Host Jennifer Dasal opens by acknowledging she has been absent from the ArtCurious podcast for nearly a year and clarifies she is not reviving the show but has significant news to share. The primary announcement is her forthcoming book, 'The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris,' to be published by Bloomsbury in July 2025. The book tells the never-before-told history of the American Girls Club in Paris, a female-only residence, restaurant, art gallery, and gathering space that operated from 1893 to 1914. Dasal sets the scene of Belle Époque Paris — a period of political stability, cultural vibrancy, and the newly erected Eiffel Tower — as the backdrop for this community of ambitious American women artists. The club served as a safe home base for independent women who were largely unknown to history but whom Dasal argues deserve recognition. The book explores how stereotypes and misconceptions about women's experiences motivated the club's creation, and profiles the philanthropists who funded it. Women at the club forged connections with major figures including Auguste Rodin, Gertrude Stein, Mary Cassatt, and suffragist leader Emmeline Pankhurst. Dasal emphasizes that the club empowered its members to grow as artists, teachers, and activists, charting a path for future generations of women in the arts. The book is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and through independent bookstores. Dasal then transitions to announcing four guided travel opportunities for 2025. The first is a 10-day Spain trip with Like Minds Travel from May 18–27, visiting Barcelona and Madrid and exploring works by Picasso, Dalí, Gaudí, and El Greco, positioned as an affordable small-group experience. The second is a luxury Paris trip from May 3–10 with a separate travel outfitter, titled 'Paris and the Belle Époque: Private Treasures from Impressionism to Art Nouveau,' featuring exclusive museum access, a Moulin Rouge performance, and a private tasting at the Vigne du Clos Montmartre. A third Paris trip is planned for September with Like Minds Travel, with details forthcoming. Finally, a domestic luxury trip to Texas runs October 20–24, covering Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston, with stops at the Rothko Chapel and the Cy Twombly Gallery. Dasal notes the trips are offered at different price points to accommodate a range of budgets. She encourages listeners to act quickly as spots are filling, and directs them to her website, jenniferdassel.com, and the show notes for links. She closes by promising to return to the feed soon.
