Les Histoires de Babar at Les Arts Décoratifs
04/01/2012 § 2 Comments
Can you believe that Babar, the beloved king of the elephants from the popular children’s books written by Jean de Brunhoff and his son Laurent, is turning 80 this year? In his honor, Les Arts Décoratifs in Paris has put together a lovely exhibition of books, sketches, toys and memorabilia, drawing from great museums and private collections around the world, showing Babar’s journey throughout the years.
Growing up, Babar was one of my very favorite stories, and I strongly believe it is the source of my small obsession with elephants. I especially love the simplicity of the watercolor illustrations by Jean de Brunhoff, from the little pom pom on cousin Arthur’s beret to the wrinkles of the older elephants. It was even better to find out that Babar was originally a bedtime story told by Cécile de Brunhoff, mother to Laurent (who was five at the time) and wife to Jean, a painter, in 1930. Jean, at the request of his sons, turned the story into an illustrated album that was then published by his uncle’s publishing house in 1931 as Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant (Story of Babar), to great acclaim. Jean went on to write six more Babar books before his untimely death in 1937, with son Laurent continuing the tradition after WWII. Laurent has since added more than thirty books.
A lovely interview with Laurent about Babar, his family and his own writing.
New York’s own Morgan Library — one of my favorite places in the city — has also contributed to the exhibition in Paris, and for good reason. In their collection they have the Jean’s original maquette (or first draft) of Histoire de Babar, which you can view online here with commentary and comparison to the published work.
The exhibit runs through September 2012, and I have very high hopes I will be able to make it to Paris in time to catch it. If you go before I do, please give Babar my regards.
Les Arts Décoratifs
107 rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris
Resolved: 2012
02/01/2012 § 10 Comments
Photo via George Eastman House
“Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account”
Oscar Wilde
In referring to my often-neglected journal to find my resolutions for 2011 and 2010, I saw a few repeats, a few things I achieved, a few things I failed miserably at, and a few things I completely forgot that I had resolved to do. With this in mind — along with Oscar’s words above — I’ve decided to pare down my list for this year, from its usual ten or eleven item list to six. Thus, here are the six things I can achieve, and will achieve, this year:
- Travel to at least one new country. I’ve managed to keep my streak alive for the last three years, and I’m definitely committed to continuing this year. Currently thinking my new country for 2012 will be somewhere in North Africa, Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe, but this is definitely not nailed down yet. Have any suggestions for me?
- Run two half marathons. I ran the New York Marathon in 2010, and have run plenty of road races of shorter lengths over the past 4 years (view my running posts here). Admittedly, after the marathon, I suffered from a bit of burnout and my training has been uneven ever since. This year I resolve to run two half marathons. I will give myself extra points for sub-2 hour finishes, but I will be more than happy with two uninjured, smiling finishes. I’ve got a former international competitor as a training partner (eesh!), but she assures me she needs just as much training as I do. We’ll see about that. Have any races you’d suggest I look into? Even better, would you like to run with me?
- Cook some things. My friends frequently point out that I blog about plenty of interesting things, cocktails and whatnot, but I almost never mention food. Were you to look into my refrigerator, you might understand why. It currently holds water, condiments, booze and two oranges. And the oranges are for making Old Fashioneds. I also cannot honestly remember the last time I used my oven or stove. So in 2012, I’m resolving to actually buy myself groceries and cook at least once a week. (Sidenote: Please do understand that “cooking” shall be construed quite liberally.) Have any ridiculously easy, yet nutritious and delicious recipes for me?
- I’m on a horse. This was actually a 2011 resolution that I did not achieve, and so it’s getting carried over. For as horse crazy as I am, I really have no excuse for not riding anymore. I grew up taking all different kinds of lessons — even mounted drill team…yes, I am that awesome — and I still feel the need to get on a horse almost daily. Admittedly, it can be a bit difficult doing so, living in New York City, but this just can’t keep being the reason I don’t ride. This year, be it lessons, a trail ride, or perhaps even a dude ranch, I will get myself on a horse. How do you make time for your interests? Do you ride?
- To read twelve books. I’ve always been a rather voracious consumer of all sorts of information, but I have found that in the last year my reading of books has been a record low. Not acceptable. To that end, I resolve to read twelve books — hopefully, one a month — in 2012. Read any great books lately? How is this best accomplished? Do you think I need an e-reader?
- To live with purpose. Rather abstract, I admit, but 2012 will definitely be my year of living with purpose. Making decisions, choosing actions to make sure I achieve my goals, focusing on the immediate as a way to get to the eventual. My life is best lived when I grab it by the horns, summon up the courage and blaze my own trail. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have ever lived in Italy by myself, travelled alone in Europe, moved to New York, or gone to law school — and who knows what else. No sitting on the sidelines this year. No letting life meander on without making affirmative decisions of my own. Live like that, and life will pass you by. How do you put your words into action? How do you live with purpose?
Lastly, I’m excited to see what 2012 will bring for ye olde blog. A big thank you to everyone who takes the time to read, email me, comment, Tumbl, Tweet, Pin and otherwise share the rather random stuff I post about. I’m deeply grateful for your indulgence and I look forward to learning more from you in 2012.
Here’s to having our best year ever. Cheers!
Quite Continental 