CENTRE POMPIDOU

PARIS, FRANCE

The Centre Pompidou, designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, is a 20th-century architectural marvel, immediately recognizable by its exterior escalators and enormous coloured tubing.

It is home to the National Museum of Modern Art and is internationally renowned for its 20th and 21st century art collections.

The works of iconic artists are displayed chronologically over two sections: the modern period, from 1905 to 1960 (Matisse, Picasso, Dubuffet, etc.), and the contemporary period, from 1960 to the present day (Andy Warhol, Niki de Saint Phalle, Anish Kapoor, etc.). 

In addition to its permanent collections, internationally renowned exhibitions are organized every year on the top floor, where visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of Paris and its rooftops.

Everything you might need to spend a pleasant half-day, or indeed a day in the museum is available: eat at Le Georges, learn more at the public information library, and take a break browsing the shelves of the museum gift shop.

At the foot of the Centre, the Atelier Brancusi presents a unique collection of works by this artist who played a major role in the history of modern sculpture.

--parisinfo.com

MONTPARNASSE

PARIS, FRANCE

The Montparnasse district has been frequently visited by lots of major artists of the 20th Century, such as Picasso, Soutine, Foujita, Modigliani, Brancusi, Braque, Man Ray.

From its rich past, Montparnasse has conserved artist workshops, famous cafes and brasseries (the Closerie des Lilas, the Dôme, the Coupole, etc.)

This place boasts an important cultural setting with several museums and walking spots, such as the Panoramic Observatory of the Montparnasse Tower, the Montparnasse cemetery, the Bourdelle Musuem, the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation, the Catacombes, the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art.

--parisinfo.com

GRAND PALAIS

PARIS, FRANCE

The Grand Palais is one of the most iconic Parisian monuments.

Built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, it is recognizable by its large glass dome flanked by the French flag.

This architectural masterpiece of stone, steel and glass has been listed as a historical monument since 2000.

It comprises 3 major sites: the Nave, the National Galleries and the Palais de la Découverte.

The majestic nave, 240 m long, welcomes a wide variety of major national and international events: (horse riding, contemporary art, fairground, etc.).

The national galleries organize large-scale exhibitions on artists that have marked the history of art (Picasso, Hopper, Renoir, etc.).

The Palais de la Découverte is a museum and cultural centre dedicated to science, where children can learn whilst having fun, through permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.

--parisinfo.com

SAINT GERMAIN DES PRES

PARIS, FRANCE

The legendary district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés has a dual identity these days.

On the one hand, it’s filled with boutiques showcasing goods by some of the top luxury brands.

But it’s also popular with students, who like to meet up for a drink in one of the area’s numerous cafés and bars.

Vibrant, cosmopolitan Saint-Germain is definitely in vogue!

Located in the chic 6th arrondissement of Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés was the post-war haunt of such luminaries as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Picasso, Man Ray, Léo Ferré and Georges Brassens.

Some of the places where the intellectual and artistic élite used to meet still exist today.

--Parisinfo.com

180,000 READERS OF THIS BLOG

MORE THAN THE DAILY READERSHIP OF THE AVERAGE BIG CITY NEWSPAPER

Daily, for more than 5 years, we bring original images and text about Urban Design, Universal Design, Disability Advocacy, Travel, Human Rights and Livable Cities.

The image above is taken from the Centre Pompidou in central Paris.

We usually don't like post modernist buildings, but the Renzo Piano-Richard Rogers is a winner because its guts are on the outside -- showing people all the mechanicals that make up a huge building.

The Centre is popular with children and families, so they all learn from the architectural and engineering elements outside the 1977 edifice.

Contextually, in the neighborhood, it is a bit of a monster.

The view below, of course, is of the Eiffel Tower and typically Parisian rooftops.

The new header photo for our blog is Montmartre, dominated by the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur, and home over the years to Picasso, Pissarro, Monet, Degas, Toulouose-Lautrec and other Belle Epoque artists.

We hope our 180,000 unique visitors enjoy our blend of advocacy, photography and whimsy.

REST IN PEACE ARA GULER

MY LIFE WAS BETTER FOR HAVING MET YOU AND SWAPPED STORIES

I am proud to be the editor of the English language version of PHOTOJOURNALIST: The Life Story of Ara Guler, by the warm, wonderful and talented Nezih Tavlas.

So glad I got up the nerve to approach (the famously cantankerous but infinitely

talented) Ara Guler in Beyoglu during my second visit to Istanbul.

I understand why he thought of himself as a photojournalist.

But he was a great artist.

He was one of the greatest photographers.

I visited Ara Cafe a half dozen times, scouting famous Photo Journalist Guler.

Finally, he was sitting down to some food and tea.

I had bought a rare book of his, haggling at a book fair that was part of Ramazan.

I lugged the heavy book from Taksim to Galatasaray for him to sign.

He was, a most human of human beings.

Frank, honest, humorous.

You cannot capture life they way he does on film, without having a great amount of empathy and love of your fellow brethren on earth.

Less than a month ago, I was in Paris...exploring the stories of Ara Guler from @MagnumPhotos to Salvador Dali to @LeMeurice to the back streets and main

streets of the City of Light.

RIP Ara.

Read the Kindle version of Photojournalist at:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VT8PN31?pf_rd_p=faa1d3e1-fadf-4279-ac2d-3096206e4690&pf_rd_r=NGRS1YJH5A9JQ2PGRRMQ

Watch the movie on Prime at:

https://www.amazon.com/Eye-Istanbul-Ara-G%C3%BCler/dp/B078HBN2W5/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1540067911&sr=8-5&keywords=ara+guler

Follow

a great Twitter feed at:

@PJournalistNews