Quay Branly - Birth and Orpheo Negro: The Galaxy of Nilk-Narf Gallazma or Doom, Gloom and the Death Sceptre

First door of the 2009-2010 Season - Quay Branly - after the a newer folk-art museum in Paris (rive gauche - xxème?)

This and the following 3 were composed, assembled and polished at the same time upon the artists' return from Paris / St-Germain, where he and his wife spend 5 weeks every year 'replenishing' the proverbial well.

The bottom two panels of the door. Butterflies, dolls limbs anxious to answer the teacher's question ("me me, oh golly gee sir, won't ya pick me!").

Original B&W photo taken by artist in the 60s. Mother of pearl butterfly isn't real - or was never, how shall I put this, 'animated'...

Bottom right pannel, doll heads impaled by wooden handles from dutch sewing tools. Bandanas.

Left Left, African amulet made from African statuette -- used in a western context to avoid african.... luck.

Right left, left right. doll head mounted on a cake icing syringe used for fine pastries -- gives new means to 5 minutes of pleasure 5 years on the hips.

A better view of the first door of 2009-10 season in its entirety of panels.

Up right panel, a beetle-juice resembling slithery snake composed of African ebony statuette head, on vertebrae of some poor mamal -- tail is a gazelle horn.

Center piece --- as glam as they come --- buttons on paper, so arranged.

Door #2 of the 2009-10 season -- "Birth"

Et tantôt Brancusi, tantôt plutôt Cornell (how is cornell THAT famous? it's not like his art is sooo innovative...)

Pastry utensils.

This is as close as I've ever seen one of these famous 'honey combs' come to being put to good use.

You remember the wooden honey spatulas they would use in cereal ads (honey nut cherios) to make the cereal look like it was just fresh baked in a farm in nebraska? or Arkansas? Well this is what those utensils are really only good for.

Cat skull on paper in an interior domino frame. Exterior frame of upper left egg shaped stone, old printer stamps (the dark wood) and what appears to be (on the bottom right) a piece of a stone or clay pipe I brought back from india.

Below, little wooden sculpture emerging from behind turtle shell curtains, adorned with luxurious seagull feathers. The extravagance!

Iroquois or Sioux head piece on doll head with a wind instrument reed protector as adornment, below. Wood scepter type "stick" is perhaps from a wind instrument --- most certainly from a tree.

It is exposed on an official looking, close to a century old, document. Also, most probably originating from a tree.

One last "vue d'ensemble".

THIRD DOOR of 2009-10 season --- "Orpheo Negro" last door to be presented for this season until new material is collected for next Fall-Winter collection.

(Funny thing about the Courier font, it was created for IBM in the early 20th century for typewriters. Conservative, orderly and equaly spaced for each character, it is a rare font that cannot be "bolded".

This artist (Franklin Amzallag) worked some 27 years for that same company and was almost as revered as famous within the company culture for his 'bold', no nonsense personality and "get the fucking deal closed" salesmanship. He was nick-named "Dr. Death". Go figure.)

Back to Ariel, for a description of the 3rd of 6 doors - and last to be presented - of the Fall-Winter 2009-10 collection. (For a description of doors 4 through 6, please refer to my previous blog post)

So in dedication and loving memory of IBM's changing corporate culture (a company that allowed our entire family to live quite well), and in the spirit of these hard times of doom and gloom, I'd like to name this following door "The Scepter of Dr. Death".

BEHOLD! The wonderous sceptre of Dr. Death!

"For he who wields this wonderful instrument has the greatest power known to man ---''

More seagull head mounted on a clarinet neck, vertebrae interspersed with wood, with a hardened sharp bone at the base.

We've all heard of children of the corn -- this panel to the right features their toys. Butterfly's, doll limbs (YES!), a cow's femur and osso bucco... not sure what rests on their noggins though.

Upper panel, bones, crab shell, domino, keys, tooth, in the molds of what you now know to be for making "Madelaines" (small seashell shaped French 'brioche' cakes).

Right Pannel, African statuette on a door's ornate key area - ebony and brass. Next to it, a war decoration from my great-grandfather Raymond Dieumegarde with a little lead minnow shaped weight for fishing, as well as a non-descript round object --- all on a piece of medium brown wood. Thermometer. Old rusty box of mints below ornate african statue frame.

Around; other stuff...

I believe this one to be quite self-explanatory.

Perhaps this is the mask of Dr. Doom - the tribal witch doctor. African mask, native american blanket. crab legs, porcupine quills sticking out of a same cone shaped pipe from India.

Bottom right, brass instrument valve.

Sceptre #2, teeth, small shell, ebony wood, piece of terra cotta cloth from pillow from Artist's childhood casablanca.

Bottom left pannel (just above) bird made from --- wait for it --- sculpture of bird. (*aside -- "Really!?! ... Franklin -- really!%? .... You're not even trying anymore are you? How to f*** do you want me to sell this shit!!") ... Just kidding...

But seriously folks, it's an ivory bird sculpture assembled as a bird with bone head, animal claw -- oh and wait I love this part -- -a feather!! ... How un-birdly...

Here it is again below:

I think it's wearing a seashell as a hat - or helmet.

A helmet -- as they say in motorcycle rider parlance -- of the "brain-bucket" variety.

Dernière vue d'ensemble:

LET ME KNOW if you're interested - and I'll LET YOU KNOW when we finally organize a vernissage!

Happy new year 2010!

Zack Amzallag | Manager

J'Adoor! -- The Art of Franklin Amzallag

Portes Épiques - L'Art de Franklin Amzallag

http://www.portesepiques.com

(514) 690-9605

portesepiques@gmail.com

DOORS 45-47: AVATAR, FOSSIL & MARIENBAD

DOOR #45 --- AVATAR

A first dragon's eye view:

Noteable objects: Cow's hip bone. Tobacco pipe stems as sun rays, clarinet and bone, bean husks from exotic location. Rare natural materials...

Pipe and husk at closer inspection:

Here we have pastry cream icing tips so disposed, and wood. Lots of different kinds of wood...

Cow hip as 19th century modernist native american folk art mask. Shall i repeat that?

Its set on a background of cape cod (long nook beach) drift wood.

DOOR # 46 -- FOSSIL

Not much to say here. What you see is what you get

Porcupine pricks, cow bone, animal horns, turtle head. Your average everyday 'assemblage', you know?

Seashell, bean husks, clarinet body, spice crusher.

MAo on the left, between copper thimble on drift wood, flattened moulds on wood, piece of piano below two oval eye type pieces of metal top left. Right, seagull head, under chicken wishbone atop copper or brass music instrument wrapped in snake skin, accessorized by piano string hammers, tail feathers composed of what looks like flat metal tear drops.

Why is my font all of a sudden blue 'ariel'?

In what appears to be an allusion to Dali, this box on stilts is carrying dismembers pieces of doll limbs (YES!).

I guess Franklin Amzallag ran out of early 20th century coffee stained musical score paper or handwritten letters from about the same time, so as a background for this section, he used pocket watch faces from 'broquantes' in france. He usually negotiates to poor flea-market stand holders down to tears to get hundreds of such pockets watches on the euro.

DOOR #47 -- MARIENBAD

I can arrange a showing of the atelier where the last 16 doors are exposed.

If you know anyone in the art world, I would love to be put in touch.

We're currently looking for a gallery to show the doors in montreal.

Below; Doll face on the left, in mother of pearl sea shell, with a crank to walk about on these quills. Looking like the shell of the huge panther in Avatar, the body seems to be composed of up spoon shaped articulated armor

Above on the right, leather pouch holds stamp handles. Wooden end of a wooden domino box holds more doll limbs (YEAH!). All on a background of paper and piano anatomy.

On the left, cow ribs, under cat head, above flute, feathers, string and all. The orange fabric is still from the same cushion from the artist's childhood Casablanca.

Atop the beautiful picture of whom I assume is Marienbad, metal molds of what french pastry makers use to make "madeleines", with ivory dominos inside a couple of them.

Marienbad has gorgeous brass door ornaments arranged like a carnival / maskerade mask.

Are those table top decorations scattered accross the photo? (Billes chinoises?)

Above left, fish spine on a bunch of little seashells from the Cape. Tail of the spine a stone pipe I brought back from India. By now you should be able to identify the rest of this Burton-esque piece.

A better view of the piece as described above.

We can now see that was what omitted above are toupees.

Yes, children's toys.

Small doll faces, papers like 'papier-maché', then painted black, disposed very originally on a hand written note from France.

Obviously these aren't african masks (the facial characteristics are, er, caucasian in shape). Sometimes we have to make do with what's available.

We're running out of space to stack these doors in the atelier. So if you know anyone in art, or who owns or works in a gallery, I would be very grateful to be put in touch!!

Till next time...

New DOORS! "Jeux de mains, jeux de villains"

New Doors!!

From J'adoor!

The whole door. The middle is a piece of bamboo with a bundle of dried bones attached - and with 2 dried and starched seagull heads at each extremity. None of them is Jonathan Livingston Seagull - but they might be his grandchildren...

From J'adoor!

African Which doctor amidsts a background of checkered flying saucers

From J'adoor!

Strange Tim Burton-esque victorian era type doll face which Sioux face painting? Thread bobby as a face on a background of 'mikado' sticks.

From J'adoor!

Please don't flag this as "objectionable content" it's actually art. And old black and white photo (taken by Franklin Amzallag in the 60s) and that same Sioux victorian era dolls four hands trying to a) protect the women b) molest her c) insert other idea here.
And all this framed by dominos and a scalpel. Charming...

From J'adoor!

Old fabric from a 70s era pillow - appearantly being used as the skin/body/frame of teeth, an old dried up turtle head (yes, it is), and pieces of a piano (the pieces that hit the chord to make the noice when you press a key down) fanning out around th macabre dried up turtle piece like a lovely musical butterfly. From a dead piano.

5 more doors to be showcased ASAP -- stay tuned... aah no pun intented.

New Doors!!

From J'adoor!

The whole door. The middle is a piece of bamboo with a bundle of dried bones attached - and with 2 dried and starched seagull heads at each extremity. None of them is Jonathan Livingston Seagull - but they might be his grandchildren...

From J'adoor!

African Which doctor amidsts a background of checkered flying saucers

From J'adoor!

Strange Tim Burton-esque victorian era type doll face which Sioux face painting? Thread bobby as a face on a background of 'mikado' sticks.

From J'adoor!

Please don't flag this as "objectionable content" it's actually art. And old black and white photo (taken by Franklin Amzallag in the 60s) and that same Sioux victorian era dolls four hands trying to a) protect the women b) molest her c) insert other idea here.
And all this framed by dominos and a scalpel. Charming...

From J'adoor!

Old fabric from a 70s era pillow - appearantly being used as the skin/body/frame of teeth, an old dried up turtle head (yes, it is), and pieces of a piano (the pieces that hit the chord to make the noice when you press a key down) fanning out around th macabre dried up turtle piece like a lovely musical butterfly. From a dead piano.

5 more doors to be showcased ASAP -- stay tuned... aah no pun intented.

Don't Get Too Excited Just Yet... re: Vélib' / Bixi

Comment on the hour's piece on Bixi: http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=17263

When I was in Paris September 2007 -- I too fell in love with vélib'. I'd herd then that they were thinking about implementing this in Montreal, but I thought -- "how would it work?" ... You know...what with a 6 month winter and all.

The vélib' bike was like a heavy, stable dutch bicyle. I was particularly fond of this type of bike design because you could ride with a straight back. Chest out, shoulders back. I was able to wear fitted blazers on it without being scared of ripping my clothes (think a speed-bike rider crouched forward, or an person riding a mountain bike in the city, half slouching, half leaning forward.. awkward...

THIS was like riding an urban two-wheel tank with terrific torque. What a pleasure.

I was in vélib' heaven.

Aaaah oui MAIS! After relying on the vélib' for a week (averaging 2 euros a day!), I began to notice the draw backs. And this might be an issue in montreal as well.


At certain times during the day, people are all leaving their residential neighborhoods at the same time to go to work neighborhoods. At night, people are all leaving their work neighborhoods to go home. And then from home to the movies, or bars, or gym, or downtown.

Do you see where I'm going here?

In Paris when I needed a bike in the 16ème, no problem. But then when I arrived to the 5ème -- all the bike bays were full. No where to park it. So I had to search for an open bay for blocks and blocks, or I'd have to tie it up with the attached bike lock and get charged additional euros for every half hour it wasn't docked.

Coming back from the bars? All the bikes would be in use, gone! When you did find a bike? Your residential neighborhood's bike bays would all be full. Same problem!

Now perhaps Montreal has a better distribution of residents / bar areas (e.g. old montreal, plateau, mile-end)... We'll see what happens.

I hope it works out well...

A patriot for generation y

A comment on the hour's recent "Eyes on the prize" article on Michael Ignatieff -- http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=17105

Does it really matter whether Michael Ignatieff is a true patriot? Is it more important that we be convinced of his undying love for home and country? Or is it more important that Michael Ignatieff (MI) be the most competent leader we have who is willing to lead canada? (Aside, I was a liberal delegate for MI in 2006 representing Cmptn/ Stnstd... So there's no ambiguity about my own political orientation here -- and the only reason I'm not going to Vancouver to do it again is that we're not really there to chose a leader. And I just started an important new job that I don't want to take any time away from..) This debate is misplaced, a non issue (not the 1rst time either "The Hour", you're becoming a little too sensationalistic in my opn). But if you insist- MI is a patriot. If you wanna know the truth, I ask you to consider the following points. Michael's fan base (or 'supporters' to use an old politics pre-Obama term) is indeed composed mainly of young people. I'm 26 now and most of my fellow MI delegates at the convention in 2006 were around the same age. The old liberals were all supporting old liberals. Leadrship that Paul Martin suicidally put the Gomery Commission on foot to cleanse the party of. (Please forgive my grammar & syntax, I didn't do Cambridge, Oxford or Harvard, let alone teach there). MI had a clear majority at the last leadership convention, and that was only because of his grassroots and youth support. Canada's future leaders in business, in the arts, NGOs & not-for-profits, technology and scientific research, and of course in politics. We want renewal. Harper, Dion, Rae, bckd by Chretien & power co (although I love the guys) simply do not represent renewal or the new Cndn values. My generation values education and stars abroad. I'd rather you be a tech wiz in Cali, big in NY, a giant in Hllwd or a real-estate god in dubai than a nobody at home. This is the NEW patriotism. Make it big, bring it home and prove Canada proud.

Marketing Manifesto for the Post-Bubble Burst

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