A time of travel, then reflection | Un temps pour voyager, puis pour réfléchir

What does reflection mean to you?

After a whirlwind tour to New York City and then Georgia, we returned home to France on January 2nd, and this is what we saw:

It was so quiet, and perfectly beautiful.

After the long drive from Paris, as we entered our neighborhood the snow drifted down on us as a welcoming blanket. In Athens, Georgia, it does not snow often, so I appreciate the special quiet and elegant beauty that comes along with the snowfall that I experience here.

It was so pretty.

***

2025 was a fruitful year for me, and I hope it was for you, too.

So many lessons learned, so many accomplishments, so much work, and so many rewards.

***

My word for 2026 is “Reflect”!

What's yours? Can you sum up your goals and intentions for the upcoming year?

Reflect, to me, means….

• contemplation

• paying attention

• taking time every day to review my gifts

• think about / plan for the future with an eye on the past

• taking stock of my accomplishments

• seeing what I can do to help others in this world.

I often say that I move forward like a locomotive, not slowing down, running into the future full speed ahead.

I want to slow down a little bit.

***

As a visual reminder of reflection and contemplation and beauty, this image is shared with you here. Use this link to download the photograph--would you like to have a copy for yourself, to use as a desktop "'wallpaper'" perhaps?

Êtang de la Valette (photo: René Shoemaker)

***

Best wishes to you for 2026,

-René

Keeping an eye on the future while respecting the past. (photo: Christina Chirouze Montenegro)

​En français | In French :

Un temps pour voyager, puis pour réfléchir

Reflet comme des nuages dans un étang

>Que signifie pour vous la réflexion ?

Bonne année, mon amie !

Après un voyage éclair à New York puis en Géorgie, nous sommes rentrés chez nous en France le 2 janvier, et voici ce que nous avons vu :

C'etati si calme et d'une beauté parfait. (photo: René Shoemaker)

Après un long trajet en voiture depuis Paris, alors que nous arrivions dans notre quartier, la neige tombait sur nous comme une couverture accueillante. À Athens, en Géorgie, il ne neige pas beaucoup, j'apprécie donc particulièrement le calme et la beauté élégante qui accompagnent les chutes de neige que je vois ici.

C'était tellement joli.

***

2025 a été une année fructueuse pour moi, et j'espère qu'elle l'a été pour vous aussi.

Tant de leçons apprises, tant de réalisations, tant de travail et tant de récompenses.

Mon mot pour 2026 est « Réfléchir » !

Et vous ? Pouvez-vous résumer vos objectifs et vos intentions pour l'année à venir ?

Pour moi, réfléchir signifie...

contempler,

prêter attention,

prendre le temps chaque jour de passer en revue mes talents,

penser à l'avenir et le planifier en gardant à l'esprit le passé,

faire le bilan de mes réalisations,

voir ce que je peux faire pour aider les autres dans ce monde.

Je dis souvent que j'avance comme une locomotive, sans ralentir, fonçant à toute vitesse vers l'avenir.

Je veux ralentir un peu.

***

En guise de rappel visuel de la réflexion, de la contemplation et de la beauté, nous partageons cette image avec vous ici. Utilisez ce lien pour télécharger la photo. Souhaitez-vous en avoir une copie pour vous-même, à utiliser peut-être comme « fond d'écran » ?

Étang de la Valette. (photo: René Shoemaker)

Meilleurs vœux pour 2026,

-René

Traduit avec DeepL.com (version gratuite)

Paris 2025 Exhibition

René Goes to Paris

Bonjour my friend,

Did you notice how I wrote "Paris 2025 exhibition" in the heading above?

I have a new exhibit on view in Paris, and I now intend to exhibit in Paris—or another major city—every year from now on.

This has been a grand dream of mine, something I've been steadily working towards. After the success of my 2024 San Francisco exhibition (which you can read about here), now feels like the perfect time to move forward without hesitation and make this dream a reality.

See the Caféologie book on the counter? That was written by Gloria Montenegro of La Caféothèque de Paris, and her daughter, Christina.

If you know me, you know that I've been working hard at learning all of the things: not only the art making, but the art of business, too. How do I serve my community and keep up with exactly what you need?

Christina and Franco about to drift away in the breeze...

Toutes voiles dedans is our title; it is poetic and brings images of sailing ships, fluttering sails, and a story of exploration and journey.

This dreamy art fits this space so beautifully.

I am happy to report that these business practices are taking hold, not only for exhibitions—but for sales, especially for a collection of works sold to a dear collector from the U.K. who lives part of the year in Aubusson.

Thank you, I. and T. P.; you have made my work fruitful and rewarding.

****

Now—on to discussions of PARIS!

Here, perfectly sited, is my painting of the Tropical Room at La Caféothèque de Paris in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, bringing the two cafés beatuifully together.

My dear friend Christina Chirouze Montenegro contacted me about a month ago to mount an exhibition at the Columbia University Global Studies Center. In the charming 6th arrondissement, tucked between Boulevard de Montparnasse and rue Notre-Dame des Champs, is nestled La Caféothèque Reid Hall. La Caféothèque was chosen to bring their expertise to the Global Studies Center as a result of their long-time relationship in building connections between cultures, "a high-quality café promoting humanitarian principles." There, in this prestigious center of learning, my large-scale art hangs fluttering in the breeze; inviting the students and faculty to study and discourse under the protection of my paintings.

Thank you, Christina, Reid Hall and La Caféothèque!

September 3 - November 6, 2025​
​​Toutes voiles dedans​
​La Caféothèque Reid Hall
4, rue de Chevreuse
Paris 6e​
75006 Paris, France

*Contact me for viewing appointment; reservation required*

Paysages magique / Magical Landscapes

First exhibited at the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Magical Landscapes has found its way to the French art scene.

The title comes about through the bringing together of two artistic movements (Deep South architecture and Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints) that are separated in space and time, creating a magical landscape that communicates with a new language of images.*

I am now excited to share with you Bulletin #62 from Galerie AM'carta announcing my next solo exhibition:

For my English-speaking friends, the translation from the French announcement follows:

René Shoemaker
Magical Landscapes
from July 21 to August 3, 2025
Opening reception Wednesday, July 23, 6:30 p.m.

René lives in the town of St-Maixant with her husband, near Aubusson. Born in New York, she built her artistic career while living in Athens, Georgia (USA), where she earned an art degree from the University of Georgia. For over 30 years, she has been painting on silk, having previously undergone extensive artistic training. Since 2011, she has been leading workshops on this technique, and since 2001, she has had approximately 30 solo exhibitions, mainly in Georgia but also in New York, California, Mississippi, Paris, London... and even La Creuse!

After her exhibitions on the theme of Felletin, and then her “Flâneries en Aubusson,” (Strolls around Aubusson) which we exhibited at AM'carta in 2018, René returns with her “Magical Landscapes,” a cross between the architecture of the southern United States, in Laurel, Mississippi, and her museum's collection of Japanese prints. Inspired by Japanese aesthetics, her compositions combine motifs from the museum's woodblock prints with buildings typical of the “Deep South” of Laurel. The architecture is screen-printed with strong lines, superimposed on the delicate lines of silk dye painting, thus creating “Magical Landscapes.”

Open every day (except the 27th and 28th) from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with free admission, often in the presence of the artist. According to Kristen Miller Zohn, curator of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, "Inspired by Japanese aesthetics and representation of objects, patterns, and colors, her compositions respond to the designs that are engraved onto the woodblock prints, and incorporate scenes from the Lauren Rogers Museum buildings and the intriguing architecture of Laurel itself. By bringing together these two artistic movements separated in space and time, the artist creates a magical landscape that communicates through a new visual language." Opening reception on Wednesday, July 23, starting at 6:30 p.m.

If you’d like to explore the collection—either in person or online—contact me via text or phone (+1.706.424.4739 or +33.(0)6.86.13.84.80) . I’d be happy to welcome you into this magical world and discuss the paintings in detail.

*Paraphrased from curator Kristen Miller Zohn’s statement for the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art exhibition.

See Art Now: Summer Exhibitions | Expositions d'été

 That time of year again!


Bonjour!

Have you noticed that summertime brings out the artist in all of us?

Summer art fairs, summer exhibitions, art in the street......

What does that mean for this artist?

It means six opportunities to exhibit during the height of the summer, bringing artists and community together!

In France:

1 Solo exhibition: Magical Landscapes

2 Solo exhibiton: L'architecture creusoise

3 Group exhibition: Exposition estivale, Lez'arts Sud 23

4 Group exhibition: Exposition estivale, Plateau des Arts, Trois-Fonds

5 Group exhibition: 1001 mouvements, Plateau des Arts, Giat

And in America:

6. Group exhibition: Together We Dazzle

Lines And Energy, by René Shoemaker - Magical Landscapes

I love to share art with you, as well as with the rest of the world. I'm so pleased there are so many opportunities to do so this year!

Rue Des Méris, Aubusson, by René Shoemaker - L'architecture creusoise

Pont Roby, Felletin (aubergine) by René Shoemaker - Lez'ArtsSud 23 Exposition estivale

I'll be exhibiting with the Plateau des Arts association in the charming Église Ste-Anne at Trois-Fonds in July. I've always wanted to exhibit in a church; what a beautiful setting! It only seemed appropriate to submit my paintings of area churches for that display:

Église Ste-Croix d'Aubusson, by René Shoemaker - Plateau des Arts Exposition estivale

In the States, it's important to me to maintain connections and to support the Ehlers-Danlos research fund, so I’m pleased to be participating for the third year in the Athens’ summer exhibition: Together We Dazzle.

And now,

To make it easier to share the news with my French friends and collectors, I am now including the news en français—thanks to the DeepL, the online translator which makes this job so easy!

Enjoy!

****

Exhibiton Schedule​
​
​March - September 30, 2025​
​​L'architecture creusoise​
​Café des Arts​
2 Pl. Maurice Dayras
23200 Aubusson

June 24 - July 12, 2025
​Reception, June 28, 4 p.m.​
​​Lez'ArtsSud 23 : Exposition estivale​​
​2 Espace Charles de Gaulle​
23200 Aubusson
​
​July 13 - July 26, 2025
​Reception, July 13, 5 p.m.​
​​Plateau des Arts : Exposition estivale​
​Église Ste-Anne
Trois-Fonds
23230 Ventenat​​

August 9 - 20, 2025​
​Plateau des Arts : 1001 mouvements ​​
Halle de Giat
Place du Champs de Foire
63620 Giat​
​​
​July 21 - August 3, 2025​
​Magical Landscapes​
​Galerie AM'Carta
1 rue de l'Abreuvoir
(Pont de la Terrade)
23200 Aubusson

August 1 - October 16, 2025​
​Together We Dazzle​
​K. A. Artist Shop
127 N. Jackson St.
Athens, GA 30601
​

****

C'est à nouveau cette période de l'année !

Bonjour,

Avez-vous remarqué que l'été fait ressortir l'artiste qui sommeille en chacun de nous ?

Salons d'art estivaux, expositions estivales, art dans la rue...

Qu'est-ce que cela signifie pour cet artiste ?

Cela signifie six occasions d'exposer au plus fort de l'été, réunissant artistes et communauté !

En France :

Exposition solo : Paysages magiques

Exposition solo : L'architecture creusoise

Exposition collective : Exposition estivale, Lez'arts Sud 23

Exposition collective : Exposition estivale, Plateau des Arts, Trois-Fonds

Exposition collective : 1001 mouvements, Plateau des Arts, Giat

Et en Amérique :

6. Exposition collective : Together We Dazzle

-image: Lines And Energy, par René Shoemaker - Paysages magiques

J'adore partager mon art avec vous, ainsi qu'avec le reste du monde. Je suis ravi qu'il y ait autant d'occasions de le faire cette année !

-image: Rue Des Méris, Aubusson, par René Shoemaker - L'architecture creusoise

-image: Pont Roby, Felletin (aubergine) par René Shoemaker - Lez'ArtsSud 23 Exposition estivale

Je vais exposer avec l'association Plateau des Arts dans la charmante Église Ste-Anne à Trois-Fonds ; j'ai toujours voulu exposer dans une église. Quel cadre magnifique ! Il m'a semblé tout à fait approprié de soumettre mes peintures des églises de la région pour cette exposition.

-image: Église Sainte-Croix d'Aubusson, par René Shoemaker - Plateau des Arts Exposition estivale

Aux États-Unis, il est important pour moi de maintenir des liens et de soutenir le fonds de recherche Ehlers-Danlos, c'est pourquoi je suis très heureux de participer pour la troisième année consécutive à l'exposition estivale d'Athens : Together We Dazzle.

A bientôt,

-René