'LAS VEGAS AT NIGHT' BY JASON HAWKES

FOR THE FIRST TIME, INCREDIBLY DETAILED PHOTOGRAPHS DEPICTING THE STUNNING GLITZ OF LAS VEGAS, USING NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS BEEN RECENTLY DEVELOPED IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER IN A BOOK ENTITLED 'LAS VEGAS AT NIGHT'. THE AMAZING SERIES WAS TAKEN BY RENOWNED AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHER JASON HAWKES, FROM HENLY-ON-THAMES, OXFORDSHIRE, IN MARCH. IN THE PAST HAWKES HAS SHOT FAMOUS DAY-TIME PICTURES OF LONDON, AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES AROUND THE WORLD. PHOTOGRAPHERS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEEN ABLE TO CAPTURE DETAILED AERIAL IMAGES AFTER DARK. USING A STATE-OF-THE-ART GYROSCOPIC MOUNT, PROFESSIONALS LIKE HAWKES ARE NOW ABLE TO SHOOT ANY LOCATION FROM A CIRCLING HELICOPTER AT NIGHT AND GET DAZZLING RESULTS. HAWKES SAID: "PREVIOUSLY WHILE YOU COULD DO THIS KIND OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE DAY, IT WAS TOO DIFFICULT AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE BACKGROUND 'NOISE' YOU COULD GET IN THE IMAGES. WITH LITTLE LIGHT YOU HAD TO USE CAMERA SETTINGS WITH VERY HIGH FILM SPEED WHICH CREATED NOISE. IT MADE THE IMAGES GRAINY AND PRETTY UGLY." ADVANCES IN CUTTING-EDGE PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT MEAN THAT AERIAL SPECIALISTS LIKE HAWKES CAN NOW GET CRISTAL CLEAR SHOT THAT SHOW WORLD LANDMARKS AS THEY TRULY APPEAR. THE GYROSCOPIC MOUNT IS ESSENTIALLY A TRIPOD WITH SIX SETS OF SPINNING GYROS, CONTAINED INSIDE THREE EGG-SHAPED CASES, THAT ROTATE EXTREMELY QUICKLY. THEIR MOVEMENT CANCELS OUT THE WOBBLES AND SHAKES CAUSED BY THE HELICOPTER BLADES. USING THE NE GEAR HAWKES WAS ABLE TO HEAVILY REDUCE THE FILM SPEED, PRODUCING STUNNING VIVID NEON-LIT IMAGES OF THE MOST FAMOUS ENTERTAINMENT CITY IN THE WORLD. HAWKES' LATEST WORKS SHOW MANY OF THE DESERT CITY'S MOST FAMOUS AND ICONIC CASINO LANDMARKS INCLUDING THE EIFFEL TOWER OF THE PARIS LAS VEGAS, THE GIANT PYRAMID OF LUXOR AND THE FAMED ERUPTING VOLCANO AT THE MIRAGE.

DUCHESS OF CORNWALL RED-FACED AFTER HOLIDAY LIGHT MISHAP

THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HAS CONTINUED HER AMAZING RUN OF UNFORTUNATE MISHAPS AT ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS AS SHE STRUGGLED TO SWITCH ON THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT BRITAIN'S OLDEST SHOPPING ARCADE. THE DUCHESS WAS INVITED TO ILLUMINATE CENTRAL LONDON'S EXCLUSIVE BURLINGTON ARCADE AND MEET SOME OF THE SHOPKEEPERS IN THE HISTORIC COVERED THOROUGHFARE, WHICH OPENED IN 1819. BUT AFTER A BOISTEROUS COUNTDOWN FROM SHOPPERS, WHEN SHE WENT TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS BY PULLING A ROPE WAIT A LARGE ORNATE GOLD TASSEL, THE TASSEL CAME OFF IN HER HAND AND THE DECORATIONS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE BLUNDER WAS MET WITH HOWLS OF LAUGHTER FROM THE CROWD OF GUESTS, WHILE THE DUCHESS LOOKED AROUND SHEEPISHLY WITH A BROAD GRIN ON HER FACE. THE ROW OF 19 GEOMETRIC LIGHT SCULPTURES WHICH LINED THE ARCADE'S ROOF EVENTUALLY LIT UP AFTER A BRIEF DELAY TO THE CHEERS FROM THE CROWD. THE EMBARRASSMENT FOLLOWS SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE DUCHESS HAS BEEN LEFT RED-FACED AT OPENING CEREMONIES. IN 2007, THE DUCHESS FAILED TO SMASH THE BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE AT THE NAMING OF THE QUEEN VICTORIA CRUISE LINER. EARLIER THIS YEAR, SHE WAS ALSO REDUCED TO HYSTERICS WHEN SHE BROKE A PLAQUE AT AN UNVEILING CEREMONY FOR A HOMELESS CHARITY IN PLYMOUTH. AFTER THE LIGHTING CEREMONY, THE DUCHESS SPENT MORE THAN AN HOUR CHATTING TO THE OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF STORES AT BURLINGTON ARCADE, WHICH SELLS A WIDE RANGE OF LUXURY ITEMS FROM CASHMERE GOODS TO DIAMOND JEWELRY.

BIBLIOTECA AMBROSIANA RE-ACQUIRES CODEX RESTA AFTER RESTORATION

RECENTLY THE HISTORIC BIBLIOTECA AMBROSIANA, MILAN, UNVEILED 280 DRAWINGS BY SUCH MASTERS AS RAPHAEL AND LEONARDO DA VINCI COLLECTED BY A 17th CENTURY FRIAR THAT HAVE RETURNED FROM A FLORENCE STUDIO WHERE THEY WERE METICULOUSLY RESTORED. THE SO CALLED "CODEZ RESTA", A COLLECTION OF DRAWINGS NAMED FOR THE FRIAR SEBASTIANO RESTA WHO ASSEMBLED IT, WAS RETURNED TO THE LIBRARY THIS WEEK IF FIVE SPECIALLY DESIGNED CRATES, SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE VOLUME MADE THE JOURNEY TO FLORENCE IN A TROLLY SUITCASE. "THIS A MEASURE OF THE OPERATION", SAID CECILIA FORSININI, DIRECTOR OF RESTORATION AT THE FLORENCE BASED STATE CONSERVATION INSTITUTE, OPIFICIO DELLE PIETRE DURE. INSIDE THE CONTAINERS WERE SMALLER BOXES TO PROVIDE MORE SUITABLE STORAGE FOR THE DELICATE DRAWINGS, AND ALLOW THEM TO BE CONSULTED AND VIEWED WITHOUT CAUSING FURTHER HARM, FORSININI SAID. MUCH OF THE DAMAGE TO THE DRAWINGS IN THE 'CODEX RESTA' WAS CAUSED BY THE BINDING; SOME DRAWINGS HAD INADVERTENT FOLD, SOME HAD WRINKLES AND ALL OF THE PAGES, EACH CONTAINING UP TO TWO DRAWINGS, WERE WAVY. THE DRAWINGS WERE FIRST UNBOUND FROM THEIR WOVEN LEATHER BINDING, AND THEN EACH RECEIVED INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT DEPENDING ON ITS CONDITION, FROM CLEANING TO REPAIRS. SOME HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMOVED, AND THEN PUT BACK IN WITH SCOTCH TAPE, REQUIRING EXTRA CARE TO RESTORE. MILAN'S BIBLIOTECA AMBROSIANA PLANS TO DISPLAY THE COLLECTION WITH OTHER TREASURES IN THE FUTURE, BUT NO DATE HAS BEEN SET. IT IS CURRENTLY SHOWING THE FIRST OF 24 EXHIBITS SPANNING SIX YEARS THAT WILL DISPLAY ALL OF LEONARDO DA VINCI'S 1,119 PAGE 'CODEX ATLANTICUS'. RESTA COLLECTED SOME 3,500 DRAWINGS IN SOME 30 VOLUMES IN HIS LIFETIME, BUT ONLY SIX VOLUMES REMAIN INTACT, INCLUDING THE 'CODEX RESTA'.

FOUR VOLUME BOOK SERIES DEDICATED TO THE SISTINE CHAPEL TO BE RELEASED

A SERIES OF FOUR BOOKS PRESENTED RECENTLY AT THE VATICAN SEEKS TO EXPLAIN HOW MICHELANGELO AND OTHER ARTISTS TRANSLATED THE BIBLE INTO IMAGES TO PRODUCE THE SISTINE CHAPEL SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST RENOWNED AND DAZZLING FRESCOES. THE FIRST VOLUME FOCUSES ON MICHELANGELO'S CEILING AND ITS SCENES FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS AND THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. VATICAN MUSEUMS DIRECTOR ANTONIO PAOLUCCI SAID THE VOLUME OFFERS A 'BASIC CODE' TO UNDERSTAND THE SYMBOLS AND SCENES THAT ADORN THE ROOM WHERE POPES ARE ELECTED. "EVERYBODY KNOWS THE SISTINE CHAPEL, BUT HOW MANY CAN RECOGNIZE THE SCENES?", PAOLUCCI SAID AT THE BOOK LAUNCH JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE SISTINE CHAPEL. HE SAID THE BOOK SUCCEEDS IN CLARIFYING 'THE INFINITE FOREST OF SYMBOLS THAT ARE ALL LINKED TO EACH OTHER' IN THE CEILING THAT THE RENAISSANCE MASTER PAINTED BETWEEN 1508-12. THE SERIES IS CALLED "THE PAINTED WORD" AND IS PUBLISHED BY THE VATICAN MUSEUMS' PUBLISHER ALONG WITH ITALIAN DAILY IL SOLE 240ORE. THE FIRST INSTALLMENT, A COFFEE-TABLE VOLUME RICH IN PHOTOGRAPHS, COMES OUT FRIDAY. TWO MORE WILL FOLLOW FOCUSING ON THE WALL PAINTINGS BY THE 15th CENTURY ARTISTS SUCH AS BOTTICELLI AND THE SERIES WILL END 11.DECEMBER WITH A VOLUME ON MICHELANGELO'S LAST JUDGMENT.

THE VATICAN RESTORES 6th CENTURY CRUX VATICANA GOLDEN CROSS

ONE OF THE GEMS OF THE VATICAN'S PRICELESS RELIGIOUS ART COLLECTION, A 6th CENTURY RELIQUARY CONTAINING WHAT IS REVERED AS FRAGMENTS OF THE CROSS ON WHICH CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED, HAS BEEN RESTORED TO ITS BYZANTINE-ERA GLORY. THE VATICAN RECENTLY UNVEILED THE RESTORED CRUX VATICANA, A FOOT-HIGH JEWEL-ENCRUSTED GOLDEN CROSS. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WAS GIVEN AN EARLY LOOK AT THE STUNNING PIECE, AND BYZANTINE ART EXPERTS SAID THE RESTORATION RENDERED THE CROSS MUCH CLOSER TO WHAT IT WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE AT THE TIME THE BYZANTINE EMPEROR JUSTIN II GAVE TO THE PEOPLE OF ROME. MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, THE RESTORATION CORRECTED A BOTCHED 19th CENTURY RESTORATION THAT THREATENED TO CORRODE THE PIECE. AND IT REPLACED THE BRIGHTLY COLOURED GEMS THAT WERE ADDED IN PREVIOUS CENTURIES WITH THE LARGE, IMPERFECT PEARLS THAT ARE EMBLEMATIC OF BYZANTINE-ERA IMPERIAL MASTERPIECES. A CIRCLE OF 12 PEARLS NOW SURROUNDS THE RELIC, AND PEARLS AROUND THE CROSS' EDGE NOW ALTERNATE WITH EMERALDS AND SAPPHIRES, THE TWO OTHER GEMS MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH BYZANTINE EMPERORS.
WHILE THERE ARE PURPORTED FRAGMENTS OF CHRIST'S CROSS IN CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING PARIS' NOTRE DAME AND EVEN ACROSS TOWN AT ROME'S HOLLY CROSS BASILICA, THE CRUX VATICANA IS CONSIDERED THE OLDEST RELIQUARY OF THE CROSS. IT IS THE CROWN IN THE VATICAN'S TREASURY OF ST. PETER'S COLLECTION OF RELIGIOUS AND HISTORIC ARTIFACTS, AND IT'S A RARE EXAMPLE OF AN IMPERIAL GIFT AND AN EXPRESSION OF THE EMPEROR'S CHRISTIAN FAITH. ACROSS THE PIECE IS WRITTEN IN LATIN: 'WITH THE WOOD WITH WHICH CHRIST CONQUERED MAN'S ENEMY, JUSTIN GIVES HIS HELP TO ROME AND HIS WIFE OFFERS THE ORNAMENTATION'. FOR CENTURIES, THE CROSS WAS USED IN THE VATICAN'S MOST SOLEMN CEREMONIES AT CHRISTMAS AND EASTER. BUT 1,500 YEARS OF CANDLE WAX AND SMOKE HAS DULLED TEH GEMS AND THE CROSS' WARM GOLDEN HUE, GRIME THAT HAD BEEN REMOVED FOLLOWING A TWO-YEAR RESTORATION. THE WORK WAS PAID FOR BY AN ANONYMOUS DONOR WHO DIDN'T WANT THE PRICE TAG TO BE MADE PUBLIC, VATICAN OFFICIALS SAID. THE CROSS WILL BE ON PUBLIC DISPLAY INSIDE ST. PETER'S BASILICA THROUGH 12.APRIL.

KNOXVILLE MUSEUM OF ART ACQUIRES RARE ANSEL ADAMS PHOTOGRAPH

THE KNOXVILLE MUSEUM OF ART ANNOUNCED THE RECENT ACQUISITION OF DAWN, AUTUMN FOREST, GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, TENNESSEE (1948)' BY LEGENDARY AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER ANSEL ADAMS. ADAMS (1902-1984) IS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS TIMELESS BLACK AND WHITE IMAGES OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AND OTHER NATURAL WONDERS OF THE AMERICAN WEST. IN 1948, HOWEVER, HE TRAVELED TO THE GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, HIS FIRST AND ONLY RECORDED VISIT TO TENNESSEE, IN ORDER TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AS PART OF A GUGGENHEIM FELLOWSHIP ON AMERICA'S NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS. EVIDENCE SUGGESTS ADAMS DISCOVERED THE SMOKIES TO BE AN INTIMIDATING SUBJECT. IN A LETTER OF 9.OCTOBER.1948, THE ARTIST CONFIDES THAT 'THE SMOKYS ARE OK IN THEIR WAY, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEVILISH HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH . . .' ADAMS ONLY PUBLISHED FOUR IMAGES FROM HIS VISIT. PRINTS OF THESE ARE LITTLE KNOWN AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE. THE KMA WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE ONE OF THE FOUR, 'DAWN, AUTUMN FOREST, GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, TENNESSEE', THANKS TO THE GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM PATRICIA AND ALAN RUTENBERG AND MARY ELLEN AND STEVE BREWINGTON. 'DAWN, AUTUMN FOREST, GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, TENNESSEE' WILL BE ON DISPLAY IN THE KMA MAIN LOBBY BEFORE BEING INCORPORATED INTO 'HIGHER GROUND: A CENTURY OF THE VISUAL ARTS IN EAST TENNESSEE', THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT INSTALLATION DEVOTED TO THE ART AND ARTISTS OF THE REGION. THE KMA IS SEEKING PRINTS OF ADAMS' OTHER THREE PUBLISHED IMAGES OF THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS WITH THE HOPE THAT IT CAN BECOME THE FIRST MUSEUM TO ACQUIRE A COMPLETE SET.

BRAD PITT AND ANGELINA JOLIE JOIN FORCES WITH ASPREY FOR JEWELRY COLLECTION

THERE'S A NEW DESIGNER DUO IN THE LUXURY JEWELRY WORLD, BRAD PITT AND ANGELINA JOLIE ARE BREAKING INTO THE HIGH END JEWELRY DESIGN WITH ASPREY VIA A CAPSULE COLLECTION OF GOLD JEWELRY AND SILVER ACCESSORIES CALLED THE PROTECTOR, AND INSPIRED BY THE SNAKE. THE LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION, WHICH WAS CONCEIVED AND DESIGNED BY PITT AND JOLIE, HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, AND WILL GO ON SALE AT ASPREY STORES IN LONDON, NEW YORK, BEVERLY HILLS, TOKYO AND DUBAI LATER THIS MONTH, ACCORDING TO ASPREY OFFICIALS. PRICES START AT $525 FOR A SILVER BABY SPOON WITH A CURVING, SERPENT-SHAPED HANDLE, AND ALL THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALES WILL GO TO THE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN OF CONFLICT, WHICH WAS CO-FOUNDED BY JOLIE IN 2006. THE CHARITY RAISES AWARENESS AND FUNDS TO EDUCATE CHILD VICTIMS OF WAR, CONFLICT AND NATURAL DISASTERS.

BOND NO.9's SWAROVSKI VELVET AMPHORA VITRINE

LUXURY FRAGRANCE HOUSE BOND NO.9 HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED ITS NEWEST AMAZING CREATION THE SWAROVSKI PURPLE VELVET AMPHORA VITRINE. THE LIMITED EDITION BOND NO.9 EAU DE PARFUM HAS A 42-ONCE AMPHORA VITRINE SET WITH 17,500 PURPLE SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS, OUTFITTED WITH A GOLDEN SPIGOT. THE HONEYCOMB LID HOLDS AN ELLIPTICAL MIRROR ALSO. FOR $3,500, BOND WILL SHIP THE EAU DE PARFUM ANYWHERE OF YOUR CHOICE IN THIS GORGEOUS SWAROVSKI STUDDED AMPHORA. A WHITE LEATHER CASE HOLDS THE SCINTILLATING SCENT IN PLACE.

RED CROSS AUCTIONS HISTORIC COLLECTION TO CUT DEFICIT

ROSE PERCY HAS A LONG HISTORY WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. COMPLETE WITH AN EXTENSIVE WARDROBE AND HER OWN TIFFANY JEWELRY, THIS 23-INCH WAX DOLL WAS FIRST SOLD FOR $1,200 BACK IN 1864 TO BENEFIT THE US SANITARY COMMISSION, THE PRECURSOR TO ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN US CHARITIES. PERCY WAS SOLD IN ONE OF THE FIRST ROUNDS OF AN EXTENSIVE SALE OF TREASURE THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAS AMASSED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES. THE RED CROSS IS ALSO SELL A RARE AND UNIQUE FOUR-FACED CARTIER CLOCK LAMP, NURSE UNIFORMS FROM WORLD WAR I AND WHAT COULD BE THE LAST CIVIL WAR-ERA FLAG OF THE FORERUNNER US SANITARY COMMISSION. "THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO PURCHASE A PART OF THE RED CROSS HISTORY AND AT THE SAME TIME CONTRIBUTE TO OUR HUMANITARIAN MISSION", SAID A RED CROSS SPOKESMAN. AT A TIME WHEN MANY COMPANIES ARE CUTTING BACK ON SUCH VAST ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS, THE 128 YEAR OLD CHARITY, HE SAID, IS ASKING ITSELF, "DO I REALLY NEED ALL OF THIS?" FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CHARITY WHOSE CORE MISSION IS DISASTER RELIEF HAS BEEN WORKING FEVERISHLY TO ERASE A $209 MILLION OPERATING DEFICIT, A SHORTFALL THAT NOW STANDS AT $33.5 MILLION. THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS LAID OFF A THIRD OF ITS 3,000 EMPLOYEES LAST YEAR AND MADE A RARE APPEAL TO CONGRESS FOR HELP THAT PRODUCED A ONE-TIME, $100 MILLION INFUSION. BUT THE COST-CUTTING ISN'T OVER. WHAT ONCE WAS A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 135,000 OBJECTS, IMAGES, BOOKS AND REELS OF FILM KEPT IN A LORTON, VA, WAREHOUSE OUTSIDE WASHINGTON IS BEING DRASTICALLY SCALED BACK. MANY ITEMS PREDATE THE TIME IN 1881 WHEN CLARA BARTON FOUNDED THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN WASHINGTON. SOME HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES UNDER A LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP, THE MOST HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT ART AND OBJECTS WILL BE KEPT AT THE WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS AND OTHERS WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF IN THE LARGEST JUMBLE-SALE IN YEARS. THE CHARITY WILL HONOUR DONOR INTENT AND KEEP ITS BEST AND MOST HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT ART AND OBJECTS, THE SPOKESPERSON SAID, THAT WILL INCLUDE ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY NORMAN ROCKWELL, HOWARD CHANDLER CHRISTY AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTIST HENRY OSSAWA TANNER, AMONG OTHERS.
Tanner, among others.

SOTHEBY'S / LOUIS VUITTON AUCTION RAISES £495,000 FOR THE RED CROSS

LOUIS VUITTON ORGANIZED AN STUNNING AUCTION CO-HOSTED BY SOTHEBY'S LONDON AT ITS NEW BOND STREET PREMISES, WHERE SEVEN UNIQUE SPECIAL ORDERS, CREATED BY MASTERS OF SAVOIR-FAIRE, WERE SOLD FOR A TOTAL OF £495,000. ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS AUCTION WILL BE DONATED TO THE NIGERIEN RED CROSS FIGHTING MALNUTRITION PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE REDUCTION OF ACUTE MALNUTRITION AND MORTALITY OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION, INCLUDING EXPECTANT AND NEW MOTHERS AS WELL AS YOUNG CHILDREN UNDER FIVE. LOUIS VUITTON PAID TRIBUTE TO THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE RED CROSS BY CREATING SEVEN LIMITED-EDITION SPECIAL ORDERS, MADE IN THE HISTORICAL ASNIERES WORKSHOP THAT CELEBRATES THIS YEAR A CENTURY AND A HALF OF SAVOIR-FAIRE, TRADITION AND INNOVATION.
LOUIS VUITTON OFFERED SIX MASTERS OF SAVOIR-FAIRE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A UNIQUE SPECIAL ORDER THAT EMBODIES THEIR EXCEPTIONAL EXPERTISE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PROFESSIONS. THE SIX PERSONALITIES ARE: THE CHEF FERRAN ADRIA, THE ARTIST DAMIEN HIRST, THE PHOTOGRAPHER ANNIE LEIBOVITZ, THE MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA, THE DESIGNER MARC JACOBS AND PATRICK-LOUIS VUITTON, THE HEAD OF LOUIS VUITTON'S SPECIAL ORDERS DEPARTMENT AND A MEMBER OF THE FIFTH GENERATION OF THE VUITTON FAMILY. THE COMMEMORATE THE EVENT, LOUIS VUITTON ALSO CREATED A LIMITED EDITION RED CROSS MEDICAL TRUNK. "WE ARE VERY PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH THE RED CROSS ON SUCH AN ICONIC OCCASION AND TO OFFER OUR SUPPORT TO THIS EXCEPTIONAL ASSOCIATION WHICH FOR THE PAST 150 YEARS HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE INSTABILITY OF THIS WORLD", SAYS YVES CARCELLE, CHAIRMAN & CEO OF LOUIS VUITTON.

TAPE ARTIST SAM BASSETT LANDS IN JAIL AFTER SOTHEBY'S PROTEST

ARTIST SAM BASSETT, WHO HAS CREATED ART BY ADORNING BUILDINGS SUCH AS THE CHELSEA HOTEL WITH STREAMS OF MASKING TAPE, RECENTLY SPENT 20 HOURS IN JAIL AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ENGINEER A SIMILAR FEAT ON FAMED AUCTION HOUSE SOTHEBY'S ON THE MORNING OF 1.NOVEMBER, THE DAY AFTER ITS SALE OF POSTWAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART. BASSETT EXPLAINED THAT THE GESTURE WAS MEANT AS A PROTEST AGAINST THE ART MARKET'S FOCUS ON OLDER ARTISTS. "ASS THE ARTISTS REPRESENTED IN THE AUCTION ARE DEAD, SO THIS WAS A GUERRILLA ACTION TO BRIDGE THE GAP, A FLAG-WAVING IN THE NAME OF THE NEW CREATIVE GENERATION", HE SAID. HE WAS SPOTTED ON THE LEDGE OF SOTHEBY'S ROOF BY A SECURITY GUARD, WHO ALERTED AUTHORITIES. IN FACT, THE AUCTION DID INCLUDE WORKS FROM LIVING ARTISTS, INCLUDING ALEX KATZ, JASPER JOHNS, RICHARD PRINCE, AND JOHN CURRIN, SO IT WAS ENTIRELY CLEAR WHETHER HE WAS SPEAKING METAPHORICALLY OR IF HE WAS JUST CONFUSED. A NEW YORK JUDGE DISMISSED TRESPASSING CHARGES AGAINST THE ARTIST.

SMITHSONIAN PRESENTS 'HOLIDAYS ON DISPLAY'

FATHER CHRISTMAS IS MAKING AN EARLY APPEARANCE TO OPEN A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY ON THE ART AND BUSINESS OF COMMERCIAL HOLIDAY DISPLAYS. THE UNIQUE EXHIBIT, WHICH PREMIERED 13.NOVEMBER, AND IS A FIRST FOR THE MUSEUM. THE EXHIBITION FOLLOWS THE RESEARCH OF CURATOR WILLIAM BIRD WHO EXAMINED THE HISTORY OF HOLIDAY DISPLAYS FROM THE EARLY 20th CENTURY IN A COMPANION BOOK.
'HOLIDAYS ON DISPLAY' EXAMINES THE ART, INDUSTRY, AND HISTORY OF HOLIDAY DISPLAY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. FOCUSING ON PARADING CULTURE AND DEPARTMENT STORE RETAIL DISPLAY, PRIMARILY BETWEEN THE 1920s AND 1960s, WHEN HOLIDAY DISPLAYS WERE CONSIDERED COMMERCIAL ENDEAVORS EQUALLY REWARDING FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, THE EXHIBITION SHOWCASES NUMEROUS PHOTOGRAPHS, POSTCARDS AND RENDERING ILLUSTRATIONS OF PARADE FLOATS AND WINDOW DISPLAYS, INCLUDING THE MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE AND MARSHALL FIELD & COMPANY CHRISTMAS WINDOWS, AS WELL AS OBJECTS RELATING TO THE EARLY CREATION OF THESE DISPLAYS.

MADONNA JOINS FORCES WITH DOLCE & GABBANA FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2010 CAMPAIGN

MADONNA HAS RECENTLY JOINED FORCES WITH ITALIAN FASHION DESIGNERS DOLCE & GABBANA TO SHOWCASE THEIR SPRING/SUMMER 2010 COLLECTION IN THE BRAND'S FORTHCOMING AD CAMPAIGN. THE CAMPAIGN WHICH IS SURE TO BE STUNNING AND AMAZING LIKE PREVIOUS DOLCE & GABBANA CAMPAIGNS WILL BE SHOT IN NEW YORK BY HIGHLY ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHER STEVEN KLEIN.
MADONNA FIRST MET THE DESIGNERS STEFANO GABBANA AND DOMENICO DOLCE BACK IN THE EARLY 90s AND HAVE RETAINED A STRONG BOND AND MUTUAL RESPECT EVER SINCE. AFTER FIRST MEETING THE GLOBAL SUPERSTAR WHILST SHE WAS ON THE SET OF DICK TRACY IN NEW YORK, THE DESIGNERS WENT ONTO DESIGN HER COSTUMES FOR THE NOW ICONIC, 'THE GIRLIE SHOW' TOUR IN 1993. AS DOLCE & GABBANA'S SPRING/SUMMER 2010 COLLECTION RETURNED TO THE ITALIAN ROOTS OF THE BRAND, EVOKING ITS STRONG HERITAGE AND REVISITING ICONIC PIECES SUCH AS THE CORSET IT SEEMED ONLY FITTING THAT MADONNA, WHO EMBODIES BOTH THE STRONG SENSUALITY OF THE BRAND AND WHO SHARES AN ITALIAN HERITAGE WITH THE DESIGNERS SHOULD BE THE ONE TO SHOWCASE THE SICILIAN INSPIRED COLLECTION. ON MADONNA APPEARING IN THEIR FORTHCOMING CAMPAIGN, DOMENICO DOLCE AND STEFANO GABBANA SAID: "TO HAVE MADONNA IN OUR CAMPAIGN IS A DREAM COME TRUE."

LEICA UNVEILS THE NEW LEICA M7 EDITION HERMES

LEICA UK HAS RECENTLY CONFIRMED THE UPCOMING RELEASE OF A SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION OF ITS CLASSIC 35mm RANGEFINDER SYSTEM CAMERA, THE LEICA M7 EDITION HERMES. THE NEW CAMERA WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT MONTH AT A RETAIL PRICE OF £8550. THE LEICA M7 HERMES EDITION REPRESENTS THE SECOND COLLABORATION BETWEEN LEICA AND RENOWNED LUXURY FASHION HOUSE HERMES PARIS, AFTER IT LAUNCHED IN 2003 A LEICA MP EDITION HERMES. ONLY 200 UNITS OF THIS VERY SPECIAL EDITION M7 WILL BE AVAILABLE, 100 IN HERMES ORANGE AND 100 IN GREEN CALLED 'ETOUPE'. EACH CAMERA WILL HAVE A SPECIAL SEQUENTIAL SERIAL NUMBER BETWEEN 001/200. TO COMPLEMENT THE DESIGN OF THE CAMERA, A SILVER ANODIZED LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH WIDE-ANGLE LENS, A MATCHING CLASSIC ROUND LENS HOOD IN SILVER ANODIZED METAL, MANUFACTURED SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE MODELS, AND A LEICAVIT M RAPID WINDER IN SILVER CHROME WILL BE AVAILABLE AS PART OF THE UNIQUE SET. A REAL LEATHER CARRYING STRAP, HANDCRAFTED BY ATELIER HERMES TO MATCH THE COLOUR OF EACH CAMERA, PROVIDES THE FINISHING TOUCH. EACH SET IS DELIVERED IN A LINEN-COVERED, SILK-LINED BOX.

LAUREN BACALL RECEIVES EARLY OSCAR FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

IT HAS A REPUTATION OF OVER THE TOP GLITZ, GLAMOR AND ALWAYS RUNNING LATE. PERHAPS THAT'S WHY THE ORGANIZERS OF THE OSCARS CHOSE TO PRESENT LEGENDARY STAGE AND SCREEN ICON LAUREN BACALL WITH HER GOLDEN STATUETTE NEARLY FOUR MONTHS EARLY BEFORE THE CEREMONY. THE 85 YEAR OLD ACTRESS RECEIVED THE AWARD FOR HER LIFE'S WORK AT THE PRIVATE BLACK TIE GALA ATTENDED BY TOM HANKS, KIRK DOUGLAS AND STEVEN SPIELBERG. BUT THE DINNER, WHICH WAS HELD TO SAVE TIME AT THE TELEVISED VERSION OF THE CEREMONY, STILL WENT ON FOR OVER THREE HOURS. BACALL SAID OF HER HIGHLY COVETED PRIZE: "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT", ADDING THAT SHE WAS GLAD TO BE ALIVE. 'SOME OF YOU ARE SURPRISED, AREN'T YOU?', SHE SAID TO THE 600 GUESTS AT THE GRAND BALLROOM ABOVE THE KODAK THEATRE IN LOS ANGELES. HER LONG-TIME FRIEND KIRK DOUGLAS SAID HE'S BEEN FRIENDS WITH BACALL FOR OVER 60 YEARS AFTER SHE TURNED DOWN HIS ROMANTIC ADVANCES. HE SAID: "SHE'S A PUSSYCAT AND SHE HAS A HEART OF GOLD." ONE OF THE GREATEST SCREEN SIRENS OF THE 1940s AND 1950s, BACALL MADE HER SCREEN DEBUT IN THE CLASSIC 'TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT'. SHE WENT ON TO MARRY HUMPHREY BOGART AND TO STAR IN MORE THAN 30 FILMS, INCLUDING 'THE BIG SLEEP' AND 'KEY LARGO'. SHE WAS JOINED AT THE CEREMONY BY HER AND BOGART'S ADULT CHILDREN LESLIE AND STEPHEN HUMPHREY.

CHRISTIE'S TO OFFER YVES SAINT LAURENT'S EVERYDAY OBJECTS

THE 18th CENTURY PORCELAIN YVES SAINT LAURENT ATE FROM, A CARTIER WATCH HE USED TO WEAR, THE LEOPARD-PRINT COUCHES AND GILDED CHAIRS HE LOUNGED ON: IT'S ALL TO HIT THE AUCTION BLOCKS AS THE LATE FRENCH COUTURIER'S LONGTIME PARTNER LIQUIDATES THEIR ART AND KNICKKNACK FILLED RESIDENCES. THE SALE, ORGANIZED BY CHRISTIE'S FROM 17 - 20. NOVEMBER, IS THE FOLLOW UP TO THE BLOCKBUSTER AUCTION EARLIER THIS YEAR OF YVES SAINT LAURENT AND PIERRE BERGE'S EXTENSIVE ART COLLECTION. BILLED AS "THE SALE OF THE CENTURY", THE FEBRUARY AUCTION INCLUDED MASTERPIECES BY PICASSO, INGRES. THIS TIME AROUND, THOUGH, IT'S NOT THE CHEF D'OEUVRES BUT THE THOUSANDS OF WORKADAY OBJECTS, INCLUDING FURNITURE, RUGS, LAMPS AND CUTLERY, THAT ARE TO BE DISBURSED. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A 1949 GOUACHE PAINTING BY FERNAND LEGER ESTIMATED AT $75,000 TO $105,000, A PAIR OF GUILDED ARMCHAIRS SPECIALLY ORDERED BY QUEEN HORTENCE OF HOLLAND FOR THE 1812 COSTUME BALL THAT ARE EXPECTED TO FETCH $15,000 AND ELABORATE CRISTAL CHANDELIERS ESTIMATED AT $65,000. THE SHOW IS ALSO FULL OF QUIRKY AND STRANGE OFFERINGS INCLUDING A CAVIAR SERVICE SET MADE FROM SHELLS WITH DIMINUTIVE MOTHER OF PEARL KNIVES, A COLLECTION OF BONE-HANDLED MAGNIFYING GLASSES, A 19th CENTURY BILLIARD TABLE IN WALNUT AND A LARGE COLLECTION OF FANCY DAGGERS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. MUNDANE OFFERINGS ARE TO INCLUDE YELLOW COTTON CURTAINS, POTS AND PANS AND METAL LAWN CHAIRS. MANY OF THE OBJECTS LACK THE KIND OF DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGIN THAT ACCOMPANIED THE LOTS AT THE FEBRUARY SALE. "IT'S REALLY VERY INTIMATE AND VERY PERSONAL AND VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST AUCTION, WHICH WAS MADE UP OF MUSEUM QUALITY PIECES", A CHRISTIE'S SPOKESMAN SAID. ;BEYOND THE USUAL OBJECTS, WE EXPECT TO GET BIDDERS WHO ARE SEDUCED BY THE IDEA OF OWNING SOMETHING THAT WAS ONCE USED BY YVES SAINT LAURENT BUT COULDN'T AFFORD ANYTHING FROM THE FIRST SALE." AMONG A HANDFUL OF MYTHICAL 20th CENTURY DESIGNERS, SAINT LAURENT IS WIDELY CREDITED WITH MODERNIZING WOMEN'S WARDROBES BY POPULARIZING LADIES' PANTS. SAINT LAURENT DIED IN 2008, AGED 71, AFTER A YEARLONG BATTLE WITH CANCER. SOON AFTER HIS DEATH, SAINT LAURENT'S BUSINESS AND ROMANTIC PARTNER BERGE DECIDED TO LIQUIDATE THE COLLECTION THE TWO MEN SPENT DECADES PAINSTAKINGLY AMASSING, GUIDED IN LARGE PART BY THEIR OWN AESTHETIC. THE PROFITS FROM THE SALES ARE TO HELP FUND THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS. THE OBJECTS FROM THIS MONTH'S SALE WERE TAKEN FROM SAINT LAURENT'S LEGENDARY LEFT BANK APARTMENT ON RUE BABYLON, HIS OFFICE, AN APARTMENT BELONGING TO BERGE AND THE COUPLE'S CHATEAU GABRIEL IN NORMANDY.

CITY VIEW: TORONTO