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About the Exhibition
French artist Anne Plaisance aims to spark dialogue and develop strategies to address homelessness and violence against women through the exhibition, Wonder Women: Anne Plaisance + Transition House. Her latest project is a socially engaged “tiny house" installation. Through her “Art’s Room” project, Plaisance organized weekly art workshops with residents at Transition House, a Cambridge nonprofit organization that supports survivors of domestic violence. The idea behind the project was to create an opportunity for the women to visualize and share aspirations for a safe and peaceful home. The creation of these tiny houses serves as a powerful metaphor for a meta goal: a safer world for women. The French Library is proud to host the tiny houses by the residents of Transition House as well as paintings by the artist Anne Plaisance.
About the Panel Discussion
The panel discussion will address how artistic creativity can empower women. Artist Anne Plaisance and Risa Mednick will explain the development of the Tiny Houses. They will discuss how this initiative was inspired by a desire for social justice, art that takes on social challenges and the significance of creative expression in self presentation and self preservation. This panel will be moderated by Harvard University Professor Doris Sommer.
About Anne Plaisance
Her work has been featured in more than eighty exhibitions in Poland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Egypt and in the United States. Her works can be found in the Brooklyn Art Library in New York as well as in private collections in the United States, France, Great Britain, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan and Poland, among others.
She received the LCC grant from the Cambridge Arts Council, funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the City of Cambridge for the Art’s Room project in addition to the Cambridge Arts Council’s Community Supported Art grant.
About the Panelists
Risa Mednick
Doris Sommer
Gallery Hours
Monday, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PMTuesday through Thursday, 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday and Saturday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Left Image: Born to suffer Center Image: Born to be abused Right Image: Born to survive
Project Funding, Partners and Sponsors
Call for Artists
Our art exhibition program showcases local and international artists whose work has a connection with French and Francophone culture.
Whether you draw your inspiration from an artistic movement, a specific artist, a subject or a technique, you can submit your work for an opportunity to present your art to the public in our elegant brownstone's gallery in the heart of Back Bay, for month-long exhibitions from September through June.
Artists and projects are selected by a committee of art professionals, artists and art connoisseurs who meet twice a year. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
To submit your work please refer to the Call for Artists in which you will find a detailed description of requirements and conditions.
Upcoming Events
Join us for "La Pause Café”, a DROP-IN activity for you to practice your French skills, immerse yourself in stimulating conversations, and make new friends.
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We invite parents and children to gather in the children's room of our library for a magical story time in French!
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Le Défi du Sommelier: A Blind French Wine Tasting
in partnership with Boston French Community
Test your palate and explore the delicate floral and fruity notes of fine French wines in a blind tasting experience. The participant with the sharpest taste buds will take home a bottle of wine as a prize!
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