SUMMER AFTERNOON

A TREE I MET

EXHIBITION CAVES DES ABBESSSES

rue des Abbesses 2001

I'm showing some works that I made in the 'hood' at a very groovy wine bar that I love.

Caves des Abbesses, 43 rue des Abbesses. It is unbeatable. A wine store that has a hidden wine bar, charcuterie - good cheese resto in the back room. Come visit.

Only open in the evening. Saturdays an d Sundays - all day.

Here are some abstract notes from my 1995 move to Montmartre

I had tried not to think about what life would be like after my eventual departure from rue Pierre Larousse. I assumed it was not going to be better and hoped it would not be a whole lot worse. Moving into the little apartment on rue Ravingnon, my apprehensions transformed to ecstasy.

It was as if the best artist of them all had lifted me up between His thumb and index finger and placed me exactly where I should be.

Music. Was I in heaven? Ruby and I had just stepped out the door to the sound of an incredibly powerful saxophone player. I didn’t realize I had such a great musician living so close to me, but, this was Montmartre. Arthur Rubinstein had lived up the hill on rue Orkchamp and the French singer Dalidia down the street from him.

The young musician, as I had imagined him, must have opened his windows to the beautiful spring day. All of rue Ravignon was benefiting to the glory of his gift. With Ruby anxiously pulling me along. I was just approaching rue des Abbesses. I ran into Robert, le patron of Chez Camille.

“He’s really good.” Was my first comment.

“Who?” Robert asked.

“Le saxophonist.”

“Oui, je l’aime beaucoups. Le Duke."

Luckily, I saw the loud speakers attached to a wire that had been stretched across rue des Abbesses.

“What’s that?” I asked him pointing.

“Celebration Village Lepic /Abbesses."

"You’ll get tired of it. It goes on three days and nights."

he murmured with his typical French enthusiasm."

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Well, "dank it" the Good Lord said to Paris in springtime. The 21st. There are promising buds and longer days and hope that global warming might find us. This winter was colder than I have ever known in this city of light and lots of snow. Today is grey.

One would think that with all the great sculpture here, they'd know how to make a snowman.

Not a clue. Not fun.

Inevitably, les printemps will come. The beauty. The splendor. Sitting at a sidewalk café. And boys and girls watching each other.

AUNTIE ROSE

"Auntie Rose" took part in my recent exhibition that I had on the rue des Trois Frères. The water color reminded me of an old-maid-aunt, who wore gloves,and a hat with a veil. She visited us with her companion Margaritte, the first Sunday of every month. We sat on the veranda, drank iced tea, and behaved.

There were some inquiries at the vernissage if I had made a self portrait.

VALENTINE'S DAY

I'M SHOWING !

I'm so happy that Jean-Michael Faudmere, the director of La Galèrie 3F, on the rue des Trois Frères invited me to show some recent works at his very lovely Gallery, not far from the famous Bâteau Lavoir in Montmartre. Despite bad econimic times and Paris winter, I am optimistic that my happy paintings will encourage spring to arrive here soon.

Mark your calender.

L'EXPOSITION MARY BLAKE

Le Galerie 3F

58, rue des Trois Frères

Paris 18 eme

from the 10th 'til the 21st of February

vernissage, Wednesday, the 10th from 6 o'clock 'til 9.

M°Abbesses

The Gallery will be open everyday from 2:30 until 7:30.

Closed on Mondays

For more information

mblakeart@gmail.com

BEST WISHES

Hope you are all well and that 2010 will be the year of years.

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oooooo

Mary

A NEW DECADE time to change something... what?

Happy New Year

from

me

and

the

geese.

CHRISTMAS DAY AND NIGHT

I spent a wonderful Christmas day at Iris'es house, just outside of Paris. We were twenty à table. Anne and Latecia, her daughters, did the preparation and many more were summoned to bring something. I, the only American, was marked for cranberry sauce.

I did some hunting and was warned that in Paris those wild Massachucettes berries are sold one by one.

I found two packets (origin USA) on la rue

des Abbesses at a small Morocan green grocer and prepared the sauce Christmas Eve before Mass and my Café visit. It seemed to be a hit, but everything was good and plentiful including the champagne.

I arrived home early evening and opened the windows to the courtyard right off so that Lucy and Miss Kitty could wander.

Then went back to work on a large abstract painting that I had started a couple of weeks ago.

I was startled when Miss Kitty arrived with my cadeau de Noel. No. not

a mouse, but a tinsel garland from the consierge's Christmas tree.

Six meters long.

I'm not afraid of my consierge. I am afraid to be on her bad side. I thought it was best to replace it in the dark. I stepped out and so did she. I wished her Merry Christmas, then confessed that Miss Kitty had stolen her decoration. She seemed not terribly upset. Perhaps she had had a nice Christmas Day also.