17.10.09

QUEEN FINDS FIVE YEAR OLD'S BALLOON WHILE WALKING HER CORGIS


A FIVE YEAR OLD RECEIVED A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE AFTER THE QUEEN FOUND HIS BALLOON WHILE OUT WALKING HER BELOVED CORGIS. CHARLIE CASTLE WAS ONE OF AROUND 50 SCHOOLCHILDREN WHO RELEASED BALLOONS DURING AN END OF TERM FAREWELL AT LITTLE MARLOW INFANT SCHOOL IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE IN JULY. WHEN THE YOUNGSTER RETURNED TO CLASSES THIS TERM, HE WAS DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN, WHO CAME ACROSS HIS GREEN BALLOON ABOUT 14 MILES AWAY, IN THE GROUNDS OF WINDSOR CASTLE. THE QUEEN SPOTTED THE NUMBERED TICKET, NAMING THE LITTLE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL, AND TOOK THE BALLOON BACK TO THE CASTLE. HER PERSONAL ASSISTANT, ANGELA KELLY, WAS ENTRUSTED WITH RETURNING IT TO CHARLIE, FROM HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS, ALONG WITH A NOTE. ANNE HARDING, HEAD OF THE LITTLE MARLOW SCHOOL SAID: "THERE WAS A MESSAGE LEFT ON THE SCHOOL ANSWER MACHINE FROM SOMEONE WHO SAID THEY WERE CALLING FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A WIND-UP BUT I MADE CONTACT, I WAS TOLD THAT THE QUEEN WOULD LIKE TO SEND A LETTER." HARDING SAID THE SCHOOL KEPT QUIET ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL THE LETTER ARRIVED LAST MONTH, DELIGHTING ITS RECIPIENT WHO HAD JUST CELEBRATED HIS FIFTH BIRTHDAY. WHEN THE ENVELOPE WAS OPENED, THE LITTLE BOY ALSO FOUND HIS GREEN BALLOON TUCKED INSIDE. THE HEADTEACHER SAID CHARLIE, WHO HAD VISITED BUCKINGHAM PALACE DURING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, WAS THRILLED BY THE MONARCH'S RESPONSE. IN THE LETTER TO CHARLIE THE QUEEN SAID SHE WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE HOW FAR THE BALLOON HAD TRAVELED AND SHE ALSO WISHED HIM A 'LOVELY' BIRTHDAY. FIFTEEN OF THE BALLOONS RELEASED WERE RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL, THE FURTHEST FROM BORDEAUX IN SOUTH OF FRANCE.

16.10.09

JAMIESON'S RASPBERRY ALE 'HO WHITE' ANGERS DISNEY


A BEER ADVERTISEMENT FEATURING SNOW WHITE BLOWING SMOKE RINGS WHILE LYING IN BED WITH SEVEN SEMI-NUDE DWARVES HAS REPORTEDLY LEFT DISNEY FUMING. THE RAUNCHY JAMIESON'S RASPBERRY ALE AD RENAMED THE FAIRYTALE CARTOON HEROINE 'HO WHITE'. LOVABLE DISNEY DWARVES, LIKE SLEEPY, HAPPY AND DOC, WERE REPLACED WITH FILTHY, SMARMY AND RANDY TO PORTRAY THE TYPES OF DRINKERS. CAMPAIGN CREATORS THE FOUNDRY CLAIMED THE IDEA WAS TO CONVINCE AUSTRALIAN DRINKERS THAT THE FRUIT-FLAVORED BEER WAS 'ANYTHING BUT SWEET'. BUT THE AD HAS COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE ENTERTAINMENT GIANT WHICH LICENSES SNOW WHITE, ACCORDING TO AUSTRALIA'S DAILY TELEGRAPH. THE FOUNDRY SAYS IT HAS HAD 'A LITTLE BIT OF CONTACT' WITH DISNEY OVER THE ISSUE, THE PAPER SAID. THE CAMPAIGN'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE, anythingbutsweet.com, COULD NOT BE ACCESSED. THE FOUNDRY'S SITE HAD FEATURED NUMEROUS PICTURES OF HO WHITE BUT LINKS TO THE CAMPAIGN HAVE ALSO BEEN DISABLED. AUSTRALIA'S FOOD WEEK WEBSITE SPECULATED THAT THIS MAY BE DUE TO A COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT. DISNEY, WHICH RELEASED THE FAMOUS ANIMATED SNOW WHITE FEATURE IN 1937, WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT. HOWEVER, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE COMPANY, WHICH RUNS THE COSTLY FAMILY-FRIENDLY DISNEY THEME PARKS AND IS KNOWN FOR ITS CARTOON FEATURE FILMS AIMED AT CHILDREN, WOULD EVER AGREE TO SNOW WHITE'S IMAGE BEING USED TO SELL BEER.

BACCARAT UNVEILS CRISTAL DECANTER FOR L'ESSENCE DE COURVOISIER


THE PERSONAL SIGNET RINGS OF NAPOLEON WERE GIVEN TO ARMY COMMANDERS WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES FOR THE NATION OF FRANCE. INSPIRED BY THESE UNIQUE AND EXCLUSIVE NOBLE RINGS, LADING LUXURY FRENCH CRISTAL DESIGN HOUSE, BACCARAT HAS CREATED A STUNNING CRISTAL DECANTER FOR 'L'ESSENCE DE COURVOISIER', ONE OF THE FINEST AND MOST EXPENSIVE COGNACS IN THE WORLD. MORE THAN 100 RARE 'EAUX DE VIE' ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER TO MAKE UP THIS RARE COGNAC, SOME EVEN FROM THE EARLY 20th CENTURY. THE RESULT OFFERS A RICH ARRAY OF COMPLEX, ENTICING AND WELL-MATURED FLAVORS THAT IGNITE THE SENSES WITH CENTURIES OF ORIGINALITY. EXQUISITE AROMAS OF SANDALWOOD AND CIGAR LEAVES ARE FOLLOWED BY TOFFEE, MARZIPAN AND HONEY, FINISHED WITH THE DELICATE PERFUME OF MAY BLOSSOM. THE PALATE IS FULL-BODIED AND RICH WITH NOTES OF LICORICE, DRIED PLUM AND APRICOT, BUILDING TO A SMOLDERING INTENSITY GUARANTEED TO LINGER. THE AMAZING CREATION IS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT HARRODS FOR AN ESTIMATED £1,800

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM PRESENTS MICHELANGELO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE: DRAWINGS FOR THE SISTINE CHAPEL AND OTHER TREASURES


MICHELANGELO'S TOWERING REPUTATION AS THE QUINTESSENTIAL RENAISSANCE MAN -- ARCHITECT, PAINTER, SCULPTOR, POET AND ENGINEER -- INTIMIDATED BOTH HIS CONTEMPORARIES AND LATER HISTORIANS TO THE POINT THAT THE ADJECTIVE 'DIVINE' BECAME A FIXTURE ATTACHED TO HIS NAME. 'MICHELANGELO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE: DRAWINGS FOR THE SISTINE CHAPEL AND OTHER TREASURES FROM THE CASA BUONARROTI', WHICH IS ON VIEW FROM 15.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 31.JANUARY.201, IS A STUNNING NEW EXHIBITION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER ONE OF ART HISTORY'S GREATEST FIGURES TO SEATTLE FOR THE FIRST TIME. DRAWN EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE CASA BUONARROTI IN FLORENCE, THE SHOW EXPLORES MICHELANGELO'S COMPLEX PERSONALITY AND DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HIS LIFE AND CAREER. CENTERED AROUND TWELVE ORIGINAL DRAWINGS BY MICHELANGELO, THE EXHIBITION ALSO FEATURES PORTRAITS OF THE ARTIST, PERSONAL DOCUMENTS AND DECORATIVE ARTS FROM THE CASA BUONARROTI. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF TE EXHIBITION IS MICHELANGELO'S PRELIMINARY WORK FOR THE SISTINE CHAPEL AND THE LAST JUDGMENT. TOGETHER, THESE OBJECTS GIVE MODERN VIEWERS INSIGHT INTO THE ARTIST'S WORKING PROCESS, FROM SKETCHES TO FINISHED STUDIES. THIS EXPOSURE WOULD HAVE APPALLED MICHELANGELO, WHO BURNED MANY OF HIS DRAWINGS HOPING TO SUSTAIN THE IDEA THAT DIVINE INSPIRATION, NOT HUMAN LABOR, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS CELEBRATED MASTERPIECES.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.seattleartmuseum.org

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS THE PORTRAIT UNBOUND: PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT WEINGARTEN


THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, ATLANTA, WILL PREMIERE AN EXHIBITION OF NEW WORK BY CALIFORNIA BASED PHOTOGRAPHER ROBERT WEINGARTEN IN JANUARY 2010. WEINGARTEN'S PROJECT CONSISTS OF 20 LARGE-SCALE DIGITALLY-CREATED PORTRAITS OF AMERICAN ICONS, AND REPRESENTS A BOLD DEPARTURE FROM TRADITIONAL CAMERA PORTRAITURE. FOR 'THE PORTRAIT UNBOUND', WEINGARTEN CREATED SOPHISTICATED DIGITAL COMPOSITIONS OF IMAGERY ALLUDING TO SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS OR MOMENTS WITHIN THE SUBJECT'S LIFE. THE RESULT IS A UNIQUE AND COMPELLING COLLAGE OF IMAGES THAT DESCRIBES THE SUBJECT THROUGH BIOGRAPHICAL RATHER THAN PHYSICAL INFORMATION. THE DIGITAL PORTRAITS IN THE EXHIBITION INCLUDE EMINENT AMERICANS FROM THE WORLDS OF ART, SCIENCE, SPORTS, POLITICS, AND CULTURE, AMONG THEM CHUCK CLOSE, SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR, FRANK GEHRY, HANK AARON, DENNIS HOPPER TO NAME A FEW. A SHORT FILM DETAILING WEINGARTENE'S ARTISTIC BACKGROUND AND INVENTIVE METHODS WILL ACCOMPANY THE EXHIBITION. ORGANIZED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM, 'THE PORTRAIT UNBOUND: PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT WEINGARTEN' WILL BE ON VIEW FROM 23.JANUARY THROUGH 4.APRIL.2010.

15.10.09

£10 JUMBLE SALE COAT DISCOVERED TO ONCE BELONG TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II



GAYNOR ANDREWS, HAS RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT HER FAVORITE SECOND-HAND COAT, WHICH WAS BOUGHT FOR £10 FROM A LOCAL JUMBLE SALE NEARLY FIFTY YEARS AGO, WAS ONCE PREVIOUSLY WORN BY QUEEN ELIZABETH II. THE 57 YEAR OLD, FROM CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, WAS SURPRISED WHEN SHE SAW THE DISTINCTIVE SILK CAR-COAT, INHERITED FROM HER 82 YEAR OLD MOTHER MARGARET, IN A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MONARCH DATING FROM 1953. SHE SAID THE FAMILY HAD ALWAYS KNOWN THE COAT BELONGED TO SOMEONE IMPORTANT, BUT HAD NO IDEA IT HAD BEEN WORN BY A YOUNG ELIZABETH SHORTLY BEFORE SHE SET OFF ON HER HISTORIC TOUR OF THE COMMONWEALTH. SHE SAID: "MY MOTHER BOUGHT THE COAT FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS ARRANGING A JUMBLE SALE FOR THE SEA CADETS IN EPSOM, SURREY. HE TOLD HER IT HAD COME FROM A HIGH-UP PLACE BUT WOULDN'T SAY ANY MORE. MUM PAID BETWEEN £5 AND £10 FOR IT IN 1961, WHICH WAS QUITE A LOT OF MONEY IN THOSE DAY, AND THOUGHT NOTHING MORE OF IT." SHE ADDED: "IT WAS ONLY WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE TELEVISION GUIDE A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I SAW AN OLD PICTURE OF THE QUEEN. I THOUGHT 'THAT COAT LOOKS FAMILIAR' AND WHEN I LOOKED CLOSER I REALIZED IT WAS THE EXACT SAME ITEM. THE PHOTO WAS OF HER DURING HER 1953 TOUR AROUND BRITAIN. IT'S A VERY DISTINCTIVE COAT SO I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE IT ON HER. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT ANYWHERE ELSE." A SPOKESWOMAN FOR BUCKINGHAM PALACE WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE COAT BUT CONFIRMED SOME OF THE QUEEN'S OLD CLOTHES END UP IN PUBLIC HANDS AFTER BEING SOLD ON.

LOUIS VUITTON L'AME DU VOYAGE JEWELRY COLLECTION: SEVILLE SET


THE NEW L'AME DU VOYAGE COLLECTION FROM LOUIS VUITTON WHICH IS BASED ON THE THEME OF TRAVEL BOASTS SOME OF THE MOST EXQUISITE AND UNIQUE PIECES OF JEWELRY TO BE CREATED BY THE LUXURY DESIGNER. THE SEVILLE SET FROM THE COLLECTION IS ONE OF THE STUNNING HIGHLIGHTS. NAMED AFTER THE CITY IN SOUTHERN SPAIN, THE SEVILLE SET FEATURES RED/PINK COLOURED PRECIOUS STONES, INCLUDING SPINELS AND PINK SAPPHIRES, AND BRILLIANT CUT DIAMONDS SET IN WHITE AND RED 18 CARAT GOLD. DESIGNER LORENZ BAUMER TOOK HIS INSPIRATION FROM THE RUFFLES AND POLKA DOTS AND ALL THE FEELINGS IN BETWEEN AND THOSE SURROUNDING THE IDEA OF FLUIDITY AND GRACE TO CREATE THIS AMAZING SET. BESIDES AN INCREDIBLY GRAND NECKLACE THE SEVILLE SET INCLUDES AN EQUALLY STUNNING AND MATCHING BROOCH, A PAIR OF EARRINGS AND 2 RINGS. THIS IS THE PERFECT SET TO WIN THE HEART OF YOUR TRUE LOVE, IT IS SIMPLY FANTASTIC.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY PRESENTS BEATLES TO BOWIE: THE 60s EXPOSED


A MAJOR PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION 'BEATLES TO BOWIE: THE 60s EXPOSED' OPENED 15.OCTOBER AND RUNS THROUGH 24.JANUARY.2010 AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON, TO HERALD THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE 1960s IN 2010. CELEBRATING THE LEADING POP MUSIC PERSONALITIES AND GROUPS WHO HELPED CREATE 'SWINGING LONDON' IN THE 1960s, THE EXHIBITION WILL SHOW HOW THE BEATLES AND RIVALS SUCH AS THE ROLLING STONES AND THE KINKS SET THE MUSICAL AGENDA. BRINGING TOGETHER 150 PHOTOGRAPHS AND 150 ITEMS OF EPHEMERA INCLUDING RECORD SLEEVES, ILLUSTRATED SHEET MUSIC AND MAGAZINES, THE EXHIBITION WILL BE ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY IN TEN SECTIONS COVERING EACH YEAR OF THE DECADE. THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES CLASSIC IMAGES, AS WELL AS OVER 100 PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN OR UN-EXHIBITED ONES, OF GROUPS SUCH AS THE BEATLES, THE ROLLING STONES, THE KINKS, AND THE WHO AND EARLY PORTRAITS OF SINGERS SUCH AS CLIFF RICHARD, BILLY FURY, MARIANNE FAITHFUL AND DAVID BOWIE. 'BEATLES TO BOWIE: THE 60s EXPOSED' WILL ILLUSTRATE HOW IMAGE, MUSIC, FASHION AND PERFORMANCE COMBINED TO MAKE THESE MUSICIANS THE LEADING ICONS OF THEIR TIME AND LONDON THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT CULTURAL CAPITAL. THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO SHOW HOW FEMALE BRITISH SINGERS NOT ONLY CREATED MANY POP CLASSICS BUT SERVED AS IMPORTANT ROLE MODELS, PIONEERING AND PROMOTING BRITISH FASHION DESIGNERS, SUCH AS CILLA BLACK AND LULU BEING DRESSED BY THE 21 YEAR OLD CAROLINE CHARLES AND SANDIE SHAW DEVELOPING HER OWN FASHION LINES. 'BEATLES TO BOWIE: THE 60s EXPOSED' WILL ALSO SHOW HOW, AS THE DECADE PROGRESSED, PURE POP WAS REPLACED BY PROGRESSIVE MUSIC AND PSYCHEDELIA BY GROUPS SUCH AS PINK FLOYD. VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE HOW JOE MEEK'S 'TELSTAR' OPENED THE EXTRAORDINARY DECADE AND MAN'S FIRST STEPS ON THE MOON LED TO THE FIRST HIT RECORD BY DAVID BOWIE WITH 'SPACE ODDITY', PAVING THE WAY FOR HIS DOMINATION, ALONG WITH MARC BOLAN, OF GLAM ROCK IN THE FOLLOWING DECADE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.npg.org.uk/

14.10.09

BONHAMS DISCOVER RARE IMPERIAL ROMAN CAMEO VASE


BONHAMS LONDON HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A MAGNIFICENT ROMAN CAMEO GLASS VASE WHICH MAY, THEY CLAIM, BE THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD. A SPOKESPERSON FOR BONHAMS SAID: "IT IS OF MAJOR INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE. ACADEMICALLY AND ARTISTICALLY IT IS PRICELESS. SCHOLARS WILL BE EVALUATING THIS FIND FOR DECADES." THE VASE DATES FROM BETWEEN LATE FIRST CENTURY BC TO EARLY FIRST CENTURY AD AND STANDS 33.5cm HIGH. ONLY 15 OTHER ROMAN CAMEO VASES AND PLAQUES ARE KNOWN TO EXIST TODAY. THESE VERY RARE VESSELS WERE HIGHLY ARTISTIC, LUXURY ITEMS, PRODUCED BY THE ROMAN EMPIRE'S MOST SKILLED CRAFTSMEN. THEY ARE FORMED FROM TWO LAYERS OF GLASS, COBALT BLUE WITH A LAYER OF WHITE ON TOP, WHICH IS CUT DOWN AFTER COOLING TO CREATE THE CAMEO-STYLE DECORATION. ITEMS OF THIS KIND WERE PRODUCED, IT IS THOUGH, WITHIN A PERIOD OF ONLY TWO GENERATIONS. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OWNED BY DISTINGUISHED ROMAN FAMILIES. UNTIL NOW, THE MOST FAMOUS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN THE PORTLAND VASE, HELD BY THE BRITISH MUSEUM. THE RECENTLY IDENTIFIED VASE IS ALSO MORE COMPLEX THAN OTHERS OF ITS KIND, BEING DECORATED WITH AROUND 30 FIGURES AND A BATTLE SCENE AROUND ITS LOWER REGISTER. BY COMPARISON, THE PORTLAND VASE HAS JUST SEVEN FIGURES. BONHAMS' EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT THIS MAGNIFICENT ARTIFACT COULD REWRITE HISTORY BOOKS ON CAMEO VASES. UNLIKE THE PORTLAND VASE, IT STILL HAS ITS BASE AND LOWER REGISTER AND WILL THEREFORE ADD SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THESE VESSELS.

NEW LEONARDO DA VINCI PAINTING 'DISCOVERED' THROUGH 500 YEAR OLD FINGERPRINT


ART EXPERTS BELIEVE A NEWLY DISCOVERED PORTRAIT IS BY LEONARDO DA VINCI THANKS TO A 500 YEAR OLD FINGERPRINT. THE SMALL PICTURE OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN PROFILE WAS PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED TO BE A GERMAN WORK FROM THE EARLY 19th CENTURY AND HAS CHANGED HANDS IN RECENT YEARS FOR AROUND £12,000. BUT A GROWING NUMBER OF LEADING LEONARDO SCHOLARS AGREE THE WORK IS ALMOST CERTAINLY BY THE RENAISSANCE FIGUREHEAD BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO HAVE HIS FINGERPRINT SET WITHIN THE PAINT. CARBON DATING AND INFRARED ANALYSIS OF LEONARDO'S TECHNIQUES BACK UP THE THEORY. IF THE SCHOLARS ARE CORRECT, IT WILL BE THE FIRST MAJOR WORK BY LEONARDO TO BE IDENTIFIED FOR 100 YEARS AND WILL BE WORTH TENS OF MILLIONS OF POUNDS. THE FINGER-PRINT, WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE TIP OF THE INDEX OR MIDDLE FINGER, WAS FOUND BY PETER BIRO, A MONTREAL-BASED FORENSIC ART EXPERT, WHEN HE EXAMINED IMAGES TAKEN OF THE PORTRAIT BY A MULTI-SPECTRAL CAMERA. BIRO BELIEVED THE FINGERPRINT, WHICH WAS FOUND NEAR THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE WORK, WAS 'HIGHLY COMPARABLE' TO A FINGERPRINT ON LEONARDO'S 'ST JEROME' IN THE VATICAN COLLECTION. PROFESSOR MARTIN KEMP OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY, WHO IS WRITING A BOOK ON THE DISCOVERY HAS IDENTIFIED THE PORTRAIT'S SUBJECT AS BIANCA SFORZA, DAUGHTER OF LUDOVICO SFORZA, DUKE OF MILAN, WHO LIVED IN THE LATE 15th CENTURY. KEMP SAID HE THOUGHT THE PORTRAIT, WHICH MEASURES 13in x 9in, MUST DATE FROM AROUND 1496 WHEN, AGED 13 OR 14, BELLA PRINCIPASSA MARRIED THE DUKE'S ARMY CAPTAIN, GALEAZZO SANSEVERINO, A PATRON OF LEONARDO'S. SHE DIED FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE WEDDING. THE PICTURE WAS SOLD AT CHRISTIE'S, NEW YORK, IN 1998, IN AN OLD MASTER DRAWINGS SALE AS A YOUNG GIRL IN PROFILE IN RENAISSANCE DRESS, EARLY 19th CENTURY, WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $12,000 TO $16,000. IT SOLD FOR $19,000 AND LATER WENT FOR A SIMILAR SUM TO CANADIAN-BORN COLLECTOR PETER SILVERMAN IN 2007. THE PORTRAIT IS DUE TO GO ON DISPLAY IN AN EXHIBITION IN SWEDEN NEXT YEAR.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION PRESENTS DAMIEN HIRST'S 'NEW WORKS'


BRITISH ARTIST DAMIEN HIRST HAS MADE A REPUTATION, AND A SIZABLE FORTUNE, FROM SUSPENDING VARIOUS ANIMALS I FORMALDEHYDE AND FILLING MEDICINE CABINETS WITH PILLS. NOW ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL LIVING ARTISTS HAS RETURNED TO A MORE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF PAINTING, AND THIS TIME, UNLIKE HIS MASS PRODUCED CANVASES COVERED IN COLOURED SPOTS, THE 44 YEAR OLD ACTUALLY EXECUTED THEM HIMSELF. HIRST HAS DISPLAYED 25 NEW PAINTINGS, MOSTLY FEATURING WHITE SKULLS ON BLUE-BLACK BACKGROUNDS, AT LONDON'S WALLACE COLLECTION, A FAMILY COLLECTION OF OLD MASTERS HOUSED IN GILDED, SILK WALLED OPULENCE. "IT'S QUITE FUNNY ISN'T IT? YOU KIND OF THINK YOU'VE DONE ALL OF THAT FORMALDEHYDE WORK, AND THEN IT'S A REAL SHOCK YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING QUITE STRAIGHTFORWARD", HIRST TOLD A SMALL GROUP OF REPORTERS AT THE MUSEUM TUESDAY. "WHEN I'VE GOT THEM (THE NEW PAINTINGS) UP IN MY STUDIO NEXT TO SPOT PAINTINGS AND SPIN PAINTINGS, THEY LOOK KIND OF OLD FASHIONED. BUT WHEN YOU PUT THE HERE THEY LOOK KIND OF CONTEMPORARY. IT'S ALL ABOUT CONTEXT." HIRST WAS QUICK TO PLAY DOWN COMPARISONS BETWEEN HIS OWN WORKS AND THOSE BY THE OLD MASTERS HANGING AT THE WALLACE INCLUDING REMBRANDT, VELAZQUEZ AND POUSSIN. "REMBRANDT OT TITIAN OR VELAZQUEZ IN THE OTHER ROOM ARE JUST PHENOMENAL PAINTERS", HE SAID. "BUT . . . ART'S ALL ABOUT MAKING A COMMENT ABOUT THE WORLD. I THINK TODAY YOU CAN'T HAVE THE SAME IMPACT THAT THOSE GUYS HAD SO YOU CAN'T REALLY COMPARE." AT THE SAME TIME, HIRST RECOGNIZED HIS INDEBTEDNESS TO THE OLD MASTERS AND MORE RECENT FIGURES LIKE FRANCIS BACON, THE CLEAREST INFLUENCE ON HIS SKULL PAINTINGS, AND GERHARD RICHTER. "THAT'S WHY I STOPPED (PAINTING) IN THE BEGINNING WHEN I WAS 16, BECAUSE BACON HAD SORT OF COVERED IT ALL AND BASICALLY I WAS MAKING BAD BACONS. BUT THEN THROUGH EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN THROUGH I'VE SORT OF COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE.'
EARLY REVIEWS OF THE WORKS, ENTITLED 'NO LOVE LOST' WHICH ARE ON DISPLAY FROM 14.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 24.JANUARY.2010, SUGGEST CRITICS ARE UNCONVINCED OF HIRST'S ABILITIES AS A PAINTER. "HIRST'S PAINTINGS LACK THE KIND OF THEATRICALITY AND GRANDEUR THAT MADE BACON SUCCEED", ADRIAN SEARLE WROTE IN THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER. "AT ITS WORST, HIRST'S DRAWING JUST LOOK AMATEURISH AND ADOLESCENT . . . HE CAN'T YET CARRY IT OFF." HIRST DISMISSED THE NOTION THAT BY TURNING TO PAINTING HE WAS TRYING TO BE 'RADICAL'. MOST OF THE PAINTINGS ON DISPLAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN SOLD TO UKRAINIAN STEEL AND BANKING MAGNATE VIKTOR PINCHUK, WHO HELD A HIRST EXHIBITION IN KIEV EARLIER IN THE YEAR. WHILE HIRST IS SEEN AS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE CONTEMPORARY ART MARKET BOOM OF RECENT YEARS, FROM WHICH HE PERSONALLY MADE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, HE SAID MONEY WAS NEVER HIS AIM. "WHEN SOMEBODY LOOKS AT ONE OF MY PAINTINGS I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE LOOKING AT THE DOLLAR SIGNS. I WANT THEM TO LOOK AT THE ART."

13.10.09

SUSAN BOYLE'S DEBUT ALBUM COVER IS PREVIEWED


IT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM OF THE YEAR. AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF WAITING, EAGER FANS HAVE BEEN REWARDED FOR THEIR PATIENCE WITH A SNEAK PEEK OF SUSAN BOYLE'S DEBUT ALBUM COVER. THE STUNNING BLACK AND WHITE PORTRAIT FOR 'I DREAMED A DREAM' SHOWS A SMILING SUSAN, HEAD HELD IN HER HANDS AND DRESSED IN A SEQUINED SWEATER. EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT GO ON SALE UNTIL 23.NOVEMBER, THE ALBUM'S SUCCESS IS ALREADY BEYOND ALL DOUBT. IT HAS ALREADY TOPPED AMAZON'S BESTSELLERS LIST, WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COPIES SOLD AS PRE-ORDERS. THE SHOT WAS TAKEN FROM SUSAN'S PHOTO-SHOOT FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS MAGAZINE HARPER'S BAZAAR. THE 48 YEAR OLD WAS FEATURED IN AN AMAZING SPREAD INSIDE THE ANNUAL AUTUMN/SEPTEMBER ISSUE ENTITLED 'SUSAN BOYLE: UNSUNG HERO'. A SMILING SUSAN SAID: 'IT REALLY MADE ME FEEL LIKE A HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS. HAD MY HAIR DONE UP.' AND THE UN-AIRBRUSHED PHOTO SHOULD CALM FEARS THAT SUSAN'S CHARM WOULD BE DESTROYED WITH A HOLLYWOOD MAKEOVER. BACK IN APRIL, AMANDA HOLDEN DISMISSED THE IDEA OF SUSAN GETTING A NEW LOOK. 'SHE NEEDS TO STAY EXACTLY AS SHE IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE REASON WE LOVE HER. SHE JUST LOOKS LIKE ANYBODY WHO COULD LIVE ON YOUR STREET. THE MINUTE WE TURN HER IN A GLAMORPUSS IS WHEN EVERYTHING IS SPOILED. FOR NOW WE'LL KEEP HER EXACTLY AS SHE IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE'VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HER."

DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY'S 'ADOPT AN OLD MASTER' SCHEME


THE ADOPT AN OLD MASTER SCHEME WAS STARTED AT DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY,LONDON, IN 1988. THE PROJECT ENSURES THE ONGOING PRESERVATION OF THE COLLECTION AND 2007 MARKED THE CELEBRATION OF THE 100th ADOPTION. INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS GIVE THE GALLERY THE MONEY TO CONSERVE A PICTURE, AND 'ADOPT' IT, OFTEN IN MEMORY OF A FRIEND OF THE GALLERY. THE IDEA HAS BEEN COPIED BY MANY OTHER MUSEUMS WORLDWIDE. THERE ARE STILL MANY IMPORTANT PAINTINGS IN STORE DESPERATELY SEEKING ATTENTION BEFORE THEY CAN BE PUT ON PUBLIC DISPLAY. THIS DISPLAY FOCUSES ON A GROUP OF WORKS THAT ARE IN NEED OF RESTORATION. PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ARE TWO LARGE CANVASES, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN ON PUBLIC DISPLAY SINCE WORLD WAR II: ONE OF ST CECILIA BY A STILL UNIDENTIFIED BOLOGNESE ARTIST, AND THE OTHER OF VENUS AND ADONIS BY THE WORKSHOP OF TITIAN.
WITH CONSPICUOUS CANVAS RIPS, AREAS OF RAISED AND LOOSE PAINT, FLAKING LOSSES, HOLES, TEARS, DARKENED VARNISHES, TONAL FADING, OVER PAINTINGS AND ABRASIONS, CLEANING AND RELINING ARE URGENTLY NEEDED FOR THESE TWO PAINTINGS, AND FOR MANY OTHERS IN THE COLLECTION. A SELECTION OF WORKS WHICH ARE USUALLY IN STORAGE, WILL BE EXHIBITED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE CONSERVATION NEEDS AT THE GALLERY. BY ADOPTING AN OLD MASTER PAINTING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO HELP DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY PRESERVE MASTERPIECES FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND TO OPEN ART COLLECTION TO PUBLIC


THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, EDINBURGH, WHICH WAS RECENTLY SAVED FROM BANKRUPTCY BY A £20 BILLION GOVERNMENT BAILOUT, HAS BEEN FEELING PRESSURE FROM ART CHARITIES AND BRITAIN'S DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE TO PUBLICLY DISPLAY ITS ENORMOUS ART COLLECTION, WHICH IT NOW HAS TO DO. THE COLLECTION, ONE OF THE LARGEST IN PRIVATE HANDS, CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 2,200 WORKS OF BRITISH ART INSTALLED IN OFFICES AND BRANCHES AROUND THE COUNTRY. INCLUDED ARE PIECES BY DAVID HOCKNEY AND L.S. LOWRY AS WELL AS RARE 19th CENTURY WORKS BY JOSHUA REYNOLDS AND JOHANN ZOFFANY. THE BANK, WHICH IS 70% PERCENT OWNED BY BRITISH TAXPAYERS, HAS BEGUN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLAND, MUSEUMS, AND ART EXPERTS ABOUT PUTTING ON EXHIBITIONS AND LOANING OUT SOME OF THE WORKS. RBS SAID IT HAS BEEN TOLD IT POSSESSES 10 PIECES OF "NATIONAL MUSEUM QUALITY" AND SOME 40 MORE OF "HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE". HOWEVER, THE BANK HAS REFUSED TO DIVULGE A FULL LIST OF THE WORKS IT OWNS OR THEIR ESTIMATED VALUE.

DELAWARE ART MUSEUM PRESENTS TWO MAXFIELD PARRISH EXHIBITIONS


THE DELAWARE ART MUSEUM PRESENTS TWO STUNNING EXHIBITIONS DEVOTED TO MAXFIELD PARRISH (1870 – 1966). 'FANTASIES AND FAIRY TALES: MAXFIELD PARRISH AND THE ART OF THE PRINT', THE FIRST TRAVELING EXHIBITION OF PARRISH'S COLOUR LITHOGRAPH PRINTS (WHICH WERE MADE FROM HIS ORIGINAL PAINTINGS),IS ON VIEW FROM 31.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 10.JANUARY.2010. INCLUDED ARE REPRODUCTIONS OF COMMISSIONS FOR BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS, MAGAZINE COVERS, AND ADVERTISEMENTS. THE WORKS REVEAL PARRISH'S SENSE OF HUMOR AND HIS EYE FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN. THE SUBJECT OF THIS EXHIBITION IS THE PHENOMENON OF THE SIMULTANEOUS MERGING OF ADVANCES IN PRINT TECHNOLOGY WITH PARRISH'S SINGULAR GENIUS FOR CAPTURING THE IMAGINATION OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, 'MAXFIELD PARRISH: ILLUSTRATED LETTERS' IS ON VIEW FROM 17.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH TO 17.JANUARY.2010. BETWEEN 1884 AND 1886, THE TEENAGE PARRISH TRAVELED TO ENGLAND AND EUROPE WITH HIS PARENTS. IN LETTERS HOME TO HIS COUSIN HENRY BANCROFT, PARRISH CHRONICLED AND ILLUSTRATED HIS EXPERIENCES. THESE YOUTHFUL ILLUSTRATED LETTERS PROVIDE A PEEK AT LIFE IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE IN THE MID-1880s THROUGH THE EYES OF A 14 YEAR OLD AND A HINT OF PARRISH'S AMAZING ADULT TALENT AND HUMOR. THE DELAWARE ART MUSEUM OWNS THESE LETTERS AS PART OF THE SAMUEL AND MARY BANCROFT ARCHIVAL COLLECTION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.delart.org

12.10.09

REMOVAL OF HISTORIC BOSTON MURAL OUTRAGES ART LOVERS


THE STUNNING HISTORIC MURAL GRACED THE OLD VERIZON BUILDING IN BOSTON'S FINANCIAL DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN A HALF-CENTURY, A GRAND TOWERING ILLUSTRATION THAT PAID HOMAGE TO THE MEN AND WOMAN WHO TOILED AS TELEPHONE OPERATORS, CONNECTING DISTANT RELATIVES AND DEAR, OLD FRIENDS. BUT VERIZON SOLD THE BUILDING LAST YEAR AND QUIETLY REMOVED THE MURAL DURING THE SUMMER AS PART OF THE SALES AGREEMENT. THE REMOVAL HAS TRIGGERED A STORM OF PROTEST AMONG LOCAL PRESERVATIONIST, WHO WORRY ABOUT THE LOSS OF A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY, AS WELL AS THE FUTURE OF THE ART DECO BUILDING WHERE IT LONG RESIDED. "WE ARE OUTRAGED ABOUT THE REMOVAL', SAID TONY FUSCO, PRESIDENT OF THE ART DECO SOCIETY OF BOSTON. "THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST IMPORTANT MURAL OF ITS KIND IN BOSTON." FUSCO SAID THE REMOVAL IS TANTAMOUNT TO STRIPPING THE MURALS OUT OF ROCKEFELLER CENTER IN NEW YORK OR THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. VERIZON SAID IT REMOVED THE MURAL AT THE REQUEST OF THE NEW OWNER, COMMONWEALTH VENTURES, A CONNECTICUT-BASED COMPANY THAT WANTS TO RENOVATE THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, INCLUDING THE LOBBY, WHERE THE MURAL WAS LOCATED. A SPOKESPERSON FOR VERIZON SAID THAT THE COMPANY RECOGNIZED THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MURAL AND HIRED A SPECIALIST TO CAREFULLY REMOVE IT. VERIZON HAS CONSULTED WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL MUSEUMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON, IN HOPES TO DONATE THE ARTWORK SOMEDAY, THE SPOKESPERSON ADDED -- THE MURAL IS NOW IN STORAGE, ITS DESTINATION UNKNOWN.

OBAMAS DECORATE THE WHITE HOUSE WITH MODERN AND ABSTRACT ARTWORKS


IN A TRADITION DARTING BACK TO THE CAMELOT YEARS OF THE KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND THE FIRST LADY, MICHELLE OBAMA, HAVE CAREFULLY PICKED STUNNING ARTISTIC WORKS FROM THE NATION'S MUSEUMS TO DECORATE THE FAMILY'S PRIVATE QUARTERS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. THE FIRST FAMILY HAS DECORATED THEIR PRIVATE SPACES WITH MORE MODERN AND ABSTRACT ARTWORK THAN HAS EVER HUNG ON THE WHITE HOUSE WALLS. NEW PIECES BY CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTS ARE ON DISPLAY. BOLD COLOURS, ODD SHAPES, SQUIGGLY LINES HAVE ARRIVED. SO, TOO, HAVE SOME OBSCURE ARTIFACTS, SUCH AS PATENT MODELS FOR A GEAR CUTTER AND A STEAMBOAT PADDLE WHEEL, THAT NOW SIT IN THE OVAL OFFICE. WORKS BY RENOWNED NAMES FROM THE MODERN ART WORLD SUCH AS JASPER JOHNS AND MARK ROTHKO ARE RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH LESSER KNOWN ARTISTS AS ALMA THOMAS, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN ABSTRACT PAINTER OF THE 1960s AND 1970s. THOMAS' 'WATUSI (HARD EDGE)' NOW HANGS IN THE EAST WING, WHERE MICHELLE OBAMA HAS HER OFFICES. THE ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, ON LOAN FROM THE HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN SHOWS A JUMBLE OF GEOMETRIC SHAPES IN BRIGHT RED, BLUES AND GREENS.
THE OBAMAs GOT TO WORK SELECTING NEW ARTWORK FOR THE WHITE HOUSE EVEN BEFORE THE INAUGURATION AND HAD THE FIRST PIECES INSTALLED ON DAY ONE. OTHER PIECES HAVE ARRIVED ONLY IN RECENT WEEKS. AND THERE'S A ROTHKO PIECE, 'NO.17 OR NO.15', IN LIMBO THAT THEY HAVEN'T QUITE DECIDED WHAT TO DO WITH IT. WORKING WITH CALIFORNIA DECORATOR MICHAEL SMITH AND WHITE HOUSE CURATOR WILLIAM ALLMAN, THE OBAMAs HAVE BORROWED DOZENS OF WORKS FROM VARIOUS WASHINGTON MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES, BEING SURE TO USE ONLY ITEMS THAT WEREN'T ALREADY ON DISPLAY. OTHER RECENT FIRST FAMILIES HUNG A FEW MODERN PIECES IN THEIR LIVING QUARTERS, BUT NONE APPROACHED THE SCOPE OF THE OBAMAs, ALLMAN SAID.

11.10.09

ARMANI ANNOUNCES CRISTIANO RONALDO AS NEW SPOKESMODEL


ITALIAN LUXURY FASHION DESIGNER GIORGIO ARMANI ANNOUNCED FRIDAY AFTERNOON THAT RENOWNED SOCCER PLAYER CRISTIANO RONALDO, WHO PLAYS FOR REAL MADRID, WILL BE THE NEW OFFICIAL WORLDWIDE SPOKESMODEL FOR EMPORIO ARMANI MEN'S UNDERWEAR AND ARMANI JEANS, STARTING WITH THE SPRING/SUMMER 2010 COLLECTION. HE WILL BE REPLACING MANCHESTER UNITED STAR DAVID BECKHAM WHO HAS BEEN THE SPOKESMODEL FOR EMPORIO ARMANI SINCE JANUARY 2008. IN JUNE RONALDO SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH REAL MADRID, AFTER A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL STINT AT MANCHESTER UNITED, IN A DEAL THAT TOTALED NEARLY $130 MILLION, MAKING RONALDO ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID SOCCER PLAYER IN THE WORLD.

RALPH LAUREN LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE LUXURY GIFT SITE


JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON, FASHION DESIGNER RALPH LAUREN HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW AND EXCITING ONLINE GIFT GIVING SITE, www.RalphLauren.com/GiftVault, OFFERING RARE AND UNIQUE PIECES RANGING FROM ANTIQUE COLLECTIBLES AND FOUND OBJECTS TO THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER VINTAGE RALPH LAUREN CLOTHING. THE RALPH LAUREN GIFT VAULT IS A COMPENDIUM OF STUNNING OBJECTS THAT INHABIT THE WORLD OF CLASSIC LUXURY. EACH RARE AND UNIQUE PIECE WAS SOURCED PREDOMINANTLY FROM THE DESIGNER'S EXTENSIVE VINTAGE COLLECTION WHICH IS DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN HIS VARIOUS BOUTIQUES. THE SITE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE COLLECTION: AMERICANA, HOLLYWOOD GLAMOR, AND ESTATE. THE AMERICANA COLLECTION INCLUDES AMAZING MERCHANDISE INSPIRED BY THE WESTERN FRONTIER FROM CARVED FURNITURE TO ONE OF A KIND SILVER CONCHO BELTS. HOLLYWOOD GLAMOR EPITOMIZES 1930s CINEMATIC STYLE WITH SPECTACULAR ART DECO HOME ITEMS REMINISCENT OF OLD HOLLYWOOD INCLUDING LIMITED EDITION ESTATE JEWELRY AND STERLING BAR WARE. AND THE ESTATE COLLECTION IS THE ULTIMATE IN BRITISH-INSPIRED SOPHISTICATION INCLUDING GOLD AND GEMSTONE JEWELRY, BRONZE STATUES AND EQUESTRIAN INSPIRED ACCESSORIES.