13.6.13

What used to be a mirror factory...


Behind this surprising façade on Rue Menilmontant you can since 1999 find a “squart” (a contraction of squat and art), under the name of the “Miroiterie”, referring to what it used to be before -  a mirror factory.

A number of artists of different nationalities work here, some live here… 






... and it has also become a well-known place for mostly underground music  - jazz, punk, rap… with over the years thousands of concerts, including by some fairly famous groups – here an example with the “Stooges” (without Iggy Pop).

Although the City of Paris often has had a rather tolerant, even positive, attitude to a certain type of squatting, the threat of eviction is of course there and seems to be more and more serious, but for the moment a number of concerts are still programmed.  

7 comments:

Jeanie said...

Well, as you might expect, I'm pretty dazzled by this! Another I must share with Rick's son (the artist) -- although we might lose him to Paris and he can barely make his expenses here! What a fascinating, beautiful mix! Thanks!

Starman said...

Though, as usual, you've presented a fantastic glance at a section of Paris to which I've only seen while on my way to somewhere else, I'm sure I would find this even more fascinating in person! I'm hoping to return for at least one more tour of the city in the not-too-distant future.

Synne said...

I loved this place!

Olivier said...

un endroit de liberté de Paris, superbe découverte

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post, Peter!

I see a lot of turquoise...my

favorite color.

And I wonder about that photo of

the piano...

Maria

Alain said...

Espérons que ce soit réhabilité, comme la "Forge" et que cela reste un lieu de création et d'exposition, car actuellement les conditions d'hygiène et de sécurité ne semble pas excellentes. Quand j'ai connu ce lieu, c'était une trocante gratuite, assez sympa.

Studio at the Farm said...

You really do get around into some of the unknown interesting spots in Paris!