WARMTH, CIRCULATION, COLOURS

Paris, November 26, 2025

The Paris clouds were hanging low and threatened rain last Wednesday. Art Refuge set up The Community Table in the large warm indoor space of the Labos, rather than in our usual outdoor place next to the bread oven. We were still setting up when three people joined us. One man propped his luggage against the wall behind him and immediately started drawing : a red and black heart with his date of birth. A young woman we recognised dedicated a banana cake recipe to the table, and a second woman asked for more details which led to a discussion about world cuisine. Around us, in the same space, a choreographer was rehearsing, projecting images on the wall and testing sound.

Breadmaking day at the Semeuse garden, and the dough was kneaded and left to rise in the kitchen just behind us. Women and children came and went, checking the dough and the lit oven between their creative explorations at The Community Table. Chickens, rainbows, dinosaurs, skies, musical rhythms, writing… Children, adults, artists, displaced people and local residents shared the same desire to connect and play.

Mini notebooks were created on the spot, and soon everyone wanted their own! Those who had understood the method showed newcomers how it was done, while we filmed a pair of hands dancing on the typewriter in rhythm with the music.

The materials moved around echoing the coming and going of people, and bright pastel colours lit up the table as night fell in Paris.

Words by Pascale Marie, Raphael Bouboutou & Kate France.