Carams

La musique

February 23: Brooklyn rockers Real Estate, whose albums are consistently rated Best New Music by Pitchfork and the like, will perform at Nouveau Casino.

February 24: Pop-dance producers Simian Mobile Disco,  a British duo that broke off from previous band Simian, will perform a DJ set at La Machine du Moulin Rouge.

Dave Bloom

Les arts

Through February 19: Les Femmes savantes, a favorite amongst Molière’s work and a satirical criticism of the ridiculous préciosité that penetrated 18^th century French salons, is showing at the Théâtre de la Tempête.

Through February 19: Chic! Une grande maison at Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine – a look into the history of Paris architecture, specifically the lovely hôtels particuliers that dot the city. Child friendly.

Through March 15: You may know Maxim’s for its resto and boutique, but they also have an exhibition space and this month “Moi, Sarah Bernhardt” is on show. Bernhardt, often thought of as the world’s first and most famous actress, paved the way for female performers to come. Now you can take a peek into her life and passion.

Matt Mansfield

Through March 25: The Maison Européenne de la Photographie’s current special exhibition showcases Brazilian photography over the past 60 years, portraying the country’s consistent search for identity. Don’t forget to stroll through the permanent collections!

Through April 6: If you have an affinity for LatAm photography, be sure to check out FOTO/GRÁFICA at Le Bal as well, a survey of Latin American photography over the past century.

Jules Morgan

Misc.

Every Friday: La Dernière Goutte, an inviting cave in the 6^th, hosts Le Wine-Down, a free wine tasting with noshes from 5-7:30pm. What better way to end the week and rub elbows with locals?

Through February 14: Traveling to Paris with votre amour for la Saint Valentin? The city will be making personal love notes public for the day, so submit your sentiments to the Mairie de Paris by the 8^th to see them posted on signs all over Paris.

For more events in Paris in February, check out these links:

• Secrets of Paris
• Bonjour Paris
• Le Best of Paris

Written by Erin Dahl for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Most visitors to Paris don’t know what they’re missing by not knowing the word fondation. I know I didn’t when I moved from New York. When I heard about the Yves Saint Laurent or Henri Cartier-Bresson fondations, for example, I just assumed they were boring non-profits or something. Silly girl.

Fondations are Paris’ little artistic gems. Often housed in magnificent old hotels particuliers or modern spaces designed by world-renowned architects, these “foundations” are like miniature museums, dedicated to preserving the memory and achievements of influential movers and shakers. Here are some not to be missed.

Fondation Cartier

Fondation Cartier (Tim Brown Architects’)

By far my favorite is the Fondation Cartier. The modern, airy Jean Nouvel-designed building invites the lush cedar and fig trees surrounding the building inside, and the surrounding wild gardens make for a perfect pit-stop after taking in the art. And then there’s the art. Seeing as it’s the hoighty-toighty French jeweler’s fondation, the work is nothing short of sterling. Exhibitions are really well curated, ranging from Japanese megastar Beat Takashi Kitano’s kitschy-controversial paintings to the wildly popular 2009 graffiti art exhibition to William Eggleston photographs.

261 Blvd Raspail (14^th arr.). 01 42 18 56 50. Open every day, except Monday, from 11am-8pm; Tuesdays until 10pm.

Fondation Pierre Bergé Yves Saint Laurent

Exhibit at Fondation Pierre Bergé Yves St. Laurent (Virginie Arnoux, Tulio Borges)

Yves Saint Laurent is a god to the French, to fashionistas and to feminists. So it only makes sense that there’s a fondation devoted to the iconic fashion designer in one of the city’s chichi-est arrondissements. Don your finest and dive deep into four decades’ worth of original sketches, accessories, haute couture and ready-to-wear. While many of the rotating exhibitions are devoted to YSL, not all of them are. Past standouts include shows by painter David Hockney, interior designer Jean-Michem Frank and American socialite Nan Kempner.

5 Avenue Marceau (16^th arr). 01 44 31 64 00. Open Tuesday – Sunday from 11am to 6pm.

Baccarat House Paris

Baccarat House (Jason Whittaker)

Bling, bling! In many ways the Baccarat House is the quintessential Parisian space, set in a gorgeous 18^th century mansion and reimagined by Philippe Starck. In other words, it’s tres riche. In addition to a permanent collection of all things sparkly and divine there are regular exhibitions, plus a store that is absolutely dazzling (and free to enter). After the tour through crystal wonderland, it’s absolutely mandatory to dejeune in the breathtaking Cristal Room—just be sure to make reservations in advance.

11 Place des Etats-Unis (16^th arr.). 01 40 22 11 00. Open Monday and Wednesday – Saturday from 10am to 6:30pm.

Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson

Fondation Henri Cartier Bresson (Erica Berman)

With two modest floors of clean white space, the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson is the most modest of the lot, but it’s still a must-see, especially for anyone with a love for great photography. Cartier-Bresson’s riveting mid-century street images of Paris and photojournalism from around the world really hit you in heart. In 2003, a year before his death, Cartier-Bresson and his wife and daughter set this foundation up to preserve his legacy and to showcase other great artists he influenced with thrice-annual exhibitions.

2 Impasse Lebouis (14^th arr.). 01 56 80 27 00. Open Tuesday – Sunday from 1pm to 6:30pm; on Wednesdays until 8:30pm.

Fondation Le Corbusier

Maison La Roche by Le Corbusier (Justine Robinett)

It’s tough to capture one man’s work when it spans four continents and 11 countries, but the Fondation Le Corbusier succeeds in giving you at least a sense of Charles-Édouard Jeanneret’s talent and prodigious work (Corbusier is a pseudonym). Set in two past residences, the modern architecture pioneer’s oeuvre comes to life through preserved furniture, sketches, paintings, writings and, of course, those famous Le Corbusier chairs.

8-10 Square du Docteur Blanche (16th arr.). 01 42 88 33 17. Open Monday from 1:30pm to 6pm; Tuesday – Thursday from 10am to 6pm; and Friday – Saturday from 10am to 5pm.

Fondation Henri Cartier Bresson (H.J. Wesselink)

Related Links:

• Looking to get artsy outside? Check out Paris’ Quartier d’Eté
• If we were going to be in London before August 14th, we would be checking out this exhibit on the masters of Italian style
• For something a little more light-hearted, a fair has set up shop in the Tuilleries gardens!

Written by Amy Thomas for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Last weekend marked the end of one of Paris’ most feverish cultural weeks during which 4 contemporary art fairs competed for the attention of collectors, journalists, galleries and museums who had come from near and far to take the contemporary art world’s pulse.

Mariano Vargas, Helen — courtesy of cutlog.org

First comes the ubiquitous Fiac (Foire International d’Art Contemporain), held, appropriately, in the Louvre. With more than 200 galleries and 4000 works on show, the 80,750 visitors who trickled in over the course of the 5-day-long expo had more than enough to admire. There was initially some debate as to the relatively obscene entry rate (€28/person) – decided with apparent disregard for the general state of the economy and of the dire art market in particular. But with 23% more visitors this year, the appeal of one of the largest and most notable congregations of contemporary art and art-world professionals seems to have outweighed the elitist price tag.

Daniel Firman, SSHH (Something Strange Happened Here)
– Courtesy of cutlog.org

There to add a little spice alongside the monolithic FIAC were 2-3 “off” fairs – most notably Slick (at CENTQUATRE in the 19e) and Cutlog, the newcomer at the Bourse du Commerce. Presented as younger, edgier, more provocative alternatives, they attracted collectors who have lost their lust for exotic and/or trend-based investments over the past year.

Allison Watt (at Slick) – courtesy of Lunettes Rouges

Slick, held on the opposite side of Paris, attracted more critical acclaim this year than ever before. Dubbed favorite of the ‘offs’ by Le Monde’s contemporary art critic, Marc Lenot, the fair had the advantage of a 4000 sq. meter space, attention-grabbing concepts like the Slick Dessert conference (centered around the literal debate of ‘taste’ in contemporary art) and truly arresting works presented by over 62 galleries (that’s 4 more than last year!).

Tsuyoshi Hirano, BLOOM – courtesy of Cutlog.org

This year also saw the unlikely start up of Cutlog, the new fair initially strongly discouraged by many institutional forces. For Bruno Hadjadj, director of Cutlog, the project stemmed from a desire to present a credible alternative to a model that he considered structurally unfriendly to new and emerging artists and galleries. As a result, all of the galleries selected for Cutlog were required to either be new or emerging themselves, or to present work by new and emerging artists. The resulting atmosphere, in contrast to the froid glacial of the Fiac, was energizing and almost warm (unheard of in the French art world). With highly praised works by Adel Abidin, Mariano Vargas and Daniel Firman, among others, the fair built enough buzz among industry titans to guarantee (at least!) a second installment next year. Stay tuned!

Two, Ward Yoshimoto — courtesy of cutlog.org

Written by Geneviève Sandifer for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

True to Parisian form, Fiac, the international contemporary art fair taking place October 22-25, aims to impress. Hundreds of works, spread throughout the Tuilleries gardens, the Cour Carrée of the Louvre and the Grand Palais, promise to shock, amaze, frustrate and provoke – just what the French (and Francophiles) need to get a little healthy, argumentative blood flowing.

Warhol – Yves St. Laurent’s Bulldog 1986   (www.artnet.com)

Starting October 20th at 10pm sharp, artists Fabien and Raphael Siboni will set off with one loud bang an entire 15-minute firework display, and trust that questioning the meaning of sensorial perception and entertainment won’t provoke too much ire from the Louvre’s more established neighbors. The gardens will be populated throughout the week with the larger and more fantastical installation and performance pieces, such as Vincent Olinet’s floating canopy bed (Pas encore mon histoire), Prinz Gholam’s performance piece Air, or Laurent Tixador’s Jumping Beans, an elevated structure which the artist will make his home for the length of the exhibition.

Jean-Claude Ruggirello – Bruits (www.documentsdartistes.org)

While the Grand Palais will be mostly devoted to established giants of the contemporary art world (Pollock, Warhol, Basquiat and the like), the Cour Carrée will cater more to emerging artists. The end goal: for all, exposure. For a select few: the Marcel Duchamp prize – the victor wins a 2-month long exhibit at the Pompidou Museum — or the Lafayette prize, bestowed upon young and emerging artists for work commissioned by the Galleries Lafayette. For the rest of us: conversation fodder for at least the next dinner party.

Fiac – October 22-25, Paris. For more information, click here

Written by Geneviève Sandifer for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.