French Twist in Advertising

French humor with presentation always makes me smile....
This Paris shop owner took the stuffy out of his window display and mixed in a bit of sexy .

First time I have ever smiled at a shop selling "autographs".

Adding "unexpected" works miracles!

Come Along On June Antique Buying Trip.. (but never leave home)

Have you searched your sources... but not found that special piece?

Would you like to see all that France offers but life's schedule keeps you at home?

Come along with me for 4 weeks http://www.YourFrenchBuyer.blogspot.com/  starting June 4th .
I will be posting finds from the north of France to the south...

When something catches your eye....and even more important, catches your heart...
email me at YourFrenchBuyer@gmail.com and BUY IT!

bon chance! (Good Luck), Nance

Wandering Through A Sculpture Park

While driving in Skokie, along north branch of Chicago river...my eyes kept wandering to sculpture after sculpture along the highway.

Quickly knew, I needed to park the car and explore on foot!




"La Souterraine" by Robert Smart (Steel and Cast Iron)

Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park is an example how private citizens can make a difference....a huge difference.

By the mid 80's, an eyesore of neglected land had the Village of Skokie planning to turn this area into biking and jogging paths...a good idea.

However private citizens turned a good idea into a great idea and proposed park to display large scale contemporary sculpture.

In 1988, their vision turned into a 2 mile long sculpture park of 65 sculptures by local, national, and international artists. Not housed in an indoor facility...but appreciated through weeping willows, picnic tables, bike and jogging trails.







"Fairy Circle" by Mark Chattenley. (High-fired Clay)











"Second Breath" by Maurice Blik ( Resin ) peaking from the trees





Or standing majestically in front of the trees





"Spread My Wings" by Barbara Goldsmith (Concrete)






Amazing how my worries melted away as I picked up the powerful energy...almost like osmosis!






Larry Paul King's piece of steel/tar/paint seemed to echo the surrounding bent over trees....the torture of windy city's weather.











Beauty and Grace....





Galvanized Steel...





Statues encouraging you to sit and enjoy...







Weeping Willows blowing in the wind....

From Dempster Street on the north to Touhy Ave on the south..
Take a walk, ride a bike, or bring a picnic...but GO!

The Best Antique Buying Trip to France....Buy From Your Armchair at Home

Have you desired to go on an antique buying trip to France?
Invited into France's private warehouses not seen by the public, auctions, fairs, and shops?
Able to choose from an inventory as large as France??

No room in your life/work schedule for a trip to France...plus where to shop??

Replace the old way of  airplane wings with a new, innovative way of discovery and purchase.
Add wings to your living room chair...
Stay at home and tour the antique sources of  France at the same time!

Take advantage of my 15 years of experience buying in Europe, my eye for the special, my long list of private contacts, and  years of negotiating best price...
Find that piece that has escaped you.

I will be in France 4 weeks in June, daily sending photos to clients from their wish list.
You will daily see what I see as I travel across France....
15 years of opening private doors...will be immediately available to you.

Join my clients of designers, shop owners, and private clients as I become  "Your French Buyer".
Contact me at YourFrenchBuyer@gmail.com to be included in June schedule.

Bon Voyage!

Small Art, Big Impact

Art can be small but deliver a great impact!

Even though less than 10" long, the sculpture was like a magnet, pulling me to view and view some more.

Wu Junyong's, "Arm Pointing To The Distance", was hung on a large blank wall in small Shanghai gallery.....
The tapered, extended finger fueled my imagination...
It didn't allow me to be stuck in the now....but propelled me to what "might be".

Wu Junyong, born in 1978, is one of China's new generation of artist developing fresh, unique art and messages. Some even think Junyong may be the most important artist in China today!


His art often "tells us what we know but are afraid to talk about" and in a way hard to ignore....

As in, "Wait Us Rich", where he delivers his comments on China's current nouveaux riche movement with PUNCH and satire...no playing it safe....no PG rating.


More Wu Junyong art images

My Unexpected Lesson In China

While in Shanghai, I visited several small galleries featuring young Chinese artist.

I discovered the art now in China sends a message.

Ifagallery featured Christin Kalweit.

Christin chose barb wire to send her message....
" There is no innocence, only different levels of responsibility"


In her art...the razor wire seems to be harmless, not revealing its true purpose..
"the refined blades / our words / thoughts / decisions / actions / reactions just keep on rolling un-noticing / neglecting the traces left behind. "

I went to China with an open mind...not knowing how the trip would change me...
But never expected such a profound message.

This message has crept into my mind often...and already in only a few weeks...it has stopped me, and had me rethink and make some changes.

We think we are innocent....but are we???



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Great Wall of China

Travel books do not capture the grandness of The Great Wall of China.
After climbing to 20 towers in 3 hours...my legs begged no more towers, no more stairs, no more steps.

I wanted to see the wall in the rough...chose the section Jinshanling where most of the wall is still in original condition.



Now to choose a tour group...
I didn't want a big tour bus or a tour company that included the forced stops at factory shops...I had read many horror stories.

I stumbled on a comment in a virtual tourist site that praised a small tour from a Beijing hostel,
" Peking Downtown Backpackers".

Turned out to be a gem of a find!!

Little more than a dozen interesting travelers from all over the world...like me, interested in an adventure rather than a touristy moment.




After a 3 hour van ride from Beijing...a strong wind greeted us (notice the blown hair).
There were frequent patches of snow still remaining along the wall, reminding us to step carefully.






The view from inside the towers gave you reason to pause, take a breather, and enjoy the beauty.



The wall followed the mountains....sometimes straight up!



I received my wish...unrestored and original.



Finding a safe place for the next step was not always easy.



A place like no other!