Sonia Delaunay, Kenzo ♥ Printemps

Trying to paint a geometric 'Sonia Delaunay' watercolor is not as easy as it first appears.

Everyone asks how I find out what's on in Paris as if I had some secret source and could I please fess up? My big ole secret is: 

I see a poster.

I shoot it.

If the poster is revolving as many do in Paris, I'll wait for it to come back and shoot it. I stash the photos in a file on my ipad and on Flickr. I noticed the Delaunay show was opening the 17th at the Musee d'art Moderne. So I ran over the day before and caught the press preview.  Very lucky.

This is one huge and very beautiful retrospective.

Delaunay lived to be 91 and never stopped producing artworks.

Her husband, Robert Delaunay, is perhaps more famous than Delaunay and that's her doing.

He died at the beginning of the Second World War in 1941. She went on to promote his paintings assiduously while working in a multitude of mediums including fabrics, home furnishing, fashion.

I don't know if Delaunay turned her hand to design in the kitchen(cuisine). Most likely. If you want a break mid-show, which isn't a bad idea, go next door to the snack bar (called Smack) in the Palais de Tokyo - one of my favorite quick lunch places in the 16th on Avenue President Wilson. Healthy, yummy and reasonable.

Delaunay was a prolific fashion designer first only for herself and then, because of the demand, for others.

Her gouache sketches are simply wonderful.

Many of her designs turned up in the theatre. The brilliant colors and geometric patterns were perfect for dancers. This is a don't-miss show in my opinion. You will leave deeply inspired.
More SONIA DELAUNAY pictures on Flickr.

More geometry and bright colors at Printemps' homage to Designer Kenzo.

These might well be the perfect outfit to wear to the Delaunay show.

Printemps has lit up the entire store for Kenzo.

I was turned upside down by the jazzy bright colors.

Don't miss the jazzy religeuses at Cafe Pouchkine inside Printemps.

Witty windows. I could use an extra pair of hands in my purse..

There's a new accessory floor (the 4th) and LE SNEAKER is the IT shoe if you can believe it.

Downstairs more crazy patterns from Kenzo and cupcakes from a Sugar Daze pop-up shop. Or you can get your geometric kick (licorice Allsorts) in a red-striped bag at the outdoor stall at Metro Odeon.