Monday, December 17, 2012

Artist squat


Here is a place I've been willing to tell you about for a very long time. It's an artist squat called Le 59 rue de Rivoli (for it's precisely located at rue de Rivoli), where you can find about 30 artists on 6 floors. The history of the building is interesting, as prior to becoming this very artsy place, it used to belong to a bank. In 1999 three artists decided to invade the place and managed to fight long enough to turn it into a legal workshop for artists. Anyone can visit it everyday, except Mondays, and, of course, buy art from them. As you can see the whole place is totally decorated - even the facade is... My photo shows the staircase from the top floor, but I recommend you pay a visit to their site, to see more of it.

16 comments:

  1. This picture should get everyone's juices going! I accidentally found it a few weeks ago and had to be practically pulled out of there by Mr PHX as we had an appointment .i loved it and there is really some good art to be found. Very atmospheric, as Eric captured the look and feel.
    Eric, did you take a picture of the outside of the bldg years ago? The facade made a face....I will see if I can find it from your archive if you don't know what I mean. When I looked at the bldg after I left, it struck me that you had photographed it in a different state than it looks today.

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  2. Often wondered what this is from the other side of the street waiting for a bus back to the 9eme. One year it seemed to be decorated for my birthday!

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  3. This looks like a fascinating place! Love the colors, and this photo.

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  4. Like colors out of Vincent's paintbox! I like your shot very much, and it's fun to read PXH's reactions to the place as well. Thank you Eric.
    -Kim

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  5. The website's great, but your shot of the stairs tops all.

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  6. This is interesting to know this kind of initiative exists. Looks amazing.
    Thank you Eric.

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  7. This place is a~m~a~z~i~n~g! How wonderful to offer such a place for artists to come, and paint and for others to visit and purchase their works of art. :)

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  8. Eric… I LOVE this place… And from the address, it was in my old neighborhood !! Just across Point Neuf.. I lived at 53 Quai des Grands Augustins and walked by there all the time !!

    Amazing…. Are you gonna hang out there now??

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  9. @PHX "Eric, did you take a picture of the outside of the bldg years ago?" I found it! Yes it was really a long time ago and the photo really sucked, but <a href="http://www.parisdailyphoto.com/2005/08/rivoli-squat-chez-robert-electron.html>here it is</a>

    @Eli "One year it seemed to be decorated for my birthday!" Er... yes, maybe Eli LOL!

    @MS M "This looks like a ascinating place! " It is. not to be missed when you're here.

    @Kim "it's fun to read PXH's reactions to the place as well. " You know how she is, always so enthusiastic. I envy her!

    @Petrea "but your shot of the stairs tops all." You're sweet. To be frank I really did not know what to photograph. On top of that the guy at the entrance said " ask the artists before taking a photo" and since I'm pretty shy in these situations, photographing the staircase was to me the best option!

    @Jeff "Really fun". Have you already been there?

    @Kristie "How wonderful to offer such a place for artists to come" True, but they had to fight for it and it's only because the town hall did not dare throwing the first artists out!

    @Winski "Eric… I LOVE this place… And from the address, it was in my old neighborhood !" And a nice neighborhood too ;-)









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  11. Wonderful rich colors, and a climb worth making.
    Thank you for that image!

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  12. I feel better knowing that you too are shy about asking to take photos (although this surprises me). Well, I think you chose the best thing to shoot anyway—really makes me want to visit this place!

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  13. Eric, LUV this photo!! I have been gone this past week for a winter break vacation. I am just now catching up on my PDP emails. I'm sorry to hear you have been feeling blue. A week in Cozumel will have you feeling fine:) And I say that even after suffering from sunburn and jellyfish stings!

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  14. @Alexa "I feel better knowing that you too are shy about asking to take photos (although this surprises me)" I AM! You have no idea!

    @Trishia " A week in Cozumel will have you feeling fine:) " I'm sure it would have Trishia LOL
    I'm sorry that you suffer from sunburn and jellyfish stings though ;-)
    Welcome back to the real world...

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  15. What an amazing space this is. The link is fabulous, thanks eric.

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