Going somewhere, Monsieur Dufy ?

photo: Le style et la matière
Raoul Dufy Le départ pour la soirée 1935

Going out, of course. 

Half of the pleasure is in the anticipation. Getting ready, picturing the events. Not always easy after a long day at work and a full schedule with little time to change gears, let alone attire. 

photo: Le style et la matière
Présentation de mode chez Schiaparelli 1935

 But, in an ideal world , let's say it's the weekend - and you've made it there en beauté.

Just an ounce of imagination, and this scene is a dreamy foyer of a theatre filling up with lovely spectators dressed in honor of the evening, where you cross through and mingle in gentle effluves of perfume until the bell rings.

photo: Le style et la matière
Le cortège d’Orphée ou La musique

Take your places for a night at the opera - 

Orpheus could charm even a stone with his music.

photo: Le style et la matière

Boutonnière in place? 

Ladies and gentlemen, remember also that brooches are a handsome adornment.

This fabric is a jewel with its sumptuous warp dye work in the ground and the intricate play of weaves in the gold brocaded wefts like so much orfèverie. 

photo: Le style et la matière

photo: Le style et la matière

photo: Le style et la matière

Swish, swish

photo: Le style et la matière

photo: Le style et la matière

Maquettes for printed pattern, framed. 

It's all for art.

photo: Le style et la matière
of sextet of colors in a silk Lampas 

Flowers for the finale.

Can you tell I'm glad to have my opera tickets now?!
With sweaty palms, I waited for the precise minute the e-box office was to open, clicked on my date of choice in January and nothing was left. Strange and disappointing. An inside job, wouldn't you say? I chose another date, not nearly as convenient, but I managed to get my four tickets with grouped seating. Il Trovatore is for March. It's not easy to get tickets here in Paris.
On the bright side, I'll have plenty of time for anticipating the event!

I saw the exhibit: Raoul Dufy, tissus et créations at the MAM, Troyes and it is now in Carcassone until October 15.

Solstice: a gathering in Paris

photos: credits at the end of post

Tree of Light

oxidized and waxed walnut, metal, gold and silver threads

A moment of union – an exchange in an atmosphere of quiet – has been carefully carved, painstakingly molded, and lovingly woven by Anne and Vincent Corbière at the gallery, Salon H.

The husband and wife duo, cabinetmaker and weaver each in the highest traditions of their respective arts, has created one of the most poetic moments in their careers. Convoking us in a ring around a Tree of Light,  we find stools, the most primitive of furnishing elements. The exhibit called “Solstice,” evokes the time of the year when diminishing light has become all the more precious. The pagan notions of the sacred - circle, tree, light - are expressed with great craftsmanship in the most contemporary fashion. A beautiful and living reminder that what is most important in life never really changes, that furniture can be art and convey emotion.

M42 

Blackened steel, 

upholstery silk bayadère stripes on a ground of gold threads

ETA ORI 

Patinated steel, 

upholstery of freestyle weave of silk stripes with a glint of silver

MEISSA 

Carved chestnut, textile woven with printed vinyl yarns

Solstice can be seen at Salon H until Tuesday, January 20th.

Salon H, is not just a gallery. 
Located in the narrow streets of 6^th arrondissement, 

it's founders,Yaël Halberthal and Philippe Zagouri, have formed a salon for the 21^st century. Here meet artists, writers, performers - creating events of dynamic and intelligent exchange 
designed for this very intimate and particular space.

           photos courtesy of Salon H and Bruno Suet

Trompe l'oeil Ribbon

On the exhibit radar: Julien Faure, Créateur de rubans depuis 1864 at the 

Musée de l'Art et de l'Industrie St Etienne. 150 years of weaving wonders in tiny widths!  And the museum has the largest and most beautiful collection of ribbons in the world.

Julien Faure = a tradition of creativity, good design, 

talent and skill which shows...

right down to these Louboutins.

For another glimpse of these concentrates of artistry look here.