PARIS PARABLES
LES SEDUCTIONS

STORYSHARDS: Archaeology for Your Life includes a variety of themed art-video segments from a diversity of contexts and cultures worldwide. For me as a photographer, Paris is an ever unfolding source of creative, cultural and intellectual content. More than a travelogue, PARIS PARABLES – Les Seductions are Proustian picture-stories with a point-of-view. The sequence of illuminating vignettes – with their vivid imagery and evocative music – unfolds metaphor and meaning. Each segment invites relevant conversation. Transcending the local, the high-production art-video is a seduction into a Parisian state-of-mind – and beyond!

Congruent with the STORYSHARDS retreat programming, Hollyhock has asked me to show PARIS PARABLES one evening to the whole community gathered when I am there this coming September 13th-18th to present STORYSHARDS: Archaeology for Your Life. https://www.hollyhock.ca/cms/Lisl-Dennis.html
PARIS PARABLES: Les Seductions illustrates how STORYSHARDS is structured, and how I craft visuals and music to stimulate the imagination and create atmospheres and contexts for mutuality in conversation. An amusing segment of the program is Hung Up – Old Story, photographed in Parisian nostalgia shops and abandoned
dry cleaners.

My Francophile husband Landt Dennis and I were in Paris for the month of June when I shot PARIS PARABLES. At the time, I was a victim of visual ennui; I assumed I was on a romantic holiday with nothing much to do but drag around museums, enjoy languid lunches and laze about cafes. The spell was broken soon enough. I became a modern day Eugene Atget, known for his photographic window shopping and street scenes at the turn of the 20th-century. A month later, I had the photo-makings for diverse Parisian picture stories captured in a wide variety of engaging contexts. In time, with many hours of Adobe Final Cut Pro and arresting musical choices,
PARIS PARABLES unfolded their meaning and metaphor to me in creatively unexpected ways.

Like STORYSHARDS: Archaeology for Your Life, the art-video presentation PARIS PARABLES – Les Seductions has been the context for wonderful women's retreats here in Santa Fe. Imagine going to Paris to open your mind and eye to the world. The City of Lights does just that for me. When receiving the Legion d'Honneur for a lifetime of cycling around New York City shooting street fashion for the New York Times, photographer Billy Cunningham said: I go to Paris every year to educate my eye. My eye, my mind and my imagination: I totally understand why.

Lisl@StoryShards.info

PARTICPANT'S REMARKS
What a wonderful feast for the senses you choreographed Saturday. So enjoyed Paris Parables-Les Seductions, and to be part of such a group of awesome women!
— VALMAI ELKINS
Academy of Power Feng Shui Santa Fe

PARIS PARABLES was brilliant, truly. An engaging presentation graciously facilitated. Thoughtful, well planned and orchestrated—warm and stimulating. An inspired juxtaposition of the Creative and Complex.

I am still insoired and assimilating our gathering: the women, and the infinite, shifting, emergent, transformative possibilities of creative engagement. I thank you and Merle for your collaboration.
It was wondrous!
— JAN KARAFYLAKIS, Artist

Lisl, being with you for PARIS PARABLES 2012, I was mesmerized by your poise and mastery of message and inspiration—and the way in which you bridged CP Snow's Two Cultures—the Parallel universe of Art and Science. Few can do this. You have been an inspiring guide and leader, continually evolving the conversation.
— CHASE AULT, Straight to the Chase

Lisl, you did a superb job, and I was really happy with the day. I love your PARIS PARABLES. They are wonderfully poetic, and I think they serve their purpose well. Your attention to detail for the whole day worked: a lot of intentional creativity—and creative intention of purpose.
I am really happy I came.
— KATHERYN TOLL, Film Critic

Lisl, I wanted to tell you I really enjoyed our big day together. I was really inspired to think many things, grow many ideas after conversations with people—and the exercises we did. Such a well spent day. And your PARIS PARABLES film is impressive and moving. Thank you for all of it!!!
— NAN NEWTON, Musician

Thank you for the meaningful event that you and Merle facilitated. It was quite a success. I am happy to have seen your artistry. Your eye and sense of the beautiful, exotic and seductive is quite refined. I share your love of language and quotes: the way you combine it all is effective.

...I feel intense passion about these issues, with which we, as a species, are grappling at this point in time. Gathering with concerned people to have deep conversations about the complexities that abound is essential for my sanity. That is the reason, despite my bust schedule, I took you up on your invitation to join your gathering
— JULIANA COLES, Activist, Heart and Soul

Ah! PARIS PARABLES: A wonderful experience! The film is rich in imagery, ideas and information. Watching it, I came to a place of stillness. From that place I could step right into it and absorb it. Multiple viewings are a must
— KRISTIN RYAN, Social Service

You and Merle should feel good about the participation and content of your PARIS PARABLES retreat day. Friends of mine who participated really liked the "Les Seduction" film, and want to see it again! Imagine you sold a bunch of tickets to Paris immediately afterwards, if they had previously fought off the urge to do so after seeing "Midnight in Paris."
— JAN DENTON, Artist

Really enjoyed your PARIS PARABLES. The setting was beautiful, and the women aware and thoughtful; and you and Merle were excellent guides. Still thinking about photos and queries.
— LYNN BROWN, Marketing Consultant

Thanks to you and Merle, and to Joanna for all the inspiration and love you poured into us.
— COLLEN KELLY, Artist, I-Ching Consultant

The provocative Paris Parables. So uniquely visual & totally enjoyable. Loved what you said about spending all those years developing & practicing your own personal style, and now working on deconstructing it.
— CLAUDIA JESSUP, Author