Meudon, France — Kings hunted in the nearby forest. Airships were stored in its expansive hangar in the 19th century where later on Marc Chagall would assemble his roof decors for the Garnier Opera House in Paris. Hangar Y sits on the outskirts of Paris on the edge of a national forest by the town of Meudon, which also houses an observatory and is mere minutes from Paris on public transportation or by car. The hangar itself has been renovated, given a new lease on life and a commitment to bringing art and nature to the public. It re-opened to the public in March of 2023 and hosts two exhibitions each year, produced by the Fondation Art Explora.

The main building is surrounded by an enchanting 17th century park, designed by the great landscape gardener of Louis XIV, André Le Nôtre, to complement the then royal castle that once stood there. The centerpiece of the grounds is the dreamy Chalais water bassin which in turn is circled by contemporary sculpture, benches and an inviting restaurant. Visitors can walk through the woodlands on the edge of the forest to the sounds of nature from a specially conceived audio soundtrack while exploring the grounds or enjoying a picnic.

The current temporary exhibition is an ode to all kinds of games and toys through the ages and is entitled Toy Department (Rayon Jouet in French) and includes whimsical displays of train sets, Barbie dolls, toy soldiers, teddy bears, a delightful dinosaur and ever so much more. But the show also takes a look at the history of toys and toy making, their use as propaganda, the materials used to fashion them, which began with natural materials like wood before the age of plastic, their eternal role in the economy and as a reflection of their times. While they were conceived for children, they, too, would become the object of adult collectors. The exhibition presents some 80 old toys as well as 50 works by contemporary artists.

The show was conceived by Anne Monier Vanryb of the Decorative Arts Museum of Paris for the scientific side of the show, Cédric Fauq of the Contemporary Art Museum of Bordeaux for the contemporary art creation side of things and the artistic direction was undertaken by the Fondation Art Explora, a foundation that aims to bring art and culture to as wide a public as possible. Workshops, guided tours and energetic walks in the woods round out the agenda. The toy exhibition is on until September 22nd. 9, avenue de Trivaux, 92190 Meudon, France. Hangar Y is open weekends from 10am until 8pm and public holidays from 11am until 7pm. The grounds are open Mon-Fri 11am until 7pm and from 10am until 8pm on weekends and public holidays. https://hangar-y.com/en/

©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette