Other People’s Parties: Coffee Talk with Jane Schulak

I rarely go to other people’s parties since I am always working at my own.  Thus, it is very exciting when I am inspired by another’s event world that is truly stunning.  Case in point, my friend Jane Schulak recently showed me photos of the most chic luncheon for 40 that she masterminded in Paris about a year ago at the Museum of Decorative Arts.  Since I am a kindred spirit in the adoration of paper, I was stopped in my tracks by this unique take on decor.  In Jane’s words, this was not a fund raiser, but a “friend raiser,” and she hosted dear ones from all over the world, exposing them to the most exquisite wallpaper collection and this jewel of a museum.  I would have loved to have been there!

Jane was sweet enough to share her photos and her thoughts behind this special day . .  .

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Stark:  How did you get involved with the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris?

Jane Schulak:  I became involved with the Musee des Arts Decoratifs because of the friendship that I had with the president, Helene David-Weill.  When Helene put me on the board she asked me if I wanted to become very active in the selection and restoration of objects.  As I learned about the museum and met all of the curators I began to form an understanding and a familiarity with not only the mission of the museum but the collections themselves.

DS: How did you come up with the idea for the event?

JS:  This particular museum like many others has an amazing collection that the public never sees.  I decided to make a paper luncheon for several reasons. First of all, it was a natural for the museum because they have the largest, oldest, and most comprehensive collection of paper and presses in the world.  My objective was to introduce my friends to the museum and to try to get them engaged without overwhelming them.  It is easy to enjoy paper and to react to it because it is so pretty and pleasing to the eye.  So I decided to find a new young French paper artist, Marianne Guely, and began working with her to come up with ways to reinterpret several ancient papers.  The results were outstanding on so many levels because of Marianne’s talent. 

Then, I chose a room in the Louvre that had fantastic and important architecture but could still serve as an excellent backdrop for the installation.  It was a completely harmonious relationship between the space and the art; everything was high drama in a good way!  I created a structure for the day, which began with the lunch itself.  In the room facing the Rue de Rivoli, I placed a large piece of wallpaper that was used for the design of the invitations.  On the walls around the room were many examples of reinterpretations of old papers; I included by each piece a small card that explained where the inspiration came from.  Opposite the Rue de Rivoli is the Tuilleries Garden; we opened all the doors as if the lunch was practically in the garden.  It was visually mind blowing, so beautiful; we did every single detail on the table out of paper and even included the paper book written by “Veronique de Bruignac-La Hougue”, the amazing paper curator.  I even had “Philip Model” design a wonderful paper of clouds to hide where the catering production was. 

After lunch, we took everyone to see one of the presses where they designed a new paper using many archives and titled it “Jane”.  From there we went into the archives and were so lucky to experience and see the awesome permanent collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DS:  How did you choose the right partners to help you bring the vision to life?

JS:  Choosing the right partners was not difficult at all for me.  Actually I have an incredible teacher and friend in Paris by the name of “Barbara Wirth”, she not only has the most amazing style in the world, but has been the most generous friend in the world and has introduced me all of Paris.  Through Barbara I have so many connections in the ultra chic world of craft and all beautiful things.

DS:  Why paper?

JS:  I chose paper because I love it and the collection is so vast.  There are no pretentions with paper it is so easy to become engaged and it is so beautiful.  It was a lot of fun to translate something so old in a modern way.  We even saw in the archives one of their oldest pieces of paper, which was used 200 years ago in a chicken coop. 

DS:  What were the challenges of working with paper on that scale?

JS:  For me the challenge was assembling the right team.  Once I had organized everyone the job became quite simple.  Working in a large scale was not an issue at all; in fact it made everything more exciting.  Marianne was a genius in her design because she made so much of it 3 dimensional, the room was alive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DS:  How did your guests react?

JS:  The guests went crazy as you can imagine.  Not only was the space itself major drama but also the creation inside the room took it over the top.  The room was entered from the top of a very steep set of steps; at first glance you are looking down into the room. The experience of actually being in the room was so interactive and excitingly beautiful.  Everybody went home with a small topiary tree, menu card, book, and folder using David Hicks paper with museum information in it.

DS:  What’s next?

I would like to do other lunches that would expose people to other collections in the museum not normally seen.  I love the idea of using a 21st century artist as an interpreter of the past.  My next idea is to create a Turkish tent in the Tuilleries and have a lunch or an elaborate tea; again working with several modern artists that could create dishes and glasses for the event, and after viewing the collections.  I have also thought about putting together exhibitions at the museum using only the objects in house, but displaying them in a very special and exciting way.  It is very interesting for me to create an environment with a story, especially a decorative arts one.

DS:  Can I do that one with you, Jane?  That would be my dream!

Thanks for inspiring  . . . really, really SPECIAL.

xo

D.

p.s., We already have experience with Turkish tents! (wink)

Comments

[Your fellow American]

Jane Schulak is an inspiration to the world!!!!! I love this women!

[post bankruptcy filing]

Great Job....done by jane.Jane you really a talented person and inspiration for many women.Keep it up......

[Duke Nukem Forevera]

Thank you! I love the variety of creative challenges that free-lance work offers - different contexts and different constraints depending on the project.

[Howard Stein]

Incredible what is possible with paper. Graphically the work is so strong. Beautiful work.