Holding Pattern

The Square du Vert Galant, on the downstream end
of the Ile de la Cité.

This Week's Super Short Version

Paris:- Saturday, 4. November 2000:- After yesterday's grueling marathon of putting this week's 'Mois de la Photo à Paris' program in shape, I have no further energy left for this 'event' business.

It is just as well, because arriving new items have fallen off, as if one trainload of them has been emptied and it is a week before the next load arrives.

Readers who are beginning to enquire about Christmas activities in Paris are asking far too soon. I know you want to get you reservations nailed down. But many residents in France pass Christmas with their families, while restaurants and other places of entertainment remain open - usually with plenty of room available.

You can plan now to pass your Christmas and New Years in Paris. By the beginning of December there should be more information available for filling in the details. If this is not reassuring, check Metropole's past holiday issues - because the offerings change very little from year to year.

Open on Saturday, 11. November:- Musée Carnavalet, Musée Cernuschi, Musée Galliera, Musée Victor Hugo; all from 14:00 to 17:40.

• New This Week
• Coming Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Major Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Other Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Art Works
• Photo Works
• Dance, Music, Opera, Theatre
• Culture, History, Science
• Cinéma and Multimedia
• Clublife
• Sports, Bikes, Rollers
• Unclassifieds

1990 - 2000 - announces 10 years' of acquisitions by the library of the National Museum of Natural History. These new items are being exhibited, many for the first time ever, to the public until Saturday, 18. November. Open daily except Sundays and holidays; from 12:00 to 18:00. At the Médiathèque - Bibliothèque of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 38. Rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Paris 5. Métro: Place Monge. InfoTel.: 01 40 79 36 27.

Mois de la Photo 2000 - this year is the 20th edition, with Paris as the main subject, divided into three sorts of views: Paris, Paris and photography, and the Foreigner's Paris. In addition to young photographers, old photos never seen before will be shown. Watch for 40 related photographic exhibitions to go along with this - some are elsewhere in this issue and others are in this column below. Principal outpost: La Maison Européenne de la Photographie, 5-7. Rue de Fourcy, Paris 4. Métro: Saint-Paul or Pont-Marie. InfoTel.: 01 44 78 75 00.

Ephémères - means transitory because the art works are vegetal, and otherwise known as 'Land Art.' After having seen cabbages at Invalides or sets of twigs at Etoile, these creations are no longer 'en situ,' but they continue as photos at La Maison Européenne de la Photographie, 5-7. Rue de Fourcy, Paris 4. Métro: Saint-Paul or Pont-Marie. InfoTel.: 01 44 78 75 00.

La Gloire des Empereurs - China's last big exhibition in Paris was in 1973; this major one presents the considerable finds since then; from the Bronze Age to the Liao epoque. Also featured are the photographs of Roland Michaud. This new exhibition continues until Sunday, 28. January; from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:40; on Thursdays until 20:00. At the Petit Palais. Musée des Beaux-Arts, Avenue Winston Churchill, Paris 8. Métro:Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau. InfoTel.: 01 42 65 12 73.

Des Européens à Paris - is a photographic exhibition, presenting Paris as a place to visit or an European crossroads; voyagers leave traces and their histories here. Until 3. February. At the reception area of the Hôtel de Ville, 5. Rue Lobau, Paris 4. Métro: Hôtel-de-Ville. If Rue Lobau doesn't seem right, try the Rue de Rivoli entrance.

Paris en 80 Quartiers - in a year of big shows, this may be the biggest of all, and it's about Paris and Parisians. The '80 Quartiers' are divided into the 20 arrondissements, and can currently be seen in the 'City Halls' of the 11th, 17th and 20th arrondissements. The exhibition begins in the 9th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 18th and 19th arrondissements early in November. Other arrondissements to come; until it wraps up on Saturday, 6. January when it finishes in the 13th. All Mairies are open on weekdays and Saturday mornings. A free catalogue of 130 pages is also available in the Mairies.

This item closes the exceptionally 'repeating' events for this week. You will find some other new items below. The images are of posters that are around Paris, but some are for events - not necessarily listed in the text.

Le Coton et la Mode - ordinary cotton may form most t-shirts, but this material has a long and rich history that is not particularly well-known. From Wednesday, 8. November until 11. March; At the Musée Galliera, 10. Avenue Pierre-1er-de-Serbie, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna.

Manet, les Natures Mortes - is French for 'still life' so it is not as sinister as you may have thought. Impressionistic apples and pears by the square metre, but a major show all the same. Until Sunday, 7. January; open daily except Monday; from 10:00 to 18:00, to 21:45 on Thursdays, and from 9:00 to 18:00 on Sundays. Musée d'Orsay, 1. Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, Paris 7. Métro: Solférino or RER 'C' Musée d'Orsay. InfoTel.: 01 40 49 48 14.

Visions du Future - is a really big show that was just in time for Halloween, which presents a history of mankind's hopes - and fears. Except Tuesdays, the hours are from 10:00 to 19:15; on Thursdays until 21:45. Reservations required before 13:00. Until Monday, 1. January 2001, when the world is not coming to an end again. At the Grand Palais, 3. Avenue du Général-Eisenhower, Paris 8. Métro: Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau. InfoTel.: 01 44 13 17 17.

Méditerranée - 'from Courbet to Matisse' is a visual treat to the shock of light that greeted a group of 39 painters when they discovered the Mediterranean sun and sky. An explosion of brilliance, from the Gulf of Genoa to Catalonia, from 1850 to 1920. "Quel soleil ici!" Monnet wrote to Rodin in 1888. Until Monday, 15. January 2001; except Tuesday, daily from 10:00 to 20:00; on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 22:00. Reservations required before 13:00; none afterwards. At the Grand Palais, 3. Avenue du Général-Eisenhower, Square Jean-Perrin, Paris 8. Métro: Clemenceau. Info. Tel.: 01 44 13 17 10.

L'Art Dans le Monde 2000 - this is the 2nd edition of a panorama of 'new talent' selected by 36 of the world's top art magazines, and they've chosen 100 artists of 50 nationalities. Besides the magazines, there will be paintings, sculpture, photographs, videos, 'installations' and performances. See the report in a recent issue. Only until Wednesday, 8. November; open daily except Mondays, from 11:00 to 19:00. The location is given as the 'Culée' of the Pont Alexandre III; with the entry located on the right bank on the right side of the bridge. This is a tunnel, both 'warm' and 'industrial.'

Fra Angelico to Bonnard - features 106 major paintings from the Rau Collection - by El Greco, Tiepolo, Millet, Fragonard, Pissarro, Degas, Cézanne, Monet, Renoir, to name a few. Until Thursday, 4. January 2001. Daily from 11:00 to 19:00; on Thursdays until 22:00. Musée du Luxembourg, 19. Rue Vaugirard, Paris 6. Métro: Saint-Suplice, Odéon or Mabillon. InfoTel.: 01 42 34 25 95.

Monet At Marmottan - an exhibition showing a fairly complete collection of paintings by Claude Monet. A special section is set aside for the Giverny paintings. Degas, Caillebotte, Sisley and Gauguin are also present, but this is nearly a mono-Monet show. Until Sunday, 31. December; from 10:00 to 17:00, except Mondays. Musée Marmottan, 2. Rue Louis-Boilly, Paris 16. Métro: La Muette. InfoTel.: 01 42 24 07 02.

This year's Fêtes d'Automne continues until the end of the year, with Italy as the theme this year. Some of the exhibitions featured here are part of this festival, while other exhibitions, concerts and special theatre productions are too numerous for complete listings. The city's Web site has more, and there is also the InfoTel.: 01 52 45 17 17.

Argenterie d'Usage - 'Argenterie de Prestige' is an exhibition of the best French silverworks from the 18th and 19th centuries, assembled from the collections of the city's Petit Palais and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Until 25. February 2001; from Tuesday to Sunday; from 10:00 to 17:40. At the Musée Cognacq-Jay, 8. Rue Elzévir, Paris 3. Métro: Saint-Paul. InfoTel.: 01 40 27 07 21.

L'Arche Ethiopienne - Exhibition of works from the 14th to 18th centuries, from Ethiopian and European collections, featuring African Christianity which dates to the 4th century. Until Sunday, 7. January. At the Terrace Lautréamont, Porte Rambuteau, Les Halles, Paris 1. Métro: Les Halles. InfoTel.: 01 42 33 82 50.

Notre Peyre - 'Qui êtes odieux,' features the works of Gilbert Peyre who does funny stuff that critics might not think is art - which is serious business. See his 'King Pig.' Until Sunday, 31. December. At the Halle Saint-Pierre, 2. Rue Ronsard, Paris 18. Métro: Anvers or Barbés. InfoTel.: 01 42 58 72 89.

Archéo 2000 - launches the opening of the restored Orangerie, which is Paris' only 17th century example - in the Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau. On show: a collection of the archeological finds from the recent Bercy digs; featuring in whole or parts, ten 4-6000 year-old canoes. These have become part of the Musée Carnavalet - Historie de Paris permanent collection. Open Tuesday to Sunday; from 10:00 to 17:40. At 23. Rue de Sévigné, Paris 3. Métro: Saint-Paul or Chemin-Vert. InfoTel.: 01 44 59 58 58.

Sam Szafran - 'L'Atelier dans l'Atelier' presents the artist with his pastels and watercolors of interiors and stairways, in Ary Scheffer's recently renovated atelier. Besides 50 well-known works, 50 other images are from private collections. This exhibition continues until Sunday, 14. January. At the Musée de la Vie Romantique, Hôtel Scheffer-Renan, 16. Rue Chaptal, Paris 9. Métro: Blanche or Pigalle. InfoTel.: 01 48 74 95 38.

Sous le Ciel de la Peinture - Paris - 150 works; oils, aquarelles, drawings, from the 17th century to today; by David, Corot, Delacroix, Picasso, Matisse and others, all showing the 'light' of Paris. This is a highly interesting show, with some rare views of Paris. Until Sunday, 17. December. In the city's own Salle Saint-Jean, Hôtel de Ville, Rue de Lobau, Paris 4. Métro: Hôtel de Ville.

"Du chaos dans le pinceau..." - is from Victor Hugo's 'Les Misérables' as is this exhibition of his little-known designs, paintings, furniture and other elements point towards surrealism. Featured in a recent issue. Until Sunday 7. January; from Tuesday to Sunday; from 10:00 to 17:40. At the Maison de Victor Hugo, 6. Place des Vosges, Paris 4. Métro: Saint-Paul or Bastille. InfoTel.: 01 42 72 10 16.

Le Diable Sucré - features cakes, cannibalism, death and... no, it's not the same show as Halloween or Toussaint. Tuesday to Friday, 14:00 to 19:00; weekends, 13:00 to 19:00. Until Sunday, 28. January. At the Pavillon Paul Delouvier in the Parc de la Villette, 211. Avenue Jean-Jaurés, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de Pantin. InfoTel.: 01 40 03 75 75.

Statues pour Bagatelle - or the 'Histoire d'un Retour.' This is a set of 12 statutes, representing mythic characters; somewhat mythic themselves, which may have been removed from Bagatelle before 1905. Were these done for the Comte d'Artois in 1778? Only until Sunday, 12. November. Open daily from 11:00 to 17:00. Parc de Bagatelle, Route de Sèvres, Bois de Boulogne. Métro: Pont de Neuilly. InfoTel.: 01 45 01 20 10.

Le Jardin Médiéval - is what has been done with the space between the Cluny and the Boulevard Saint-German, at the corner of the Boulevard Saint-Michel. More exactly, it sort of surrounds the museum. Métro: Cluny.

Panorama - 'des Capitales Européennes' is the full title, and this architectural exhibition takes place in the city's dedicated museum for it; at the Pavillon de l'Arsenal, 21. Boulevard Morland, Paris 4. Métro: Sully-Morland. InfoTel.:01 42 76 33 97.

Images of Bretagne - features a selection of Henry de Waroquier designs, from the rich drawing cabinets of the Musée des Années 30; on show until Sunday, 28. January. In the Espace Landowski, 28. Avenue André Morizet, Boulogne-Billancourt. Métro: Marcel-Sembat. InfoTel.:01 55 18 46 42.

Le Cadre à Travers les Siècles - is what the invitation says, but other info I have here is more about modern frame-making, by today's masters of the profession in France. Until Saturday, 25. November. From Tuesday to Saturday; from 13:30 to 20:00. At the Bibliothèque Forney, in the Hôtel de Sens, 1. Rue du Figuier, Paris 4. Métro: Pont Marie. InfoTel.: 01 42 78 14 60.

Affiches 50-60 - are old and rare posters for movies, on exhibition and for sale. Until December. At the Galerie Grand Monde, in the Cour Damoye, entry via 12. Place de la Bastille, Paris 11. Métro: Bastille. InfoTel.: 01 48 05 51 30. The Cour Damoye has several other galleries and shops, so a visit to all of it will be worth your while.

Painted Walls - or, 'Murs Peints,' is a Paris expression of street decor, found on about 100 walls in the city. See Tony Soulé's at 255. Rue de Bercy, Paris 12; or Hervé di Rosa's at 96. Rue d'Alleray, Paris 15. Keep your eyes open for the others.