Demain soir je fête mes six mois de résidence au 59 rue de Rivoli,
j’exposerai le travail résultant de ce temps,
les images attendus mais plutôt inattendus,
autour d’un apéro, partagé avec des amis
nouveaux, de longtemps et pas encore connus.
A Paris? Vous êtes bienvenus.
Thanks everyone who came by 59 last night for our residents’ group show! For those who couldn’t pass through the gallery at 59 rue de Rivoli in Paris, you still have time! The show will hang until February 14th, when it will end with some young, energetic musical accompaniment.
And, a word about 59 and what it means to me, in a way I may have not said before…
It’s sort of a dream to me to be a resident in this building, a place I first encountered in maybe 2001 or 2002, a naive Midwestern girl roaming Paris, thinking “I will live here.” I couldn’t wrap my mind around how the existence of an artist squat was possible (you mean you just stay and not pay rent? how do you get away with that?), and I didn’t know that’s what this extravagantly decorated building at number 59 was.
What I saw that day, standing on the sidewalk among the shoppers on Rivoli, was freedom. Freedom manifested in a way I had never seen before. Freedom, action, creation, coming out of every window and crevice. My gut emotional response was, YES!
That day the front door was closed and I went about my dreamy wanderings. It wasn’t until 2005 that I saw the inside. It didn’t disappoint. Globally, it was colorful chaos, like a marathon five-hour French-style Christmas feast for the eyes. It was warm like sitting around a fire with friends. It had high collective energy and I wanted a key.
In 2006 I saw the building be emptied, in 2009 I saw it re-filled (sorry, skipping a lot in between), and now in 2010 it’s a place where my personal work is taking a new turn. 59, and the people who created and continue to create it, have inspired me with their talent, friendship and encouragement. My life wouldn’t be the same if we hadn’t crossed paths.
On that note, a few photos from the last couple days.
D.
Sebastien Lecca contemplates his installation.
Fanny Duprat paints it black.
Can you find my head in Seb's collection of faces?
Jeff's son Diego, conquering his fear of dogs. He made his first canine friend on this night.
Camille, a frequenter of Parisian art events. Her maitresse, Pring, is behind her in gold ankle boots, which she created. My feet are in pink.
Fanny makes a killer belle blonde.
Resident artists Agnès de la Roncière and Gaki.
Kim, artist in residence, came decked out in angel's wings. Here photographed with Bernard, who always reminds me to consult his agent if I plan to sell a photo of him.
Yours truly, in a dress inspired by and borrowed from Lucie Belarbi, a long-time resident of 59.
It’s 2am again and I can’t sleep. In the morning I’ll be hanging my show at the Maison de l’Argentine at Cité Universitaire in Paris. The opening is Thursday night and it will hang until mid January.
If you’re in Paris, come on by!
Vernissage invite. Photo from a high point in Humhauaca, in the Jujuy province of Argentina.
Scenes from the inauguration of the life of the aftersquat.
On 09-09-09, 59 Rivoli is reborn.
When the doors opened at 18h, there was already a crowd waiting outside.
Etsuko Kobyashi, creatively masked.
Suisse Marocain spotted in the crowd.
Leora Wien, inspecting the spectators.
Yosuke being preserved in someone's cell phone, standing in front of Mariko Saito's work.
Kit Brown and his big heart.
Sebastien Lecca through the vitrine.
Etsuko comes out to serve, um, well you'd have to try it.
Sandy Murden in good spirits.
Michel Vray, a long-time 59 Rivoli squat veteran, hidden among the crowd.
Gaspard Delanoe.
Percussionist entertains.
Malamente (of Guappe Cartone) on violon.
Barry Jones, after his set, was down in front with a coffee mug full of liquid courage.
Aliocha expresses himself.
Leora Wien in saffron light, 59 Rivoli glows behind her.
Aliocha : http://www.59rivoli.org/aliocha.html
Etsuko Kobyashi : www.59rivoli.org/etsuko.html
Gaspard Delanoe : http://gasparddelanoe2008.wordpress.com
Guappe Carto : www.myspace.com/guappecartomusica
Kit Brown : http://abookaboutdeath.blogspot.com/2009/08/kit-brown-181.html
Leora Wien : http://www.leorawien.blogspot.com/
Mariko Saito : http://www.59rivoli.org/mariko.html
Michel Vray : www.59rivoli.org/michelvray.html
Sandy Murden : http://www.59rivoli.org/sandy.html
Sebastien Lecca : www.lecca.net
Suisse Marocain : http://www.59rivoli.org/suissemarocain.html
Yosuke : www.59rivoli.org/yosuke.html
The phrase that stuck out in my mind today: “Il faut partager, pas conserver.” (It’s necessary to share, not preserve.) The words came out of Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë’s mouth as he talked to journalists while visiting 59 Rivoli. The building at this address in the center of Paris existed as an artist’s squat for 6 years (after having stood empty for 10) and tomorrow at 18h00, after nearly 3 years of renovations, the public is invited to come inside and visit the studios of the 32 artists that started working there this week.
Today was reserved for the Mayor, who made good on his promise to renovate and rendre (give back) the building as a space to create and share their work.
I started photographing this building, and the beautiful faces inside of it, when they moved in 2006. Some of those photos can be seen here.
But here is a look at today.
Suisse Marocain on the lookout for Delanoë's arrival.
Kit Brown and his Leica. Wearing an example of the T-shirt he offered Delanoë.
Etsuko Kobyashi, wearing one of her mask creations.
Mariko Saito and Gaki. Sandy Murden and Anita Savary.
The stylish Lucie Belarbi anticipating Delanoë's entrance.
Gaspard Delanoë (squat co-founder and president of the artist's association at 59) and Bertrand Delanoë, surrounded by media
Leora Wien, a Los Angeles native with a message, shares a moment with Monsieur le Maire. A painting of President Barack Obama, by Thierry Hodgebar, peeks behind them
The Mayor in Eve Clair's studio on the 6th floor.
Mariko Saito, charming Delanoë in a one-of-a-kind dress.
Francesco and Aliocha, who showed up like a rock star after Delanoë made his exit.
Suisse Marocain : http://www.59rivoli.org/suissemarocain.html
Kit Brown : http://abookaboutdeath.blogspot.com/2009/08/kit-brown-181.html
Etsuko Kobyashi : http://www.59rivoli.org/etsuko.html
Sandy Murden : http://www.59rivoli.org/sandy.html
Anita Savary : http://anitasavary.free.fr/
Lucie Belarbi : http://www.59rivoli.org/luciebelarbi.html
Gaspard Delanoë : http://gasparddelanoe2008.wordpress.com/
Leora Wien : http://www.leorawien.blogspot.com/
Thierry Hodebar : http://www.59rivoli.org/thierryhodebar.html
Eve Clair : http://eve.clair.free.fr/
Mariko Saito : http://www.59rivoli.org/mariko.html
Francesco : http://www.59rivoli.org/francesco.html
Aliocha : http://www.59rivoli.org/aliocha.html
Today was a long day hanging two expos, my own and another photographer’s. I still have text to write, in French, which is why I’m posting this blog and looking for sweet things to eat in the kitchen. Anything to avoid writing.
The place is pretty interesting, tomorrow I’ll post some shots of the event. The room next-door has a “cabinet de curiosités.” And curious, you should be. There’s a monkey sitting next to an over-turned chicken, and they’re both facing a black crow and hanging butterflies. Don’t worry, I’ll show you later….
Fanny waiting for further instructions and the tear-drop chandeliers.
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