This Is Not 1990s German Photography

Just because I'm very jetlagged and cannot really write without misspelling words, I'm posting 2 pictures.
One is titled "Ceci n'est pas un Thomas Struth" and the other "Ceci n'est pas un Andreas Gursky" (for those of you who know early Gursky).
In addition, a piece of news I heard last night and that by now you should all know: Philippe Vergne, my fellow countryman, has been appointed director of DIA. Congrats Philippe, and good luck for your new adventures!

[and yes, I know Philippe but only slightly. I went to school with his sister, and we have run into each other a few times over the last decade or so, but that's the extent of our acquaintance. I wonder if he's on Facebook?].

FBC! Back In La La Land!

Hello dear devoted, beloved and patient readers,

FBC! is back from a harrowing trip in Sarkozyland, jetlagged and busy with errands but soon functional again. Plus, I now have reunited with a decent internet connection. This wi-fi thing is a great idea on paper, but in practice there are not too many open networks to piggyback on.
So in the next few days check this space for: a review of the Legende show in Chamarande, our regular feature Your Social Life, some recipes and other stuff.
Meanwhile, have a good one, and see you soon in this space.

Images Without (Too Many) Words

FBC! is surrounded by very ancient people who do not go gentle into that good night. It can be sad, it can be hilarious, it can be taxing, it can be touching, it can be difficult, it can be beautiful, there can be real happiness in it.
For all of you, everywhere, a few images. Have a great weekend.

Your Social Life, Europe Edition

If, unlike me, you are not stuck with family obligations in your native backwater of a hometown, you probably wonder what to do this weekend?
Well, jump in the first plane and head over to nüans in Düsseldorf to see the Documental show about video in Los Angeles. It opens tomorrow with a performance by FBC! gal pal and favorite LA Art Girl Nancy Popp. Unfortunately their website isn't updated and the press release is on a pdf doc I cannot copy. But the address is on the link, it starts at 7PM tomorrow evening. Go say hi to Nancy for me, if Doris Krystof from K21 is there ditto, and drink a couple glasses of sekt for me. Thanks!
If you're in Paris this weekend, say hi to Matthieu Laurette, an old pal of FBC! too, when you head over to Le Plateau for the opening of l'Argent, a group show about what else? Money, and maybe it also references the Zola book and the Bresson or L'Herbier movies. French people hate to speak about money, it is plain rude, so I'd be curious to see the show if I can. FBC! will be at the total opposite of Paris for only a few days next week, so not sure I'll be able to make it. I'll try, as well as the show at Le Palais de Tokyo, and of course, Legende at the Domaine de Chamarande.

Pix: courtesy Nancy Popp. Nancy, if you ever climb Chris Burden's street lights at LACMA, be careful not to damage the paint, OK? Good luck for tomorrow's performance!

FBC! Neither Here Nor There Until The End Of The Month

Helloooooo everybody,

I'm in a better mood than Sunday, and thanks to those of you who worried about me. To make a long story short, not only Mam'zelle VaVaVoom (her new name is The Money Pit) starts only when she wants to, but I'm also experiencing a recurrence of the whiplash pains I endured last Summer after that stupid car accident. Which makes very uncomfortable writing, sitting, holding my head, and generally do things (I should have sued that guy's insurance, dammit). So I'm not being as efficient as I'd love to, which is a bummer as I'm packing up and running around everywhere before I go back to Ugly Sarkozyland in a couple of days. I'm not looking forward to being on a plane for 12 hours, let me tell you.
So I'm not sure whether I'll be able to write/post/blog when I'm away, as I've got to take care of very elderly members of my family, and see some real doctors for myself back home.

Anyway, check this space occasionally. I may post some pix. I won't be able to see many shows, if I do it will likely be the latest at the Palais de Tokyo, and Legend at the Domaine de Chamarande. I'll report on these after I get back.
Meanwhile, have fun without me (hard, I know), and drop me a line from time to time to tell me what you do. See you in a few weeks!

PS: I'm experimentally installing the Google Adsense thingy to the blog to clutter your reading with commercial advertisement. If it pays for Pomme food I'm afraid it may stay here permanently, if it doesn't I'll get rid of it.

Tout Fout Le Camp. Yves Saint-Laurent, RIP

Yves Saint-Laurent has left this world to join Christian Dior. Story here. And information about his life and work, here.
I knew it was a depressing Sunday.
Picture from the V&A website.

BARTER

Sorry I left you out in the cold, dearest FBC! readers, I've been again struck by good luck, ha!
So, I'm afraid I'm going to let you all alone for a little while, I'm sure you'll welcome the quiet respite. Meanwhile, I have a couple barter proposals for you to consider. Please drop me a line at FBC! if you're interested.

1. I'd exchange a 2001 red Hyundai Tiburon against a Honda Civic, any year between 1996 and now, mileage between 100 and 150K. The Tiburon has had over $700 of work put in it over the last month or so, but it starts only after AAA tows it to a mechanic. If you keep it running continuously (thus generously contributing to global warming) it's fine. Just never switch off the ignition. It has only 83,000 miles on the original engine.
If you don't have a Civic, I'd consider a horse and a few riding lessons.

2. I'd exchange [I'll let you figure out that one] against some cool, reliable, nice, smart and funny new friends. Bonus if your friends live in the Mid-City/Mid-Wilshire area.

3. I'd exchange my non-paying, blogging occupation against a curator job, possibly in Los Angeles. I curate shows that attracts foot traffic, are fun and highly unusual. I stay within budget and even raise money I do not use, and all publications I've put together have sold out extremely fast. Be prepared to deal with a very art historically minded curator: I'm interested in work with lasting power for the collection. I refuse to get artworks in the collection only because the artist is cute.

4. I'd exchange cooking and baking lessons against a good health insurance. See the blog for ideas of what I could teach you to make. I can also show you how to shop for healthy, quality food. The health insurance should cover back surgery and spinal injuries rehab.

5. I'd exchange roughly 400 or 500 books or so against a TV that's not ugly, and some speakers for my iPod. The books' subject are, in descending order: 1. Philosophy and critical theory, 2. Anthropology, sociology, history. 3. Art history, art catalogues. 4 Fiction (mostly contemporary) 5. Terrible detective novels 6. Cookbooks.
Please be aware 80% of the non-fiction books are in French.

So if you have all of these (1. and 2. are what I need most), let me know. Meanwhile, no FBC! until July or so, if I reopen the blog. It's a it complicated to report on art stuff when your car isn't reliable. So no reviews of th California Video show, which I was set to see today.
Ah, I'm not exchanging Pomme against anything else on the planet. I just love that picture of her. It makes me want to be Pomme.