Being a Friend of the Aubusson Tapestry Museum

Société des Amis de la Cité de la tapisserie et de son Musée

Are you part of an association where you live? Isn't it true that you can find a group of like minded people — no matter where you are?

In February, I became a friend of the Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie, Aubusson (International Tapestry Museum, Aubusson). I attended my first meeting with the Assemblée générale, or year-end report, learning of their 2025 activites and the new plans for 2026.

A tour of the new addition to the museum was the first part of the gathering.

I enjoyed the tour and the architecture, and came away with some new favorite art!

Although I admire the historic tapestries, I must admit that modern and contemporary works are my preferred styles.

Here is one by Jean Arp made in 1961:

Jean Arp, Nombril, 1961

The new wing, built for temporary exhibitions, held some of my favorite pieces. The architecture itself spoke well for the collection I was about to discover.

Design by Projectiles Architecture Studio

I do admire the technique of tapestry; did you know that when the color of a design changes, each colored yarn must be intertwined by hand?

Henri Laurens, Ruban, 1936

Created for the regional public library in Limoges, the tapestry below is monumental. It celebrates three literary figures with texts woven in Arabic and French, in rich blue and gold.

Rachid Koraïchi, 1998, Hommage à René Char, Michel Butor et Mohammed Dib (detail)

Tapestry is an extraordinarily labor-intensive craft, requiring a lot of skill, patience, and talent. On large tapestries, multiple weavers are weaving side-by-side; carefully coordinating their work and their wefts. This tradition has been created here for at least 600 years and Aubusson tapestry is proudly listed on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list.

Oliver Nottellet, La Rivière au bord de l’eau, 2010

This wall-sized tapestry above — based on an original painting made with Indian ink and watercolor — has been a favorite of mine since I arrived in La Creuse.

Oliver Nottellet, La Rivière au bord de l’eau, 2010 (detail)

Oliver Nottellet, La Rivière au bord de l’eau, 2010 (detail)

The photos above are linked to related web sites if you'd like to see more.

I'd love to know — do you have a favorite tapestry style, modern or historic? Or one very favorite tapestry? Hit reply and let me know!

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)

Learn silk painting in Paris

Working with Christina

- une étudiante formidable

After the quick-yet-delightful visit to Chartres, I dashed up to Paris—for the day! What was supposed to be a 9.5 hr visit in Paris, turned into a mere 5 hours due to train delays. But enough about that! I was able to get all my work done, see the people I needed to see, and even conduct a mini-silk painting course in preparation for our offering to the public on November 4th.

Teaching is always so very rewarding, and La Caféothèque coffee is always so delicious.

But once I arrived at Gare d'Austerlitz just fine, I hopped on the bus 91, dashed to Reid Hall and ... sat down and breathed. Christina and I caught up on our news, shared a coffee, then went to meet—the focus of he day— the director of Reid Hall, Brunhilde Biebuyck. What a delightful woman! We sat around her big table in her big office with light pouring in the windows and shared a love for adventure, creativity, architecture, travel, libraries and archives.

Ms Biebuyck loved my business card collection, and exclaimed that she must frame them!

After our meeting with Ms. Biebuyck, our mini-class session was held in the work-and-roasting room where the coffee roaster sits, (If you know me, you know how much I enjoy coffee, and all of the things related to it. La Caféothèque is top when it comes to coffee.)

The formidable coffee roaster that creates the best beans for our coffee drinking pleasure

Christina Chirouze Montenegro was my student; she was there to learn a skill and to share her new knowledge with other interested parties.

Christina mounting U.S. Highway 82, Georgetown, GA, USA with utmost care

I was amazed at how small my supplies suitcase was—with all of the supplies for the silk painting class—wooden frames, silks, dyes, dye cups, brushes, pencils, papers, handouts - oh my!

Silk painting supplies tumbled on the table

The silk painting class is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4th, from 2-5 pm - please sign up! It is very affordable, and you will take your own silk painting home with you.

A studious student - making beautiufl designs!

As we left Reid Hall for the day, I happened to notice that the Paris roofline was reflecting in my Amsterdam Ave and West 79th Street painting—truly bringing the sister cities of New York and Paris together to commune!

Christina calling it a day for Paris and New York City

Learn silk painting in Paris : Apprenez la peinture sur soie à Paris

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*