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Joseph Fiedler
CE SOIR
posted:
Looking for Pablo and Keith: France 2012.
 
This year is my partner Nan’s sixty-fifth birthday and my fifty-ninth.  It’s totally sucky to think about the realities of that so we decided to go to France for 3 weeks to ease into it. It was my first time.  Man, I was surprised!  Paris for ten days, Aix, Cassis and Villefranche sur mer. I was interested in the Picasso trail and also keen to see the Villa Nelcote for a little hit of Keith Richards and the gang. The Stones recorded EXILE ON MAIN STREET here in 1971.  HAPPY When you think about it, that’s a long time ago but I have a pretty serviceable memory.
 
Anyway, I thought that I’d share some of the best shots [we took over 1,400].  It’s not as arty as some might like but if you think about it, it’s pretty heavy regardless.  I was way too overwhelmed by the onslaught of cultural, visual and other sensory input to actually get centered and draw.  I’d need months to do that and a fat bankroll. Take a moment to stroll through Joey's France.
I picked this for my Louvre target. Jeez, is it big. It's 23 feet wide. Hard to imagine it was made by a man. The Raft of the Medusa by Gerricault.

This is 13 Place Emile Goudeau, the site of the former Bateau Lavoir, the infamous studio which housed the likes of Picasso, Braque, Gris and many others.It is on this site that Picasso painted Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, creating Cubism and Modernism in a fell swoop.

The door card. Our apartment was directly opposite on the very square where Picasso met Fernande.

This is Picasso's very first Parisian studio,only a block away from the Bateau.

This is the grand-daddy of all art studios, 7 Rue Des Grands Augustins, where Picasso painted Guernica among other great works. He was held under virtual house arrest here during WWII.

Touching the gate.


This is Picasso's house, Villa Vavenargues [under "reno"]. the old man is buried here.

Picasso's portrait of Dora Marr used as the Apollinaire monument.

These are the great cafes of Paris: The Magots was the hangout of the REAL Surrealists.

Hemmingway and Apollinaire frequented the Palette.

The uber famous Lipp, host to politicians, movie stars and all sorts of intelligensia.

Where Picasso spent most nights accompanied by his secretary Sabartes. I could feel his presence at the urinal!!

This is Collingnon's Market featured in the movie Amelie. I bought toilet paper and wine here.

Nancy at the Lapin!

The money shot from Montmartre.

Mt. St. Victorie from Cezanne's driveway!

The bay of Cassis from our deck.

The Villa Nelcote. The Stones recorded in the basement. They would motorboat over to Italy for breakfast.

Fisherman's church painted by Jean Cocteau in Villefranch.

Touching the wall of Claude Monet's house in Giverny.

Joey enjoying the FLANEUR life at Cafe Du Magots.

Cherry seat in Villefranch.

A Bandol red in Cassis. Au revoir!

Un Cafe at Peres et Fils, Paris.

Met Claire Forgeot at her opening at Gallery 3F, Montmartre. Calire is a former illustrator who is now creating personal work.

Some of Claire's beautiful work.

Also met DJ Ness. Ness spins vinyl Afrobeat from Ghana to California!
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