Remembering Paris

Mid-week pause - Art and prose from a writing residency

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Back in 2007 I had the opportunity to attend a summer writing residency in France with Spalding University. I was going through a box of old papers and stray notes and happened to find the hand made journal that we were all given on the first day of class that we could use to capture our thoughts and take notes during our time there.

On one of the free days when we were not attending classes, I took off and got lost in the city, and eventually found my way to the Museum of Modern Art. But I also encountered a woman that I suspect was a pickpocket. This is what I wrote about that experience:

Young woman, why do you play games with me along the Cours de la Reine? In front of me, you “happen to” find a man’s golden wedding ring. “It’s my lucky day!’ you exclaim. You give me the ring and kiss me on the cheek and introduce yourself. “I am an evangelist,” you say. I try to give the ring back but you won’t take it. You turn to leave and I hold it, not knowing what to do. I’m tempted to throw it on the ground and end this oddness. But then you turn back to me and ask for money. For a sandwich because you are so very hungry. Just a sandwich. “Do you speak English, yes? Some food, a sandwich, j’ai faime!” But all I can say is “Je ne sais pas.” I give you back the ring. You take it now and turn away. Whatever you wanted, you did not receive and we walk in different directions down the Cours de la Reine.

While I was in the museum I saw Dance by Henri Matisse. It was impressive. I also admired a selection of pieces by Henry Thomas — he divided his drawings using different mosaic patterns. I’m sure there are artist terms for all of this, but I never studied art. But I love making mosaic doodles in my journal. While I was sitting in the museum I came up with this drawing inspired by Thomas’ work and all the different cafés I visited during my time in Paris. The pink of the lightening bolt came from the only colored thing I had in my purse which was some sponge-on lip gloss. Very effective, although now there’s a permanent reverse lip gloss stain on the opposite page!