0 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!

0 French obsessions

Surprise, surprise. Guess what?

French girls have a lot of the same obsessions as we do.
Yes they adore our cupcakes. And yes they put a wonderful spin on them that makes them presque unrecognizable...

miam-miam

Bagels? Oui!

I have to drag over 12 sesame bagels to French girl from NYC. Who'd a thunk it?

SJP? Mad about the girl. They can NOT get enough of Sara. I saw an Elle post that SJP wore the same shoes to 4 events! They care more than we do peut-etre? Scarlett, another French obsession -can't get enough. Gossip girl? Fahgettaboutit! They LURVE her.
They are every bit as crazily obsessed with losing weight as we are. How do I know this? I hang out at the Relay in the train station. You can read all the mags to your hearts content and even take pics!
J'adore le Relay!
They love our coke. But regarde!
I would drink coca too if Karl was on it - so chic.
And a silhouette to boot.
Drawing by Soledad - Elle
They adore l'iPad aussi...
Et les chiens... Hello Kitty? Surement ouiThe obssession to make DIY macarons has become universal. But who offers a box with kitchen thermometer and a pastry bag? The French do that's who. I know because I bought this set for all of 12 euros at the musee Arts Decoratif of all places.

Even though the French don't want you to take pictures...

They are out there shooting just like us.

Loving chocolates is a universal, but who makes the best chocolat?

The Eiffel Tower belongs to all of us. Do you know Australian photographer Carla Coulson living in Paris? She has a new book out, Paris Tango full of her gorgeous Paris photos. Do drop by her blog, Carla Loves Photography.

BIG MERCI PB readers for buying books and stuff at Amazon.com!

Because of you, I have gift certificate points to buy a NEW COMPUTER! That means many more macarons for you in Paris because of your kindness :)

And just a reminder*

my exhibit at the DC Alliance Francaise is coming up.

The opening is next Friday the 17th

6:30 -8:30

Please RSVP

202-234-7911 xt31

2142 Wyoming Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008

There will be macarons.

BONNE WEEK-END PBers!