Opening Reception

Free

About Marica Quartuccia

Quartuccia
Marica Quartuccia is a visual artist, who lives and works in Marseille, France. She now spends a significant amount of time in Boston since her children and grandchildren moved here 12 years ago. Over the past twenty years, Marica has participated in numerous exhibitions in France, Brazil, Spain, and the United States. She considers painting as a political act—a way to agitate against injustice and to push us to take action against the status quo.

Artist Statement

By representing the unknown African heroes who strive, and often risk their lives daily to ensure the respect of human dignity, I want to pay tribute to the sacred nature of their remarkable deeds, which preserve and enrich humanity.

What matters is not for the painting to be beautiful but for it to accomplish what it was made for, that is to denounce injustice and show the incredible resilience and strength of those who fight it and dare to challenge the status quo. In the Egyptian civilization, the sculptor was the one who “kept alive.” Painting became the representation of sacred characters. In the same way, to me, the purpose of painting is to “keep alive” the often unknown heroes who tirelessly try to improve the lives of others in their community, in spite of hardship their face. To me, their lives are sacred and my work celebrates them with the hope that they will inspire others to action.

Exhibiting at the French Library was an obvious thing to do for two reasons. First, my paintings often depict characters in French-speaking countries. Second, the Center incarnates a bridge between the past, the present, and the future. The past because France is where I live and where I have developed as an artist. The present, since my kids have settled in the new world and in this city of Boston that is emblematic of US history and culture. The future, as I hope my work will help understand the importance of art in agitating against injustice and pushing us to take action against the status quo to help address the pressing social challenges that we face.

Celebrating le mois de la Francophonie

La Francophonie is a vibrant and dynamic language community shared by some 274 million speakers. From Africa to America, French is spoken on five continents and is the second most learned language after English. With more than 60,000 words, it is an international language of communication used by 80 states and governments. In the United States, the number of Francophones is estimated at 11 million and nearly 13 million Americans report having a French, French-Canadian, or Acadian ethnic origin. The majority of Franco-Americans are concentrated in New England as well as in Louisiana. French, a rich and international language!

Impression

La Francophonie c’est une communauté de langue vivante et dynamique partagée par quelques 274 millions de locuteurs et présente sur 5 continents. De l’Afrique à l’Amérique, le français et l’anglais sont les seules langues parlées sur les cinq continents, et le français est la 2ème langue la plus apprise après l’anglais. Avec plus de 60 000 mots, c’est une langue de communication internationale utilisée par 80 États et gouvernements. Aux États-Unis, on estime que le nombre de francophones s’élève à 11 millions de personnes et près de 13 millions d’Américains déclarent avoir une origine ethnique française, canadienne-française ou acadienne. La majorité des Franco-Américains se concentre en Nouvelle-Angleterre ainsi qu’en Louisiane. Le français, une langue riche et internationale !

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 6:30 PM To 8:30 PM

The French Library is honored to welcome French Rimbaud’s specialist Alain Borer for a poetic night dedicated to one of the most well-known and talented French poet, Arthur Rimbaud.

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Conference

The impressionist revolutions

In person Master Class: French Culture and History

From Apr 4, 2023 To Apr 25, 2023 6:30 PM To 7:30 PM

Master class on Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Paul Cézanne and Auguste Renoir: four sessions and one Museum of Fine Arts visit to better understand the French impressionists.

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Lecture

Musiciennes de légende by Marina Chiche

Author talk and book signing

Friday, April 7, 2023 6:30 PM To 8:00 PM

The French Library is pleased to welcome award-winning French violinist and author Marina Chiche. Marina will tell us more about her work on making classical music accessible to the widest audience possible and highlighting exceptional women performers forgotten by history because of their gender.

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