Living the Dream
When you meet Joseph Langley, the first thing that
captures you is his smile. He is a man filled with so much joy it fuels his
many talents. When he was just a kid, he fell in love with the language, the art,
and the culture of France. Since making
his life here he has become as iconic a fixture of Paris as Josephine
Baker! Just a slight exaggeration!
Joe's journey to Paris began when he spent a year in Dordogne as an exchange student, then participated in a Study Abroad program in Montpellier. Following his studies, Joe found his way to Paris where he has lived for the past 30 years.
Joe's talent and determination are what allowed him to live his dream of living in Paris. He has been a teacher, waiter, and sales representative, among other professions, before getting back to his passions as a painter, poet, and jazz singer.
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| Photo by Stéphane Renard "Soundcheck" |
With the world confined to their homes due to COVID 19, Joe has been expressing his emotions through his art. One series in his "Confinement
- Solidarity Series", are 8 Pastels on Paper.
With a minimalist
style, and the use of basic and primary colors, Joe's work is meant to
celebrate solidarity; a moment of cooperation between two people.
Even more
special than the art itself is his reason for this particular group of creations. He wanted to
gift the pieces to his doctors and their staff who have supported him over the
years.
"It is my
way of saying 'Thank You' to them all!" He exclaims with his bright
smile.
Joe is indeed savoring the good life of Paris, and he is grateful
and joy-filled with life. When we all make it through confinement, you
can bet Joe will be running toward his next projects. One of which is
voiceover work for the next installment of "Paris Noir: African Americans in the City
of Lights" a documentary series on the history of African Americans in Paris by
David and Joanne Burke of Blue Lion Films. But we'll visit him again when we talk more about that project. To watch the free streaming of "Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Lights", go to https://www.africanamericansinparis.com/. You can enjoy a free "Learn on Lockdown" streaming of the documentary through April 30, 2020.
