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.
The Vagabond Gallery is back!
For five days only, and with more events possibly to follow.
Tonight it opened with the usual suspects from 59 rue de Rivoli, plus a good crowd of friends and colleagues. The nomadic event is held in temporarily unused spaces in Paris and transformed for short-periods into a gallery. Terry Milgrom and Vincent Ange are the primary organizers, but it takes a village of artists to make it happen.
This one will be around until Sunday, with the finissage being Saturday night.
98 rue Doudeauville, 75018, Metro Château Rouge
Bruno Dumont sits underneath one of his paintings, with Suisse Marocain and Michel Vray, in the store-front section of the current Vagabond Gallery at 98 rue Doudeauville, Paris
The store-front Vagabond Gallery space at 98 rue Doudeauville contains works from Bruno Dumont, Etsuko Kobyashi, Suisse Marocain, Francesco10 and Sebastien Lecca
Artist Etsuko Kobyashi in front of Barbès-Pas Grave
Artist Emmanuel Flipo in front of the piece he made for the Vagabond Gallery
Michel Vray, neon-lit
La grande espace....on standby to find out who did the neon lights...
Suisse Marocain: one of the curators of Barbès - Pas Grave
Art installation, live music, beautiful solid stone walls...
I love these lights, must get some...
L'Amour in front of Suisse's painting, C'est Pas Grave
Vincent Ange, a procurer of space and one of the creators of the Vagabond Gallery
Le Suisse Marocain, such a flirt
I was looking at those brown doors last night, remembering their old red, yellow and purple and thought, when are we going to paint them?
A little while later, while contemplating my collage in the 4th floor hallway, Gaki walked by holding a tall paintbrush with a bright dab of yellow at the end. There was a matching dab on his cheek.
What are you up to? I asked.
He said, with his characteristic smile, on peins la porte, viens.
(We’re painting the door, come.)
You don’t have to tell me twice.
Details of the collaboration's rainbow of fruity flavors
Slimane paints a base coat in blue
Saverio Montella paints with two brushes simultaneously
Suisse Marocain and Barry, who accompanied the painters with song and dance
Suisse and Gaki at the door-painting party
Francesco adds his signautre style
Suisse Marocain closes the doors of 59 rue de Rivoli for the night. To be finished tomorrow...
“Also Women Can Paint” : Suisse Marocain
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
Continuing on the artist theme, meet Suisse Marocain. Saturday night was the finissage of the Vagabond Gallery, an exhibition he created with Kit Brown and Franceso. Three talented artists I know thanks to the 59 Rivoli squat, they transformed an empty space in St Germain into their gallery, taking advantage of a month-long gap in renters.
On the upper floor Suisse created his famous and nomadic Musée Igor Balut, or rather the anti-musée. Portable and joyously chaotic, full of confetti, bizarre juxtapositions, paintings, found objects, and at least one mattress, it’s chez Suisse.
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