A lot of fun and diverse things to do in March for francophiles and francophones.
Passez un tres bon week-end
Joelle
www.savoirfaire-california.com
March 2, 2007 at 7pm
Reading by French-congolese writer Alain Mabanckou
The French Cultural Services in Los Angeles and the Department of
French and Francophone Studies at UCLA will continue the tradition of
celebrating the Month of Francophonie with a public reading by Alain
Mabanckou.
Mabanckou is teaching at UCLA, and is one of the most exciting voices
writing in French today. Born in the Republic of the Congo, he is also
today a French citizen. In November 2006, he was awarded the
prestigious Prix Renaudot for his novel Mémoire de Porc-épic. He is
also the author of such highly acclaimed novels as Verre cassé and
Bleu-Blanc-Rouge, a collected volume of his poems will be published in
September by the Editions du Seuil (www.seuil.com), and his biography
of James Baldwin will be published by Fayard in September
(www.editions-fayard.fr).
On this occasion, he will read in English from the newly-published
translation of his novel African Psycho (Soft Skull Press) as well as
excerpts in French from Verre Cassé. He will be signing copies of his
work, and the reading will be followed by a small reception.
In French and English
Location : Dutton's Brentwood Books
11975 San Vicente Blvd - Los Angeles, CA 90049
Info : (310) 476-6263 ; www.duttonsbrentwood.com; www.alainmabanckou.net ; www.congopage.com/amabanckou_blog.php3
March 8, 2007
9pm : Paris Loves LA
11pm : The Prototypes
Paris Loves LA : The songs of Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot are
revisited in this sexy and intimate, cabaret-style show featuring the
French actress and torch-singer, Adele Jacques. Pianist Russell Roy
Rinker (The Saloon Door Slammers), and drummer Vincent Verderame (Tom
Jones), join the singer tocover 30 Gainsbourg-Bardot compositions,
bringing to life the iconic, French couple's unique love affair in
swinging, 1960's Paris.
The Prototypes : Gallic rockers Prototypes have already landed a top
ten single in France and enlivened both underground clubs and
contemporary European art scenes with their punchy electronic rock.
Founded by Stéphane Bodin and François Marché (members of the French
critical-darling band, Bosco) Prototypes' music is ripe with sharp
synth riffs, striking angular guitar, and the explosively compelling
vocals of the unstoppable Isabel Le Doussal (aka "Bubble Star").
Location : Bordello
901 E. 1st Street - Los Angeles, CA 90012
Info : http://www.myspace.com/parislovesla ; www.adelejacques.com
March 10, 2007 at 5pm & 8pm
La Nuit des Publivores - "The Night of The Ad-Eaters"
An Ad-Eater is an ad-lover, ad-fanatic or an ad-addict, and
definitively an "ad-ficionado". He or she appreciates entertaining
advertising that pushes the creative envelope. An evening revealing the
world's hippest, funniest, and most creative French-language
commercials from around the world.
Location : University of San Diego - Salomon Hall (Maher Hall building)
5998 Alcala Park - San Diego, CA 92110
Info : www.ucsd.edu ; http://afsandiego.org/
March 12, 2007 at 8pm
Jorge Drexler
Las Ondas Marteles
Tom Schnabel, host
Las Ondas Marteles consists of brothers Sébastien and Nicolas Martel,
and bassist Sarah Murcia. During simultaneous trips, Sébastien and
Nicolas visited Cuba and Mexico, and both returned to France equally
captivated with the sounds of bolero. The brothers rehearsed together,
and when Sarah joined the group, Las Ondas Marteles was complete. Their
debut release, Y despues de todo, received substantial critical acclaim.
Location : Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S. Grand Ave. - Los Angeles, CA 90012
Info : (323) 850-2000 ; www.laphil.com
March 13, 2007 at 7pm
Hélène Cardona presents and signs : "The Astonished Universe"
This uplifting and luminous book of poetry about consciousness is the
first bilingual edition in English and French from Red Hen Press.
A citizen of the United States, France and Spain, Hélène Cardona is
fluent in English, French, Spanish, German, Greek and Italian. Born in
Paris of a Greek mother and Spanish father, and raised all over Europe,
she attended Hamilton College, New-York, and the Sorbonne, Paris.
Hélène Cardona will be accompanied by a cello player.
Location : TBA
Info : (310) 652-0306 ; www.afdela.com ; www.helenecardona.com ; www.redhen.org
March 13, 2007 at 10pm
Seb Martel
Can cowboy songwriters come from rural France ? If they settle in Paris
and are influenced by their urban environment, is it still country
music ? City music ? Seb Martel's latest album 'Coitry?' asks and
answers these questions.
A card-carrying member of the Parisian music scene that includes
Camille and Nouvelle Vague, Seb performs wry, catchy pop/rock-inflected
tunes that seem at once familiar and brand new.
Location : Temple Bar
1026 Wilshire Blvd - Santa Monica, CA 90401
Info : www.sebmartel.com ; www.templebarlive.com ; www.rumandhumble.com
March 16, 2007 at 7pm
Lecture by Axel Maugey : « L'Europe Francophone au siècle des Lumières »
Mr. Maugey is a writer and professor at McGill University in Montreal.
Organized by the Alliance Française de Los Angeles, in partnership with the Alliance Française de Pasadena.
In French
Location : Alliance Française de Pasadena
34 E. Union Street, Kendall Alley - Pasadena, CA 91103
Info : www.afdepasadena.org
March 17, 2007 at 2pm
Lecture by Louis-Jean Calvet : "La mondialisation et les langues"
In French
Location : Alliance Française de San Diego
6550 Soledad Mountain Rd - San Diego, CA 92037
Info : http://afsandiego.org/
March 17, 2007 at 4pm
Exhibition of sculptures by Philippe Buiatti & Jean-Marie Wunderlich
Location : Alliance Française de Pasadena
34 E. Union Street, Kendall Alley - Pasadena, CA 91103
Info : www.afdepasadena.org ; http://perso.orange.fr/sculpture-buiatti
March 20, 2007 at 7:30pm
Samarabalouf - Gipsy jazz from France
Location : Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz
10361 W. Pico Blvd - Los Angeles, CA 90064
Info : (310) 286-0553 ; trk@lyceeonline.org ; www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com
March 21, 2007 at 7pm
Lecture by François-Xavier Tilliette : « La francophonie institutionnelle »
Mr. Tilliette is Deputy Consul General of France in Los Angeles.
In French
Location : Alliance Française de Los Angeles
215 S. La Cienega Blvd, Suite 101 - Los Angeles, CA 90211
Info : (310) 392-5164 ; info@afdela.com ; www.afdela.com
March 22, 2007 at 6pm
Tour of « Architecture of the Veil : An Installation by Samta Benyahia »
Organized by the French Cultural Services and the UCLA Fowler Museum
Presented by Polly Roberts, Deputy Director and Chief Curator.
Followed by a reception in the Fowler Museum courtyard
This site-specific installation and US museum debut by Algerian artist
Samta Benyahia takes its theme from the moucharabieh, the openwork
screens used in Mediterranean Islamic architecture to cover windows and
balconies, allowing those inside - typically women - to view the
outside world without being seen. For Architecture of the Veil Benyahia
covers the Fowler's entrance doors and Andalusian-inspired interior
windows with printed films of a blue moucharabieh pattern. Encircling
the Museum's Goldenberg Galleria are "rosettes"consisting of beautiful,
sequin-embroidered motifs on netting, and large-scale, black-and-white
photographs of early 20th-century Algerian women.
This installation was made possible by the generous support of Barbara
and Joe Goldenberg and Etant donnés: The French-American Fund for
Contemporary Art. Additionnal support provided by Air France.
Location : UCLA Fowler Museum
UCLA Campus - Westwood, CA 90095
Info : (310) 825-4361 ; www.fowler.ucla.edu
March 23, 2007 at 7pm
La Nuit des Publivores - "The Night of The Ad-Eaters"
Organized by the Alliance Française de Los Angeles and the Consulate General of Belgium.
Location : Goethe Institut
5750 Wilshire Blvd - Los Angeles, CA 90036
Info : www.goethe.de ; www.afdela.com
