Spring is the time of births and rebirths, so it is entirely suitable that this weekend in Paris will see the unveiling of a new space as well as two freshly renovated ones.
'Les Docks' finally opens...
After delays that have seemingly dragged on for several years, it is a brave decision to schedule the official opening of Les Docks (or is it the Cité de la Mode et du Design - the name isn't very clear) for a Friday the 13th! Previously a dockside warehouse alongside the Seine near the Gare d'Austerlitz, the space was redesigned by architects Jakob + MacFarlane and was originally supposed to open in 2010. It is already home in part to a fashion school, but this weekend sees the opening of public areas including shops and cafés as well as exhibition spaces. The more spectacular rooftop zones will open closer to the summer, and will include a terrace nightclub.
Launching the new spaces are exhibitions on the creations of Balenciaga and Comme des Garçons, organised in association with the Musée Galliera (itself currently closed!).
Full information here: http://www.paris-docks-en-seine.fr/
...and the Palais de Tokyo 'reopens'...
The city's leading modern arts venue reopens its doors this Thursday and Friday for 30 hours non-stop - then closes them again for a week before the official re-opening on the 20th. The renovations have increased the size of the space, making it the biggest contemporary art centre in the world, but expect it to look like a work in progress for quite a while yet (possibly forever).
http://www.palaisdetokyo.com/
...and the Trabendo too
I have to admit that when I received notice that the Trabendo - a rather sweaty live music venue in the Parc de la Villette - was to reopen this weekend, I hadn't even noticed that it had been closed. It was originally designed as a jazz venue (called Hot Brass), but had veered more towards rock over the years, but the owners felt that it lacked the charm necessary to attract crowds over to this corner of the city. Redesigned in 'post-bahaus' style (whatever that is), it now also contains an outdoor 'guingette' bar and cheap(ish) drinks which should bring people to its doors in the summer.
The official re-launch is this Saturday, with a free concert featuring a rare appearance in Paris from ex-member of Spacemen 3, Sonic Boom.
More information here: http://www.letrabendo.net/
Ca et Là
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Pavillon Neuflize OBC, the creation laboratory of Palais de Tokyo, an exhibition will be held at the Fondation d'entreprise Ricard and beyond. Actually, it is the 'beyond' part that is important (and interesting) as almost nothing will be display at the Fondation d'entreprise Ricard. Instead artists who have been involved with the lab over the last 10 years will be displaying creations on sites across Paris (and the rest of the world in some cases!).
Full information on the particpants and locations on this spectacularly unuser-friendly website: http://aaa.closky.online.fr/this&there/. And if you think that website is tricky to navigate, try checking out the event's accompanying map!
More details on this event soon on Invisible Paris, featuring a creation by Davide Bertocchi in the Palais d'Iéna.
Les dimanches au galop
Free horse racing fun for all the family continues this Sunday with another chance to experience the city's most prestigious track, Longchamp.
More information here.
No comments:
Post a Comment