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01

Oct

Creative Expression in the Name of Fun

by Meredith Mullins on October 1, 2014

The vélocipèdes, creative expression with bicycles at funfairs, part of the Musée des Arts Forains (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

The oldest carousel at the Musée des Arts Forains in Paris
Photo © Meredith Mullins

The Art of Funfairs and Carnivals

The sights and smells of carnivals and funfairs are layered deep in memory.

We remember . . .

  • taking pride in choosing our favorite horse on the carousel
  • eating airy sugar in cotton candy clouds
  • digging deep to find our inner superman, someone capable of winning the largest and furriest of the stuffed animals
  • living for the heart-stopping, stomach-spinning rides

We were having so much fun at the funfairs that we probably didn’t give full attention to the detailed art and design of the structures, backgrounds, and carnival characters—creative expression that was especially imaginative if we lived in 19th century Europe.

Three carved horses on a carousel, creative expression via funfairs at the Musée des Arts Forains (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

Choose your favorite galloping wooden character.
Photo © Meredith Mullins

Oh, I See the Treasures (Now that I’m Really Looking)

A visit to the Musée des Arts Forains (Museum of Fairground Arts) in Paris brings the beauty of the funfair treasures into clear focus and takes us back in time from 1850 to 1950.

The architecture, sculptures, and paintings that make up the rides and games of this era are a special kind of theater.

Everything works together in this museum of memorabilia to set the stage—a world full of illusion, energy, fanciful characters, magic, and color.

A confectionery, creative expression from the 19th century at the Musée des Arts Forains (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

The confectionery at the Musée des Arts Forains
Photo © Meredith Mullins

Cultural and Artistic Variety in the World of Funfairs

Cultural variety is evident in the museum collection, which was gathered from all over Europe by actor and antiques dealer Jean Paul Favand.

Character for the ball game, creative expression that tests throwing skill at the fun fair and at the Musée des Arts Forains (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

The game of passe-boules, a test of ball-throwing skills (circa 1920)
Photo © Meredith Mullins

For example, the horse tails of the French carousel horses are usually carved in wood. The German horse tails are made of horsehair.

The main carousel has traditional wooden horses and carriages, but the museum also has a carousel of Venetian gondolas as well as one of old-fashioned bicycles.

The Vélocipèdes carousel in motion, creative expression at fun fairs shown at the Musée des Arts Forains in Paris. (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

Peddle power on the Vélocipèdes carousel
Photo © Meredith Mullins

The speedy bicycle carousel, the Vélocipèdes (circa 1897), goes 62 kilometers (38 miles) per hour thanks to ambitious riders’ fueling the rotation with their frenetic peddling.

Off to the Races

Another cultural difference is the creative approach to the racing games. The customary horse races are part of the museum collection, where you advance your horse by rolling balls into the high-value holes.

horse race at the Musée des Arts Forains, creative expression in a traditional way. (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

And they’re off . . .
Photo © Meredith Mullins

But, only in French culture would you have La Course des Garçons de Café (the race of the café waiters). The traditional horses are replaced by mustachioed waiters carrying trays of wine glasses. They leap along, at a startling pace—surprising because you rarely see them move that fast in real café life.

waiters in La Cours des Garçonsfrom the carnival game, creative expression at funfairs (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

La Course des Garçons de Café
Photo © Meredith Mullins

Seeing Things Differently

After a visit to the Musée des Arts Forains, I see things differently. I see the beauty of the wood-carved horses, the painted games, the ornate statues and wall murals.

wooden carousel horse with red halter, creative expression from the Musée des Art Forains (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

The beauty of an era past
Photo © Meredith Mullins

I see the technical marvel of the vélocipèdes that can spin at 38 mph and make me hold on for dear life as my high-wheeler takes the curves.

But most of all, I see myself differently—metaphorically of course, but also physically. In the hall of mirrors, without even trying, I lost 20 pounds.

That’s my kind of funfair.

Hall of mirrors, creative expression in the Musée des Arts Forains. (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

The Hall of Mirrors makes dreams come true.
Photo © Meredith Mullins

The Musée des Arts Forains is open during the Journées du Patrimoine in September, during the holiday week in December, and for private tours and events.

Comment on this post, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

 

France (Paris)/The World's Art & Design

13

Jun

Dîner en Blanc 2014 in Photos

by Meredith Mullins on June 13, 2014

Pont d'Alexandre III in Paris, site of the Dîner en Blanc 2014 (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

2014 Dîner en Blanc at the Pont d’Alexandre III
© Meredith Mullins

Full Moon over Paris Bridges

What could be more magical? A full moon. Elegant white-clad diners. Sumptuous cuisine. Infinite champagne. A gentle breeze. Warm smiles. And a view of the Seine in the changing light of a summer evening.

The Dîner en Blanc was again a success, as the secret location for the spontaneous party led to six Paris bridges.

Our OIC Moments were spent on the Pont d’Alexandre III. We invite you to take a look.

 

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/France (Paris)

09

Jun

The Magical Mystery of Dîner en Blanc

by Meredith Mullins on June 9, 2014

Woman in white in front of the Louvre, a guest at Diner en Blanc, the White Dinner, in Paris, France, a way of living life to the fullest (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

Celebrating 25 years of no rain at the 2013 Dîner en Blanc in Paris
© Meredith Mullins

Live Life to the Fullest . . . with Style

Sshh! It’s a secret. The magical mystery of the Dîner en Blanc—The Dinner in White.

OK. It’s not exactly a secret, since more than 12,000 members of this “elite” club already have it on their calendar.

Thursday evening, June 12.

The invitées know they will arrive (somewhere) at precisely 9:30 pm. They know they will bring champagne, fine wine, crystal, and china.

They know they will cover the tables with white linen, punctuated with silver candelabras. They know they will bring gourmet dinner courses worthy of the sumptuous history of French cuisine.

Dîner en Blanc crowd in front of Louvre, a way to live life to the fullest (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

Elegance is the spirit of the evening at the Dîner en Blanc.
© Meredith Mullins

They also know that the key word is elegance. They will dress in Gatsby white, as if going to a summer garden party, a cricket match at Downton Abbey, or a Truman Capote cocktail.

What they don’t know, yet, is where they will be going.

The Secret Location

Each year, the dining place remains a secret until a few minutes before the start of the event. Emails and texts fly, announcing the secret location.

Founder François Pasquier vows to surprise the group with a venue each year even more interesting than the previous year.

Man in white headgear at the Dîner en Blanc, a way to live life to the fullest (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

Can “The Great Carnac” predict where the next dinner will be?
© Meredith Mullins

That challenge becomes difficult, as the Dîner en Blanc is now in its 26th year.

They’ve converged on the Bois de Boulogne, Pont des Arts, Invalides, Versailles, Place Vendôme, Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, and Place des Vosges, to name just a few of the beautiful and historic venues.

To add to the challenge, the crowd grows larger each year, so the number of open spaces the group can commandeer (no permits or permissions are sought) is limited.

A Dîner en Blanc violinist at the Louvre in Paris, a way to live life to the fullest (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

Spontaneous music in the courtyard of the Louvre, 2013 Dîner en Blanc
© Meredith Mullins

In 2013, for the first time, the dinner was hosted in two places simultaneously—Trocadero and the courtyard of the Louvre—each overflowing with thousands and thousands of white-clad celebrants.

A Gathering of Friends

Even though the group is large, the spirit is intimate. This is a gathering of friends.

At the end of the evening when they raise their sparklers and set free the floating lanterns into the Paris sky, they light up the night in the name of friendship and the wonderful human desire to live life to the fullest.

Sparklers at the Dîner en Blanc at the Louvre, a way to live life to the fullest. (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

At the end of the evening, the revelers light up the Paris night sky.
© Meredith Mullins

Vive Le Dîner en Blanc!

Oh, I See

The weather forecast looks good for this year. Although there will be no “Oh, I see” moment until the elegant white flash mob appears out of nowhere, can you guess where the dinner will be held? Vote below.

[polldaddy poll=8108305]

 

Come back on Friday to see who was right.

For more information, visit Dîner en Blanc.

The documentary about Dîner en Blanc will screen at the American Library on Wednesday, June 11, with discussion by the founder of the event, François Pasquier.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.  

 

 

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/France (Paris)

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