Revisiting the Roaring Twenties:
Art, Culture and the École de Paris
Presented as part of the Multidisciplinary Residency,
dedicated to the centenary celebration of intercultural exchange through the arts
dedicated to the centenary celebration of intercultural exchange through the arts
Paris, January, 2020
WORKSHOPS
Unshattering the mirror: Les Années Folles, the Rejection of Meaning, and the Search for It
workshop led by Helen Cusack O’Keeffe
The population of Europe, like most of the globe, was reeling from the horrors of WWI. Dadaism deleted and subverted meaning; post Dada, the artists and writers of Paris had an open space in which to rearrange the shattered mirror that art holds up to life. Thus, for multitudes of European and international writers, Paris seemed the most civilised possible place of exile, as - unlike certain other cities - it sincerely valued art and artists, with its tradition of creative freedom and tolerance for radicalism. Considering inspirational figures such as Cocteau, Joyce, Barnes and Beckett, we will explore and push our own literary freedom, playfully transcending reality as we rev up for the 2020s! The workshop will be followed by an evening Salon in the same location, with informal readings and other artistic presentations, wine, conversations, dadaist merriment and mayhem.
What the Lost Generation Found In Paris During the 1920s
workshop led by Malik Ameer Crumpler at Shakespeare and Company
What exactly was the Jazz Age so jazzed about? Often referred to as the Lost Generation, American artists in Paris during the 1920s found a voice, a style and a philosophy that eventually gave birth to American Modernism. What was it about their community that inspired such an enduring artistic epiphany in the creative minds of the world? Unlike the segregated United States of America in the 1920s, cultural diversity thrived in Paris, fuelling countless innovations in literature, music, arts & technology. The psychological, racial and sexual freedom Americans experienced in Paris liberated artists to challenge and experiment with fresh ideas that severely censored and oppressed individuals simply could not. By implementing several major styles, genres and techniques of the Jazz Age into our own writing, we hope to carry on the traditions of creative diversity.
Writing in the Wake of War
workshop led by Matt Jones at Shakespeare and Company
How do you write after the bloodiest war to date? Writers and poets sought to make sense of WW1 without jingoistic rhetoric: a piercing journalistic voice emerged that did not shy from the details, nor wrap them in flowers. This workshop, through writing exercises and exploring authors of the 1920s, asks, how do we write about ugliness? Hemingway, Orwell, Owen: our literary predecessors not only emerged from conflict, they fought. Must we, as writers of our time, participate in the conflicts that shape our world? How do we live our stories without falling into the same narcissism, the toxic cycles on repeat?
Somatic Resources for Dance, Movement, and Creativity
Led by Hiie Saumaa, PhD
In this workshop, we will look at the acts of performance and dance making through the tools of somatics, an umbrella term for practices that attend to the body, mind, and the soul of the mover. In the 1920s, the term “somatics” did not exist although practices that attended to mindful movement were starting to develop in the Western world already at the beginning of the twentieth century. The improvisational, somatically aligned dance methods of Isadora Duncan (1877-1927), a figure important also for the dance world in Paris, were revolutionary.
In the twenty first century, somatics is a growing field. What resources does this realm of movement experience and studies offer to dance makers and performers? Can somatics and sensation-based practices help us tap into creativity in new ways? Can they help us envision, create, refine, and complete our projects or become more confident and expressive performers on the stage? Can somatic tools help us broaden and use our imaginations? In this workshop, we will work individually, with partners, and in small or big groups, to try out somatic tools for enhancing creativity and expressivity.
Jazz Dance Workshop: from 20s to fusion
Led by Patricia Greenwood Karagozian & JLuc Pacaud at Micadanses
In this Jazz Dance Workshop co-presented by the ISAO company, dance practitioners are invited to discover the principles, concepts, tools and skills used in different percussion styles in relation to the dances of the world, from 1920 to today. Originally from California, Patricia Greenwood Karagozian has developed her body of work in Jazz Dance based on body musicianship, improvisation and creativity. As a choreographer specialized in Jazz Dance, she has taught in diverse institutions in France, Sweden and Belgium. Trained in drums and traditional percussion, Jean Luc Pacaud is a state-certified music teacher and privileged accompanist of renown choreographers such as Walter Nicks, Matt Mattox, Carolyn Carlson and Milton Meyers.
From Page to Stage and Everything 1920s
Led by Clarence Tokley
In this four-hour workshop lead by Clarence, you will learn what it takes to write a compelling short play or monologue starting with a clear premise. The workshop will start with unique theatre games that will ignite your imagination and get your creative mind churning. You can choose to write a short scene or monologue related to Les Années Folles, (The Roaring Twenties) Paris, or, choose a monologue and scene provided by Clarence. Last two hours of the workshop you will get the chance to perform your work or work provided and get invaluable hands-on direction from Clarence. The workshop will be hosted at the Le Pavé d'Orsay, a multi-cultural space in the heart of Paris that promotes the integration of artists into the cultural landscape.
Nia Dance Class at the Reid Hall, Columbia Global Centre
Led by Hiie Saumaa, PhD
Nia dance is a somatic dance practice inspired by martial arts, dance arts, and healing arts. This method combines easily accessible choreography and free dance. Nia was developed in the US in the 1980s but practices that focused on free expression through movement started to develop in the Western world already at the beginning of the 20th century. More important than the outward form or the mastery of the steps is how you feel in your body as you move: we learn how to pay attention to our sensations, inner world, and movement from the inside out. This class is about the joy and pleasure of movement, connection to the body, soul, and emotions, and being a part of a dancing community. We dance barefoot to world music. No previous dance experience is necessary. The technique is adaptable to different ages and levels of physical fitness. This dance class will take place at the Reid Hall, one of the nine Global Centers established by Columbia University. Located in the heart of Montparnasse, over the past century the Reid Hall has hosted international programs and played a significant role in trans-Atlantic cultural relationships by organizing lecture series, conferences, and artistic performances.
Promoting work, promoting self: building your professional network in a digital age
Led by Julie Fossitt, Canada
Does your digital footprint encourage connection and access across geography, language, gender, and culture?
Digital access offers an incredible opportunity for artists to document and demonstrate their work to the world. How do you build your online presence to connect your art with the global artistic community and expand your audience base? This workshop will explore this question and will offer a snapshot of best practices and pitfalls for artists with the purpose to help share personal brand storytelling online. This workshop will feature a Q&A session to answer personal questions including the best tools to build your industry network and reach your ideal audience online and beyond.
Art in Motion: ready for the 2020s
Led by Paris-based artists co-hosts
One on one consultation with Paris-based artists: what it takes to make it as an artist in the professional world, how you navigate your passions into a successful lifestyle. Merge your art, life experiences and humanity to find lasting happiness and fulfillment.
Unshattering the mirror: Les Années Folles, the Rejection of Meaning, and the Search for It
workshop led by Helen Cusack O’Keeffe
The population of Europe, like most of the globe, was reeling from the horrors of WWI. Dadaism deleted and subverted meaning; post Dada, the artists and writers of Paris had an open space in which to rearrange the shattered mirror that art holds up to life. Thus, for multitudes of European and international writers, Paris seemed the most civilised possible place of exile, as - unlike certain other cities - it sincerely valued art and artists, with its tradition of creative freedom and tolerance for radicalism. Considering inspirational figures such as Cocteau, Joyce, Barnes and Beckett, we will explore and push our own literary freedom, playfully transcending reality as we rev up for the 2020s! The workshop will be followed by an evening Salon in the same location, with informal readings and other artistic presentations, wine, conversations, dadaist merriment and mayhem.
What the Lost Generation Found In Paris During the 1920s
workshop led by Malik Ameer Crumpler at Shakespeare and Company
What exactly was the Jazz Age so jazzed about? Often referred to as the Lost Generation, American artists in Paris during the 1920s found a voice, a style and a philosophy that eventually gave birth to American Modernism. What was it about their community that inspired such an enduring artistic epiphany in the creative minds of the world? Unlike the segregated United States of America in the 1920s, cultural diversity thrived in Paris, fuelling countless innovations in literature, music, arts & technology. The psychological, racial and sexual freedom Americans experienced in Paris liberated artists to challenge and experiment with fresh ideas that severely censored and oppressed individuals simply could not. By implementing several major styles, genres and techniques of the Jazz Age into our own writing, we hope to carry on the traditions of creative diversity.
Writing in the Wake of War
workshop led by Matt Jones at Shakespeare and Company
How do you write after the bloodiest war to date? Writers and poets sought to make sense of WW1 without jingoistic rhetoric: a piercing journalistic voice emerged that did not shy from the details, nor wrap them in flowers. This workshop, through writing exercises and exploring authors of the 1920s, asks, how do we write about ugliness? Hemingway, Orwell, Owen: our literary predecessors not only emerged from conflict, they fought. Must we, as writers of our time, participate in the conflicts that shape our world? How do we live our stories without falling into the same narcissism, the toxic cycles on repeat?
Somatic Resources for Dance, Movement, and Creativity
Led by Hiie Saumaa, PhD
In this workshop, we will look at the acts of performance and dance making through the tools of somatics, an umbrella term for practices that attend to the body, mind, and the soul of the mover. In the 1920s, the term “somatics” did not exist although practices that attended to mindful movement were starting to develop in the Western world already at the beginning of the twentieth century. The improvisational, somatically aligned dance methods of Isadora Duncan (1877-1927), a figure important also for the dance world in Paris, were revolutionary.
In the twenty first century, somatics is a growing field. What resources does this realm of movement experience and studies offer to dance makers and performers? Can somatics and sensation-based practices help us tap into creativity in new ways? Can they help us envision, create, refine, and complete our projects or become more confident and expressive performers on the stage? Can somatic tools help us broaden and use our imaginations? In this workshop, we will work individually, with partners, and in small or big groups, to try out somatic tools for enhancing creativity and expressivity.
Jazz Dance Workshop: from 20s to fusion
Led by Patricia Greenwood Karagozian & JLuc Pacaud at Micadanses
In this Jazz Dance Workshop co-presented by the ISAO company, dance practitioners are invited to discover the principles, concepts, tools and skills used in different percussion styles in relation to the dances of the world, from 1920 to today. Originally from California, Patricia Greenwood Karagozian has developed her body of work in Jazz Dance based on body musicianship, improvisation and creativity. As a choreographer specialized in Jazz Dance, she has taught in diverse institutions in France, Sweden and Belgium. Trained in drums and traditional percussion, Jean Luc Pacaud is a state-certified music teacher and privileged accompanist of renown choreographers such as Walter Nicks, Matt Mattox, Carolyn Carlson and Milton Meyers.
From Page to Stage and Everything 1920s
Led by Clarence Tokley
In this four-hour workshop lead by Clarence, you will learn what it takes to write a compelling short play or monologue starting with a clear premise. The workshop will start with unique theatre games that will ignite your imagination and get your creative mind churning. You can choose to write a short scene or monologue related to Les Années Folles, (The Roaring Twenties) Paris, or, choose a monologue and scene provided by Clarence. Last two hours of the workshop you will get the chance to perform your work or work provided and get invaluable hands-on direction from Clarence. The workshop will be hosted at the Le Pavé d'Orsay, a multi-cultural space in the heart of Paris that promotes the integration of artists into the cultural landscape.
Nia Dance Class at the Reid Hall, Columbia Global Centre
Led by Hiie Saumaa, PhD
Nia dance is a somatic dance practice inspired by martial arts, dance arts, and healing arts. This method combines easily accessible choreography and free dance. Nia was developed in the US in the 1980s but practices that focused on free expression through movement started to develop in the Western world already at the beginning of the 20th century. More important than the outward form or the mastery of the steps is how you feel in your body as you move: we learn how to pay attention to our sensations, inner world, and movement from the inside out. This class is about the joy and pleasure of movement, connection to the body, soul, and emotions, and being a part of a dancing community. We dance barefoot to world music. No previous dance experience is necessary. The technique is adaptable to different ages and levels of physical fitness. This dance class will take place at the Reid Hall, one of the nine Global Centers established by Columbia University. Located in the heart of Montparnasse, over the past century the Reid Hall has hosted international programs and played a significant role in trans-Atlantic cultural relationships by organizing lecture series, conferences, and artistic performances.
Promoting work, promoting self: building your professional network in a digital age
Led by Julie Fossitt, Canada
Does your digital footprint encourage connection and access across geography, language, gender, and culture?
Digital access offers an incredible opportunity for artists to document and demonstrate their work to the world. How do you build your online presence to connect your art with the global artistic community and expand your audience base? This workshop will explore this question and will offer a snapshot of best practices and pitfalls for artists with the purpose to help share personal brand storytelling online. This workshop will feature a Q&A session to answer personal questions including the best tools to build your industry network and reach your ideal audience online and beyond.
Art in Motion: ready for the 2020s
Led by Paris-based artists co-hosts
One on one consultation with Paris-based artists: what it takes to make it as an artist in the professional world, how you navigate your passions into a successful lifestyle. Merge your art, life experiences and humanity to find lasting happiness and fulfillment.
RESEARCH VISITS
La Ruche - Cité d'Artistes
hosted by Bogdan Pavlovic
Also known as "The Beehive". Located near Montparnasse and normally closed to the public, it was founded in 1900 as a residency for hundreds of international artists seeking shelter and acceptance during the interwar period and beyond. Its past artist residents include Marc Chagall, Fernand Léger, Modigliani, Chaïm Soutine, Ossip Zadkine, and Alfred Boucher. La Ruche’s architectural elements come from the l'Exposition de Paris 1900, designed by Gustave Eiffel. Today, la Ruche remains a sanctuary for about fifty artists who are currently living and working there, some of whom even had a chance to work with Marc Chagall! Learn more
Museum-Atelier of Chana Orloff
An artist connected to l’Ecole de Paris, after a classic training at the national art school, Orloff discovered sculpture at the Russian academy in Montparnasse, where she became friends with Marc Chagall, Soutine, and Zadkine. A sculptor of natural subjects including women as mothers, Orloff is best known for her sculptured portraits of famous contemporary sitters – Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. The studio, designed by Auguste Perret in 1925 in the Villa Seurat, still belongs to a family of the artist, with Orloff’s grand children carrying the legacy of the artist. Learn more
Villa Vassilieff
A cultural institution of the City of Paris, originally the former studio of Russian artist Marie Vassilieff (1884 - 1957). In 1915, she opened a canteen in her studio for local artists living under harsh conditions, which then became a popular gathering place for the artistic community during the war. Artists such as Picasso, Modigliani, Léger and Matisse were frequent visitors of the place. Now run by Bétonsalon-Pernod Ricard fellowship as a center for art and research, Villa Vassilieff aims to reconnect with the history of its location by inviting artists and researchers to take a contemporary look at the heritage of Montparnasse. Learn more
Zadkine Museum-Atelier
hosted by the Deputy Director and Head of Collections, Véronique Gautherin
Dedicated to the memory and the work of Ossip Zadkine (1890-1967), one of the major figures of the École de Paris. A cubist sculptor of Russian origin, he lived and worked in this house for nearly forty years. Bequeathed to the City of Paris by his widow, painter Valentine Prax, since 1982 it operates as a museum with comprehensive collection of the artist’s works. Along with the Bourdelle Museum, it is one of the rare sculptors’ studios which have managed to be preserved in Paris, bearing witness to the Montparnasse of artists. Learn more
Bourdelle Museum-Atelier
An art museum dedicated to the work of French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle (1861–1929), a major figure in the art and art education in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century. Starting his career as Rodin's apprentice, for over forty years Bourdelle served as a teacher, mentor, and father figure to many international student artists, including Alberto Giacometti as well as women sculptor, including Germaine Richier, promoting gender equality. Inaugurated in 1949, the museum preserves the studio where Bourdelle worked and lived for 45 years, housing rich and varied collections of the artist’s sculptures, drawings, photographs, and painted work, as well as his personal collection. Learn more
Giacometti Institute
The reference place for the work of Alberto Giacometti, one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. Born in Switzerland in 1901, Giacometti came to Paris to study under Antoine Bourdelle in 1922. He moved into the studio at 46 rue Hippolyte-Maindron with his brother Diego in 1926, and kept the studio until he died. The reconstructed studio is now housed by Giacometti Institute in an Art Deco style building located in the Montparnasse neighbourhood, together with a selected collection of his works. As an art history center, the Institute also offers various exhibitions, research and educational programs. Learn more
Cité internationale universitaire de Paris
The creation of the Cité Internationale Universitaire / International University City of Paris took place between the two world wars to promote tolerance and international understanding by providing a space for exchange between scholars and artists from around the world. With the first residence inaugurated in 1925, it has expanded to 40 residential buildings, each representing a different country and its diverse architectural style. For almost a century they have been united by its original mission: to contribute to world peace through intercultural dialogue and exchange. Learn more
Fondation Louis Vuitton
Created by the LVMH group, the Fondation Louis Vuitton is a cultural institution that grounds its commitment to the contemporary arts within a historical perspective. The building, designed by the Canadian architect Frank Gehry, has become an iconic landmark of the French capital. To promote the arts both nationally and internationally, the Fondation hosts temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, presents works held in its collection, commissions artists to create site-specific pieces, and stages events across the cultural spectrum. The current exhibition is dedicated to Charlotte Perriand, a pioneer of modernity and leading figure of the 20th century design. Retracing her work from the 1920s onward, the exhibition explores Charlotte Perriand’s close collaboration with artists of Montparnasse and the links between art, architecture and design. Learn more
Le Bal Blomet
Opened in 1924 as cabaret and wine bar, Le Bal Blomet quickly became a prominent jazz club for the ‘Roaring Twenties’ generation dreaming of a new world after the sufferings of the Great War. The artists of Montparnasse regularly attend the Bal Blomet to enjoy the liberal atmosphere: among them Josephine Baker, Foujita, Calder, and the muse Kiki de Montparnasse accompanied by Man Ray; the American writers Ernest Hemingway, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, and Henry Miller, were also regulars, as well as Jean Cocteau, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Visual artists from 45 rue Blomet, Joan Miro, Andre Masson, Francis Picabia, Robert Desnos, Mondrian and Kees van Dongen also frequented the place. Renovated in 2015, Le Bal Blomet hosts a multicultural program of classical jazz and African-American music in the spirit of its great time. Learn more
La Coupole
Since 1927, La Coupole has been a historical symbol of Montparnasse. Listed as a heritage site, this art deco style restaurant was frequented by artists of all nationalities living in Paris during the interwar years - Japanese Foujita, Russian Marie Vassilieff, Hungarian Brassai, French Andre Derain, Swiss Giacometti, Jewish-American Man Ray, Spanish Picasso are only few of them. The pillars that support the ceiling of the main dining hall are painted by artists of 1920’s Montparnasse. The images represent the three themes – Nature, Women and Celebration. Learn more
Les Grands Voisins
A temporary community space, located at the former Saint-Vincent-de-Paul hospital, houses more than 600 people in need, 250 associations, start-ups, artisans and anyone who shares this new environment with collectively re-designed outdoor spaces, meeting areas, restaurants, hosting multiple activities and community events. Known for its welcoming spirit, Les Grands Voisins (or Great Neighbours) makes the Montparnasse district live at the same pace as during the electric period of the 1920s. Learn more
DOC!
hosted by artist Lauren Coullard
Established at the former high-school Jean Quarre in the 19th district of Paris, the association DOC was opened in 2015 by a group of graduates from the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts, who transformed this abandoned high-school into a shared workspace open to all. Dedicated to offering spaces to create and diffuse contemporary artists work, DOC welcomes artists in private or shared studios as well as temporary residency workshops in collaboration with emerging curators. Visual artists, writers, publishers, filmmakers, as well as actors and musicians are all reunited under one roof by the undeniable value of DOC’s creative proposals. Together they are part of a collective energy that resembles the artists gatherings in the 1920s, guided by the power of the desire to create, to show and to share. Learn more
Beaux-Arts de Paris
The National School of Fine Arts in Paris, commonly known as the “Beaux-Arts de Paris,” is a French art school located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, across the Seine from the Musée du Louvre. Heir to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture founded in the 17th century by Louis XIV, it remains a top meeting place for the creation, heritage and history, and plays an essential role in the artistic and cultural scene. Throughout history, many world-renowned artists have studied at this institution, including those who played a prominent role in the 1920s such as Antoine Bourdelle and Henri Matisse. Today, Beaux-Arts de Paris provides the highest level of education and training to students planning to develop a career in the visual arts. Learn more
Centre National de la Danse (CND)
CND is one of prominent dance institutions in Paris. To understand the dance world of Paris in the twenty-first century, CND is central. This Center is geared toward professional dancers and choreographers, with a wide selection of classes and workshops in different techniques to inspire dance creativity and perfect the craft. CND is also a place for dance performances and residency and research opportunities. It features a well-equipped dance library with archival materials and video/film resources. This library provides useful visual and textual resources for conducing research on dance in Paris in the 1920s and in the current moment. One of the highlights of the life of CND is a two-week summer program called CAMPING, during which professional and amateur dancers can attend workshops, special classes, performances, and talks by dance professionals from around the world. Learn more
Micadances
The historic place of contemporary dance (formerly the Contemporary Dance Theater, and National Dance Center), Micadances welcomes professional companies, dancers and choreographers of all aesthetics and levels providing them with meeting and workspace to experiment and share their artistic research. It is an example of a dance institution of the twenty-first century, providing an alternate, interdisciplinary approach to cultivating dance makers. Learn more
La Fabrique de la Danse
La Fabrique de la Danse is a cultural startup that focuses on helping choreographers develop their professional careers. They organize educational programs and workshops on a range of topics related to the dance profession. While opportunities exist for dancers to develop their craft, not that many organizations are geared toward the development of choreographers. La Fabrique de la Danse helps choreographers advance artistically but also covers other aspects of the profession, such as the realms of management, finances, marketing, and digitalization. Learn more
Shakespeare and Company
Still in operation today, is an English-language bookshop located on the banks of the Seine and a meeting place for anglophone writers and readers. Opened in 1951 by American George Whitman, it was originally called “Le Mistral,” but was renamed to “Shakespeare and Company” in 1964 in tribute to the bookseller Sylvia Beach, who’d founded the original Shakespeare and Company in 1919. During the 1920s, Beach’s shop was a gathering place for the great expat writers of the time—Joyce, Hemingway, Stein, Fitzgerald, Eliot, Pound—as well as for leading French writers. Carrying on the spirit of Beach’s shop, Shakespeare and Company has continued to welcome writers, artists, and intellectuals with a sense of community and commune. It houses aspiring writers in exchange for their helping out around the bookshop. Since the shop opened in 1951, more than 30,000 people have slept in the beds among the shop’s bookshelves. The shop’s motto, “be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise,” is painted above the doorway to the public reading library. Learn more
La Ruche - Cité d'Artistes
hosted by Bogdan Pavlovic
Also known as "The Beehive". Located near Montparnasse and normally closed to the public, it was founded in 1900 as a residency for hundreds of international artists seeking shelter and acceptance during the interwar period and beyond. Its past artist residents include Marc Chagall, Fernand Léger, Modigliani, Chaïm Soutine, Ossip Zadkine, and Alfred Boucher. La Ruche’s architectural elements come from the l'Exposition de Paris 1900, designed by Gustave Eiffel. Today, la Ruche remains a sanctuary for about fifty artists who are currently living and working there, some of whom even had a chance to work with Marc Chagall! Learn more
Museum-Atelier of Chana Orloff
An artist connected to l’Ecole de Paris, after a classic training at the national art school, Orloff discovered sculpture at the Russian academy in Montparnasse, where she became friends with Marc Chagall, Soutine, and Zadkine. A sculptor of natural subjects including women as mothers, Orloff is best known for her sculptured portraits of famous contemporary sitters – Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. The studio, designed by Auguste Perret in 1925 in the Villa Seurat, still belongs to a family of the artist, with Orloff’s grand children carrying the legacy of the artist. Learn more
Villa Vassilieff
A cultural institution of the City of Paris, originally the former studio of Russian artist Marie Vassilieff (1884 - 1957). In 1915, she opened a canteen in her studio for local artists living under harsh conditions, which then became a popular gathering place for the artistic community during the war. Artists such as Picasso, Modigliani, Léger and Matisse were frequent visitors of the place. Now run by Bétonsalon-Pernod Ricard fellowship as a center for art and research, Villa Vassilieff aims to reconnect with the history of its location by inviting artists and researchers to take a contemporary look at the heritage of Montparnasse. Learn more
Zadkine Museum-Atelier
hosted by the Deputy Director and Head of Collections, Véronique Gautherin
Dedicated to the memory and the work of Ossip Zadkine (1890-1967), one of the major figures of the École de Paris. A cubist sculptor of Russian origin, he lived and worked in this house for nearly forty years. Bequeathed to the City of Paris by his widow, painter Valentine Prax, since 1982 it operates as a museum with comprehensive collection of the artist’s works. Along with the Bourdelle Museum, it is one of the rare sculptors’ studios which have managed to be preserved in Paris, bearing witness to the Montparnasse of artists. Learn more
Bourdelle Museum-Atelier
An art museum dedicated to the work of French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle (1861–1929), a major figure in the art and art education in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century. Starting his career as Rodin's apprentice, for over forty years Bourdelle served as a teacher, mentor, and father figure to many international student artists, including Alberto Giacometti as well as women sculptor, including Germaine Richier, promoting gender equality. Inaugurated in 1949, the museum preserves the studio where Bourdelle worked and lived for 45 years, housing rich and varied collections of the artist’s sculptures, drawings, photographs, and painted work, as well as his personal collection. Learn more
Giacometti Institute
The reference place for the work of Alberto Giacometti, one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. Born in Switzerland in 1901, Giacometti came to Paris to study under Antoine Bourdelle in 1922. He moved into the studio at 46 rue Hippolyte-Maindron with his brother Diego in 1926, and kept the studio until he died. The reconstructed studio is now housed by Giacometti Institute in an Art Deco style building located in the Montparnasse neighbourhood, together with a selected collection of his works. As an art history center, the Institute also offers various exhibitions, research and educational programs. Learn more
Cité internationale universitaire de Paris
The creation of the Cité Internationale Universitaire / International University City of Paris took place between the two world wars to promote tolerance and international understanding by providing a space for exchange between scholars and artists from around the world. With the first residence inaugurated in 1925, it has expanded to 40 residential buildings, each representing a different country and its diverse architectural style. For almost a century they have been united by its original mission: to contribute to world peace through intercultural dialogue and exchange. Learn more
Fondation Louis Vuitton
Created by the LVMH group, the Fondation Louis Vuitton is a cultural institution that grounds its commitment to the contemporary arts within a historical perspective. The building, designed by the Canadian architect Frank Gehry, has become an iconic landmark of the French capital. To promote the arts both nationally and internationally, the Fondation hosts temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, presents works held in its collection, commissions artists to create site-specific pieces, and stages events across the cultural spectrum. The current exhibition is dedicated to Charlotte Perriand, a pioneer of modernity and leading figure of the 20th century design. Retracing her work from the 1920s onward, the exhibition explores Charlotte Perriand’s close collaboration with artists of Montparnasse and the links between art, architecture and design. Learn more
Le Bal Blomet
Opened in 1924 as cabaret and wine bar, Le Bal Blomet quickly became a prominent jazz club for the ‘Roaring Twenties’ generation dreaming of a new world after the sufferings of the Great War. The artists of Montparnasse regularly attend the Bal Blomet to enjoy the liberal atmosphere: among them Josephine Baker, Foujita, Calder, and the muse Kiki de Montparnasse accompanied by Man Ray; the American writers Ernest Hemingway, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, and Henry Miller, were also regulars, as well as Jean Cocteau, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Visual artists from 45 rue Blomet, Joan Miro, Andre Masson, Francis Picabia, Robert Desnos, Mondrian and Kees van Dongen also frequented the place. Renovated in 2015, Le Bal Blomet hosts a multicultural program of classical jazz and African-American music in the spirit of its great time. Learn more
La Coupole
Since 1927, La Coupole has been a historical symbol of Montparnasse. Listed as a heritage site, this art deco style restaurant was frequented by artists of all nationalities living in Paris during the interwar years - Japanese Foujita, Russian Marie Vassilieff, Hungarian Brassai, French Andre Derain, Swiss Giacometti, Jewish-American Man Ray, Spanish Picasso are only few of them. The pillars that support the ceiling of the main dining hall are painted by artists of 1920’s Montparnasse. The images represent the three themes – Nature, Women and Celebration. Learn more
Les Grands Voisins
A temporary community space, located at the former Saint-Vincent-de-Paul hospital, houses more than 600 people in need, 250 associations, start-ups, artisans and anyone who shares this new environment with collectively re-designed outdoor spaces, meeting areas, restaurants, hosting multiple activities and community events. Known for its welcoming spirit, Les Grands Voisins (or Great Neighbours) makes the Montparnasse district live at the same pace as during the electric period of the 1920s. Learn more
DOC!
hosted by artist Lauren Coullard
Established at the former high-school Jean Quarre in the 19th district of Paris, the association DOC was opened in 2015 by a group of graduates from the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts, who transformed this abandoned high-school into a shared workspace open to all. Dedicated to offering spaces to create and diffuse contemporary artists work, DOC welcomes artists in private or shared studios as well as temporary residency workshops in collaboration with emerging curators. Visual artists, writers, publishers, filmmakers, as well as actors and musicians are all reunited under one roof by the undeniable value of DOC’s creative proposals. Together they are part of a collective energy that resembles the artists gatherings in the 1920s, guided by the power of the desire to create, to show and to share. Learn more
Beaux-Arts de Paris
The National School of Fine Arts in Paris, commonly known as the “Beaux-Arts de Paris,” is a French art school located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, across the Seine from the Musée du Louvre. Heir to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture founded in the 17th century by Louis XIV, it remains a top meeting place for the creation, heritage and history, and plays an essential role in the artistic and cultural scene. Throughout history, many world-renowned artists have studied at this institution, including those who played a prominent role in the 1920s such as Antoine Bourdelle and Henri Matisse. Today, Beaux-Arts de Paris provides the highest level of education and training to students planning to develop a career in the visual arts. Learn more
Centre National de la Danse (CND)
CND is one of prominent dance institutions in Paris. To understand the dance world of Paris in the twenty-first century, CND is central. This Center is geared toward professional dancers and choreographers, with a wide selection of classes and workshops in different techniques to inspire dance creativity and perfect the craft. CND is also a place for dance performances and residency and research opportunities. It features a well-equipped dance library with archival materials and video/film resources. This library provides useful visual and textual resources for conducing research on dance in Paris in the 1920s and in the current moment. One of the highlights of the life of CND is a two-week summer program called CAMPING, during which professional and amateur dancers can attend workshops, special classes, performances, and talks by dance professionals from around the world. Learn more
Micadances
The historic place of contemporary dance (formerly the Contemporary Dance Theater, and National Dance Center), Micadances welcomes professional companies, dancers and choreographers of all aesthetics and levels providing them with meeting and workspace to experiment and share their artistic research. It is an example of a dance institution of the twenty-first century, providing an alternate, interdisciplinary approach to cultivating dance makers. Learn more
La Fabrique de la Danse
La Fabrique de la Danse is a cultural startup that focuses on helping choreographers develop their professional careers. They organize educational programs and workshops on a range of topics related to the dance profession. While opportunities exist for dancers to develop their craft, not that many organizations are geared toward the development of choreographers. La Fabrique de la Danse helps choreographers advance artistically but also covers other aspects of the profession, such as the realms of management, finances, marketing, and digitalization. Learn more
Shakespeare and Company
Still in operation today, is an English-language bookshop located on the banks of the Seine and a meeting place for anglophone writers and readers. Opened in 1951 by American George Whitman, it was originally called “Le Mistral,” but was renamed to “Shakespeare and Company” in 1964 in tribute to the bookseller Sylvia Beach, who’d founded the original Shakespeare and Company in 1919. During the 1920s, Beach’s shop was a gathering place for the great expat writers of the time—Joyce, Hemingway, Stein, Fitzgerald, Eliot, Pound—as well as for leading French writers. Carrying on the spirit of Beach’s shop, Shakespeare and Company has continued to welcome writers, artists, and intellectuals with a sense of community and commune. It houses aspiring writers in exchange for their helping out around the bookshop. Since the shop opened in 1951, more than 30,000 people have slept in the beds among the shop’s bookshelves. The shop’s motto, “be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise,” is painted above the doorway to the public reading library. Learn more
WALKING TOURS
Artistic Montparnasse
led by Florence Pillet
La Rotonde, le Dome, rue Campagne Première, rue de la Grande Chaumière, all these remarkable places evoke the golden age when Paris became the world capital of the arts. In the early 20th century, artists came to live and work in Montparnasse, then the outskirts of Paris, and made it the center of modern art. In the studios and the cafés, they invented a new way of creating and the life that went with it, full of surprises and drama. The teaching of drawing in academies and studios such as la Grande Chaumière was very important in the education of artists in the first part of the 20th century. The sketchbook was then, and remains, an essential tool for avant-garde artists, whether painters or sculptors. Now, most artists have left for more affordable neighborhoods, but we can still contemplate the remnants of les Années Folles / the Roaring Twenties: luxurious art deco buildings or modest studios built from world exhibitions materials, and the essential cafés where artists gathered and found their sources of inspiration, a wonderful historical and architectural heritage specific to Montparnasse. This urban walk will tell the story of these days, following the steps of Picasso, Kiki de Montparnasse, and Man Ray through the places where they lived and invented the modernity of art.
Paris Between the Wars
led by Ed Bell
We will concentrate on three areas of Paris’ Left-Bank, where the likes of Sartre, Beauvoir, Hemingway and others met. Then we will go North of the river where the Surrealists, like Breton, used to play around. And finally, to Montmartre, a spot for the more marginalised artists to find refuge. We will be looking at the places that these intellectuals, writers and artists lived, which will provide a visually exciting experience of Paris, the City of Lights. While we are walking, though, there will be explanations and discussions about the nature and impact of their work and how it continues to be important today. To make the walking tour more effective, you will be provided with a small reading list with all the relevant passages for you to read and familiarise yourself with before seeing it in the flesh!
Montmartre Tour: The Actors, The Writers, The Theatres
led by Kacie Devaney
Get inspired in this guided tour, as you discover five historic theatres in Montmartre including the world-famous, Moulin Rouge and Lapine Agile that gained their popularity in Les Années Folles. Learn about the famous French actors who graced the stages of these theatres and the prolific artist from around the globe who frequented them. Unearth the secrets of the 1920s theatre scene and why the hilly neighborhood attracted so many artists, least of all, the tax-free wine! Hear about famous African American performers and writers like Josephine Baker and Langston Huges who were welcomed into the society of Montmartre and felt a sense of belonging and acceptance compared to a post-war ‘’return to normalcy’’ in the states that created enormous prejudices and disparities for African American women and men. Realize how actress Sarah Bernhardt and writer, actress, mime and dancer Collette left a lasting impact on French theatre and discover the less known French actors, dramatists, and directors who have been equally important to the evolution of theatre in Paris post World War One.
Artistic Montparnasse
led by Florence Pillet
La Rotonde, le Dome, rue Campagne Première, rue de la Grande Chaumière, all these remarkable places evoke the golden age when Paris became the world capital of the arts. In the early 20th century, artists came to live and work in Montparnasse, then the outskirts of Paris, and made it the center of modern art. In the studios and the cafés, they invented a new way of creating and the life that went with it, full of surprises and drama. The teaching of drawing in academies and studios such as la Grande Chaumière was very important in the education of artists in the first part of the 20th century. The sketchbook was then, and remains, an essential tool for avant-garde artists, whether painters or sculptors. Now, most artists have left for more affordable neighborhoods, but we can still contemplate the remnants of les Années Folles / the Roaring Twenties: luxurious art deco buildings or modest studios built from world exhibitions materials, and the essential cafés where artists gathered and found their sources of inspiration, a wonderful historical and architectural heritage specific to Montparnasse. This urban walk will tell the story of these days, following the steps of Picasso, Kiki de Montparnasse, and Man Ray through the places where they lived and invented the modernity of art.
Paris Between the Wars
led by Ed Bell
We will concentrate on three areas of Paris’ Left-Bank, where the likes of Sartre, Beauvoir, Hemingway and others met. Then we will go North of the river where the Surrealists, like Breton, used to play around. And finally, to Montmartre, a spot for the more marginalised artists to find refuge. We will be looking at the places that these intellectuals, writers and artists lived, which will provide a visually exciting experience of Paris, the City of Lights. While we are walking, though, there will be explanations and discussions about the nature and impact of their work and how it continues to be important today. To make the walking tour more effective, you will be provided with a small reading list with all the relevant passages for you to read and familiarise yourself with before seeing it in the flesh!
Montmartre Tour: The Actors, The Writers, The Theatres
led by Kacie Devaney
Get inspired in this guided tour, as you discover five historic theatres in Montmartre including the world-famous, Moulin Rouge and Lapine Agile that gained their popularity in Les Années Folles. Learn about the famous French actors who graced the stages of these theatres and the prolific artist from around the globe who frequented them. Unearth the secrets of the 1920s theatre scene and why the hilly neighborhood attracted so many artists, least of all, the tax-free wine! Hear about famous African American performers and writers like Josephine Baker and Langston Huges who were welcomed into the society of Montmartre and felt a sense of belonging and acceptance compared to a post-war ‘’return to normalcy’’ in the states that created enormous prejudices and disparities for African American women and men. Realize how actress Sarah Bernhardt and writer, actress, mime and dancer Collette left a lasting impact on French theatre and discover the less known French actors, dramatists, and directors who have been equally important to the evolution of theatre in Paris post World War One.
INTER-FORMAT SYMPOSIUM
The residency will culminate in an inter-format symposium that will open with a special artist benefit dinner followed by a series of inclusive cultural events, including open studio, talks and showcases. Learn more
The residency will culminate in an inter-format symposium that will open with a special artist benefit dinner followed by a series of inclusive cultural events, including open studio, talks and showcases. Learn more