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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2009 13:01:31 GMT
The Cent Quatre is a huge building in the 19th arrondissement. For 120 years, it was the municipal undertaking service. Private undertakers were not allowed in Paris until 1993. It had 1400 employees, of which only 40 were women. In the old days, it had 18 stables with 300 horses. When hearses became motorized, the stables became the garage for 150 vans and 92 automobiles. After the end of the monopoly, the activity declined and the services were closed in 1997. The building was immediately put on the historical monument registry to prevent it from ever being torn down or modified. But what to do with it? In 2003, work began to convert it to a municipal art center, with massive artists' studios and exhibition areas. The new art center was inaugurated in October 2008. At the moment, the Cent Quatre is exposing a full sized replica of the Villa Arpel, from Jacques Tati's 1958 film 'Mon Oncle'. The website of the Cent Quatre is www.104.fr
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 10, 2009 13:51:00 GMT
That is jaw-droppingly impressive and beautiful.
I have a million questions ........... I In the 4th picture down (right under "It had 1400 employees ..."), it would appear that the doors, wall, & windows were originally exterior, perhaps facing a courtyard. Are the modern additions visible in the photo there in order to create an extra story or mezzanine?
Also, what is the history of the public undertaking services -- was that something that came about after the Revolution?
Are the cross beams and braces shown in the middle photographs (after the stables, before the Villa Arpel exposition) there to comply with modern safety and building codes?
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Post by lagatta on Apr 10, 2009 15:26:35 GMT
It is a lovely, elegant building - Pompes funèbres de Paris with 1400 employees certainly doesn't evoke such an elegant structure. Some of the views outside from it remind me of Parc de la Villette with la Grande Halle, also recycled ... from a slaughterhouse. Different processing of dead meat, I guess. (Way of all flesh and all that).
I don't recall seeing that building, though I must have passed by. There is a lot of really ugly redevelopment around avenue de Flandre.
Are all the ghosts an inspiration to the artists?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2009 16:43:03 GMT
I'll need to take a few more pictures to make it clearer, Bixa. Those stables are in the basement! And there is a long ramp going up to ground level.
As for the history of the service, the building was built by the Archdiocese of Paris, which was in charge of all funerals, and was ripped out of the clutches of the church with the famous law of 1905 that kicked the church out of just about everything.
The reason that the city kept a monopoly was just a question of ethics -- should private companies make a profit out of other people's grief? It appears that the reply is "yes."
Lagatta, since you know Paris well, you will probably be impressed to know that the total surface of the building is the same size as Place de la République.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2009 10:57:19 GMT
Okay, as promised, here are a few more shots of the Cent Quatre, which is after all only an 8-minute walk from my apartment. Here is the ramp from the stables to the surface level. Here is the 'back' entrance on rue Curial. These are some of the navigational charts. And a few more random shots, just because I couldn't help myself.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2010 6:12:31 GMT
Friday evening, the Cent Quatre kicked off its year end programming with a preview invitation for the neighborhood. There was nobody checking invitations (even though they had been distributed) -- you simply had to know that it was open on December 10th when all of the posters say December 11th. There were numerous performances, art installations and attractions, but the big event was the arrival of the Manège Carré Sénart, designed and built by the designer of the marionnettes and machines of the incredible Royal Deluxe troupe from Nantes. This is not your usual carousel. That's right -- no music!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2010 6:51:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2010 7:12:43 GMT
A group from the Republic of Guinea called Le Cirque Mandingue was giving excerpts of their show.
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Post by lola on Dec 11, 2010 14:40:25 GMT
I love the vitality of the art against preserved beautiful architecture, and the humor and the beauty of the Icarus/fallen angel and the "open" signs.
Thanks, K.
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Post by frenchmystiquetour on Dec 11, 2010 16:17:00 GMT
Thanks for the show K2. I love the film Mon Oncle and as you probably know parts of it were filmed in Saint-Maur. I love the part in the movie where the fountain gets turned on for important visitors and turned off for those not so important. Did they recreate the fountain too? I must check this place out.
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Post by bjd on Dec 11, 2010 17:35:45 GMT
Wow, those acrobats/dancers from Guinea don't have any bones in their bodies!
Another to add to my list of places to see on a trip to Paris. it keeps getting longer, thanks to you, Kerouac!
I love Royale de Luxe. Their "History of France" was wonderful, although a few years ago now.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2010 17:59:57 GMT
People located in Germany will apparently only be able to imagine the boneless Guineans, because YouTube sent me a message telling me that Sony Music has disabled the video in Germany after identifying the music. I don't even know what the music is! (Of course, we are talking about music-bots, not actual real people bothering to watch and listen to a video. Big Brother has big ears.)
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Post by fumobici on Dec 12, 2010 1:01:22 GMT
The building and its history, the house from Mon Oncle, that incredible carousel. What a collection of extraordinary images! I'll have to wipe the grin off my face.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2010 16:21:00 GMT
Down in the stables, they have put a labyrinth made out of corrugated cardboard. It looked like it would be tremendous fun for the kids, but best appreciated when there is not a big crowd.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 12, 2010 17:16:10 GMT
Wow ~~ this is SO much fun.
Before anything, I want to say that the picture of the little girl looking at the labyrinth, the last pic before the last video, is the picture worth a million words -- just wonderful!
It's all great. I love the old-fashioned look of the Manège Carré Sénart. Did you ride the carousel, Kerouac?
The churchy look the "open" signs create inside the building is lovely, but also a hoot. Did everyone notice its reflection in the glass part of the roof?
The way the Cirque Mandigue make the performance a dance is so much more compelling than the usual amazing but limited appeal of acrobats. The music is gorgeous: Hugh Masekela -- Stimela (Coal Train).
The wry, cautionary(?) note of poor Icarus front and center throws a fun, subtle intellectual wrench into the circus atmosphere.
Just out of this world ~~ thanks for taking us, Kerouac!
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Post by lola on Dec 12, 2010 17:16:38 GMT
Fun. No guards scolding you for touching the exhibit?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2010 6:39:13 GMT
The pizza truck is as busy as ever. I have still never bought anything from it, but maybe one day...
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Post by tod2 on Dec 13, 2010 9:59:32 GMT
Magic Kerouac! Talking about labrynths.....I meant to ask you if you noticed the one on the floor at Chartres Cathedral. Reason: It was covered by chairs when we went several years ago.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2010 10:52:48 GMT
It was covered with chairs when I was there, too.
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JulieVikmanis
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Post by JulieVikmanis on Apr 21, 2011 9:45:38 GMT
Just back from Paris where we went to Cent Quatre and saw the Merry Go Round. I kept thinking "this is a place for kerouc" When I got home I did some internet digging to learn more about the installation and the Cent Quatre and, of course, what should it lead me to but this wonderful post. Reliving. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2011 19:44:38 GMT
This afternoon, I went to the Cent Quatre and there was some very dangerous activity in progress. Adults can do what they want, but should children be allowed to do this? I really enjoy all of the chaises longues and other seats they put for people to spend as much time as they want. There is also the little book exchange shack. I am determined to bring them a supply of books soon even if I don't find any books to take in exchange. I have too many books. And I should probably also bring my magazines instead of throwing them away. Before I left, I finally went through the labyrinth. It has been there for at least a year taking up a lot of space, but now it appears that it is in its final moments of existence. I hope they find something excellent to replace it.
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Post by nycgirl on Sept 29, 2011 3:09:53 GMT
What a great place! Such a beautiful historic building and fascinating installations. I especially love the mirror piece. You have some great shots of people having fun with it. It must be a real treat for the little kids to go to an art museum and actually get to touch and climb on things.
I love the video of the Le Cirque dancers. Their flexibility and grace is amazing. The crowd seemed pretty mesmerized. Great music, too, and fitting.
Yet another thing I wish I knew about and/or had time to see while I was in Paris. I was not too far away at one point. Well, there's always next time.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2013 20:25:22 GMT
As a neighbour of the Cent Quatre, I was invited this week to the opening of the new "Festival Temps d'Images" and more specifically to the inauguration of the "Etats Limits" exhibit on the 18th. Even though I am not a big fan of champagne, I figured that the event would be worth the 5-minute walk to get there.
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Post by lagatta on Sept 24, 2013 21:56:26 GMT
That looks great. I don't adore Champagne either (I prefer Crémant d'Alsace),but that pink stuff looks nice. Hey, Tyrrells crisps! www.tyrrellscrisps.co.uk/crisps
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2013 23:22:20 GMT
I had actually never tasted Tyrell's crisps until this event, even though they are sold in most supermarkets. And I discovered that I did not like them.
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Post by lagatta on Sept 25, 2013 2:22:03 GMT
Well, to each his own. I'm not a crisps addict by any means, but I do like those.
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Post by mossie on Sept 25, 2013 11:19:29 GMT
Yet another place on my list which I have not yet been able to visit. One day perhaps.
Thanks Kerouac.
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 23, 2017 19:03:12 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 23, 2017 20:48:37 GMT
how to use a hoop....
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 20, 2018 10:23:35 GMT
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