Each year since 1990, the artists of Belleville open the doors of their workshops to the public! This year’s Open Studios will be held on May 28th-31st to explore the theme “Récréation”.
For the Belleville Artists’ Workshops association (Ateliers d’Artistes de Belleville – AAB), the return of this annual art walk constitutes “a great opportunity to exchange, discover unusual venues, and enjoy the richness of contemporary visual creation in Eastern Paris… and a necessary reconnection between the artists and the public!”
The event is always an opportunity for an exciting cultural stroll to meet the creatives who live and work there. During four days, visitors can explore secret hidden courtyards and usually discrete workshops, as the atmosphere of the whole neighborhood becomes more festive. Art enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice with a wide variety of styles and techniques represented: “painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, engraving, installations, collage, textile art, silk-screen printing, contemporary embroidery…”
This year’s event will bring together more than 130 artists and collectives. Their works will be visible in about a hundred workshops and galleries of Belleville, a district like no other spread across the 10th, 11th, 19th and 20th arrondissements. From Place des Fêtes to Avenue Parmentier, from Buttes-Chaumont to Rue de Ménilmontant, the 35 000 expected visitors can also attend “live performances, concerts, and see street artists in action”.
.
– See the detailed map on the AAB website –
.
Entrance to the workshops and access to the events remains “free and open”: one of the primary objectives of the Belleville Open Studios is to “allow contacts and exchanges between artists and all audiences”. The AAB also invites visitors to become artists themselves with the organization of a photo contest, with paintings by members of the association to take home as a prize. Other events are planned specifically for this 32nd year of the Open Studios:
.
Exhibit – “Résistances”
May 28th-31st : 2pm-7pm
“Since the 1990’s, the artists of Belleville have been mobilized to save their creative spaces and preserve the identity of their working-class neighborhood and its vibrant art scene. Signs and banners tell the victorious steps of the struggles that local artists led alongside residents. Photographs testify to these founding events. At the back of the courtyard, we present the project Pôle Artisanal et Artistique, proposed by locals and co-constructed with the city, which should see the day in 2022, with 1 500 m² of new workshops.”
Cour Ramponeau
48-50 rue Ramponeau, 75020
.
Exhibit – “La puissance de l’humble”
May 29th & 30th : 2pm-7pm
“The works of six visual artists appear under the nave to become one with it. The metalwork does not become an exhibition space, but a work of art in itself, striking by the power of its history and activity, which, even when weakened, is accomplished with strength. Featured artists are Angélique, +Brauer, Lika Kato, Mô Mathey, Catherine Olivier, and Eirini Stavrakopoulou.”
Cour Ramponeau Metalwork
48-50 rue Ramponeau, 75020
.
Fête de l’Estampe (Print, Etching & Engraving Days)
May 28th to 30th
“The print and engraving festival is organized every year by the National Federation of Printmaking – Manifestampe around May 26th. It’s an opportunity to discover techniques such as engraving, lithography, serigraphy, cartography, photo-engraving and digital processes. This year, the AAB is associated with the event as part of the Open Studios. Fifteen artists and a collective will present prints in their workshops: Stéphanie Libreros, Marc Tanguy, Danielle Choukroun, Françoise Gasser, Frédéric Laviéville, O’d, Marie Busson, L’Atelier des Cascades, Véronique Desmasures, Caroline Bouyer, Guillaume Confais, Catherine Rauscher, Briancougar, Mireille Saltron, Jean-Pierre Rengeval, and Hélène Bautista.”
Several workshops (voir plan)
Members of the association Artistes de Ménilmontant will also be participating
www.fetedelestampe.fr
.
.
.
Open Studios – Ateliers d’Artistes de Belleville
Friday 28th, Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th & Monday 31st – 2pm-8pm
Find the full program of the Open Studios 2021 on the AAB website:
www.ateliers-artistes-belleville.fr
The AAB Gallery will be the central meeting point during the event:
1 rue Francis Picabia, 75020 Paris.
.
.
Illustration:
In the AAB Gallery during the Open Studios 2020 © Loïs Pommier
.
.
.