25.12.09

ROYAL FAMILY ATTENDS CHRISTMAS SERVICE AT SANDRINGHAM


AROUND 500 ONLOOKERS WATCHED MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY ATTEND A CHRISTMAS DAY CHURCH SERVICE ON ONE OF THE QUEEN'S ESTATES. SECURITY WAS TIGHT AS THE QUEEN AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH ARRIVED FOR THE SERVICE AT ST MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH ON THE SANDRINGHAM ESTATE NEAR KING LYNN, NORFOLK. THE ROYALS GATHERED EARLIER THIS WEEK TO SPEND CHRISTMAS AT SANDRINGHAM. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL; PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY; THE PRINCESS ROYAL AND HER HUSBAND, VICE ADMIRAL TIMOTHY LAURENCE; THE DUKE OF YORK AND HIS DAUGHTERS PRINCESSES BEATRICE AND EUGENIE; THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF WESSEX;PETER PHILIPS AND HIS WIFE AUTUMN; AND ZARA PHILIPS WERE AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS WHO JOINED THE QUEEN AT THE SERVICE, LED BY SANDRINGHAM RECTOR JONATHAN RIVIERE. MOST OF THE ROYAL PARTY, INCLUDING THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, WALKED THE QUARTER MILE FROM SANDRINGHAM HOUSE TO THE CHURCH ALONG AN ICY PATH. ZARA PHILIPS WALKED IN SIX-INCH STILETTO HEELS AS SHE MADE HER WAY TO CHURCH. THE COUNTESS OF WESSEX ALSO STOOD OUT IN A PAIR OF BLACK FOUR-INCH STILETTOS WITH RED SOLE, ALTHOUGH SHE OPTED TO TRAVEL BY CAR WITH THE QUEEN. POLICE SEARCHED VISITORS AS THEY ARRIVED AND MORE THAN A DOZEN OFFICERS ALSO KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON THE CROWDS LINING THE PATH ALONG WHICH THE ROYALS WALKED.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ARIA


THE LOVE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, A RENEWAL OF FAITH AND HOPE, HAPPINESS THAT LASTS THROUGH THE NEW YEAR. . . MAY THESE BE YOUR AT CHRISTMAS. ARIA WISHES YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A NEW YEAR FILLED WITH PEACE, PROSPERITY AND JOY.

24.12.09

}{ "WHITE CHRISTMAS" }{

QUEEN ELIZABETH II PRAISES BRAVERY OF BRITISH TROOPS DURING HER CHRISTMAS 2009 BROADCAST


QUEEN ELIZABETH II USED HER ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BROADCAST TO PRAISE THE BRAVERY AND COMMITMENT OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BRITISH ARMED FORCES SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN. IN A YEAR IN WHICH THE DEATH TOLL HAS RISEN BY 106, THE QUEEN'S HEARTFELT COMMENTS WILL HAVE PARTICULAR RESONANCE. IN THE BROADCAST, WHICH WAS RECORDED IN THE WHITE DRAWING ROOM AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, THE QUEEN DEVOTED A LARGE SECTION OF THE SPEECH TO THE SACRIFICE OF THE 10,000 SERVICE PERSONAL ON ACTIVE DUTY. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS IS 243 SINCE OPERATIONS BEGAN ON 2001. THE QUEEN, WHO IS HEAD OF THE ARMED FORCES, HAS PRIVATELY URGED MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY TO SHOW PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE MILITARY SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ. BUT HER COMMENTS WILL ALSO BE DIRECTED AT THOSE SERVING AT HOME. IN THE SUMMER THE QUEEN UNDERLINED HER OWN BACKING WITH THE CREATION OF THE ELIZABETH CROSS WHICH WILL BE GIVEN TO THE NEXT OF KIN OF ARMED FORCES PERSONAL KILLED ON OPERATIONS OR AS A RESULT OF TERRORISM. IT IS THE FIRST TIME THE NAME OF A REIGNING MONARCH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO A NEW AWARD SINCE KING GEORGE VI, THE QUEEN'S FATHER, INSTITUTED THE GEORGE CROSS IN 1940. THE QUEEN, DRESS IN A TURQUOISE SILK WOOL DRESS AND WEARING A BROOCH FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE QUEEN ELIZABETH, THE QUEEN MOTHER, ALSO URGED THE SEASONAL MESSAGE TO URGE THE COMMONWEALTH, ESPECIALLY ITS YOUNG PEOPLE, TO KEEP ON TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT MATTER TO THE INSTITUTION'S 54 MEMBER STATES. SHE WILL SAY: 'IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP DISCUSSING ISSUES THAT CONCERN US ALL, THERE CAN BE NO MORE VALUABLE ROLE FOR OUR FAMILY OF NATIONS.' THE ADDRESS IS ONE OF THE RARE OCCASIONS WHEN THE QUEEN DOES NOT TURN TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR ADVISE AND VOICES HER OWN PERSONAL VIEWS. THE MESSAGE WILL BE TRANSMITTED ON BOTH TELEVISION AND RADIO AT 3pm ON CHRISTMAS DAY. THE BROADCAST, PRODUCED BY ITN, WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE ROYAL CHANNEL AND ON YOUTUBE.CON FROM THE SAME TIME.

CADBURY CREATES SPECIAL CHOCOLATE BARS FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II


DETAILS OF THE RECIPE HAVE BEEN KEPT A SECRET, BUT IT IS BELIEVED TO BE A DARK CHOCOLATE BAR WITH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF COCOA SOLIDS. CADBURY MAKES THREE TO FOUR BATCHES A YEAR AND JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS SENDS A SERIES OF BARS TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE, WINDSOR PALACE AND SANDRINGHAM, ACCORDING TO A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE DAILY MAIL. THE CHOCOLATE IS WRAPPED IN GOLD FOIL WITH A RED WRAPPER BEARING THE ROYAL CREST AND 'BY APPOINTMENT TO HM THE QUEEN'. BENEATH THE CREST, THE WORDS 'CADBURY'S SUPERIOR CULINARY PLAIN CHOCOLATE' ARE WRITTEN. TONY BILSBOROUGH, A SPOKESMAN FOR CADBURY, TOLD THE NEWSPAPER: 'WE DO MAKE THE QUEEN A BAR OF DARK CHOCOLATE. IT'S NOT FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC. WE MAKE THIS FOR HER UNDER THE TERMS OF THE ROYAL MARK. WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING CHOCOLATE TO THE ROYAL FAMILY SINCE VICTORIAN TIMES BUT I CANNOT DISCUSS THE RECIPE.' KNOWN AS 'ROYAL HOUSEHOLD CHOCOLATE' BY STAFF AT CADBURY, IT IS BELIEVED TO BE SUITABLE FOR COOKING AS WELL AS EATING ON ITS OWN.

23.12.09

DIJON'S MEDIEVAL MOURNERS TO BE EXHIBITED IN THE US


THE WHITE ALABASTER FIGURES DRAPED IN CLOAKS SHOW THEIR GRIEF IN DIFFERENT WAYS: FROM A BENT HEAD, THE FACE SHROUDED BY A HOOD, TO A HAND SWATHED IN CLOTH REACHING UP TO WIPE A TEAR. THE NEARLY 40 'MOURNERS' COMMISSIONED IN THE 15th CENTURY TO ADORN THE TOMB OF JOHN THE FEARLESS, THE SECOND DUKE OF BURGUNDY, WILL BE SEEN TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME OUTSIDE FRANCE WHEN THEY BEGIN A TOUR OF SEVEN US CITIES THIS SPRING. THE 16 INCH TALL SCULPTURES, COMPLETED IN 1457 FOR THE TOMB OF THE ASSASSINATED DUKE, ARE TRAVELING WHILE THE DIJON MUSEUM WHERE THEY RESIDE IS RENOVATED. FOLLOWING THEIR US TOUR, THE SCULPTURES THAT DEPICT CLERGY, FAMILY AND OTHERS WILL BE DISPLAYED AT PARIS' MEDIEVAL CLUNY MUSEUM BEFORE RETURNING HOME. RICK BRETTELL, THE MUSEUM EXCHANGE'S US DIRECTOR, SAID THE BURGUNDY COURT WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL IN EUROPE IN THE 14th AND 15th CENTURIES. HE SAID PEOPLE TRAVEL TO DIJON SPECIFICALLY TO SEE THE SCULPTURES. 'THE MOURNING FIGURES ARE UNIVERSALLY ADMIRED', HE SAID. FOR THE FIRST FOUR VENUES OF THE US TOUR, A JOHN THE FEARLESS MOURNER THAT THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART OWNS WILL JOIN THE OTHER 39. THERE WERE ONCE 41 MOURNERS FOR THE AMAZING TOMB, BUT ONE WAS LOST DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. THE DIJON MUSEUM, WHICH IS THE FORMER DUCAL PALACE, WON'T BE WITHOUT MOURNERS DURING THE TOUR. THOSE ADORNING THE TOMB OF JOHN'S FATHER, PHILIP THE BOLD, WILL BE ON DISPLAY OUTSIDE THE TOMB DURING THE RENOVATION. THE TOMBS OF THE DUKES WERE COMMISSIONED FOR THE FAMILY'S MONASTIC COMPLEX OUTSIDE DIJON, BUT WERE MOVED AFTER THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND PLACED IN THE MUSEUM, WHILE THE DUKES' ACTUAL REMAINS ARE IN DIJON'S SAINT BENIGNE CATHEDRAL. THE MOURNERS FOR BOTH DUKES ARE THE WORK OF THE DUCAL SCULPTURE WORKSHOP, WHICH SHOWED INNOVATION WITH THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL, NATURAL FIGURES. IN DIJON, THE MOURNERS FOR JOHN THE FEARLESS ARE LINED UP IN ARCADES BENEATH EFFIGIES OF THE DUKE AND HIS WIFE RESTING ON A BLACK MARBLE SLAB, SO THE TOUR WILL BE A CHANCE TO SEE THEM 'IN THE ROUND'. THE MOURNERS' FIRST TOUR STOP WILL BE IN NEW YORK CITY AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART.

PRINCE WILLIAM SPENDS A NIGHT SLEEPING ROUGH TO UNDERSTAND HOMELESSNESS


PRINCE WILLIAM RECENTLY SPENT A NIGHT SLEEPING ROUGH TO EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND THE PLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. HE STAYED OUT IN TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS MINUS 4c, LYING IN A CENTRAL LONDON ALLEYWAY SURROUNDED BY TRASH AND WHEELIE BINS. THE PRINCE, PATRON OF THE CHARITY CENTREPOINT, SAID HE WAS TRYING TO 'DO HIS BIT' TO HELP THE VULNERABLE. HE WAS SLIGHTLY BETTER OFF THAN THE AVERAGE TRANSIENT ROUGH SLEEPER, AS HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS ARMED PERSONAL PROTECTION OFFICER, HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY, A FORMER SAS OFFICER, AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE HOMELESS CHARITY. EVEN THE VENUE, A SECLUDED SPOT CLOSE TO BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE IN THE CITY, WAS CAREFULLY CHOSEN FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. BUT THE PRINCE SAID AFTERWARDS THAT THE EXPERIENCE HAD HELPED TO DEEPEN HIS UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE ON THE STREETS. IN A STATEMENT, WILLIAM SAID: 'I CANNOT, AFTER ONE NIGHT, EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE TO SLEEP ROUGH ON LONDON'S STREETS NIGHT AFTER NIGHT.' HIS BRIEF BRUSH WITH HOMELESSNESS CAME ON TUESDAY LAST WHEN, SHORTLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT, HE WALKED WITH HIS SLEEPING BAG TO THE SPOT. DRESSED IN JEANS, TRAINERS, A HOODED SWEATSHIRT AND BEANIE HAT, HE WENT UNRECOGNIZED AS HE LAID A PIECE OF CARDBOARD DOWN ON THE GROUND AND CLIMBED INTO HIS SLEEPING BAG. IT WASN'T AN ALTOGETHER NEW EXPERIENCE FOR FORMER ARMY OFFICER WILLIAM. WHO HAS OFTEN LIVED ROUGH ON EXERCISES. BUT IT CERTAINLY WASN'T A PLEASANT ONE, AS TEMPERATURES PLUNGED, MAKING SLEEP ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER SLEEPING FITFULLY, THE PRINCE ROLLED UP HIS SLEEPING BAG AT 6am AND WALKED THROUGH THE STREETS FRO 45 MINUTES, STOPPING TO TALK TO SEVERAL HOMELESS PEOPLE ON THE WAY. HE WENT TO CENTREPOINT'S HOSTEL IN GREEK STREET, SOHO, WHERE HE SHOWERED BEFORE COOKING BREAKFAST FOR SOME OF THE RESIDENTS AND CUTTING CAKE TO CELEBRATE THE CHARITY'S 40th ANNIVERSARY. LATER THAT DAY HE JOINED THE QUEEN FOR HER TRADITIONAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS LUNCH AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

THE CRUMBLING STATE OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE


BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND WINDSOR PALACE, TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR STATE-OWNED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, REQUIRE AT LEAST £20 MILLION TO BE SPENT ON NEW ROOFS AND UPDATED HEATING SYSTEMS. THE STATE ROOMS HAVE NOT BEEN REDECORATED SINCE THE CORONATION IN 1953. THE REWIRING WAS OVERHAULED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE IN 1948, PROMPTING CONCERN OVER SAFETY. LEAKS IN THE ROOF OF THE PALACE'S PICTURE GALLERY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A THREAT TO WORKS BY MASTERS SUCH AS REMBRANDT. THE CRUMBLING FACADES ON ALL SIDES OF THE QUADRANGLE AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ARE IN NEED OF MAINTENANCE. THE WORK, WHICH IS CLASSED AS URGENT BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER TO THOSE WALKING UNDERNEATH, WILL COST AN ESTIMATED £3 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO HELP MEET THE COST OF REFURBISHMENT DESPITE REPORTS THAT A LUMP OF MASONRY NARROWLY MISSED THE PRINCESS ROYAL LAST YEAR AS SHE WAS GETTING INTO HER CAR. A SIMILAR INCIDENT TOOK PLACE FOUR MONTHS EARLIER ON THE DAY THAT ALMOST 1,000 PUPILS AND TEACHERS WERE DUE TO VISIT THE PALACE FOR A SCIENCE FAIR. LAST WEEK IT WAS REPORTED ANOTHER PIECE OF MASONRY FELL NARROWLY MISSING A PATROLLING POLICE OFFICER. THE ROYAL MAUSOLEUM AT FROGMORE, NEAR WINDSOR CASTLE, WHICH HOUSES THE TOMB OF QUEEN VICTORIA, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY ENGLISH HERITAGE AS 'AT RISK' AFTER PART OF THE CEILING FELL IN. A LARGE STRETCH OF ROOF AT WINDSOR CASTLE ALSO NEEDS REPLACING

22.12.09

AHLEN ART MUSEUM PRESENTS 'INTIMACY! BATHING IN ART'


THE AHLEN ART MUSEUM, BERLIN, WILL BE PRESENTING A SPECIAL EXHIBITION ENTITLED 'INTIMACY! BATHING IN ART'. IN THE UNIQUE EXHIBIT THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS, CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE, AND ESPECIALLY THE ARTISTIC REFLECTIONS OF THE TOPIC OF BATHING. IN THE EXHIBIT, 140 WORKS BY 90 ARTISTS WILL BE PRESENTED, INCLUDING PIERRE BONNARD, LOUISE BOURGEOIS, WILLIAM N COPLEY, EDGAR DEGAS, DAVID HOCKNEY AMONG OTHERS. THE ARTWORKS SPAN FROM THE LATE MIDDLE AGES TO CONTEMPORARY ART AND COME FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES SUCH AS GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN, FINLAND, AND THE US. THE EXHIBITION WILL INCLUDE OIL PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, PRINTS, SCULPTURES, PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEOS AND INSTALLATIONS.
FAMOUS STORIES FROM THE BIBLE AND ANCIENT MYTHOLOGY ARE ENTWINED WITH THE MOTIF OF BATHING, SUCH AS SUSANNA IN THE BATH THE BIBLICAL BATHSHEBA, OR THE ROMAN GODDESS OF THE HUNT, DIANA. MOMENTS OF FORBIDDEN VIEWING AND OF SECRETIVE DISCOVERY PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE. SINCE DURER, PROFANE BATHING SCENES OFFERED THE ARTIST THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTEMPLATE AND DEPICT THE OTHERWISE CONCEALED FEMALE BODY. IN MODERN ART, ARTISTS CHALLENGE THE PRESENT CONCEPTIONS OF BEAUTY AND MORALITY. THE INTIMACY OF THE ABSENTMINDED PREOCCUPATION WITH THE BATHING BODY LEADS ONE TO TURN INWARD AND ALLOWS ONE TO REFLECT ABOUT ONE'S OWN TRANSIENCE AND MORTALITY. NUDITY'S ABSENCE OF PROTECTION HAS ALSO FOUND ITS WAY INTO ARTWORK, WHICH VISUALIZE THE CROSSING OF BORDERS AND BREAKING TABOOS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.kunstmuseum-ahlen.de

GUERLAIN'S $9,000 LIMITED EDITION MON PRECIOUS NECTAR FOUNTAIN IMPERIALE


GUERLAIN HAS RECENTLY CREATED ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT PERFUME BOTTLES AVAILABLE IN ITS NEW LIMITED EDITION MON PRECIOUS NECTAR FOUNTAIN IMPERIALE. PRICED AT $9,000, THE FOUNTAIN CONTAINS ONE FULL LITER OF 'PRECIEUX NECTAR', A NEW PERFUME THAT IS A SUBTLE FRUITY, MUSKY AND FLORAL SCENT WHICH LINGERS LIKE A WHISPERING DREAM. THE BOTTLE IS MADE OF HEAVY CRYSTAL AND IS SHAPED LIKE A COLUMN AND A HONEYBEE WITH THE EMBLEM OF GUERLAIN ENGRAVED IN THE MIDDLE OF ITS STOPPER. THE NEW SCENT BY GUERLAIN IS AVAILABLE AT FINER BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE.

MINIATURE MOSCOW BRINGS BACK THE SOVIET CITY


TO CELEBRATE THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION, A 400 SQUARE FOOT MODEL WAS DESIGNED TO REMIND US HOW MAGNIFICENT MOSCOW WAS, IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN. THE RARE AND UNIQUE ARTISTIC MASTERPIECE OF UNPARALLELED CRAFTSMANSHIP WAS CREATED BY 300 WORKERS WITH PAINSTAKING ATTENTION BEING PAID TO THE DETAIL AND BEAUTY OF THE FINISHED WORK. PRICED AT $3 MILLION, THE MINIATURE MOSCOW HAS AN ELABORATE LIGHTING SYSTEM THAT MAKES THE MODEL LOOK VERY REALISTIC.

21.12.09

$750 DECADENCE D'OR CUPCAKE


IF YOU HAVE A STRONGER SWEET TOOTH THAN ANYBODY AROUND, THEN THIS AMAZING $750 CUPCAKE IS THE THING FOR YOU. THE STUNNING CREATION IS AVAILABLE IN LAS VEGAS AND IT'S CALLED THE 'DECADENCE D'OR'. A PASTRY TREAT ONLY AVAILABLE AT THE JUST OPENED SWEET SURRENDERS, A CUPCAKE AND CANDY SHOP LOCATED IN THE PALAZZO RESORT ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP. THE CUPCAKE IS MADE FROM 100 YEAR OLD LOUIS XIII DE REMY MARTIN COGNAC, PALMIRA SINGLE ESTATE CHOCOLATE, EDIBLE GOLD FLAKES AND TAHITA GOLD VANILLA CAVIAR, BELIEVED TO BE TEH MOST LABOR INTENSIVE AGRICULTURAL CROP IN THE WORLD. BAKED AND ASSEMBLED BY THE EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF OF THE PALAZZO, CHEF LONG NGUYEN. OF COURSE, THERE ARE TRADITIONAL CUPCAKES, RED VELVET, LEMON STRAWBERRY, CHOCOLATE GANACHE, CARROT, BLACK FOREST, STRAWBERRY, COCONUT AND CHOCOLATE FUDGE CUPCAKES. LOCATED ON THE CASINO FLOOR NEXT TO THE GUEST ELEVATORS, SWEET SURRENDER IS OPEN SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 10am-10pm AND CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART EMBARKS ON HISTORIC RE-INSTALLATION OF ITS COLLECTIONS


THE MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART, AUGUSTA, GA, HAS BEGUN CLOSING GALLERIES IN PREPARATION FOR PHASE I OF THE RE-INSTALLATION OF THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION. THIS IS A THREE-PHASE PLAN, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS WORKS OF ART THAT HAVE NOT BEEN EXHIBITED FOR SOME TIME OR HAVE NEVER BEEN EXHIBITED AT ALL. THE GALLERIES WILL BE OPENED ON, 5.MARCH.2010, FOR THE MORRIS MUSEUM'S SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL GALA. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE MUSEUM OPENED ITS DOORS IN SEPTEMBER 1992, THAT A COMPLETE RE-INSTALLATION OF ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN. PHASE I BEGAN 14.DECEMBER, WHEN THE MUSEUM CLOSED GALLERIES DEVOTED TO 19th AND 20th CENTURY LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS AND CONTEMPORARY PAINTINGS. PHASE II BEGINS ON 24.JANUARY.2010, WITH THE CLOSING OF GALLERIES DEVOTED TO ANTEBELLUM PORTRAITURE, IMAGES OF THE CIVIL WAR, GENRE PAINTING, 19th AND 20th CENTURY STILL LIFE PAINTINGS, IMPRESSIONISM IN THE SOUTH, REGIONALISM AND ABSTRACTION IN THE SOUTH. PHASE III INVOLVES THE CLOSING OF THE MUSEUM'S TEMPORARY EXHIBITION GALLERIES ON 1.FEBRUARY.2010, WHEN THE SPECIAL EXHIBITION 'RESPONSE AND MEMORY: THE ART OF BEVERLY BUCHANAN' COMES TO AN END. THROUGH THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, THE MUSEUM'S COGGIN'S GALLERY, WHICH CURRENTLY FEATURES 'DEEP SEA: DRAWINGS BY WILLIAM GOLDING', AND ITS FIRST FLOOR EDUCATION GALLERY WILL BE OPEN, AND THERE WILL BE A FULL AND ACTIVE ROSTER OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS TAKING PLACE. IN ADDITION TO THE REOPENING OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION GALLERIES ON THE NIGHT OF THE ANNUAL GALA, THE MUSEUM WILL ALSO OPEN A SPECIAL EXHIBITION THAT NIGHT ENTITLED, DIALECT: AMERICAN SCENE PAINTINGS FROM THE JOHN AND SUSAN HORSEMAN COLLECTION', WHICH FEATURES A SELECTION OF FIFTY-SEVEN IMPORTANT WORKS OF ART BY 43 OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS WHO WORKED OUTSIDE THE MAJOR ART CENTERS BETWEEN THE WORLD WARS.

PRINCE CHARLES CONSIDERS SOLAR PANELS FOR 180 YEAR OLD CLARENCE HOUSE


THE PRINCE OF WALES IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF OF HIS GRADE II-LISTED LONDON RESIDENCE, CLARENCE HOUSE. EXPERT GUIDANCE HAS BEEN SOUGHT ON HOW THE PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS CAN BE PUT ON THE 180 YEAR OLD MANSION WITHOUT DAMAGING ITS HISTORIC APPEARANCE. THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT THE PRINCE AND HIS AIDES MAY CHOOSE TO PLACE THE PANELS ON THE INWARD-FACING ROOFS AROUND THE CENTRAL COURTYARD OF THE BUILDING. PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS TYPICALLY GIVE AN ANNUAL RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT OF ABOUT 8%, WHICH WOULD MEAN PRINCE CHARLES WOULD START MAKING A PROFIT BY 2021. THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT THE COST OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR SUCH A BUILDING COULD COST AS MUCH AS £150,000. JERRY STOKES, THE BRITISH PRESIDENT OF SUNTECH EUROPE, WHICH SUPPLIES SOLAR PANELS, SAID HE HAD VISITED CLARENCE HOUSE TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT WITH THE PRINCE. 'THE PRINCE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY. I HAVE BEEN ON THE ROOF OF CLARENCE HOUSE', HE SAID. 'THE KEY THING IS NOT TO RUSH GOING SUPER-GREEN AND BE DISRESPECTFUL OF THE VISUAL IMPACT.' A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PRINCE SAID: 'WE ARE ACTIVELY CONSIDERING INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS AT CLARENCE HOUSE, BUT THERE ARE TECHNICAL AND PLANNING ISSUES TO CONSIDER FIRST. IT'S STILL AT THE FAIRLY EARLY STAGES, BUT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL THE OPTIONS.'

20.12.09

BRITTANY MURPHY 'DIES FROM A HEART ATTACK' AGE 32


AMERICAN ACTRESS BRITTANY MURPHY HAS REPORTEDLY DIED FROM A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK AT THE AGE OF 32. THE ACTRESS, WHO APPEARED IN SUCH FILMS AS 'CLUELESS'. '8 MILE', 'JUST MARRIED', WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A HOSPITAL IN LOS ANGELES, AFTER GOING INTO CARDIAC ARREST AT HER HOME IN LOS ANGELES, ACCORDING TO CELEBRITY WEBSITE TMZ.COM. A 911 EMERGENCY CALL WAS MADE AT 8am LOCAL TIME AT A HOME LISTED AS BELONGING TO HER HUSBAND, SIMON MONJACK, THE LOS ANGELES CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD THE WEBSITE. A SPOKESPERSON FOR CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER SAID MURPHY DIED AT 10:04am ON SUNDAY. SHE WOULD NOT PROVIDE A CAUSE OF DEATH, NOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION. MURPHY'S LAST BIG ROLE CAME IN 2005 WITH 'SIN CITY' ALTHOUGH SHE HAD APPEARED IN A NUMBER OF TV SHOWS SINCE, PROVIDING VOICES FOR CARTONS SUCH AS 'KING OF THE HILL' AND 'FUTURAMA'. IN 2006, SHE RELEASED THE SINGLE 'FASTER KILL PUSSYCAT' WHICH BECAME A DANCE CLUB HIT. SHE MARRIED MONJACK, A BRITISH WRITER AND DIRECTOR, AT THEIR HOME IN LOS ANGELES, IN 2007 IN A SMALL JEWISH CEREMONY. HE CO-WROTE AND CO-PRODUCED 'FACTORY GIRL', WHICH STARRED SIENNA MILLER. MURPHY BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME FOLLOWING HER ROLE IN 'CLUELESS', WHERE SHE PLAYED THE ROLE TIA, THE GIRL ALICIA SILVERSTONE'S CHARACTER TAKES UNDER HER WING. ASHTON KUTCHER, WHO CO-STARRED WITH HER IN 'JUST MARRIED', WROTE ON HIS TWITTER FEED: '2DAY THE WORLD LOST A LITTLE PIECE OF SUNSHINE. MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES GO OUT 2 BRITTANY'S FAMILY, HER HUSBAND, & HER AMAZING MOTHER SHARON. SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.' A SPOKESPERSON FOR MURPHY TOLD TMZ.COM: 'IN THIS TIME OF SADNESS, THE FAMILY THANKS YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. IT IS THEIR WISH THAT YOU RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY.'

$33.2 MILLION REMBRANDT PAINTING REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BY STEVE WYNN


A REMBRANDT PAINTING THAT SOLD FOR A RECORD $33.2 MILLION LAST WEEK AT CHRISTIE'S IN LONDON WAS BOUGHT BY AMERICAN CASINO MOGUL STEVE WYNN, THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED FRIDAY, CITING SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH THE TRANSACTION. CHRISTIE'S IS NOT DISCLOSING THE IDENTITY OF THE WINNING TELEPHONE BIDDER FOR THE 1658 'PORTRAIT OF A MAN, HALF-LENGTH, WITH HIS ARMS AKIMBO', A SPOKESPERSON SAID. THE PRICE SET AN AUCTION RECORD FOR A WORK BY REMBRANDT, CHRISTIE'S SAID. WYNN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT WYNN RESORTS LTD, COLLECTS FINE ART, AND ONCE ACCIDENTALLY POKED A HOLE IN PICASSO'S 'DREAM', A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR PIECE HE OWNED. THE LAS VEGAS CASINO MAGNATE DEVELOPED THE MIRAGE AND BELLAGIO RESORTS IN LAS VEGAS IN THE 1990s. BEFORE THE PRE-AUCTION EXHIBITION AT CHRISTIE'S, THE REMBRANDT HAD NOT BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS.