This event will be a prime opportunity for attendees to experience decorative arts as well as fine arts. Two very important aspects to decorating a home are art and rugs. You will experience the decorative art of Stephanie Saunders and the fine art of Dover Rug. The history, inspiration, and correlation behind the two types of arts and those involved in making them.
This event will teach attendees a scope of matters. Those attending the event will learn the fine art of rug making and what goes in to it. For three generations, The Jafri family has been designing, weaving, and exporting fine, hand-knotted rugs and carpeting from Pakistan, India and Nepal to Western Europe, The United States and, to other parts of the world. At this event, the attendees will be able to have a look into this journey and learn how the rugs are made. The attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about Stephanie Saunders Art Gallery. Stephanie Saunders, who is the owner and artist of Stephanie Saunders Art Gallery and a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston will be displaying pieces of art and explaining to guests the inspiration behind her paintings and the process of her work. Both Dover Rug and Stephanie will also let the attendees know how to decorate their homes with art and how art and rugs are to match and compliment one another in the home.
Join The Greg Hill Foundation at the Capital Grille on Boylston Street for their Boston Marathon Celebration! Sit back and relax with one of the best views of the final stretch as runners make their way to the finish line. Your ticket includes entry to the bar area at the Capital Grille, plus some of their most delicious dishes.
Join Stephanie to celebrate the opening of her new gallery on Newbury Street!
Join the French Cultural Center for an evening of brandy tasting featuring eight Cognacs and Armagnacs, brought to you by Heavenly Spirits.
Christine and Daniel Cooney will lead a fascinating lecture accompanied by a tasting to explore the limits of one’s palate, comparing French brandies and their exclusive characteristics.
GUESTS WILL ENJOY EIGHT DIFFERENT LIQUORS
- Cognac Organic Selection | Distillerie du Peyrat | France
This Organic Selection is 4 to 5 years old. It is very lively, fresh and fruity. - Cognac Petite Champagne VSOP | Normandin Mercier | France
The grapes used are Ugni Blanc and a little Colombard and Folle Blanche, a very rare occurrence in Cognac. - Cep d’Or XO Premium | Jean Fillioux | France
- Cognac Grande Champagne Très Vieux | Jean Fillioux | France
Jean Fillioux is an iconic Cognac house that has been producing Cognacs for 5 generations. - Bas Armagnac Napoléon | Marie Duffau | France
This Armagnac is fresh and lively, with flavors of cocoa, orange rind and cake batter. - Napoleon 100% Folle Blanche | Artez Bas Armagnac | France
Aged a minimum of 6 years, it displays floral aromatics typical of the grape varietal, white peach, dried apricot and orange peel flavors. - Bas Armagnac Hors d’Age | Dartigalongue | France
The Dartigalongue family started to distill in 1813 and is the oldest Armagnac house. - Bas Armagnac 25 years old | Delord | France
This superb blend displays flavors of cocoa, spices, vanilla, raisins, walnut and cinnamon.
About Heavenly Spirits
Heavenly Spirits is a leading importer of artisanal French spirits, such as Armagnac, Calvados, Cognac, whisky, gin, aperitifs and liqueurs. For the past seven years, the company has been recognized as the number one importer of Armagnac in the US, accounting for 26% of all Armagnac sold each year. The Heavenly Spirits portfolio is represented in 30 US states and includes an impressive list of iconic brands.
About Christine and Dan Cooney
Born in the Cognac region of France, Christine spent summers at her grandparent’s farm north of La Rochelle, where she watched her grandfather, Amédée Foubert, run his winery and distill eau de vie from plums and other fruit grown on the farm. In addition to running his own graphic design and marketing companies, Dan has worked as a Professor of Art and Design for over fifteen years, most recently at Bridgewater State University. His art work, mostly paintings, drawings and sculptures are in collections all over the world. After twenty years of working in the wine and spirits industry and another stay in France, the Cooneys relocated to Massachusetts and, in 2008, created Heavenly Spirits.
Migrating Colors – Opening and Cocktail Reception
Join us for an enlightening panel discussion and presentation on Haitian art and culture as we celebrate the Le Mois de la Francophonie 2018 and the opening of Migrating Colors, our March exhibit on view in our gallery.
Charlot Lucien, President of Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts (HAAM), will introduce us to Haitian art, while several artists will lead a discussion regarding their origins and influences.
This panel discussion will be followed by a book signing and cocktail reception. All proceeds from the book sale benefit HAAM.
About Migrating Colors: This book is the result of 20 years of cultural advocacy and partnerships with cultural, state, city institutions, poets and storytellers throughout the New England area. It benefited from the support of professional photographers, editors and art partners from Rhodes Island to New Hampshire. The books contains foreword comments by Haitian American author Edwidge Danticat, recipient of the 2009 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, Massachusetts State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry and Edmund Barry Gaither, Director and Curator of the National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA) who has since the Haiti earthquake helped curate various exhibitions of the Assembly.
The Center is proud to host the show French Eyes on Boston, a collection of portraits and landscapes painted by Marguerite Wibaux, who moved to Boston from France in 2017.
Marguerite’s landscapes marry the Renaissance perspective tradition with an American expressionist approach. The paintings engage with the artist’s perceptions of various points of view in Boston. From a pictorial standpoint, the landscape series explores various mediums and techniques, mixing oil and spray paint with acrylic and collage.
But what is a city without its people? The second component of Marguerite’s work explores Boston’s youth through portraiture.
These paintings aim to pay tribute to a rich diversity of styles, personalities, genres, origins, and cultures in a visually thriving and energizing series.
The gallery opening will include a presentation of Marguerite’s work and a reception with light refreshments. Registration required.
Join Solas on Boylston Street for the first dinner of their Whiskey Wednesday series!
Enjoy an evening of dinner, drinks and laughs, while learning about the whiskey we all love, Irish Whiskey! Boston’s finest Irish Whiskey Ambassador, Cathal O’Connor, will share his expansive knowledge; while Solas Sous Chef, Alex Galvis, will speak on the inspiration behind her delicious three course meal. Slainte!
Cocktail (Half) Hour:
Featuring Kilbeggan Single Grain
First Course:
Irish Soda Bread Crostini – local bleu cheese, apricot mostrada, sorrel
Paired with Kilbeggan Single Grain
Second Course:
Coffee Rubbed Rack of Lamb – barley risotto, cirtus bok choy, fig butter
Paired with Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Third Course:
Cinnamon Apple Tart – vanilla bean ice cream, caramel
Paired with Tyrconnell 10yr Sherry Finish
PLUS, a Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey toast to end the night
Lookout for details on part two of their series January 30, where they will sample whiskeys from all around the world!
Join Solas on Boylston Street for the second dinner of their Whiskey Wednesday series!
Why travel around the world to try new whiskeys when we have them all right here at Solas? Come join Solas for an evening of dinner, drinks & laughs! Beam Suntory’s Maggie Sinclair will share her expansive whiskey knowledge; while Solas Sous Chef, Alex Galvis, will speak on the inspiration behind her delicious three course meal. Slainte!
Cocktail (Half) Hour:
Featuring Canadian Club (Canada)
First Course:
Cucumber and Blood Orange Panzanell – pumpernickel crouton, thyme honey
Paired with Toki Japanese Whiskey (Japan)
Second Course:
Smoked Pork Shoulder – farro & stone fruit salad, shaved brussel sprouts
Paired with Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye (USA)
Third Course:
Pear Banoffee Pie – graham cracker, dulce de leche
Paired with Tyrconnell 10yr Sherry Finish (Ireland)
PLUS, a Japenese Gin Roku toast to end the night!
Lookout for details on part three of their series February 6, where they will sample luxury scotch!
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French artist and Boston resident Marguerite Wibaux will lead a workshop on alla-prima, a technique made famous by Matisse.
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Marguerite will lead this fascinating workshop, which will begin with an explanation of the technique and a presentation of the model. The attendees will then be invited to pick up their brushes and produce their own portraits, alla-prima. Easels, canvas, brushes and acrylic paint provided will be provided to all attendees.
About Marguerite Wimbaux
A member of the Center since 2017, Marguerite has quite the atypical career. After graduating with an MBA from the prestigious HEC Paris, Marguerite worked in advertising for the most-renowned French Maisons, from Cartier and Hermès to Van Cleef, Hennessy, the Italian Cavalli, and Armani.
These past experiences in the realm of couture translate into Marguerite’s art. There is a passion for patterns and an obsession with composition and structure, while staying true to the energy and character of her subjects.
The colorful diversity of Marguerite’s artwork is also influenced by her childhood. Marguerite was born in Argentina, and has lived in Peru, Italy, China, France, and the USA.
Currently, Marguerite’s pieces are commissioned and sent to galleries across the globe, from Milan to New York.
To learn more, visit Marguerite’s website: https://margueritewibaux.com/
