Monique Y. Wells in Brothers’ Network Video
We’re pleased to announce that Monique Y. Wells has been featured as a affiliate of The Brothers’ Network, a cultural organization that highlights positive contributions and representations of African-American men in creative and instructive ways through the arts. Watch a video interview of her with Brothers’ Network National Advisory board member, Anthony Fleet, here: https://youtu.be/8K4VOc6t0cA.
Anthony Fleet Prepares to Make a Video of Monique for The Brothers’ Network
Photograph by Discover Paris!
Anthony Fleet, an American graduate student at Sciences Po (Paris Institute of Political Studies), came by yesterday to create a video of our own Monique Y. Wells for The Brothers’ Network, a cultural organization that amplifies the brilliance of black men in the arts and culture.
We’ll post a link to the video as soon as it is completed!
Ollia Horton and Monique Y. Wells at IDFM Radio 98 in Enghien
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Ollia Horton of Happy Hour on IDFM 98 Radio Enghien recently interviewed our own Monique Y. Wells. Here is a synopsis of the interview.
Follow this link to listen to the interview: Ollia Horton’s Happy Hour – Radio IDFM 98. (The interview is roughly 19 minutes long.)
Bonne écoute!
Marisa Williamson as Sally Hemings
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Artist Marisa Williamson came to Paris recently in the guise of Sally Hemings, the slave-mistress of Thomas Jefferson. Williamson was turning a film about Hemings, who could have chosen to remain a free woman in Paris rather than return with Jefferson to the United States to live as a slave.
From left to right: Avery Williamson, Charlotte Bayer, Monique Y. Wells, Marisa Williamson
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Dressed in period costume, Williamson played the role of Hemings, a young woman who was “struggling to decide whether to claim her freedom in a foreign land, or return home…” She interviewed a number of African Americans to learn why they came to Paris and how they perceived themselves as blacks living in France.
Marisa Williamson and Monique Y. Wells
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Williamson was assisted by Charlotte Bayer, who filmed the encounter of Hemings with our own Monique Y. Wells on a park bench in Paris, and her sister Avery Williamson, who photographed the shoot. The film is scheduled for release in August 2014.
Information about Marisa Williamson’s film project can be found here: Hemings in Paris.
At the AD Intérieurs 2013 Métamorphose exposition in Paris, Monique got wrapped in a living chair.
First, the chair spread its wings.
The Living Chair
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Then, it was ready.
The Living Chair in Ready Position
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Monique made herself comfortable in the chair.
Monique Sits Down in the Living Chair
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
The chair proceeded to wrap its left wing over Monique.
The Living Chair Wraps its Left Wing
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Then, its right wing.
The Living Chair Wraps its Right Wing
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Finally, Monique was fully wrapped.
Fully Wrapped in the Living Chair
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Monique, fully refreshed, got out of the chair and went on her way!
Monique Leaves the Living Chair
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
The chair was designed by Hubert de Malherbe. The AD Intérieurs 2013 Métamorphose exposition ends on September 22.
Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!
Des Coulam and Monique Y. Wells
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
I am honored to have been asked to participate in a very special series of interviews called Paris – A Personal View. Des Coulam, whose passion is to record the sounds of Paris, is the creative genius behind the series. He recorded my observations of the Luxembourg Garden—my favorite place in Paris—as we took a leisurely walk through it.
I took Des to several of my preferred spots in the garden. We began outside the gate, where there is currently a photo exposition on the Tour de France. There are a few photos of “vintage” races in the 1920s and 50s, but the majority of them are from competitions that have taken place in the last twenty years. The images are stunning!
We then walked to the eastern terrace near the boat basin, where I showed Des an image of Loïs Mailou Jones’ 1948 painting of the Luxembourg Palace and the towers of Saint-Sulpice beyond. There has been virtually no change in the landscape since she painted it 64 years ago!
I stopped briefly at the southernmost point of the parterre to talk about Gaston Monnerville, brilliant legal mind and President of the French Senate—a sculpture of him stands just outside the garden. Then we headed over to the statue of Marie de Medicis, the women whom we need to thank for having built the palace and garden. Thank goodness she pined for the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens of her native Florence so much that she tried to have them recreated in Paris!
We next stopped to admire the Zadkine sculpture Le Poète ou l’Hommage à Paul Eluard. This is my favorite piece of art in the garden. I love Zadkine’s story and his works, many of which you can find on the streets of Paris as well as in his studio-turned-museum near the garden.
From Zadkine, the conversation turned to fruits, bees, and the Chartreuse monks when we strolled to the southwest corner of the garden. This is where the espaliered orchard produces fruits for the French Senate, beekeeping courses are taught, and honey from the garden’s apiary is sold in the fall.
To finish our tour, we visited the Statue of Liberty, strode past the Orangerie, stopped to admire the view of the Pantheon at the far end of rue Soufflot, and talked briefly about the Medicis Fountain. I shared some final thoughts about the garden as we walked by the crocuses (a sure sign that spring has arrived) that grow near the exit that faces the Odéon Theater.
I hope you enjoy this audio tour and the beautiful photos that accompany it!
Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!
Monique Y. Wells Presenting
Our New Josephine Baker Walk
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
We’re super excited about the CNN article that came out yesterday about African Americans in Paris. Entrée to Black Paris is featured in the third—and longest—section! In the article, you’ll find links to Southern Passion Lounge in Paris, Black Paris Profiles, and our newest Josephine Baker walk. Click on the embedded link above to “read all about it!”
Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!
Kenzo Psy-chic Cocktail
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Last Monday we received an invitation to attend a chic cocktail party at the Kenzo boutique located in the posh “Golden Triangle” district just off the Champs-Elysées. Following Monique’s heady rise to instant celebrity status after her all too-brief appearance on 60 Minutes, we were ready for another shot at stardom.
Two Lovely Ladies Greeted Us at the Door
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
We arrived at the appointed time and place and were greeted by two lovely ladies who explained that we could get our photograph taken. Chic!
Where’s Monique?
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Monique stepped up to the Kenzo backdrop to get her photograph taken. The brilliance of the paparazzi flash cameras going off all at once was blinding, and she was momentary disoriented.
There She Is!
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
It only took her a minute to regain her composure. She has learned quickly how to adapt to fame!
Tom Poses for Kenzo
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Then I stepped up, looking as cool as can be in my Club Room cotton shirt, Banana Republic corduroy trousers, Royal Mer Bretagne wool sweater, Gold Toe socks, and Rockport shoes. But where were the paparazzi?
After the photo shoot, I thought that I had really looked cool, until two guys dressed in Kenzo fashions stepped up…
Two Cool Guys
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
…looking much cooler than I could ever hope to look. Coolness is so fleeting!
Pouring Mumm Champagne
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Feeling chagrined, I went over and got a glass of champagne. It wasn’t just any champagne, it was Mumm. Chic!
Hors d’œuvres
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Then we nibbled on fancy hors d’œuvres. Chic!
Chic Shoes for a Leggy Mistress
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
In the women’s department I saw a pair of chic shoes that would look good on the feet of a leggy mistress. General Petraeus, are you listening?
Kenzo Men’s Fashion
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
We looked at men’s fashion. I saw a jacket that I liked, as well as a shirt. The jacket cost 800€ and the shirt 165€. That’s way more than I can afford to pay! Maybe fortune will come with fame. Then I can buy it!
Kenzo Boutique
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
It was a fun evening, mingling with the chic and cool crowd. Thank you Kenzo for the invitation to your psy-chic cocktail!
Boutique Kenzo
51, avenue George V
75008 Paris
Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!
Monique Y. Wells and David McCullough at U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Paris
Screenshot from 60 Minutes Video Segment
Just when we were despairing that Discover Paris! co-founder Monique Wells might never get the recognition that she is due, we woke up this morning to a mailbox full of messages from friends in the U.S. declaring that they saw her on 60 Minutes last night. What a surprise! We rushed to our computer and watched the 60 Minute video segment and indeed, there she is at the U.S. Ambassador’s reception that was held on May 25, 2012 for two-time Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough. Monique had approached Mr. McCullough and asked him to autograph her copy of his book, The Greater Journey — Americans in Paris.
Monique Y. Wells and Tom Reeves at U.S. Ambassador’s Reception for David McCullough
Screenshot from 60 Minutes Video Segment
To top things off, when we closely examined the video segment, we spotted ourselves standing together while we listened to Mr. McCullough’s talk. In this photo he lets out a cheer because he had just kissed British-American film and stage star Olivia de Havilland, who was attending the ceremony. Oh, lucky man!
Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!
Monique Y. Wells’ Entrée to Black Paris blog is finally getting the recognition we believe it so richly deserves – it has been named one of 10 BEST Paris blogs by award-winning travel writer Mike Gerrard!
Gerrard is a full-time, award-winning author, blogger, and publisher. His numerous publications about Paris include the Top 10 Paris – Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide (DK Travel; penned with his wife, Donna Dailey), Colors of Paris (Thunder Bay Press), and Paris: A City Revealed (Metro Books). As a man who knows the city intimately, he recently made his selection of 10 best Paris blogs. We were thrilled to find our blog among them!
Here’s Mike’s description of Entrée to Black Paris:
What it is: Monique Y. Wells covers a fascinating niche subject – black history, culture and contemporary life in Paris.
Why we like it: Specialist passions make for some of the best blogs, and the relationship of Paris with its black population (for better or worse) provides some stimulating reading. Monique doesn’t just cover the well-documented ground of black writers, musicians and other artists in Paris’s past, like Chester Himes and Josephine Baker, but keeps it current by interviewing black chefs, lawyers and other prominent figures.
Find Mike’s entire list of 10 BEST Paris blogs on the Web site 101 Holidays.
 | Tom Reeves - author of Paris Insights - An Anthology and Dining Out in Paris - What You Need to Know before You Get to the City of Light. |