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Temperature: 44 degrees and rising
By ROBIN CAUDELL
Staff Writer
BURLINGTON — Thursday. 8:30 a.m. 44 degrees.
While crossing Lake Champlain on the ferry, I flipped through the May issue of Martha Stewart Living. Twenty minutes later, I sat in a chair awash in sunlight and skimmed the Burlington Free Press inside the Colchester Dental Group.
For those who don’t know Dr. Kenneth Palm, you will hear him before you see him. His laughter bounces through his office like sunlight in a prism. He is a big guy with big hands that work magic in small spaces like your mouth. I was getting fitted for a new appliance, let’s just leave it at that, when Donna Hayes, a dental assistant, asked me what I was doing afterward.
I thought about the stories bumping against Friday’s deadline, but once I stepped back outside, my itinerary changed. I was hot in my long-sleeved, peacock blue and midnight blue embroidered jacket made in India. My Corolla was hotter. I tossed the jacket and the olive green scarf that was around my neck on the passenger seat. It was 63 degrees.
As I drove toward Burlington’s Waterfront, I decided the Firehouse Gallery at 135 Church St. was the perfect place to dwell on a glorious day. Even with hunger pangs.
On exhibit was “Les Affiches Illustrées: Art Posters from the Late 1800s” featuring original Art Nouveau prints by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Alphonse Maria Mucha, Théophile Steinlen, Georges de Feure, Pierre Bonard and Jules Chéret.
I was greeted by exhibition curator Ruth Erickson.
The five-day show ends Saturday, April 21.
About the “new art” of the late 1800s and early 1900s Europe, the signage stated:
“As a movement, proponents sought to break down barriers between fine arts and the applied arts; artists worked on everything from architecture to furniture designs, adding decorative embellishments and creating alternatives to the mechanical precision of goods produced during the Victorian era’s Industrial Revolution. Graceful and sinuous lines, often derived from nature, unified the Art Nouveau style. The style was also influenced by Japanese art’s asymmetry as well as Rococo art’s dramatic flourishes.”
I thought it best for me to view these beautiful works, one-fifth of a private Burlington collection, while I could. This was only the second showing ever.
After looking at the posters of the beautiful and beautifully adorned women, Ruth, directed me upstairs to view more. She warned me that the gallery was being decorated for Friday’s “Burlesque Ball.”
A petite raven-haired woman was draping black velvet in a corner near the stairwell, so I took the elevator up. It was like riding inside a Christmas present, only the red, burgundy and gold wrapping was on the inside.
On the second floor, I saw four Sarah Bernhardt posters, “Médée,” “Lorenzaccio,” “Gismonda” and “Hamlet” by Mucha.
“As the story goes, the person doing most of Sarah Bernhardt’s posters at the time was Jules Chéret,” said Katie Attanasio, gallery manager/assistant curator.
“He invented the three-stone lithographic process. According to the story, Mucha was in the print shop where Sarah’s posters were normally made, and the printers were talking about how they were worried about Chéret completing the poster for ‘Gismonda.’ They had only a few weeks.
Mucha said, ‘I can do it.’ From that moment on, he was the sole poster creator for Sarah Bernhardt, and they had a wonderful relationship.”
A “High Roller Bar” sign was propped against a wall. Behind Katie, lengths of red and gold ribbon fluttered against a wall. She enthusiastically told me be about the “Burlesque Ball,” a follow to last year’s highly successful “Moulin Rouge” event.
“Montmartre was north of Paris, so they paid no taxes,” Katie said. “You could do everything you wanted. It was so Bohemian. People who love ‘Moulin Rouge,” this is where they should be Friday. It has that same vivacity.”
The Burlington City Hall is the gateway to the “Red District” of Montmartre. The celebration includes live music, can-can girls, games of chance with celebrity dealers, a silent auction, flame throwers, marching band, an absinthe bar and delectable catered food.
Creative dress is encouraged, though Attanasio assured me many would hardly be dressed.
Overdressing is an impossibility. Top hats and boas will be on sale for those who desire them.
The mid-afternoon sun glazed the gallery’s hardwood floor. It was a fluke that I stood there.
In the gilded elevator, I rode to the third floor and paid $50 for my extremely limited ticket. If you’re feeling Bohemian today, hurry up and call (802) 865-7292.
Look for me in Montmartre. I’ll be swishing in something à la Bernhardt.
E-mail Robin Caudell at:
rcaudell@pressrepublican.com
