I Love Paris

A lovely slate building in Trelaze

One thing about France that we loved was the way historic places mixed the ancient and modern. For example, in Angers, the castle contains an ultra-modern exhibit space to hold (and preserve and show off) one of the two oldest surviving tapestries in France.

Similarly, a nearby building displays a modern tapestry (woven in the 70s and 80s, as I recall) that mimics the ancient one and that takes its themes (Armageddon) and translates them to the modern era (ie, nuclear war). The modernist tapestry hangs in a 16th century building that was once a hospital. Its spaces feel old, the art is new, and the bathrooms were renovated five minutes ago. Next door is a modern museum for textile art, and in between is a sweet old garden.See that dude on the right? That's Darth Vader. Yes, Darth Vader. And on the left? An old suit of armor. Because the French aren't afraid to mix the past and present. All this was on display at a convent/Abbey first built in the 11th century.

See what I mean?

Likewise, in Paris, the old and new coexist with love. In the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, a part of the Louvre complex, you can see an exhibit of 60s-era chairs (including the beloved Eames lounge chair with ottoman).

Looky, looky! What's that?

And now, at the Picasso Museum, you can see a fabulous installation that bisects and reflects the museum itself. Check it out. Love, love, love the French.

In the Pompidou, the modernism is complete.

While at the little church in St. Paul, the history is equally complete.