Panic At The Pompidou
My cool trash artist/graphic designer friend Little Shiva came in from Belgium for the weekend to hang with Gregg and me and do a few other things in Paris. We planned to spend Friday afternoon with her.
We had a lunch first, with my former New Yorker/now Paris-dwelling friends M. and E., and E.'s friend Pierre, so we had to figure out a place to meet in the 3rd or 4th arrondissement, because Little Shiva had a meeting around there at 6. I couldn't remember the names of cafés I like in the area thanks to a mad case of décalage horaire (le jet lag) fogging my brain, so I suggested we meet in the museum store at Georges Pompidou at 3 and go somewhere from there.
We got there first, and I could see there was no Little Shiva in the boutique (she told me she'd be wearing a polar bear mask she'd made, so upon seeing no white ears sticking up, it was pretty evident she'd had yet to arrive).
I walked out into the lobby and spotted white ears -- from a mask she'd made out of plastic bags -- and gave her a big hug. Then, she showed me her dress -- a halter dress crocheted out of the bags the Charlotte Observer comes in! I was inspired (she's a trashionista!), and she and I threw down our coats and I started taking pictures of her, as did Gregg. 
The people at the info desk behind us were amused and interested, and Little Shiva went over and gave them all some complimentary postcards. They were fine with our photo-taking...until a group of students came out of the exhibits, and into the lobby, and spotted Little Shiva, and mobbed her. She pulled out her free postcards and started giving them to the kids, and that was when the stern museum officials came over to tell her something along the lines of "There will be no art without permission."
I used my sucky French to our advantage, explaining, as Little Shiva got her stuff together so we could get out, that she is an American artist, living in Belgium, and we were just taking pictures of her same as we would any friend in the museum lobby, blah, blah, blah. We left right away, but it was, all in all, my kind of museum experience.
Comments
> the stern museum officials came over to tell
> her something along the lines of "There will
> be no art without permission."
The fuckin' frogs, man...
(Neat story! Save the pix for her grandchildren.)
Posted by: Crid [CridComment at gmail] at November 28, 2010 6:14 AM
Thanks -- I have many more.
Loved Gregg's reaction to hearing we were going to hang out in Paris with Little Shiva in a polar bear mask. Gregg's pretty reclusive, and he'd rather have an ear removed with a child's scissors than go to a Hollywood party, but he said, as I was e-mailing her back, something like "Tell her we'll go through every Dumpster in Paris with her."
Posted by: Amy Alkon at November 28, 2010 7:21 AM
"There will be no art without permission"... I think that's going to be my slogan for awhile!
Posted by: Cousin Dave at November 28, 2010 7:49 AM
I love the comment;
"There will be no art without permission."
it has that "the revolution will be broadcast" impact.
Yeah Little Shiva!
Posted by: Ricky Seabra at November 28, 2010 8:39 AM
Where was the Anime Con?
Posted by: The Former Banker at November 28, 2010 12:38 PM
pomps majeur on the bearable art flashmob - too bad about the officious ;/
Posted by: Ronnie at November 28, 2010 1:31 PM
I didn't expect THIS much excitement, but it was fun! I wasn't even there to hand out cards, but when the kids came by and looked so intrigued by my outfit, I decided to offer them an explanation: http://www.visibletrash.net/art-into-action/
Posted by: Little Shiva at November 28, 2010 3:33 PM
If there's one thing I remember about Paris, it's that the Pompidou is closed on Tuesdays.
Posted by: lsomber at November 29, 2010 11:26 AM
Huh? Sheesh, those damn amphibian pooty-pouts can't even take a day off without screwing up....
Posted by: Crid [cridcomment at gmail] at November 29, 2010 12:54 PM
(I'm feeling cranky for having tried to enjoy Marienbad over the weekend... And for having failed, failed, failed.
An "incomprehensible Frenchman" is a double-down on metaphysical improbability; it's like putting instant coffee in a microwave oven, or moonwalking on an airport walkway. What's the point?)
Posted by: Crid [cridcomment at gmail] at November 29, 2010 1:00 PM
Oh Little Shiva,how I adore you!! We miss you so much in Charlotte, NC and Paris was lucky to have your beautiful light even if they didn't understand it!
Thank you Amy for this terrific story, it's going on my facebook page straight away!
Posted by: Ms Presto at November 30, 2010 4:42 PM
Thank you so much, Ms. Presto...I can understand that you miss her in Charlotte! Felt lucky that she came in from Belgium, and the stupids at the Pompidou should have unwadded their panties and let the kids enjoy a walking art exhibit!
Posted by: Amy Alkon 
at November 30, 2010 4:46 PM
Lil Shiva has always been my hero!!
Posted by: Jade Wills at December 1, 2010 12:46 PM
"Years ago in Germany, when I was a very small boy, there vas a lot of people standing around on the corners.. asking questions..why are you standing on the corner, acting the vay you act, lookng like you look? WHY DO YOU LOOK THAT VAY??!!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74BIayAsTlg
Posted by: Jumper at December 2, 2010 9:32 AM
Isn't it just a little too easy to rattle the French? Love that you were signing autographs, Little Shiva...
If you're in town for a while, do get in touch... would be nice to catch up with you and your exploits.
MR
Posted by: MATTHEW ROSE at December 3, 2010 1:40 PM
la preuve s´il en faut une que le personnel de sécurité des musées est aussi buté et parano que partout ailleurs. mais "pas d´art sans permis", ca il faut vraiment etre c... elle est bien bonne...
LOL
Posted by: Aude at December 7, 2010 1:23 AM
