Paul Levitt and Man Ray - September 2023

A Memoir of Man Ray Now at The Met 

Are you a person who loves a good story about a plucky art student who bolsters up his confidence to call a famous artist in a foreign city? Then you will love my friend Paul Levitt's book, Gathered Reminders: A Visit with Man Ray. It's now available at The Metropolitan Museum of Art book store.

In 1972, when Paul was a student at Tyler School of Art in Rome, he took a trip to Paris and met Man Ray, the American Surrealist, Dadaist artist and photographer. Paul had learned of Man Ray in college and admired his work. 

By luck, Paul got Man Ray's phone number and called him when he got to Paris. Man Ray invited him to visit. Paul's memoir tells the story of their meeting and contains the photographs that Paul took of him.

The cover of Paul's book shows a postcard  from Man Ray.

 It depicts Man Ray's art work, Le pain peint.

In 2015, my late husband, Richard, and I joined Paul at The Met to see the exhibit, China: Through the Looking Glass. On this occasion, Paul signed a copy of his book for us.

Paul with Alex at Shakespeare & Co. in Paris displaying a page from his book.

When Paul, a youthful art student, called Man Ray at his Paris studio, he was invited in and spent three hours with Man Ray and his wife, Juliet. Paul shot photos of Man Ray, who was wearing a beige pajama jacket, a black beret and large, black-rimmed eyeglasses. Paul remembered a quirky detail. The artist was wearing a shoelace tied in a bow as a necktie. 

Paul's photo of himself and Man Ray. They are obviously enjoying each other's company.

Paul and Richard at The Met in 2015.

I am sure you will enjoy Paul's intimate photos of Man Ray and the touching text which accompanies them. You can purchase "Gathered Reminders: A Visit with Man Ray" on eBay by searching for the book's title or by emailing Paul at paullevitt@hawaii.rr.com

À Bientôt!

Lazy Girl in Paris and Orient: Summer 2023

 Potpourri - Paris to Poquatuck Park

I look up from my laptop. There are goldfinch on the bird feeder eating thistle seeds. I hear a ripe apple thump on the ground fallen from the perfectly shaped apple tree in the yard. A deer will later enjoy this apple as her two fawns cuddle against the white shingles of the garage.

I look across the lawn that the neighbor man mows every Tuesday. I see cars crossing the causeway in the distance on their way to the ferry which will take them to New London and points north. Beyond the fenced-in garden at the back of the yard, with its tall sunflowers, orange zinnias and blue Chicory, I see the "big pile of dirt". The neighbor who owns the house behind my rental has built a pool house this summer, and in doing so, has displaced a great deal of dirt to Latham's field. This BPoD with its fleet of assorted tradesmen trucks, cement mixers and cranes, has provided both visual distraction and fodder for commentary for the two months that I have been in Orient.

The beautiful pool house and BPoD.

Before I came out to Orient, I went to Paris in June. At The Picasso Museum, we saw a display by the British designer, Paul Smith, who provided decor for the exhibit.

Paul Smith's clever installation of the iconic black and white striped shirt favored by Picasso, hanging from the rafters at the Picasso Museum.

Picasso with Françoise Gilot in the South of France. Gilot died last year at the age of 101.  She was a painter, and the only woman to ever leave Picasso.

Bouquets from Deep Roots Farm, Southold, New York

A highlight of my trip to Paris was a picnic on the park grounds of Versailles where we had a catered luncheon sur l'herbe while our tour hosts, Cassidy Zachary and April Calahan, shared details about Marie Antoinette and her couturier, Rose Bertin.

"Marie Antoinette with a Rose" by Elizabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, French, 1766-1842.

Oil on Canvas, 46 x 35", 1783

Cassidy and April speaking to us about Marie Antoinette and Rose Bertin.

Madame Bertin was a French fashion merchant and milliner. She is considered the first French fashion designer. She became the couturier to the Queen as well as her confidante and friend. She was known for the extravagant pouf hairdos made from pads and pomade and the chemise à la Reine.

Fashion historian and Dressed Podcast co-host, April Calahan, in her custom-made gown à la Marie Antoinette. April attended the Grand Masked Ball at the Versailles Palace, held on the last night of our Paris tour. It began at midnight.

April ascending the steps of Versailles at dawn.

A painting that I completed during my summer in Orient with doll furniture that I found at a yard sale. It's as if I am looking at a real landscape with real people, and with a blink of my eyes, I transform it to a fantasy world.

A house in Orient which provides inspiration for my work.

Sunset at Poquatuck Park, Orient, Long Island, New York

At Le Bouillon in Paris for our farewell dinner.

À Bientôt!