Strategic Intuition

Hosted by MizB at should be reading.

Here's how to play:

*Grab your current read,

*Open to a  page,

*Share a few “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page,

*Please no spoilers!

*Share the title and author.

From William Duggan's 'Strategic Intuition' (p.150-51):

"Through 1906 Picasso tried various styles, all in the previous traditions of realism and impressionism. Then Picasso discovered Henri Matisse. In the summer of 1905 Matisse had the first great breakthrough of modern art. His new paintings created a stir at a fall exhibition in Paris. Over the next winter Matisse painted his first masterpiece of the new style, Happiness of Life...The key features of Matisse's new style were distorted shapes, unrealistic colors, and a flat look without shading or lines of perspective. 

Meanwhile, Picasso had some minor success, enough to win the Steins as admirers: Gertrude, her brothers Leo and Michael, and Michael's wife Sarah. Now Picasso went to see Happiness of Life and the Steins brought Matisse to visit Picasso's studio. The two painters met again in the Stein apartment. That was the night Picasso found his style.

Matisse brought along his daughter, Marguerite, who worked as his assistant. He also brought along an African sculpture... 

Picasso had a flash of insight. The timing reveals the elements he combined: Matisse's Happiness of Life and the African sculpture. The result was his breakthrough masterpiece, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. In Picasso's painting you see the same key elements from Matisse's new style...

This kind of creative combination is an open secret in the art world. Artists have a word for the act of stealing: influence...

Strategic intuition works the same way in art as it does in other fields. Innovation comes through creative combination, by bringing past elements together in a new and useful way."

ALP Presents: Evenings with an Author~ Amity Gaige

This Wednesday March 5th, 2014 at 19:30,

the American Library in Paris presents Amity Gaige, the author of three novels, 

O My Darling (2005), The Folded World (2007), and  Schroder,

named one of the best books of 2013 by The New York Times Book Review,  

The Huffington Post, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and many others. 

It's also been shortlisted for The Folio Prize. In 2006, Gaige was named one of the 

"5 under 35" outstanding emerging writers by the National Book Foundation. 

Jennifer Egan, author of A Visit from the Goon Squad, says:

"In Schroder, Amity Gaige explores the rich, murky realm where parental devotion 

edges into mania, and logic crabwalks into crime. This offbeat, exquisitely written novel

showcases a fresh, forceful young voice in American letters." 

The Economist: 

"It is to the credit of Amity Gaige, an American writer, that her third novel, Schroder, 

transforms this thriller plot into a deeply moving tale...What distinguishes Schroder 

is its insight and language...Ms. Gaige excels at landscapes; her writing has the still, 

clear beauty of a mountain lake." 

 And Kathryn Schulz of New York Magazine:

"It's a mark of how good Schroder is that, upon finishing it, I immediately went out and

read the rest of her work." 

The tell-tale sign of a great writer! And I plan to go out and read all of them myself. 

Stop in if you're in Paris.
  

American Library in Paris  is located at:

10, rue du General Camou

(Just off the Champs de Mars and the Eiffel Tower)

75007 Paris, France

• Tel. +33 (0)1 53 59 12 60

http://www.americanlibraryinparis.org/ 

Tues-Sat: 10h-19h, Sun: 13h-19h.

Smart Phones Not Allowed

It seems that French chefs 

(and some New York chefs as well)

are not happy with the amount of cell phone photography 

going on in their restaurants. 

They are debating using photos of

cell phones with a red circle and a slash on the menus

to indicate that taking photos of your dish

is no longer allowed. 

Many chefs are complaining that,

not only does it leave the food cold

and their creations broadcast across social media,

taking away the element of surprise for future patrons

or possible copy-cat problems,

people tend to behave badly

distracting other diners 

from their own unique experience. 

Um...I'm guilty.

Don't get me wrong,

I haven't climbed on chairs

or rearranged tables to get a good shot

(as the chefs are complaining)

but I have rearranged glasses and silverware

and occasionally asked the other diners at my table 

if they wouldn't mind waiting before taking a bite 

so I can get a shot of their plate. 

But I never use a flash

or disturb others in the restaurant. 

I have occasionally been told not to take a photo of a display

such as at Laduree. 

But I did take photos of their creations on my plate. 

 I feel a little funny about being told I can't do something

if I'm not disturbing anyone else. 

It's true that it is the chef's creation

but I am paying for it. 

But then we get into the etiquette

of how to take photos without bothering others. 

What's your feeling? 

 (Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Photos from Restaurant des Sens in Montpellier, France
and Laduree on the Champs Elysee, Paris

Old Town Nafplion, Part 1

(Arvanitia, city beach around the corner from us 

at the end of Old Town and beneath Palamidi Fortress and Akronafplia.) 

Last November, right after Thanksgiving,

we made an emergency roof repair trip to Greece,

knowing that our roof (and interior) could not withstand another winter of rain

without some patching. 

And we arrived in the midst of a major rain storm

which meant water flowing down the steps like a waterfall

and dripping into our bedroom.

But that's not what I want to show you. 

From the ancient rock wall of Akronafplia,

where some of the stone is still Byzantine,

one can look out over the rooftops

of old town Nafplion.

The old town and the bay lie on one side 

with the tiny island of Bourtzi in the background...

...on the other side... 

the Mediterranean.

Just next to us,

the fortress of Palamidi sits atop the hillside

looking over the city and far beyond. 

The ancient entrance to the old town

(refurbished)

is the symbolic gate between the old and new towns.

A few shots of one of my favorite walks in Greece

(which you can see more of Here)

which always has a plethora of lovingly-tended altars...

as well as wild prickly pear

and bougainvillea.

The walk swings around Akronafplia

and back into old town

just in front of Bourtzi.

I took several shots of these palm trees,

their gorgeous seeds in full color.

Sadly, that same week,

I witnessed workers hacking them off.

They all now stand bare along the shore.

The walk along the water brings us to our favorite spot

for a sunset drink

looking out over the bay,

Bourtzi and the sailboats. 

Our roof fix turned out far better than we'd hoped

(a true fix rather than a patch

and new tile to replace the beautiful but water-damaged parquet wood floors.)

We're hoping it won't take us as long to return.

Friends to see, walks to take,

books to write. 

*All photos copyright: Kirsten Steen

May not be reproduced.*

Faulkner on American Writers in Paris Tour

On Rue Vaugirard in the 6th arrondissement

sits the Hotel Luxembourg Parc,

(just across from the Luxembourg gardens)

a 4-star hotel

which was once

Le Grand Hotel des Principautes.

In 1925,

as Le Grand Hotel des Principautes,

it was the home of William Faulkner 

for four months. 

According to one French blog,

he didn't mix much with The Lost Generation,

preferring instead the company of the park's

children and workers.

And though the hotel has been renovated,

the entrance moved from rue Servandoni to Vaugirard,

and the name changed,

it still holds a plaque

stating 

'Faulkner was here'

in autumn of 1925.

Oh to have seen these streets in 

the fall of '25.

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Paris Winter Soldes

The Paris Winter Soldes are on again. 

This year they began January 8th and will go until February 11th. 

I've just read that stores are now allowed to run sales

two extra weeks (consecutive or not) during the year

only if they make sure their sales end no less than a month before the national sales. 

And for the second year in a row,

the Galeries Lafayette will display Paris, Capital of Creation window displays.

Galeries Lafayette is famous for its Christmas window displays. 

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann

40, Boulevard Haussmann

75009 Paris 

Summer sales will begin June 25th. 

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Janvier in Paris

A girlfriend just came back from Paris

and over a 2+ hour tea date at our favorite tea shop in Portland

told me all the wonderful tales of walking in my Parisian neighborhood. 

And now I'm missing Paris again! 

Being there right after Christmas, 

she said the crowds were still over the top

wayyyy toooo long

so they opted to skip the long lines 

to nearly every museum

and just walk. 

For her birthday,

they window-shopped all the best chocolateries

and had meals in fabulously beautiful places. 

It makes me think of the little 

Christmas Fairs

and the way everything is still dressed up for the holidays.

And how even bare trees in winter

are gorgeous in Paris. 

Even the carousel gets dressed up.

They sat at cafes and sipped warm drinks

and watched the Parisian world go by

and ate almond croissants with coffee
and Galette des Rois on Epiphany

and sipped champagne

and walked along 

the seine. 

sigh. 

(Photos copyright: KIrsten Steen)

Le French bashing

There seems to be a fight of words 

about the downfall (or not) of France

between Newsweek and Le Monde.

An article in Newsweek states several reasons for the 'Fall of France,'

among them those sky-high taxes, the high price of food and living

and the greatest minds leaving to escape said taxes and... Francois Hollande.

France has come back with a few choice words of its own

defending their culture with its high ranking in foreign investment, according to Ernst and Young;

and in its productivity, still behind the US but with a shorter work year; 

its high population growth and life expectancy (both beating the US);

and of course, its gastronomy: the number one employer in France. 

For me, there is nothing anywhere in the world

like eating in France.

You cannot go to any cafe or restaurant in the US
and get escargot floating in butter, garlic and parsley.

Our steaks may be more tender

but the French smother them with a peppercorn sauce

that makes it out of this world. 

(And while that's the most plebeian of fare,

it's one of my favorites.) 

What are your favorite things about France
and what do you think about Le French bashing?

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen
from Restaurant de la Tour in the 15th)

New Metro Rule Book~ Missing Paris Day

The RATP, (the Regie Autonome des Transports Parisiens)

has come out with a new metro rule book,

informing travelers on how to behave.

'An Etiquette Manual for the Modern Traveller.'

Twelve new commandments 

in 4 categories:

courtesy, helpfulness, manners and politeness.

The rules run from keeping music low
to observing the No Smoking signs
to reaching for the bottom of the pole
on hot summer days
(keeping one's armpits to one's self)!
No staring, help others
and hold the door for those behind you.

Click here to see the article in TheLocal.fr
or to click on the actual manual
which you can read in French.

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen )