You know we love Paris. It is pretty and the bread is good.
So ARTKABINETT's social network for fine art collectors has four fun and quick stops if you only have a couple of days to view some wonderful art this season in the city of lights. We did not say this would be a relaxing visit!
Monet at Grand Palais
The Grand Palais is mounting the biggest solo show devoted to the Impressionist master Claude Monet, with 169 canvases loaned by 75 museums and private collectors.
To cope with the expected crowds, the exhibition space will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Sept. 22- Jan. 24, 2011).
Information: http://www.monet2010.com.
Orsay
To counterbalance the Impressionist invasion, the Musee d'Orsay had a witty idea.
It is exhuming the half-forgotten Jean- Leon Gerome, an academic painter who hated Monet and his pals and tried to prevent the Luxembourg museum from accepting a donation of their works.
This promises to be a fascinating confrontation (Oct. 19-Jan. 23, 2011).
Information: http://www.musee-orsay.fr.
Arman and Basquiat
Those who prefer contemporary art can head to the Centre Pompidou and the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
The former is organizing a retrospective of works by Arman (Armand Fernandez), the French-born sculptor who spent most of his life in New York and is best known for his assemblages of junk (Sept. 22-Jan. 10, 2011). You see his work everywhere as compositions of clocks, violins, coils, springs, etc.
The MAM ponders whether the work of graffiti wunderkind Jean-Michel Basquiat, who died from an overdose at 27, was worth the hype (Oct. 15-Jan. 30, 2011).
Information: http://www.centrepompidou.fr and http://www.paris.fr.
Murakami at Versailles
After the success of Jeff Koons' bunnies and hanging red hearts, two years ago, the Chateau de Versailles will allow another pop artist to shine in the grandiose State Apartments -- Japan's Takashi Murakami and his cute dolls and manga creatures. We are not sure if Vuitton wallets will be for sale next to post cards in the gift shop.
The show opens this week and runs through Dec. 12).
Information: http://www.chateauversailles.fr.
