I Prefer Paris

Meredith Mullins: Seize the Sun

2013-05-23T07:59:59+02:00

When there are only two days of sun in a month, you savor the moments. For me, those precious days were spent in two of the most beautiful parks in and around Paris.

I spent the first sun day at the palace of Versailles with the Royal Molecatcher (Curious? Find out more here).

The sculpted trees and statues, artfully arranged by Le Nôtre, were graced with soft light and sweeping clouds (and, of course, a few dead moles … not pictured here). It was a good day.

The second appearance of the sun was at the Jardins Albert Kahn (although rain drops ultimately took the stage). Here, one falls into a zen trance--surrounded by elegant reeds, lush greens, free-floating koi, and tranquil pools. No matter what the weather, it's always a soothing experience.

Since I don't know when the sun will shine again, the Paris mantra of the moment is Carpe Diem. Seize the Day. (Or better still, Seize the Sun.) (Not that I'm complaining . . . well, yes I am).
Meredith Mullins is a fine art photographer, photography instructor, and Director of the International Fine Art Photography Competition. Her work can be seen at www.meredithmullins.artspan.com or in her award-winning book, In A Paris Moment. She is also available for private photography instruction/exploration in Paris.Contact her at meredithmullins@earthlink.net.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

Momentané at Les Arts Decoratifs

2013-05-22T09:45:39+02:00

Momentané is the terrific new design retrospective of the work of brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. Following the meteoric rise of these two forward thinking French born designers, the exhibit closely retraces 15 years of all aspects of their prolific output. From limited edition furniture to high quality mass-produced work, the versatility along with smart design is apparent in over the 100 works on display, which includes lamps, sofas, wall sculptures, tapestries, office furniture, and textiles. Highlights include the stunning 12 meter high felt sculpture named Clouds (2009) along side a dramatic wall of red and black clothes pins, Twigs and Algae sculptures (2004), the High-Backed Alcove sofa from Vitra (2007), and the Lit Clos bed, one of their first pieces from 2000 created for the Milan Furniture Fair.

Divided into three sections, the Tuileries side gallery features their modular designs for workspaces and offices, the Rivoli galleries focus on objects and furniture for home and more intimate spaces, and the center entrance aisle is an installation of their textile and room partition creations.

A must-see exhibit for design aficionados.

Momentané
Till September 1, 2013
Les Arts Decoratifs
107 rue de Rivoli, 75001
Metro: Palais Royal-Musee de Louvre
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11AM to 6PM, till 9PM Thursday
http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/english-439/accueil-710/une-715/english-439/exhibitions/current-events#bouroullec

I want to thank everyone for their kind and touching emails and comments about my photo show and please forgive me if I didn't personally reply to you.

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos. I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

My Photo Opening

2013-05-21T06:01:00+02:00

I dropped off my framed photos to the gallery on Tuesday afternoon and handed them to Laurie to hang. I didn’t know how they would be displayed but when I arrived on Thursday before the opening started, the photos were brilliantly integrated into the wall of flower paintings. It was hard to recognize the photos from the paintings, which I thought was perfect.

At 6PM, people started coming and by 8:30 there were so many people in the gallery, they spilled over into the street. Many friends and acquaintances were there and I was so touched so many people came. Best of all some blog readers were there, which I was so thrilled and also some of my tour clients from that week showed up. In fact, three women who were my tour clients the day before were so sweet and brought a bottle of Champagne as a congratulations.

By 9PM the festivities were mostly over and I had dinner with Vincent and a few friends to celebrate my big night.

If you didn’t make it to the opening, the show runs till June 15.

14 rue Servandoni, 75006
Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 2PM to 6:30PM
Metro: St. Sulpice

Here are images of all four photos from the exhibit.

Each photo is a signed edition of 15. If you would like to buy a signed, unframed photo printed here and shipped to the U.S., the cost would be 125 euros plus 25 euros for shipping. If you would like an unsigned and unframed copy printed in the U.S. and shipped, the cost is $50. You may email me at r.nahem@gmail.com to order.
Urn with Flowers in St. Germain

Flowers in door at Montparnasse Cemetery

Lily pad in Menton Garden

Man with Green Umbrella among Red Flowers

my fun tour clients

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

Cannes Film Festival 2013

2013-05-20T06:01:00+02:00

I adore the trés chic poster for the Cannes Film Festival 2013. It’s a remastered and redesigned photo of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman taken for the 1963 film A New Kind of Love. It’s a tribute to Paul Newman who died in 2008. Newman and Woodward were originally honored in 1958 at the festival when they were in competition for the Martin Ritt film The Long Hot Summer.

The president of the jury this year is Steven Spielberg and judges include Nicole Kidman, French actor Daniel Auteuil, director Ang Lee, and actor Christoph Waltz.

Although The Great Gatsby was shown out of competition, it was hailed as the big event of the festival. Films in competition are from the U.S., France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Chad, Mexico, Japan, and China and include Beyond the Candelabra directed by Steven Soderbergh, Le Passé (The Past) directed by Asghar Farhadi, Un Chateau en Italie (A Castle in Italy) directed by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Venus in Fur directed by Roman Polanski, Nebraska directed by Alexander Payne, Jeune & Jolie (Young and Beautiful) directed by Francois Ozon, Grigris directed by Mahamat –Saleh Harqun, Inside Llewyn Davis directed by Ethan and Joel Coen, Only God Forgives directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, and Wara No Tate (Shield of Straw) directed by Takashi Miike.

Somehow my invitation to attend all the glamorous events, parties, and screenings mysteriously disappeared in the mail. Perhaps I will have to wait to next year to walk down the red carpet.

Cannes Film Festival 2013
Till May 26
http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en.html

Click here to watch cool trailer with the Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward poster in it.

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

Best of Eye Prefer Paris:Paris Window Boxes 3

2013-05-15T07:36:02+02:00

I am taking a blogging break this week to focus on my photo exhibit opening this Thursday. I am reposting a series of gardens to give you a breath of Paris in the spring.

Here is my third edition of the glorious window boxes adorning the terraces of Paris. Take a whiff and a look and enjoy!

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.