Eau Gallie Arts District, Foosaner Art Museum to celebrate April in Paris with film, photos, food
Ooh, la, la! It’s about time for April in Paris, that annual confluence of love, food and sheer joy of life.
You could hop on a plane to the City of Lights to enjoy the show, but if your budget can’t handle the plane fare, you might want to head to the Eau Gallie Arts District, where on April 6, you can fully engage your inner Francophile.
One of the more popular of the Eau Gallie Arts District’s First Friday celebrations, the free event also marks the opening of Foosaner Art Museum’s French Film Festival, which kicks off that day and continues until April 21.
The film festival started years ago on the Florida Tech campus, but with the EGAD partnership seven years ago, it has snowballed into a large community happening.
“We turn Highland Avenue into Paris,” said Lisa Packard, executive director for EGAD.
Highland Avenue becomes Highland Boulevard, at least in spirit, with French cuisine, including beer and wine. There is no question champagne also is involved, for, remember, this is France for one spring evening, and you are no longer just a people watcher, but now rather quite the boulevardier, so bubbly is a must.
Food & Fun: Space Coast Happenings
There is music, of course, plus street performers, French-themed vendors and children’s activities, courtesy of the Renee Foosaner Education Center.
The street party begins at 6 p.m. and culminates at 9 p.m. with the free outdoor showing of pioneering French director Agnés Varda’s award-winning documentary “Visages Villages,” or “Faces, Places.”
In previous years, the film festival focused on classic French cinema a la “The Red Balloon,” but organizers have added a soupscon of new spice for 2018.
“We’re stepping up the game with the addition of contemporary films this year,” said Tina Murray, manager of visitor services at the Foosaner Art Museum. “There is a lot of interest for French films in this area.”
Varda’s 2017 film is a collaboration with JR, a 30-something muralist and photographer. The movie records the two artists’ travels through small French towns. “Visages Villages” earned awards at Cannes, the New York Film Critics Circle, the National Society of Film Critics, among others, and also was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary.
Why haven't you visited EGAD to see the murals?
Those proficiency-challenged in French need not guess about what is going on in the movie, for the festival films carry subtitles.
Highland Boulevard may revert back to Highland Avenue the next day, but the film festival continues with two screenings per week in the museum’s Harris Community Auditorium, 1463 Highland Ave.
Film lineup includes “L’Avenir”(”Things to Come,” a 2016 PG-13 film by Mia Hansen-Love at 7 p.m. on April 11.
For the first time, the festival will show an animated film, the 2016 PG-rated “Avril et le Monde Truqué" (“April and the Extraordinary World,” slated for a showing at 2 p.m., April 14.
Xavier Giannoli’s “Marguerite” will be shown a 7 p.m., April 18. The 2015 film is rated R.
The Festival ends at 2 p.m. April 21, with the 2015 unrated “Fatima” by Philippe Faucon.
Not enough French stuff for you? You’re in luck, for the Foosaner also is showing “French Twist: Masterworks of Photography from Atget to Man Ray until May 19. The groundbreaking exhibition features 100 rare vintage prints from 1900 to 1940, considered the golden age of French photography.
“French Twist” celebrates everything from the lyrical architectural views of Atget to the Surrealist inventions of Man Ray and Dora Maar, from the boyish wonder of Lartigue to the crepuscular moodiness of Brassaï, from the elegant still lifes of Kertész to the sophisticated street theater of Cartier-Bresson and Ilse Bing.
The museum will host a Girls Night Out from 6-8 p.m. April 12.
Et quel variété!
April in Paris events
First Friday:
Film Festival: Admission to the films shown in the Harris Auditorium is $5 at the door. Concession goodies include beer, wine and popcorn.
A Festival Pass at $15 for museum members and $20 for non-members includes admission to all screenings and complimentary popcorn. Passes must be purchased in advance at 411.fit.edu/filmfest/index.php.
Admission to the outdoor showing of “Faces, Places” is free, but bring blankets or chairs. Limited VIP seating for the April 6 street party will be available between Eau Gallie Florist and the Brevard Symphony Orchestra House, where a three-piece trio will play on the porch.
Get your food and come back to enjoy guaranteed seating with your own private bar and bartender. $20 cost includes one drink. To purchase, visit egadlife.com.
Girls Night Out: The French Twist will be from 6-8 p.m. April 12. The evening includes French-inspired food, wine and shopping in the galleries of the Foosaner Art Museum. Admission is $45, $30 for museum members. More information about the the event is available by searching "Girls Night Out: French Twist" on Facebook.
The museum is at 1463 Highland Ave., Melbourne.
Sonnenberg is a Melbourne-based freelance writer.