or eight plums, some of which have already falen prey to the yellow jackets and African honey bees, so be careful which ones you pick up. I have been stung, and my finger swelled up and hurt as if I had hit it with a hammer. The geese have been stung, so prefer to wait on the terrace for me to find the good plums, which I then feed to them, saving a few for myself. A visitng friend, wary of the grass and bees and things unseen, picked her plums right off the tree, though we rarely do. When they are ripe, they will fall, and now they have almost all fallen.

Here in Molene, things happen quickly, dramatically, and then are over, usually within about two weeks. Three weeks ago, with pecks of plums hanging from the boughs, you had to be careful that the plums were ripe, yet I think we will have no plums at all a week from today..

Musee du Quai Branly

2004-09-12T13:58:00.000+02:00

artzen - art culture info expo

Musee du Quai Branly, dedicated to arts and civilisations from Africa, Asia, Oceanea and the Americas, will open in 2006.

For now you can see live updates on the webcam

dinnerpoint

2004-09-12T11:14:00.000+02:00

This is a splendid idea

londonzen - park life

We at dinnerpoint have done something that we think is pretty unique and groundbreaking. We organize and list online 100s of dinner meetups in cities around the world - for 'in the know' people.

Bond in Paris

2004-09-01T00:22:00.000+02:00

IAN FLEMING, CREATOR OF JAMES BOND -- FORTY YEARS LATER
Wednesday, September 15, 2004, 8:00 pm
Free and open to the public.

American Library in Paris
10 rue du Général Camou
75007 Paris

Info- 01 53 59 12 60 alparis@noos.fr

"The name is Bond… James Bond." Spoken in clipped British tones by the darkly handsome screen star, these words have echoed across the world as movie audiences tense for the newest adventure of Ian Fleming's legendary hero.

To commemorate the anniversary of Ian Fleming's death in 1964 -- Vincent Chenille, a collector of print materials on Bond and Fleming for nearly 20 years, will present an evening devoted to the discovery of the rather flamboyant creator of Bond, his background in the British Secret Service and in journalism, and how Fleming’s own background influenced British spy 007's universe.

Chenille’s exhibit, which is now on display at the Library, showcases both original editions and reprints of Fleming's work in a variety of languages and formats, together with photos, articles, and biographical materials. The background is designed by Armelle Aymonin.

Complementing Chenille's discussion will be a second presentation by Pierre Rodiac of Club 007 France, who will describe the evolution of Bond from the pages of the bestselling paperback novels to the big screen and thence to a hero of mythic stature. His discussion will also encompass works of other writers who, in the past 50 years, capitalized on the Bond persona, including Kingsley Amis, John Gardner, and Raymond Benson.

Presentations will be in English; questions accepted in either French or English. Wine reception to follow.

Henri Cartier-Bresson 1908 - 2004 one of the greatest photographers.

2004-08-05T16:27:00.000+02:00

The photograph below was taken in Athens, Greece, I have passed by there many times. I am glad that he captured it for posterity. Isle sur la Sorgue is one of my favorite places (after Athina of course). My mother was a photographer, always with her Leica at hand.

fotozen - private view
artzen - art culture info expo

Henri Cartier-Bresson Athina 1953

Henri Cartier-Bresson 1908 - 2004 Born in Chanteloup, he died in Isle sur la Sorgue. "Cartier-Bresson started painting in 1923 and began to photograph in 1931, met Teriade, the editor of Verve magazine and frequented members of the French surrealist movement. After a trip to the Ivory Coast he discovered the Leica, since then his camera of choice"...more on more
on Magnum>>

"Henri Cartier-Bresson, one of the major artists of the 20th century, who used his tiny hand-held 35-mm Leica camera to bear humane witness to many of the.." more>> via...IHT

Marianne la belle Francaise - I love the new stamp design

2004-07-22T23:05:00.000+02:00

artzen
- art culture info expo
Marianne stamp,
by Thierry Lamouche chosen by president Jacques Chirac.

It will be issued by la poste in January 2005. La Poste
had a competition to design a new stamp the theme was " L'engagement de Marianne en faveur de l'environnement et des valeurs fondamentales de la Republique". 50,000 designs were sent in from all over France. The winning designer Thierry Lamouche is an illustrator, who lives in Saint-Ange le Vieil, Seine-et-Marne.

15 - 31 July - An exhibition of stamps, representing Marianne since 1849, can be seen at the "la galerie des tapisseries" the National Assembly, 33 quai d'Orsay. 10-7pm daily except le dimanche. It's free.
Online
exhibition>>

The four famous faces who have represented Marianne - Brigitte Bardot (1970) Mireille Mathieux (1978) Catherine Deneuve (1985) Laetitia Casta (2000)

There is a good article relating to the history of Marianne in
the IHT

Art Galleries, are they scaring away thier victims?

2004-07-15T12:30:00.000+02:00

artzen - art culture info expo
londonzen - park life

This is a fascinating article from The Art Newspaper that I found on Forbes.

It dicusses how art can be sold outside the confines of galleries and all that they entail. Are Art Galleries Necessary?

"Contemporary art dealers are finding that art fairs and the Internet can replace the hassle and expense of maintaining a full-time gallery". more>>

I also came accross this spot on piece on Jason Calcanis Art Blog, Gallery Rudeness by Caryn Coleman citing an article by Paige West of Art Addict

"Intimidation is a well-known sales tactic, especially in some of the Blue Chip galleries. If you aren't "in the club" (they don't know you and/or you've never purchased anything at the gallery), many galleries won't offer any assistance, even if you ask"...more>>

Too true, the same can be said of some auction houses, estate agents, restaurants, hairdressers, hotels and chic shops. Manners...?

Rank and pile

2004-07-08T20:28:00.000+02:00

londonzen - park life

London gets new taxi rank signs

la vie du chien, Poo Poo a la francaise

The saga of the parrot and the fourposter bed

2004-07-07T16:29:00.000+02:00

ecozen - animals ecology philanthropy
londonzen - park life

Several years ago, whilst in Toulouse to collect a fourposter bed. My partner Alastair went to buy me a puppy as a present, the pet shop didn't have any, so he got 2 Canaries instead. On his way out he heard anguished shrieks coming from the back of the shop. There in the gloom was a red and grey African parrot in a tiny cage on the floor. This was the start of our parrot saga. There wasn't room in the van for the bed, the cages and us. So a friend drove and we took the train back to Provence. It was a night train, the parrot shrieked the whole time. We called him Corot, perhaps subconsciously because "the Corot" had caused much trouble over the years. Anyway, Corot was sad and lonely and needed better quarters; So Richard and Pierrot our friends who just happened to be master welders were commissioned to make a bird palace fit for Corot.

In the mean time we scoured the pet shops for a companion, near Avignon we found "Richard" another red and grey. He had a very poorly friend huddled up next to him, a black Madagascan...we called him "Pierrot". The aviary was splendid, customisable, demountable. Filled with trees and fallen branches, also a mist system. OK so I couldn't resist buying the tropical rainforest tape! (it was played about once, although I am sure I detected a flicker of appreciation from Corot).

They all got along fine, even the canaries. The fencing was of a smaller guage to stop the canaries escaping. Little by little we saw chewed bits, holes. They were repaired. Richard would sit on a tree and sing away to Pierrot as a diversionary tactic while Corot clipped through the wire.

I had a dream about them escaping, that morning I went downstairs and heard people shouting that the birds had gone! The canaries were still there as was poor Pierrot, but Richard and Corot were gone! We all rushed round the garden (the aviary was on the terrace outside the dining room) we caught sight of something red in one of the little pine trees. It was Richard, he didn't want to come down. Alastair finally managed to reach him, Richard grabbed the palm of his hand in his pincer beak, it hurt. So he was safe and sound and back with Pierrot. I am really glad that Corot flew to freedom and wish the others had gone too. A neighbor came to tell us she had seen a red and green parrot in her garden, was it ours. We saw parrots in Avignon, in the trees behind Credit Agricole.

When winter came the cage was dismantled and put up in the living room. This was fine for all, the 4 dogs never bothered the birds, the mice lived on the floor of the cage and ate seeds. One morning Pierrot was dead on the floor. He usually perched on an old wooden ladder. We took him to the vet, who said that we should be able to find out quite easily how he died. He took a big pair of scissors and literally cut him in half! I am very fond of the vet he is the dearest of friends, but he obviously didn't think that we might be feeling a bit sad or upset by poor Pierrots' demise, he was still warmish. He had always picked at his feathers and looked very ragged, his beak was white which made him seem somewhat anaemic too. So there he was, neatly sliced, mirrored, Pat said immediately that it was kidney failure. Well.

Richard was lonely. We could see all this happening again. When Corot arrived we had thought of flying to Africa and setting him free. One day Pat took us to see a client who kept all kinds of birds, including African Greys, so Richard was introduced into the bird place. I heard some time later that he had mated, had children and was happy. Isn't that super. So when I hear of all these news stories about Parrot infestations in England, on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco as Marc Canter wrote about and elsewhere, I am pleased they are free. Maybe one of them is someone's Corot.

P.S. The fourposter was too tall for the bedroom ceiling and so languished in the garage until flooded...which is another story.

I know that by rescuing Corot from the pet shop prison others were ordered to replace him. We must stop this pet trade and the breeding of animals for pets.

World Parrot Trust
THE CHARITY FUNDING PROJECTS AND PROMOTING
EXCELLENCE IN PARROT CONSERVATION AND WELFARE The WPT is campaigning to stop importation of wild caught birds into the European Union. Sign the petition

Please red this about the plight of Parrots.The African Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus, has a wide distribution, across the tropical belt of Africa, including the islands of Bioko and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea. This species is harvested intensively for the pet trade. More>>

Free Parrots.net News and views v.good site, you can join, help.

Harvard biologist Mike Schindlinger introduces you to the parrots he studies, as individuals, as they move through their daily lives - singing, cavorting and playing as they explore their environment; doing chores, like eating, roosting, and caring for young - with an intelligence not dissimilar, in ways, to our own. More>>

If you aren't going to the British Grand Prix next weekend , go to LA

2004-07-04T20:07:00.000+02:00

bookzen - literary reviews
londonzen - park life

Swink invites you to celebrate the Lying, Cheating & Stealing online theme issue:

Sunday, July 11th

1644 Elevado Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026 (in Silverlake)

Reading starts at 7:00 pm
Celebration starts at 8:00 pm

Open bar

Please RSVP to laparty@swinkmag.com or at 310.861.5996

Swink is a new L.A. NY literary magazine.

Two super "vernissages" in Paris

2004-06-29T20:40:00.000+02:00

I love to be at the opening night, to meet the artist, see the people and perhaps buy something. It is difficult to find out about these events in advance, but when I can I shall post them here. Have fun. Send me your reviews of any events you have attended recently.

francaiszen - la vie
artzen - art culture info expo

The Galerie de la Halle Saint-Pierre a has the pleasure of presenting the work of Douglas Padilla who lives and works in Minneapolis, Minnesota - from 30 June to 27 July

The vernissage (opening reception) is on wednesday 30 June from 6pm

Galerie de la Halle Saint-Pierre 2 rue Ronsard - 75018 Paris
Tel: 01 42 58 72 89
Metro: Anvers/Abbesses
Daily 10h00 - 18h00
------------------

You are invited to the "vernissage" cocktail reception for the exhibition of paintings by Anne Charlotte du Tillet "ABSTRACTION COLOREE" In the presence of the artist and other personalities.

Anne Charlotte du Tillet, was born into a family of famous artists - Leon Lhermitte (peintre sculpteur)Thierry Lhermitte (acteur producteur)

1 July from 6pm at:-
Agence Laforet Immobillier
38 rue des Martyrs Paris 9

The show runs from 1 July until 31 August

Bravo! the off roaders are offside, pas chic ...

2004-06-26T14:05:00.000+02:00

ecozen - animals ecology philanthropy

France launches radical green tax on bigger cars - Scheme rewards drivers who opt for small vehicles

Jon Henley in Paris The Guardian

French drivers who favour large, gas-guzzling cars will have to pay up to €3,500 (£2,300) more for a new model from next January under a radical green road tax scheme unveiled by the environment ministry.

Part of a new environment bill aimed at cutting air, water and soil pollution over the next five years, the scheme will also reward drivers who opt for smaller, cleaner vehicles with payouts of up to €700.

Last month the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, described 4x4 vehicles as "bad for London - completely unnecessary" and their owners as "complete idiots".

Entente cordiale - Lartigue et Lartigue

2004-06-25T14:45:00.000+02:00

artzen - art culture info expo
londonzen - park life

Jacques Henri Lartigue, Album 1944, Florette, Paris, January. Photograph JH Lartigue © Ministere de la Culture-France/A.A.J.H.L.

Jacques Henri Lartigue Photographs 1901-1986
24 June - 5 September 2004 Hayward Gallery

This is the first British exhibition of the photographs of this amazing French photographer. "Central to the exhibition are one hundred large albums on which he worked all his life - a unique and extraordinary document of his times, on loan for the first time outside France. These are displayed alongside his best-known images as vintage and modern prints and his early stereoscopes that highlight Lartigue's fascination with movement."

Exhibition is organised by the Centre Pompidou, Musee national d'art moderne, Paris and the Donation Jacques Henri Lartigue.

The Hayward Gallery is in between the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Festival Hall.

I know Lartigue - Gerard Lartigue, he is an excellent French painter. I have passed many an amusing spell with him in his home of Toulouse. He is related to the photographer, bien sure! He is a big man usually taking the air in the glorious park by the garonne, with his charmant petite chien. I love his work, do look at his site here>>

Foire Saint-Germain

2004-06-22T16:00:00.000+02:00

artzen - art culture info expo

27th Foire Saint-Germain 7 Juin - 11 July 2004 Place Saint Suplice

The Foire Saint-Germain proposes a rich and varied schedule of artistic events that turns the district into a performance festival, concerts, readings, theatre, different activities.

Event calendar>>