Yesterday, Rain, the bus, Picasso - Paul Smith, Redon

Yesterday it rained like hell all night

And most of the morning. We had tons of rain all week. It’s raining right now…If it was the Olympics…uh oh 😱

Le Douanier Rousseau - musee d’Orsay

In times of great difficulty sometimes art can offer a respite.

Monday I visited a preview of the Rousseau exhibit at musee d'Orsay (March 22-July 17)

Picasso and Francoise Gilot

 Silhouettes were following me yesterday.

I fell into the Picasso and Francoise Gilot:Paris - Vallauris, 1943-1953 exhibit at Gagosian Gallery 980 Madison Ave.

 A big collection of gorgeous old photos, paintings, drawings, prints by both Picasso and Gilot.

 Gilot was just 21 when she met Picasso

 What a beauty as well as an accomplished artist.
Gilot on Charlie Rose.

 It's easy to see how she captivated Picasso.

 Her balanced, classic features are perfection.

 Perfect to distort as well.

 Many, many multiple portraits of Gilot in the show.

 Two big floors of artwork.

 Some of the photos of Gilot by Edwin Quinn are so arresting. Quinn lived and worked as a photographer from the 1950s, on the Côte d'Azur, during the "golden fifties" the playground of the celebrities from the world of show biz, art and business.

 Don't you love to see artists at work? Read Gillot's Life with Picasso for her view of it all.

 I was on the upper East Side to see a preview of Elsworth Kelly early plant drawings at the Met. These are like silhouettes as well - positive/negative beautiful shapes.

 It's easy to see how these early 60's drawings led to his later more abstract shapes.

 Kelly is a master shape-maker.

If you love drawings don't miss this. It opens today.

 Back to the Picasso-Gilot exhibit. Many of the paintings-drawings are of children, my current obsession probably thanks to Bringing Up Bebe, I am now painting up les bebes.

I loved this drawing Francoise Gilot's made of her son, Claude sleeping curled up on a table. I felt bold enough to show you my drawing of Lillie.

I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I send out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. Sign up to receive these whimsical treasures in the mail.

Thanks for reading PB ❤️

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Heroic Africans at the Met

I love the press previews at the Met and not just for the pistachio gelato eaten after. This Monday's exhibit was a reminder I used to passionately collect French Colonial stamps when I was 11-12... Heroic Africans: Legendary Leaders, Iconic Sculptures - Sept 21 - Jan 29, 2012 brought back memories. Those packets of exotic stamps cost only a few bucks but provided an escape route out of daily life to 'lands of many contrasts' with unpronounceable names. The sculptures in this show are classically iconic...They remind you of figures like this Etruscan goddess in the museum's west wing... The forms change dramatically region to region throughout Africa..

A twin flattened Cycladic head sits in a nearby gallery...

An African head almost plate-like, wimsical...

Did Picasso see these?

Exquisite Yoruba terra cotta heads almost certainly made by women..

The vertical facial striations could be shadows cast by strings of beads hanging from the base of a crown...

These classic forms cry out for a pencil and paper...

Only heads were recovered. Yet it's clear bodies were attached but lost - these are 16th century.

Where would the Cubists...

And Picasso's Demoiselles d'Avignon be without the influence of African sculpture?

French chocolate master Pierre Herme made this 75% pure dark Ghanaian chocolate mask from a cote d'Ivoire statuette.

Part of his series of primative chocolate masks. They could easily be at the Met but one might be inclined to nibble...

Photos by Phyllis Galembo enrich the Mets show.

Some attendees dress appropriately for the Met preview. Or you could grab something in the gift shop and throw it on...

African singer, Angelique Kidjo will perform at the Met. She was at the preview. Click to hear her sing.

BONJOUR HEROIC AFRICANS!