1.5.10

GUCCI SUKEY BAG FOR UNICEF


2010 MARKS THE SIXTH YEAR OF GUCCI'S AMAZING PARTNERSHIP WITH UNICEF, AND TO COMMEMORATE THE ONGOING RELATIONSHIP, DURING WHICH GUCCI HAS RAISED OVER $7 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF THE CHARITY, THEY ARE OFFERING A SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION SUKEY BAG IN A SUBTLE PALE GRAY TO BENEFIT THE CAUSE. 25% PERCENT OF THE RETAIL COST OF EACH GRAY SUKEY BAG WILL GO TO SUPPORT UNICEF'S SCHOOLS FOR AFRICAN CAMPAIGN, WHICH IMPROVES SCHOOLS IN DISADVANTAGED REGIONS OF AFRICA 'TO CREATE THOSE CONDITIONS THAT WILL ATTRACT CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, KEEP THEM THERE AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A SAFE AND PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN LEARN AND PLAY.' THE BAG ITSELF HAS A PHILANTHROPIC STORY; GUCCI'S CREATIVE DIRECTOR FRIDA GIANNINI CO-CHAIRED A FUNDRAISING EVENT IN SUPPORT OF UNICEF IN 2008, AND ONE OF THE PRIZES OFFERED INCLUDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO NAME THE BAG. THE WINNER CHOSE THE NAME 'SUKEY' AND WHILE IT'S NOT KNOW WHAT THEY PAID FOR THE PRIVILEGE, THE EVENT RAISED $2.7 MILLION FOR AFRICA. THE $1,295 SUKEY IS ONE OF GUCCI'S BEST-SELLING HANDBAGS AROUND THE WORLD, AND EVERY SUKEY GRAY SOLD UNTIL 28.FEBRUARY.2011 WILL BE AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF AFRICA.

KIMBELL ART MUSEUM ACQUIRES GUERCINO'S 'CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OS SAMARIA'


THE KIMBELL ART MUSEUM OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, HAS ACQUIRED THE PAINTING 'CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OS SAMARIA', DATED TO 1619-20, BY THE ITALIAN ARTIST GUERCINO, ONE OF THE FOREMOST PAINTERS OF HIS TIME. THE PURCHASE WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE MUSEUM'S DIRECTOR. THE PAINTING DATES FROM GUERCINO'S EARLY, RAREST, AND MOST DESIRABLE PERIOD, WHEN THE ARTIST ACHIEVED ACCLAIM FOR THE EMOTIONAL POWER OF HIS COMPOSITIONS. 'CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA' PRESENTS A CLOSE-UP VIEW OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN, WHO RESTS HER WATER BUCKET ON THE WALL WHERE SHE HAS COME TO DRAW WATER, GRAPPLING TO UNDERSTAND CHRIST'S MESSAGE THAT HE IS THE LIVING WATER, THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE. THE PAINTING HAS NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED OR EXHIBITED, AND PRIOR TO ITS PURCHASE BY A EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTOR HAD BEEN ONLY THROUGH COPIES AND AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WORK THAT WAS SHOWN TO GUERCINO EXPERT SIR DENIS MAHON MANY DECADES AGO.
GIOVANNI FRANCESCO BARBIERI (1591–1666), KNOWN BY HIS NICKNAME GUERCINO ('SQUINTER') BECAUSE HE WAS CROSS-EYED, WAS BORN IN THE NORTHERN ITALIAN TOWN OF CENTO, NEAR BOLOGNA AND FERRARA. ALTHOUGH HE RECEIVED HIS EARLY TRAINING WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, HE WAS LARGELY SELF-TAUGHT. HIS EARLY WORK WAS MARKED BY AN ASTONISHING NATURALISM AND ABILITY TO CONVEY TEH EXPRESSIVE POWER OF THE HUMAN FIGURE. HE ADMIRED THE BOLOGNESE PAINTER LUDOVICO CARRACCI, WHO IN 1617 WROTE A LETTER PRAISING THE YOUNG MAN FROM CENTO 'WHO PAINTS WITH REMARKABLE INVENZIONE. HE IS A GREAT DRAFTSMAN AND A TERRIFIC COLOURIST: HE IS A PHENOMENON OF NATURE AND A TRUE MIRACLE WHO DUMBFOUNDS EVERYONE WHO SEES HIS WORKS... EVEN THE TOP PAINTERS ARE AWESTRUCK.' THE FOLLOWING YEAR GUERCINO VISITED VENICE, HONING HIS TALENT AS A COLOURIST BY STUDYING THE WORKS OF TITIAN AND OTHER VENETIAN PAINTERS. GUERCINO DIED IN 1666 IN BOLOGNA, HE LEFT AN IMPRESSIVE LEGACY OF NEARLY 400 PAINTINGS AND WELL OVER 1,000 DRAWINGS THAT DEMONSTRATE HIS EXTRAORDINARY POWERS OF INVENTION.

DUKE OF YORK OPENS SILVERSTONE TRACK


THE DUKE OF YORK EMERGED FROM THE TWO-SEATER, 600hp CAR, AFTER BEING CHAUFFEURED AROUND SILVERSTONE TRACK BY EX-FORMULA ONE CHAMPION DAMON HILL, TO SAY IT WAS LIKE BEING IN THE BACK SEAT OF A TORNADO FIGHTER JET AT LOW LEVEL OVER THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS. THE PRINCE WAS GUEST OF HONOR AS THE CIRCUIT UNVEILED A £5 MILLION NEW TRACK LAYOUT, THE FIRST PHASE OF A REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY COST JUST UNDER £40 MILLION. HE WAS ALSO WELCOMED TO THE CIRCUIT BY ANOTHER EX-FORMULA ONE CHAMPION, JACKIE STEWART. AFTER CUTTING A RIBBON AND UNVEILING A PLAQUE, THE PRINCE WAS THEN GIVEN A HIGH-SPEED TASTE OF THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE VENUE. IN A RACE SUIT AND BOOTS, HE WAS STRAPPED INTO THE CAR TO BE DRIVEN BY THE 1996 WORLD CHAMPION. AFTER FOUR LAPS OF THE 3.66-MILE CIRCUIT, THAT NOW INCLUDES A NEW INNER SECTION OF SIX CORNERS DESIGNED FOR OVERTAKING, ANDREW SAID: 'IT WAS QUITE AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE.' THE PRINCE SAID HE WAS KEEN TO ENSURE THE INDUSTRY THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS AROUND SILVERSTONE CONTINUES TO THRIVE AND GROW. 'IT'S ABOUT ENCOURAGING INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY TO TAKE PLACE HERE, BUT ALSO ABOUT EDUCATION', HE ADDED.

30.4.10

PAUL KASMIN GALLERY PRESENTS MARK RYDEN EXHIBITION


PAUL KASMIN GALLERY PRESENTS 'THE GAY 90's: OLD TYME ART SHOW', AN EXHIBITION OF NEW PAINTINGS AND WORKS ON PAPER BY THE LOS ANGELES ARTIST MARK RYDEN. ON VIEW AT 293 TENTH STREET FROM 29.APRIL THROUGH 5.JUNE, THIS WILL BE RYDEN'S FIRST SIGNIFICANT SOLO SHOW IN NEW YORK SINCE 2003, AS WELL AS HIS FIRST WITH THE PAUL KASMIN GALLERY. IN HIS HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND MASTERFULLY EXECUTED OIL PAINTINGS, RYDEN CREATES HIS OWN CONTEMPORARY MYTHOLOGIES WHOSE ARCHETYPES INCLUDE FAIRY TALE CREATURES, HISTORICAL FIGURES AND POP CULTURAL ICON. SEAMLESSLY JUXTAPOSING MACABRE MOTIFS, LIKE MEAT GRINDERS AND DISEMBODIED PRESIDENTS WITH EYE-PLEASING INGENUES AND SEDUCTIVE LANDSCAPES, THE ARTIST PRODUCES A VISION OF SOCIETY IN WHICH MENACE AND COMFORT ARE INSEPARABLY INTERWOVEN. THE LABOR-INTENSIVE CANVASSES DEFTLY REWORK CENTURIES OF ART HISTORY, COMBING THE GRANDEUR OF SPANISH AND ITALIAN RELIGIOUS PAINTING WITH THE DECORATIVE RICHNESS OF OLE MASTER COMPOSITIONS AND THE LUSH TEXTURES OF FRENCH NEO-CLASSICISM. THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE GAY 90's: OLD TYME ART SHOW REFERENCES THE IDEALISM OF THE 1890s WHILE ADDRESSING THE ROLE OF KITSCH AND NOSTALGIA IN OUR CURRENT CULTURE. 'IN THE MODERN ERA, SENTIMENTALITY AND BEAUTY HAVE BEEN DISDAINED IN THE ART WORLD', RYDEN SAID. 'THIS NEW WORK EXPLORES THE LINE BETWEEN ATTRACTION AND REPULSION TO KITSCH, AND BETWEEN BEAUTY AND BANALITY.' THROUGH THEIR VISUAL RICHNESS AND SYMBOLIC COMPLEXITY, RYDEN'S INFINITELY SUGGESTIVE DREAMSCAPES INVITE US TO ENTER THEIR WORLD AND TO INDULGE OUR SENSE OF WONDER.

ARMANI HOTEL DUBAI OPENS


THE MUCH AWAITED OPENING OF THE WORLD'S FIRST ARMANI HOTEL IN DUBAI FINALLY TOOK PLACE RECENTLY AMID GRAND CELEBRATIONS THAT INCLUDED A PARTY FOR OVER 600 GUESTS AND A FASHION SHOW OF ARMANI'S SPRING PRIVE COLLECTION, FOLLOWED BY COCKTAILS AND DINNER. THE LUXURY HOTEL WHICH OCCUPIES EIGHT FLOORS OF THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING, THE BURJ KHALIFA, BOASTS 160 LAVISHLY DESIGNED ROOMS, EIGHT RESTAURANTS, A SPA AND THREE RETAIL BOUTIQUES. AN EMOTIONAL GIORGIO ARMANI SEEMED PROUD TO FINALLY SEE HIS HOTEL COMPLETE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE PROJECT, A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN ARMANI SPA AND EMAAR PROPERTIES, IS THE FIRST IN A PLANNED COLLECTION OF HOTELS, RESORTS AND RESIDENCES TO BE UNVEILED IN KEY CITIES AROUND THE WORLD. ARMANI HAS PAID ATTENTION TO EVERY MINUTE DETAIL OF THE STUNNING HOTEL FROM THE BED LINENS AND SPECIALLY DESIGNED FURNITURE TO THE SELECTION OF ARMANI PRIVE TOILETRIES IN EACH BATHROOM. THE ROOMS ALSO ECHO ARMANI'S AUSTERE STYLE WITH NO PAINTINGS OR PHOTOGRAPHS ADORNING THE WALLS. THE WALLS OF THE HOTEL ARE COVERED IN MARMORINO SILK AND FLORENTINE LEATHER AND THE FLOORS ARE ERAMOSA STONE. THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE HOTEL FEATURES DRAMATIC METAL ARCHES INSPIRED BY TRADITIONAL ARABIC ARCHITECTURE. ACCORDING TO ARMANI THE BIGGEST INSPIRATION WAS THE BUILDING ITSELF WHICH HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY THE SHAPE OF THE DESERT ROSE. HE FOLLOWED THE CURVES OF THE BUILDING'S EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL SHELL IN THE ROOMS' INTERIOR DESIGN. THERE ARE NO STRAIGHT WALLS IN THE OUTER SUITES. EVERY GUEST IS SURE TO FEEL SPECIAL COURTESY OF THE SERVICES AND AMENITIES OF THE HOTEL. THERE IS NO TRADITIONAL RECEPTION AREA, EACH GUEST IS ASSIGNED A LIFESTYLE MANAGER WHO SERVES AS A HOST FROM THE MOMENT THEY MAKE A RESERVATION TO THE TIME THEY CHECK OUT. BESIDES THE EIGHT RESTAURANTS OFFERING A VARIETY OF WORLD CUISINES, THERE IS ALSO AN ARMANI PRIVE NIGHTCLUB.


ELIZABETH TAYLOR DONATES BUST OF RICHARD BURTON TO THEATRE



IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN TWO DECADES SINCE SHE HAS SEEN HIM, BUT FOR ELIZABETH TAYLOR THE FEELINGS FOR HER 'GREATEST LOVE' RICHARD BURTON HAVE CLEARLY NOT FADED WITH THE PASSING OF TIME. WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A BUST OF HER LATE EX-HUSBAND LAST NIGHT, SHE BEGAN TO WEEP. TAYLOR WAS ATTENDING A GALA EVENING AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO MARK THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL WELSH COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND DRAMA. THE STUNNING LIKENESS OF BURTON WAS MADE TO STAND IN THE FOYER OF A NEW THEATER AT THE COLLEGE IN CARDIFF, WHICH IS TO BE NAMED AFTER HIM. ARRIVING IN A WHEELCHAIR, TAYLOR PRESENTED PRINCE CHARLES WITH THE WORK, SATING: 'RICHARD WOULD HAVE BEEN SO DEEPLY TOUCHED BY THIS GREAT HONOR, AS AM I. IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE AND JOIN IN THIS CELEBRATION, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS WHO REMEMBER AND RESPECT RICHARD WITH SO MUCH LOVE IN THEIR HEARTS.' SHE BURST INTO TEARS AFTER PRINCE CHARLES REMARKED: 'DO YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD LIKENESS?' 'MARVELLOUS', SHE REPLIED AS SHE DABBED HER EYES. THE PAIR WERE JOINED BY A HOST OF OTHER CELEBRITIES INCLUDING ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER AND DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY. BURTON'S NEPHEW GUY MASTERSON LAST NIGHT SPOKE OF HIS FAMILY'S PRIDE IN THE LATEST HONOR, SAYING: 'THE BURTON FAMILY IS DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE NAMING OF THIS WONDERFUL THEATER.'

29.4.10

MELBOURNE BANKSY DESTROYED BY CLEANERS


AN AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL IS RUEING A DECISION TO SEND STREET CLEANERS INTO A MELBOURNE LANE AFTER THEY PAINTED OVER A PRICELESS STENCIL OF A RAT BY THE CELEBRATED STREET ARTIST BANKSY. MELBOURNE DEPUTY MAYOR SUSAN RILEY LAST WEEK SENT A CLEAN-UP TEAM INTO HOSIER LANE, RENOWNED INTERNATIONALLY FOR ITS COLOURFUL STREET ART, TO CLEAN UP GARBAGE IN THE GRAFFITI-LINED PASSAGE AFTER LOCAL RESIDENTS COMPLAINED. BUT THE REQUEST WENT AWRY WHEN THE CLEANERS PAINTED OVER A BANKSY STENCIL OF A RAT HANGING UNDERNEATH A PARACHUTE AND ADORNING THE WALL OF AN OLD COUNCIL BUILDING. 'UNFORTUNATELY THE CONTRACTORS WERE NOT MADE AWARE BY US THAT THERE WAS AN IMPORTANT PIECE. IT IS THE NATURE OF GRAFFITI ART. IT'S VERY VULNERABLE TO OTHER PEOPLE'S WORK', COUNCIL CHIEF EXECUTIVE KATHY ALEXANDER TOLD THE LOCAL RADIO IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. THE RECLUSIVE BANKSY, WHO IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP STREET ARTISTS, PAINTED SEVERAL STENCILS IN MELBOURNE DURING A 2003 VISIT. HIS SATIRICAL AND DISTINCTIVE ART IS OFTEN DIRECTED AT ANTI-WAR, CULTURAL AND ANTI-CAPITALIST THEMES. IN 2008, A LONDON WALL BEARING ONE OF HIS STENCILS WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN SOLD ON EBAY FOR ALMOST $500,000. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME BANKSY'S ART HAS BEEN FOULED IN MELBOURNE. VANDALS CREATED ANOTHER OUTCRY IN 2008 WHEN THEY POURED PAINT OVER THE ARTIST'S STENCIL OF A DIVER IN AN OLD-FASHIONED HELMET AND WEARING A TRENCH-COAT. THAT WORK WAS AFTERWARDS PROTECTED BY A SHEET OF CLEAR PERSPEX, ALTHOUGH VANDALS STRUCK AGAIN AND POURED SILVER PAINT BEHIND THE BARRIER, TAGGING IT WITH THE WORDS, 'BANKSY WOZ ERE'. ALEXANDER SAID THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD RUSH THROUGH RETROSPECTIVE PERMITS TO PROTECT OTHER FAMOUS OR SIGNIFICANT ARTWORKS IN AUSTRALIA'S SECOND-LARGEST CITY. 'IN HINDSIGHT, WE SHOULD HAVE ACTED SOONER TO FORMALLY APPROVE AND PROTECT BANKSY'S WORKS', SHE SAID.

MARLBOROUGH GALLERY PRESENTS BOTERO SCULPTURE EXHIBITION


ON 29.APRIL, THE MARLBOROUGH GALLERY, NEW YORK, WILL PRESENT AN EXHIBITION OF MONUMENTAL SCULPTURES BY THE WORLD RENOWNED COLOMBIAN ARTIST, FERNANDO BOTERO. THE EXHIBITION WILL FEATURE WORK WITH CLASSICAL SUBJECTS SUCH AS LEDA AND THE SWAN, (67 x 127 x 55 in.), AN RAPE OF EUROPA, (114 x 120 x 62 in.). BOTERO'S LARGE SCALE SCULPTURES HAVE BEEN EXHIBITED TO CRITICAL AND POPULAR ACCLAIM IN PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS AROUND THE GLOBE, INCLUDING ON THE CHAMPS ELYSEES IN PARIS, PARK AVENUE IN NEW YORK CITY, CHICAGO, VENICE AND MOST RECENTLY IN BERLIN, ATHENS AND SEOUL. BOTERO'S MONUMENTAL SCULPTURES ARE FORMAL MASTERPIECES OF COMPOSED VOLUME AND MASS. HE HAS SAID OF HIS SCULPTURES: 'I NEVER GIVE PARTICULAR TRAITS TO MY FIGURES. I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE PERSONALITY, BUT RATHER THAT THEY REPRESENT A TYPE THAT I CREATE.MY SCULPTURES DO NOT CARRY ANY MESSAGE, SOCIAL OR OTHERWISE...WHAT MATTERS FOR ME IS THE FORM, THE VOLUPTUOUS SURFACES WHICH EMPHASIZE THE SENSUALITY OF MY WORK.' IN ADDITION TO LEDA AND THE SWAN AND RAPE OF EUROPA, MARLBOROUGH'S EXHIBITION WILL INCLUDE WOMAN ON A HORSE, (114 1/8 x 87 3/8 x 55 1/8 in.), AND RECLINING WOMAN, (65 3/8 x 137 3/4 x 56 3/4 in.). WITH THESE WORKS, BOTERO COTEMPORIZES HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS SUCH AS THE EQUESTRIAN SCULPTURE AND THE RECLINED NUDE, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE THEIR ARTISTIC ROOTS IN ANTIQUITY. STANDING OVER NINE FEET TALL, RAPE OF EUROPA IS A UNIQUE INTERPRETATION OF THE MYTHOLOGICAL THEME. THE NUDE MAIDEN RECLINES ON HER SIDE ON THE BACK OF A MASSIVE BULL, BALANCED, WITH ONE HAND SUPPORTING HER HEAD AND ANOTHER OUTSTRETCHED. THE FIGURE IS POISED IN A RELAXED MANNER AS THE STRONG BULL SUPPORTS HER. THE SERENITY OF THE PAIR ARE IN CONTRAST TO THE DYNAMIC, SHIFTING ELEMENTS OF EUROPA'S STORY AS RELATED BY OVID. HERE, BOTERO DEPICTS A LANGUID EUROPA, WITH NO TRACE OF FEAR AS DESCRIBED IN METAMORPHOSES. JUPITER AS THE BULL IS ATTENTIVE AND HIS CURLED TAIL IMPLIES A DEGREE OF DOMESTICITY; EUROPA SEEMS TO HAVE TAMED HIM COMPLETELY.

10 YEAR OLD ARTIST PAINTS LIKE PABLO PICASSO


THEIR THICK BOLD BLACK LINES, VIBRANT COLOURS AND DISJOINTED, CUBIST FORMS HAVE DRAWN INEVITABLE COMPARISONS WITH THE PAINTINGS OF RENOWNED ARTIST PABLO PICASSO. BUT INSTEAD THEY ARE THE STUNNING WORK OF A TEN YEAR OLD BOY, WHO HAS STUNNED THE ART WORLD WITH HIS ECHOES OF THE SPANISH GENIUS BEFORE EVER SEEING HIS PIECES. HAMAD AL HUMAIDHAN HAS BEEN SIGNED BY AN INTERNATIONAL ART AGENCY DESPITE STILL BEING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL. THE 4ft YOUNGSTER HAS SOLD SEVERAL OF HIS PAINTINGS FOR £650 EACH AND WILL HOLD HIS DEBUT EXHIBITION THIS SUMMER. HIS TECHNIQUE INVOLVES CLOSING HIS EYES, SEEING AN IMAGE OF A PAINTING IN HIS HEAD AND THEN TRANSFERRING IT TO THE CANVAS, HE SAID. THE TALENTED SCHOOLBOY FIRST STARTED PAINTING AFTER HIS FAMILY MOVED FROM KUWAIT TO BATH, IN NORTH-EAST SOMERSET, THREE YEARS AGO. HE SAW HIS FATHER WALID, AN AMATEUR ARTIST, CARRYING A BLANK CANVAS UNDER HIS ARM AND ASKED TO BORROW IT. HOURS LATER HE DISCOVERED HIS SON HAD PAINTED A SIMPLE PORTRAIT OF CRISTIANO RONALDO. THE USE OF COLOUR AND FORM WERE ENOUGH FOR HIM TO KEEP ENCOURAGING HIS SON, WHO SOON BEGAN TO USE ACRYLICS TO PRODUCE PICASSO-LIKE ABSTRACT PAINTINGS. HIS SON WAS SIGNED BY THE AGENCY TURNER FINE ARTS THIS YEAR AND HAS SOLD SIX PAINTINGS SO FAR. HAMAD'S AGENT STEVE TURNER SAID: 'WHEN I SAW HIS WORK I WAS AMAZED AT HOW COMPLICATED IT WAS AND THAT THE SHADES AND HUES WERE SO INCREDIBLE. THE REACTION WE HAVE GOT FROM PEOPLE HAS BEEN QUITE EXTRAORDINARY. FOR ME IT'S EXCITING TO FIND SOMEONE SO YOUNG WHO IS ALREADY SHOWING SO MUCH POTENTIAL. IT WILL BE FASCINATING TO SEE HOW HIS STYLE DEVELOPS OVER THE YEARS.' HAMAD'S FIRST EXHIBITION WILL BE AT THE LLANGOLLEN INTERNATIONAL PAVILION, IN NORTH WALES, FROM 5-6.JUNE.

ANNE FRANK'S DIARY ON DISPLAY AT THE HOUSE IT WAS WRITTEN


NEARLY ALL OF ANNE FRANK'S DIARY WENT ON DISPLAY WEDNESDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE HOUSE WHERE SHE WROTE IT DURING THE TWO YEARS THE JEWISH TEENAGER WAS HIDING FROM THE NAZIS. THE NOTEBOOK AND PAGES THAT COMPRISE THE WORLD WAR II DIARY HAVE BEEN MOVED INTO THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE MUSEUM TO MARK THE 50 YEARS SINCE IT OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC. DUTCH QUEEN BEATRIX OPENED THE EXHIBITION, THEN ATTENDED A COMMEMORATION AT THE 17th CENTURY WESTERN CHURCH A FEW DOZEN STEPS FROM THE MUSEUM. THE ORIGINAL RED PLAID DIARY IN WHICH ANNE BEGAN WRITING ON HER 13th BIRTHDAY HAS BEEN AT THE MUSEUM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. BUT THAT COVERED JUST SIX MONTHS OF THE 25 MONTHS SHE HID WITH HER FAMILY AND FOUR OTHER JEWS IN A CONCEALED CANAL-SIDE APARTMENT IN AMSTERDAM. TWO OTHER SCHOOL EXERCISE BOOKS AND OTHER PAGES WERE STORED AT THE NETHERLANDS WAR DOCUMENTATION CENTER, THE GOVERNMENT WAR ARCHIVES. NOW ON DISPLAY ARE THE THREE PARTS OF THE DIARY, A BOOK OF SHORT STORIES SHE WROTE CALLED 'TALES FROM THE SECRET ANNEX', AND A NOTEBOOK OF HER FAVORITE QUOTATIONS. ANNE ALSO WROTE 360 LOOSE PAGES WRITTEN ON FLIMSY PAPER, MOSTLY REVISING EARLIER DIARY ENTRIES WITH THE INTENTION OF PUBLISHING IT AFTER THE WAR. BECAUSE OF THE PAPERS' FRAGILE STATE, THE MUSEUM SAID IT WILL DISPLAY 40 SHEETS AT A TIME AND ROTATE THEM. THE DIARY AND OTHER PAPERS HAVE BEEN STUDIED, PUBLISHED AND IN SOME CASES REPRODUCED IN REPLICAS, BUT IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE FULL COLLECTION IN ANNE'S OWN HAND IN ONE PLACE. THE DIARY HAS BEEN TRANSLATED INTO DOZENS OF LANGUAGES, HAS BEEN READ BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND IS ON THE CURRICULUM OF MANY SCHOOLS. THE CRAMPED APARTMENT, WITH TWO STORIES AND A SMALL ATTIC, WAS RESTORED AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC ON 3.MAY.1960, BY ANNE'S FATHER, OTTO FRANK, THE ONLY SURVIVOR AMONG THE EIGHT JEWS WHO HID THERE. THE DIARY CHRONICLES ANNE'S LIFE AND COMING OF AGE FROM 12.JUNE.1942, UNTIL 1.AUGUST.1944. THE HOUSE WAS RAIDED THREE DAYS LATER AND ITS OCCUPANTS DEPORTED TO GERMANY. ANNE DIED OF TYPHUS AT AGE 15 IN THE BERGEN-BELSEN CONCENTRATION CAMP IN MARCH 1945, ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE CAMP WAS LIBERATED.

28.4.10

BONHAMS TO SELL DOLL DRESSED BY QUEEN VICTORIA'S DAUGHTER


A WAX DOLL DRESSED BY QUEEN VICTORIA'S ELDEST DAUGHTER, THE EMPRESS FREDERICK OF GERMANY (CHRISTENED PRINCESS VICTORIA, THE PRINCESS ROYAL), IS TO BE SOLD AT BONHAMS, KNIGHTSBRIDGE ON 26.MAY, AS PART OF THE FINE DOLLS AND TEDDY BEARS SALE. THE EMPRESS DRESSED THE DOLL, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO FETCH £800 – 1,200, FOR A BAZAAR IN LONDON TO RAISE FUNDS FOR IMPOVERISHED GERMANS IN THE CITY, CIRCA 1868, AND IT WAS BOUGHT BY THE FINANCIER BARON VON SCHRODER. THE DOLL WEARS A BEAUTIFUL LONG WHITE COTTON DRESS AND LACE DRESS WITH A PINK SATIN UNDERSKIRT, LAYERS OF UNDERCLOTHING AND A RIBBONED BONNET. ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT OF THE SALE IS ONE OF THE FIRST WOODEN DOLLS EVER MADE, CIRCA 1680. THE DOLL IS DRESSED IN THE HABIT OF THE CARMELITE CONVENT AT BETHUNE, WHICH SPEAKS OF THE RELIGIOUS TURMOIL OF THE TIME. THE FEW KNOWN 17th CENTURY DOLLS DRESSED IN HABITS ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE BELONGED TO THE CHILDREN OF CATHOLIC FAMILIES, WHO WERE SENT ABROAD TO BE EDUCATED. THEY WOULD SEND THEIR DOLL BACK TO ENGLAND DRESSED TO THE ORDER THEY HAD JOINED, AND TO SIGNIFY THAT THEY WERE SAFE, THIS UNIQUE AND HISTORIC LOT IS ESTIMATED AT £10,000 – 15,000.

PRINCE OF WALES WHEELS DUCHESS OF CORNWALL TO THE OPERA


THE PRINCE OF WALES WHEELED THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL INTO THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE AS THEY ARRIVED FOR THE FIRST NIGHT OF THE PERFORMANCE AIDA. THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL FRACTURED HER LEFT LEG WHILE HILLWALKING IN SCOTLAND EARLIER THIS MONTH AND HAS BEEN USING A WHEELCHAIR TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF HER FIBULA BONE IN HEALS. THE CAST ON HER LOWER LEG DID BOT STOP CAMILLA FROM LOOKING GLAMOROUS IN A SPARKLING ROYAL BLUE COAT AND PLEATED CHIFFON DRESS BY ONE OF HER FAVORITE DESIGNERS, ANNA VALENTINE. THE PROCEEDS FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S PERFORMANCE AND TICKETS FOR A DINER WITH THE CAST WILL BENEFIT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE FOUNDATION, THE CHARITY WHICH SUPPORTS THE VENUE'S WORK. THE NEW PRODUCTION, DIRECTED BY DADID MCVICAR, IS THE FIRST TIME AIDA HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE SINCE 2003 AND STARS ITALIAN SOPRANO MICAELA CAROSI IN THE TITLE ROLE.

GUCCI TO LAUNCH CHILDREN'S LINE


ITALIAN FASHION HOUSE GUCCI HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL BE LAUNCH A CHILDREN'S LINE OF CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES IN JUNE. THE FIRST RANGE OF THE COLLECTION WILL BE UNVEILED IN ITALY AND THEN BE AVAILABLE AT ABOUT 40 GUCCI BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE. FRIDA GIANNINI HAS BEEN APPOINTED THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW CHILDREN'S WEAR LINE WHICH WILL ENHANCE THE DESIGN HOUSE BRAND TO A NEW GENERATION OF SAVVY CONSUMERS.

BRITISH BAND RECEIVES BANKSY PAINTING


AN UNEXPECTED PAINTING ARRIVED OUTSIDE SIMON DUNCAN'S WEST LONDON HOME RECENTLY, AND OVERNIGHT IT HAS PUT HIM AT THE HEART OF STREET CULTURE AND MADE HIM AT LEAST £200,000 WEALTHIER. A UNIQUE NEW WORK BY STREET ARTIST BANKSY WAS SENT UNEXPECTEDLY LAST WEEK TO DUNCAN, A 41 YEAR OLD WEB DEVELOPER, AS COMPENSATION FOR THE ARTIST HAVING COINCIDENTALLY CHOSEN THE NAME OF DUNCAN'S BAND AS THE TITLE FOR HIS NEXT FILM, 'EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP'. 'I AM A DRUMMER I A BAND THAT WAS CALLED EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP THAT I STARTED WITH FRIENDS 18 MONTHS BEFORE I TURNED 40. IT WAS A KIND OF MIDLIFE CRISIS, BUT WE ARE STILL GOING, WITH A DIFFERENT LINE-UP, AND IT HAS BECOME A BIT MORE SERIOUS', SAID DUNCAN, WHO AGREED TO CHANGE HIS BAND'S NAME 'TO BRACE YOURSELF' IN AN ARRANGEMENT WITH BANKSY. 'WE HAD THESE HILARIOUS EMAILS FROM SOMEONE SAYING HE WAS BANKSY, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WERE GENUINE', SAID DUNCAN. 'THEN A SCRUFFY WHITE VAN ARRIVED. THE DRIVER HAD NO IDEA WHAT HE WAS CARRYING.' THE BAND PLAN TO UNVEIL THEIR NEW NAME AND BACKDROP, WHICH SHOWS THE GRIM REAPER RIDING A DODGEM CAR, AT A LONDON GIG LATER THIS WEEK. THE BAND HAS PUT THE PAINTING IN STORAGE AT SOTHEBY'S AND WILL PERFORM IN FRONT OF A FULL-SIZE COPY.

QUEEN ELIZABETH AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH VISITS WALES


THE QUEEN AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH RECREATED A FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPH WHEN THEY RETURNED TO THE SCENE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES INVESTITURE. THEY WERE GIVEN A TOUR AROUND CAERNARFON CASTLE IN NORTH WALES, WHERE THE PRINCE FORMALLY TOOK ON HIS TITLE IN 1969. THEY RECREATED THE FAMOUS IMAGE WHEN THEY STEPPED ON TO THE QUEEN'S GATE BALCONY AT THE CASTLE IN FRONT OF THE CROWDS BELOW. THE ROYAL COUPLE WALKED AROUND THE ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS MUSEUM WITHIN THE CASTLE, WHERE THEY LOOKED AT ARTICLES FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR. A GOLD MEDAL FOR POETRY GIVEN TO SIEGFRIED SASSOON BY THE QUEEN IN 1957 WAS ONE OF THE OBJECTS SHOWN TO HER. SHE SAID TO LFT GEN JONATHON RILEY, THE MASTER OF ROYAL ARMORIES, THAT IT MUST BE DIFFICULT TO PICK THE RIGHT THINGS TO PUT ON DISPLAY. THE QUEEN WAS ACCOMPANIED BY TOWN MAYOR HYWEL ROBERTS ON THE TOUR, AND THE DUKE WALKED ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR'S WIFE MARGARET ROBERTS. HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN WAVED WALES FLAGS AND CHEERED AS THE ROYAL PARTY MADE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CASTLE GROUNDS. THE QUEEN WORE A PINK DRESS, WITH A HAT AND COAT OF THE SAME COLOUR, WHILE THE DUKE WORE A BLUE SUIT. AFTER LEAVING THE CASTLE, THE COUPLE BOARDED A BLACK PULLMAN CARRIAGE FOR A TEN-MINUTE JOURNEY ON THE NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY TO DINAS STATION. THERE SHE UNVEILED THE NAME OF THE FIRST CLASS CARRIAGE AS GLASLYN.

BONHAMS TO SELL MISSING LONGSTAFF PAINTING


A PAINTING INSPIRED BY THE PSYCHIC SPIRITS OF DEAD SOLDIERS AND BOUGHT BY A GRIEVING SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE WHO LOST A SON IN WW1 IS FOR SALE AS PART OF THE OWSTON COLLECTION IN SYDNEY WITH BONHAMS ON 25-6. JUNE. THE PAINTING BY WILLIAM FRANCIS LONGSTAFF (AUSTRALIAN, 1879-1953) TITLED 'THE REARGUARD (THE SPIRIT OF ANZAC), IS A HUGE OIL ON CANVAS, 53 9/16 x 106 5/16in, AND IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR $20,000-40,000. SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE PURCHASED THE PAINTING DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTIST FOR HIS OWN COLLECTION IN 1928. THE PAINTING IS AN ICONIC IMAGE, BELIEVED MISSING UNTIL NOW, BY THE OFFICIAL WAR ARTIST, WILL LONGSTAFF. IT IS ONE OF A SERIES OF ONLY SIX PAINTINGS WHICH REPRESENT THE PINNACLE OF THE ARTIST'S CAREER, BEGINNING WITH HIS BEST KNOWN WORK, MENIN GATE. LONGSTAFF HAD ATTENDED THE UNVEILING CEREMONY OF THE MENIN GATE MEMORIAL IN YPRES ON 24.JULY.1927. HE WAS SO MOVED BY THE CEREMONY THAT, DURING A MIDNIGHT WALK ALONG THE MENIN ROAD, HE IMAGINED A VISION OF STEEL-HELMETED SPIRITS RISING FROM THE MOONLIT CORNFIELDS. IT IS SAID THAT, FOLLOWING HIS RETURN TO LONDON, HE PAINTED THE WORK IN ONE SESSION. MARY HORSBURGH, WHO HAD WORKED IN A BRITISH CANTEEN DURING THE WAR, MAY HAVE INFLUENCED HIM. SHE HAD MET HIM DURING THE FATEFUL EVENING WALK, ND TOLD HIM THAT SHE COULD FEEL 'HER DEAD BOYS' ALL AROUND HER. 'THE REARGUARD (THE SPIRIT OF ANZAC), PRESENTS A GHOSTLY ARRAY OD SOLDIERS LINING UP NEAR THE BEACH AT GALLIPOLI IN THE BLEAK DAWN, WITH DEPARTING TRANSPORTS AND WARSHIPS BARELY VISIBLE ON THE MISTY HORIZON. BONHAMS WILL SELL THE PAINTING IN SYDNEY AT THE OVERSEAS PASSENGER TERMINAL AT CIRCULAR QUAY OVERLOOKING THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE AND HARBOUR BRIDGE ON 25-6.JUNE.

27.4.10

THE ART OF VINTAGE: AN AESTHETIC ODYSSEY THROUGH 20 VINTAGE PERRIER-JOUET CHAMPAGNES


WORLD RENOWNED LUXURY FRENCH CHAMPAGNE HOUSE PERRIER-JOUET IS LOVINGLY EXPLORED IN A STUNNING NEW BOOK CALLED 'THE ART OF VINTAGE: AN AESTHETIC ODYSSEY THROUGH 20 VINTAGE PERRIER-JOUET CHAMPAGNES'. WRITTEN BY WINE CRITIC SERENA SUTCLIFFE, HISTORIAN JEAN-PIERRE DEVROEY AND ART SPECIALIST FEDERICO SIMONTI, THE ART OF VINTAGE OFFERS A FASCINATING, ORIGINAL AND CREATIVE INSIGHT INTO THE ART AND HISTORY OF THE TIMES THROUGH THE LEGENDARY VINTAGES OF PERRIER-JOUET CHAMPAGNE, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS CHAMPAGNE HOUSES IN THE WORLD, WELL KNOWN FOR ITS CUREE BELLE EPOQUE AND THE ICONIC FLOWER BOTTLE CHAMPAGNE. FROM THE OLDEST VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE OF 1825 TO THE FIRST VINTAGE OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM IN 2002, THE BOOK DETAILS THE STRIKING, DELICATE AND PLEASURABLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ART AND VINTAGE. EACH CHAPTER IS ILLUSTRATED BY A COLLECTION OF RELEVANT HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS SUMMARIZED OVER TWO PAGES WITH SPECIAL AND EXCLUSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY TAKEN BY JAPANESE PHOTOGRAPHER MAKIKO TAKEHARA. PRINTED IN A LUXURIOUS EDITION WITH FORTY PAGES ON TRACING PAPER, THE BOOK IS A WORK OF ART WHICH WILL EASILY FIND A PLACE IN THE LIBRARY OF ART AND EPICUREAN LOVERS EVERYWHERE.

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS PAPILLONS COLLECTION


VAN CLEEF & ARPELS NEWEST JEWELRY CREATIONS IS TO BE CALLED THE PAPILLONS COLLECTION FEATURING A STUNNING ARRAY OF BEJEWELED BUTTERFLIES AND FLOWERS, WHICH INCLUDE INTRICATE PETALS MADE OF WHITE GOLD, SET WITH DAZZLING MULTI-COLOURED PRECIOUS GEMS AND DIAMONDS. THE COLLECTION WILL INCLUDE EARRINGS, A NECKLACE AND NUMEROUS BROACHES. THE EARRINGS ARE MADE OF GOLD AND PINK SAPPHIRES WHILE THE NECKLACE FEATURES AN AMAZING BLUE SAPPHIRE AT THE HEART OF THE BUTTERFLY. THE PAPILLONS COLLECTION WILL BECOME AVAILABLE AT VAN CLEEF & ARPELS IN LATE SPRING.



NEW PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN UNVEILED BY YOUNGEST ARTIST TO EVER PAINT A ROYAL



THE YOUNGEST ARTIST TO PAINT THE ROYAL FAMILY SINCE THE 17th CENTURY HAS COMPLETED ONE OF HIS GREATEST CHALLENGES TO DATE, THE OFFICIAL PORTRAIT OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. RUPERT ALEXANDER, WHO AT THE AGE OF 23 HAD PAINTED THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, ENJOYED THREE SITTINGS WITH THE QUEEN AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. NOW THE FRUITS OF HIS LABOR ARE SET TO BE UNVEILED AT THE ROYAL WARRANT HOLDERS ASSOCIATION IN LONDON. 'DURING THE SITTINGS I PAINTED IN OIL SKETCHES TO RECORD THE TONE AND COLOUR', ALEXANDER EXPLAINED. 'AND TO EXPERIMENT WITH VARIOUS GESTURES TO FIND WHAT BEST EXPRESSED THOSE ELEMENTS OF HER CHARACTER I WAS TRYING TO CAPTURE. I DECIDED TO LIMIT THE PORTRAIT TO HEAD AND SHOULDERS AS I WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE MORE HUMAN AND INTIMATE ASPECTS OF HER CHARACTER, RATHER THAN CLUTTERING THE PAINTING WITH THE FORMAL SYMBOLS OF HER PUBLIC ROLE.' THE ARTIST, NOW 35, STUDIED AT THE FLORENCE ACADEMY OF ARTS AND CHARLES CECIL STUDIOS, HAVING BEEN AWARDED A QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOLARSHIP TRUST SCHOLARSHIP {QEST} IN 1996. THE QUEEN DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF THINGS WITH ALEXANDER INCLUDING HIS GREAT-UNCLE, ALAN CAMPBELL-JOHNSON, WHO WAS PRESS ATTACHE TO EARL MOUNTBATTEN IN INDIA. 'WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UNVEILING OF RUPERT'S PORTRAIT, AS THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT ANY OF US WILL HAVE SEEN THE WORK', SAID RICHARD PECK, SECRETARY OF THE ROYAL WARRANT HOLDERS ASSOCIATION, WHICH ENDOWS QEST. QEST WAS ENDOWED BY THE ROYAL WARRANT HOLDERS ASSOCIATION TO ADVANCE EDUCATION IN MODERN AND TRADITIONAL CRAFTS AND TRADES IN THE UK. SCHOLARSHIPS OF UP TO £15,000 ARE AWARDED TWICE A YEAR. SINCE 1991 THE TRUST HAD AWARDED MORE THE £1.4 MILLION TO 218 CRAFTSMEN AND WOMEN AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 50+ TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS THROUGH STUDY, TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE.

'HOLLYWOOD' SIGN SAVED FROM DEVELOPERS


DEVELOPERS WON'T BE BUILDING ANYTHING BEHIND THE LANDMARK HOLLYWOOD SIGN. CALIFORNIA GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER SAID MONDAY A FINAL $900,000 DONATION BY THE PLAYBOY FOUNDER HUGH HEFNER COMPLETED THE $12.5 MILLION FUND-RAISING DRIVE TO PROTECT THE 138 ACRES BEHIND THE FAMOUS SIGN. THE GOVERNOR PRAISED THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN RAISING THE MONEY TO KEEP THE PROPERTY OUT OF THE HANDS OF LAND DEVELOPERS. THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND CONSERVATION GROUP RAISED $6.7 MILLION IN PRIVATE FUNDS, THE STATE RAISED $3.1 MILLION AND LOCAL FUNDS PROVIDED $2.7 MILLION. HEFNER, WHO CALLS THE SIGN 'HOLLYWOOD'S EIFFEL TOWER', PUT THE EFFORT OVER THE TOP. SCHWARZENEGGER CALLED IT 'THE HOLLYWOOD ENDING WE HOPED FOR'. 'IT'S A SYMBOL OF DREAMS AND OPPORTUNITY', SCHWARZENEGGER SAID OF THE SIGN. 'THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN WILL WELCOME DREAMERS, ARTISTS AND AUSTRIAN BODYBUILDERS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.' THE GOVERNOR PRAISED THE CONSERVATION EFFORT AND PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, BORROWING FROM HIS HOLLYWOOD DAYS: 'I DID WHAT THE 'TERMINATOR' WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, AND THAT WAS TO JUMP INTO ACTION.' SCHWARZENEGGER NOTED PRIVATE DONATIONS WERE GIVEN BY ALL 50 STATES, 10 FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING J PAUL GETTY HEIR AILEEN GETTY, STEVEN SPIELBERG, TOM HANKS AND HEFNER. AILEEN GETTY AND THE TIFFANY & CO FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTED $1 MILLION. 'MY CHILDHOOD DREAMS AND FANTASIES CAME FROM THE MOVIES, AND THE IMAGES CREATED IN HOLLYWOOD HAD A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON MY LIFE AND PLAYBOY', HEFNER SAID. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOHN DONNELLY SAYS THE PERMANENT PROTECTION OF CAHUENGA PEAK IS A SIGNIFICANT ADDITION TO GRIFFITH PARK AND THAT IT WILL 'ENHANCE WILDLIFE CORRIDORS THROUGHOUT THE REGION'. THE LAND WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN 1950 BY INDUSTRIALIST HOWARD HUGHES, WHO WANTED TO BUILD A HOME FOR THE GIRLFRIEND GINGER ROGERS. BUT THE RELATIONSHIP ENDED AND THE HUGHES ESTATE LATER SOLD THE PROPERTY IN 2002 TO A GROUP OF CHICAGO INVESTORS. THE PROPERTY, ZONED FOR FOUR LUXURY HOMES, WAS PUT ON THE MARKET TWO YEARS AGO FOR $22 MILLION.

26.4.10

NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM TO PRESENT 'DESIGNING TOMORROW: AMERICA'S WORLD FAIRS OF THE 1930s'


IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, TENS OF MILLIONS OF VISITORS FLOCKED TO WORLD'S FAIRS IN CHICAGO, CLEVELAND, DALL, SAN DIEGO, AND NEW YORK WHERE THEY ENCOUNTERED VISIONS OF A MODERN, TECHNOLOGICAL TOMORROW UNLIKE ANYTHING SEEN BEFORE. ARCHITECTS AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGNERS LIKE RAYMOND LOEWY, NORMAN BEL GEDDES, HENRY DREYFUSS AND WALTER DORWIN TEAGUE COLLABORATED WITH BUSINESSES LIKE GENERAL MOTORS AND WESTINGHOUSE TO PRESENT A GOLDEN FUTURE COMPLETE WITH HIGHWAYS, TELEVISION, ALL-ELECTRIC KITCHENS AND EVEN ROBOTS. THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM'S NEW EXHIBITION 'DESIGNING TOMORROW: AMERICA'S WORLD FAIRS OF THE 1930s' IS THE FIRST-EVER EXHIBITION TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF ALL SIX AMERICAN WORLD FAIRS OF THE DEPRESSION ERA ON THE POPULARIZATION OF MAJOR DESIGN AND THE CREATION OF A MODERN CONSUMER CULTURE. ON DISPLAY FROM 2.OCTOBER.2010 THROUGH 10.JULY.2011, DESIGNING TOMORROW BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 200 NEVER BEFORE ASSEMBLED ARTIFACTS FROM THE SIX FAIRS. THE EXHIBITION FURTHER EXPLORES HOW THE 1930s WORLD'S FAIRS WERE USED BY LEADING CORPORATIONS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS LABORATORIES FOR EXPERIMENTING WITH INNOVATIVE DISPLAY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS TECHNIQUES, AND AS GRAND PLATFORMS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW PRODUCTS AND IDEAS TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.nbm.org

SWEDISH ROYAL ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN CALLED OFF


A SWEDISH ROYAL ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN CALLED OFF AFTER A STUDENT STUDYING IN BOURNEMOUTH CLAIMED SHE HAD A BRIEF AFFAIR WITH THE GROOM TO BE. JONAS BERGSTROM HAD BEEN ENGAGED TO PRINCESS MADELEINE OF SWEDEN, 27, AFTER A ROMANCE SPANNING EIGHT YEARS. BUT THE 31 YEAR OLD LAWYER CHEATED ON HER WITH A BEAUTIFUL NORWEGIAN STUDENT STUDYING AT ARTS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE IN THE SEASIDE RESORT, DURING A SKI TRIP WITH FRIENDS. AFTER TORA UPPSTROM BERG REVEALED THEIR AFFAIR TO A MAGAZINE, THE ROYAL PALACE IN STOCKHOLM ANNOUNCED THAT THE ENGAGEMENT WAS OVER. PRINCESS MADELEINE FLED TO NEW YORK FOR 'PEACE AND QUIET' TO RECOVER FROM THE SHOCK OF HER FIANCE'S BETRAYAL. THE SCANDAL IS THE LATEST TO SHAKE THE SWEDISH MONARCHY. MADELEINE'S BROTHER PRINCE CARL PHILIP IS DATING A TOPLESS REALITY TV SHOW MODEL. THE COUNTRY IS PREPARING FOR THE WEDDING OF MADELEINE'S OLDER SISTER CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA TO THE OWNER OF A HEALTH CLUB IN JUNE. PRINCESS MADELEINE, WHO IS THIRD IN LINE TO THE THRONE AFTER HER SISTER AND BROTHER, SHARED AN APARTMENT IN STOCKHOLM WITH HER FIANCE. HE PROPOSED TO HER ON THE ISLAND OF CAPRI LAST AUGUST. NO DATE HAD BEEN SET FOR THEIR WEDDING BUT IT WAS WIDELY EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED IN THE SUMMER. FOR THREE DAYS AFTER THE SCANDAL BROKE THE PALACE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUPLE HAD ANY PROBLEMS. BUT ON SATURDAY MADELEINE TOOK OFF HER ENGAGEMENT RING, BOARDED A FLIGHT FOR THE US AND A STATEMENT CONFIRMED THEY HAD SPLIT. 'THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT THE BEST FOR THEM IS TO GO THEIR SEPARATE WAYS', THE PALACE SAID. THE ROYAL COURT ASKED FOR THE MEDIA TO LEAVE THE PRINCESS AND HER FORMER FIANCE ALONE. 'THEY NEED PEACE AND QUIET IN THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION. THE HEAVY COVERAGE DOES NOT EASE THE SITUATION FOR THEM', IT SAID, ADDING IT WOULD NOT COMMENT FURTHER ON THE ISSUE. THE PRINCESS, WHOSE FULL TITLE IS MADELEINE THERESE AMELIE JOSEPHINE, PRINCESS OF SWEDEN, DUCHESS OF HALSINGLAND AND GASTRIKLAND, WILL SPEND A FEW WEEKS IN NEW YORK. INSIDERS SAID SHE WOULD TRY TO OVERCOME HER MISERY BY THROWING HERSELF INTO HER WORK FOR THE WORLD CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION.

T E LAWRENCE DESIGNED STAMPS TO GO ON DISPLAY


A COLLECTION OF STAMPS DESIGNED BY T E LAWRENCE FOR HIS ARABIAN KINGDOM, AND NOW OWNED BY THE QUEEN, WILL BE SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME. LAWRENCE DESIGNED THE STAMPS FOR THE SHORT-LIVED KINGDOM OF HIJAZ, IN THE WEST OF MODERN-DAY SAUDI ARABIA, AND THEY BECAME PART OF GEORGE V's COLLECTION. LAWRENCE, ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE ARAB REVOLT AGAINST TURKISH RULE DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR, PRODUCED THE STAMPS IN PROOF FORM AS PART OF HIS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE FLEDGLING KINGDOM. THE BLUE STAMP SHEET, ALONG WITH A HANDWRITTEN NOTE FROM LAWRENCE, WILL BE DISPLAYED AS PART OF THE EMPIRE MAIL: GEORGE V AND THE GPO EXHIBITION AT GUILDHALL ART GALLERY FROM 7.MAY. THE SHEET OF 50 STAMPS WERE FOUND BY A MEMBER OF STAFF AT THE ROYAL PHILATELIC COLLECTION. IT HAD BEEN FOLDED OVER SO IT HAD NOT BEEN NOTICED BEFORE IN GEORGE V's IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION WHICH IS THOUGHT TO INCLUDE ENOUGH STAMPS TO FILL MORE THAN 2,000 ALBUMS, ACCORDING TO THE SUNDAY TIMES. HIJAZ LASTED FROM 1916 TO 1924, COVERING AN EASTERN COASTAL AREA OF THE RED SEA.

VERSAILLES TO CELEBRATE TERCENTENARY OF THE ROYAL CHAPEL


TO MARK THE TERCENTENARY OF THE ROYAL CHAPEL, THE CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES IS DEVOTING AN EXHIBITION THAT PRESENTS THE GENESIS OF THE BUILDING AND THE HIGHLIGHTS OF ITS HISTORY. AMONG THE WORKS EXHIBITED, THE LITURGICAL FURNITURE DONATED BY LOUIS XIV TO THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHREIN JERUSALEM WILL BE ON VIEW TO THE PUBLIC. THE WORK WAS UNDERTAKEN BY JULES HARDOUIN-MANSART IN 1687 AND COMPLETED IN 1710 BY ROBERT DE COTTE, AND THE ROYAL CHAPEL OF VERSAILLES, A MASTERPIECE OF SACRED ART, BECAME THE THEATER OF THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES OF THE ROYAL COURT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRADITION OF THE PALATINE CHAPELS, IT HAS TWO LEVELS. THE PRINCIPAL GALLERY, ABOVE THE ENTRANCE, WAS RESERVED FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY, WHILE THE SIDE GALLERIES WERE FOR THE PRINCES OF ROYAL BLOOD AND PRINCIPAL DIGNITARIES OF THE COURT; THE OTHER FAITHFUL WERE ON THE GROUND FLOOR. THE ORGAN WAS PLACED IN THE LOFT OVER THE HIGH ALTAR. DESIGNED BY CLICQUOT, ITS MOST FAMOUS ORGANIST WAS FRANCOIS COUPERIN. TO ACCOMPANY THE CELEBRATION OF THIS TERCENTENARY, THE ANNEXES OF THE CHAPEL WILL BE OPENED FOR GUIDED VISITS: THE SACRISTIES, THE ORATORY OF MADAME DE POMPADOUR, AS WELL AS THE ROOMS USED BY THE CHORISTERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE KING'S ORCHESTRA. THE PRESERVED ANNEXES WILL ENABLE VISITORS TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE DAILY LIFE OF THE VARIOUS INCUMBENTS OF THE ROYAL CHAPEL DURING THE ANCIEN REGIME.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT en.chateauversailles.fr

PRINCESS BEATRICE BECOMES FIRST ROYAL TO COMPLETE LONDON MARATHON


PRINCESS BEATRICE HAS BECOME THE FIRST ROYAL TO COMPLETE THE LONDON MARATHON AS MORE THAN 35,000 RUNNERS BRAVED HEAVY DOWNPOURS TO CONTEST THE ANNUAL RACE. THE 21 YEAR OLD PRINCESS AND HER AMERICAN BOYFRIEND DAVID CLARK WERE PART OF A 'HUMAN CATERPILLAR' OF 34 PEOPLE WHO RAN THE LENGTH OF THE 26.2 MILE COURSE TIED TOGETHER WITH BUNGEE CORDS. THE CHARITY TEAM, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED ENTREPRENEUR SIR RICHARD BRANSON'S TWO CHILDREN SAM AND HOLLY, COMPLETED THE COURSE IN FIVE HOURS, 13 MINUTES AND FOUR SECONDS, SETTING A NEW WORLD RECORD FOR MOST PEOPLE TO FINISH A MARATHON WHILE TIED TOGETHER. THE PRINCESS, WHO DONNED A LIME GREEN TUTU OVER HER RUNNING GEAR, WAS CONGRATULATED AT THE FINISHING LINE BY HER PARENTS THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK, WHO WATCHED THE RACE TOGETHER. PRINCESS BEATRICE, WHO IS A STUDENT AT GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, WAS RUNNING TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHILDREN IN CRISIS.

25.4.10

BUGATTI GALIBIER GT CONCEPT WATCH



SINCE ITS INCEPTION BUGATTI HAS EARNED ITSELF AN UNDISPUTED NAME IN CAR MANUFACTURING, FROM ITS SLEEK CLASSIC DESIGNS TO ITS PROWESS ON THE ROADWAYS, BUT THE LEGENDARY AUTO MAKER HAS ALSO EARNED FAME FOR CREATING STUNNING MASTERPIECES IN HOROLOGY. THE PARMIGIANI FLEURIER BUGGATTI TYPE 370 TIMEPIECE WAS HONOURED BY THE JAPANESE PRESS AND WAS ALSO ESTEEMED WITH THE 'WATCH OF THE YEAR 2006' AWARD. CARRYING FURTHER THE SAME TRADITION OF MASTER CRAFTSMANSHIP, THE NEW BUGATTI GALIBIER GT CONCEPT WATCH, DESIGNED BY FRENCH DESIGNER FABIEN CACHEAU, FEATURES A TACHOMETER THAT INDICATES THE HOURS AT THE CENTER ALONG WITH THE LEATHER STRAP THAT INSTANTLY BRINGS TO MIND THE LUXURY INTERIORS OF THE BUGATTI.

CHARLES RIVA COLLECTION TO PRESENT EXHIBITION OF ANDREAS HOFER


CHARLES RIVA COLLECTION, BRUSSELS, WILL BE PRESENTING AN EXHIBITION ABOUT THE WORK OF ANDREAS HOFER, ONE OF THE LEADING GERMAN CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS. THE SHOW WILL DISPLAY DRAWINGS, COLLAGES, PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES. IN HIS WORK, ANDREAS HOFER CREATES COMPLEX VISUAL WORLDS BASED ON NARRATIVE STRUCTURES. HIS THEMATIC AND FORMAL REFERENCES DEFY ANY CATEGORIZATION. HIS VOCABULARY RANGES FROM CHRISTIAN, SATANIST, ASTROLOGICAL OR MYTHOLOGICAL SYMBOLISM TO RECOLLECTIONS FROM ART HISTORY, WHEREAS HE JUXTAPOSES FIGURES FROM THE FIFTIES, POP CULTURE AND COMIC STRIP WITH ICONS OF MODERNISM OR SCIENCE-FICTIONS, AND CONFRONTS ELEMENTS OF HORROR FROM THE WESTERN MASS MEDIA WITH THE DISGRACED, BANNED STYLISTIC FEATURES THAT MARKED THE ART OF THE THIRD REICH. USING THOSE SUBJECT MATTERS, HOFER EXTRACTS THESE SIGNS FROM A FORBIDDEN WORLD, PRODUCING ARTWORKS THAT TRAVERSE TIME TO BECOME AN INCISIVE REFLECTION AND FANCIFUL MEDITATION ON HISTORY AND POPULAR CULTURE. SIGNING HIS WORKS WITH THE ALTER EGO 'ANDY HOPE', AND THE DATE '1930', HOFER SIMULTANEOUSLY INVOKES ANDY WARHOL AND A DARK ERA OF EUROPEAN HISTORY. ANDREA HOFER IS REPRESENTED IN MANY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS WORLDWIDE AND HE CURRENTLY WORKS WITH HAUSER &WIRTH, LONDON/ZURICH AND METRO PICTURES GALLERY, NEW YORK.

RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS 'SPLENDID TREASURES OF THE TURKOMEN TRIBES OF CENTRAL ASIA'


EXQUISITE SILVER AND GILT JEWELRY FROM THE TURKOMEN TRIBES IF IRAN, AFGHANISTAN AND TURKMENISTAN ARE PRESENTED IN A STUNNING NEW EXHIBITION 'SPLENDID TREASURES OF THE TURKOMEN TRIBES OF CENTRAL ASIA' AT THE JOHN AND MABLE RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART, SARASOTA, FL., 24.APRIL THROUGH 30.JANUARY.2011. THE EXHIBIT OF MORE THAN 40 OBJECTS HAND CRAFTED BY THE SEMI-NOMADIC TURKOMEN PEOPLE FEATURES HEADDRESS ORNAMENTS, BRACELETS AND CLOTHING CLASPS WITH CARNELIAN AND LAVISH DECORATIVE ELEMENTS OF SILVER AND GOLD. THE COLLECTION INCLUDES JEWELRY CREATED LARGELY IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY AND THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20th CENTURY, AND WORN BY WOMEN FROM HEAD TO ARM. DECORATED WITH GILDING, CHAINS AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES, EACH PIECE IS IMBUED WITH SYMMETRICAL YET ORGANIC DESIGNS DRAWN FROM THE TRIBES' MYTHOLOGICAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE NATURAL WORLD. NOW PART OF THE RINGLING'S DEVELOPING ASIAN ART HOLDINGS, THE COLLECTION WAS RECENTLY DONATED BY STEPHEN VAN C WILBERDING, FORMER SENIOR ADVISER TO THE SAUDI ARABIA MONETARY AGENCY. THE EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS THE CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS OF THE TURKOMEN TRIBES' DISTINCTIVE LIFESTYLE. THE BOLD AND INTRICATE JEWELRY REPRESENTS THE TURKOMEN TRIBES' FORM OF TRANSPORTABLE WEALTH WORN FOR SPECIAL FESTIVITIES OR DAILY ADORNMENT. OFTEN LARGE IN SIZE, THESE ELABORATE PIECES WERE SEWN ONTO CLOTHING OR ATTACHED TO THE HAIR. UNIQUE TALL HEADDRESSES WERE DECORATED WITH ELABORATE JEWELRY, OFTEN WITH BELLS AND PENDANTS HANGING DOWN FROM THE TEMPLES. SOME ORNAMENTS WERE PURPORTED TO HAVE SPECIAL PROPERTIES TO KEEP THE WEARER SAFE. TRIBE CONTINUITY WAS ALWAYS PRECARIOUS, SO GREAT IMPORTANCE WAS ATTACHED TO WEDDINGS, BIRTHDAYS AND THE SURVIVAL OF CHILDREN. YOUNG WOMEN OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE WORE SPECIAL JEWELRY, WHICH WAS REPLACED BY MORE ELABORATE FORMS FOR THE WEDDING CEREMONY, WHEN A WOMEN'S JEWELRY WAS ENHANCED BY THE DOWRY GIVEN BY THE GROOM AND HIS FAMILY. MARRIED WOMEN WORE THEIR EXPENSIVE COLLECTIONS OF JEWELRY UNTIL THE BIRTH OF THEIR FIRST SON, LAYERING MULTIPLE PIECES FROM HEAD TO HANDS. CHANGES IN HAIRSTYLES, TOO, REFLECTED THE CHANGE IN SOCIAL POSITION, SO TURKOMEN WOMEN ADORNED THEMSELVES WITH SPECIAL HAIR ORNAMENTS TO INDICATE THEIR MARITAL STATUS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.ringling.org

QUEEN ELIZABETH APPOINTS INTERNET PIONEER FOR ROYAL COLLECTION


THE QUEEN RECENTLY APPOINTED INTERNET PIONEER JEMIMA RELLIE TO PUT THE ROYAL ART COLLECTION ON LINE. ALWAYS KEEN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, THE QUEEN HAS MADE A FASCINATING NEW APPOINTMENT. THE QUEEN HAS CREATED A NEW POST FOR JEMIMA RELLIS, WHO PUT THE TATE GALLERY AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE ONLINE ART REVOLUTION. SHE WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING AND NEW MEDIA AT THE ROYAL COLLECTION, WHICH CONTAINS AROUND 200,000 WORKS OF ART WORTH AN ESTIMATED £10 BILLION. 'WE WANT TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS EXCITING TECHNOLOGY', A SPOKESMAN FOR THE QUEEN SAID IN A RECENT INTERVIEW WITH THE TELEGRAPH. 'WE ARE USING NEW MEDIA INCREASINGLY IN THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD. WE HAVE YOUTUBE, A TWITTER ACCOUNT, AND WE ARE USING FLICKR. RELLIE JOINS THE PALACE FROM THE GETTY CONSERVATION INSTITUTE IN LOS ANGELES, WHERE SHE HAS WORKED SINCE LEAVING THE TATE IN 2007, SHE WAS APPOINTED THE TATE'S FIRST HEAD OF DIGITAL PROGRAMS AND ESTABLISHED THE AWARD-WINNING TATE ONLINE. JONATHAN MARSDEN, THE DIRECTOR DESIGNATE OF THE ROYAL COLLECTION, SAYS SHE WILL BRING 'A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN PUBLISHING AND NEW MEDIA'. HE ADDED: 'WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER ON PROJECTS TO INCREASE ENJOYMENT OF THE ROYAL COLLECTION IN A NUMBER OF NEW WAYS.' RELLIE SAYS: 'THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY. I RELISH THE CHANCE TO HELP ENSURE THAT NEW AND EXISTING AUDIENCES ARE INSPIRED AND REWARDED BY ALL THAT THE ROYAL COLLECTION HAS TO OFFER.'