MFAH TO PRESENT

THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON, ANNOUNCED TODAY A STUNNING LOAN EXHIBITION OF FRENCH IMPRESSIONIST AND POST-IMPRESSIONIST MASTERPIECES FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART IN WASHINGTON DC. THE EXHIBITION WILL PRESENT A SELECTION OF 50 PAINTINGS FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART'S PREMIER HOLDINGS WHILE THE GALLERIES THAT HOUSE ITS 19th CENTURY FRENCH COLLECTION ARE CLOSED FOR RESTORATION AND RENOVATION. THE NATIONAL GALLERY'S IMPRESSIONIST AND POST-IMPRESSIONIST COLLECTION RANKS AMONG THE FINEST IN THE WORLD AND FEATURES SOME OF THE GREATEST ARTISTS ACTIVE IN FRANCE BETWEEN THE 1860s AND THE EARLY 20th CENTURY, INCLUDING CEZANNE, DEGAS, MANET, MONET, RENOIR, TOULOUSE-LAUTREC AND VAN GOGH. 'IMPRESSIONIST AND POST-IMPRESSIONIST MASTERPIECES FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE EUROPEAN GALLERIES OF THE MFAH's RAFAEL MONEO-DESIGNED AUDREY JONES BECK BUILDING. THE SHOW WILL RUN FROM 20.FEBRUARY THROUGH 22.MAY.2011.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.mfah.org

MCA TO PRESENT 'ALEXANDER CALDER AND CONTEMPORARY ART: FORM, BALANCE, JOY'

COLOURFUL MOBILES MADE FROM BOLDLY PAINTED SHEET METAL AND STEEL WIRES WILL HANG ABOVE VISITOR'S HEADS THIS SUMMER AS THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART DISPLAYS AN EXHIBIT OF 60 WORKS BY RENOWNED ARTIST ALEXANDER CALDER. BUT THIS CALDER SHOW, WHICH DEBUTS SATURDAY, DOESN'T ONLY FEATURE THE ARTIST'S ABSTRACT PIECES IN THE MUSEUM'S LARGE, WHITE MAIN-FLOOR GALLERY. IN AN EQUALLY LARGE GALLERY ACROSS THE WAY, DOZENS OF WORKS BY YOUNG ARTISTS WHO HAVE A CLADERESQUE STYLE ARE ON VIEW. THE IDEA OF JUXTAPOSING CALDER'S WORKS ALONGSIDE THOSE FROM A YOUNGER GENERATION CAME FROM MUSEUM CURATOR LYNNE WARREN. WARREN SOUGHT OUT SPECIFIC ARTISTS WHO WERE LOOKING TO CALDER. HER AIM WAS TO ACCESS HIS INFLUENCE ON CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS. CALDER WAS REVOLUTIONARY IN HIS DEVELOPMENT AS A SCULPTOR, MAKING MOVABLE PARTS IN HIS WORKS AND CREATING WHAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS A THE MOBILE. THE EXHIBIT, 'ALEXANDER CALDER AND CONTEMPORARY ART: FORM, BALANCE, JOY', REMAINS IN CHICAGO THROUGH 17.OCTOBER BEFORE IT TRAVELS TO MUSEUMS IN CALIFORNIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND TEXAS. IT CONTAINS FIVE CALDER PIECES FROM THE MCA'S COLLECTION, ALONG WITH CALDER WORKS ON LOAN FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 WORKS FROM THE YOUNG ARTISTS, WHO RANGE IN AGE FROM 36 TO 43. THEIR WORKS ECHO CALDER'S COLOUR, PLAYFULNESS, ENGINEERING AND MOBILITY. CALDER, WHO DIED IN 1976 AT THE AGE OF 78, FIRST TOOK ART CLASSES IN NEW YORK BEFORE TRAVELING IN THE 1920s TO FRANCE, WHERE HE DEBUTED HIS SIGNATURE MOBILE. IN 1933, HE MOVED TO A CONNECTICUT FARM AND HE CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL HIS DEATH. IN THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION, HIS MOBILES HANG SILENTLY FROM THE GALLERY CEILING, MOVING SLIGHTLY BACK AND FORTH WITH THE ROOM'S AIR CURRENTS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.mcachicago.org

PRINCE HARRY BEGINS NEW YORK TOUR

PRINCE HARRY HAS RECENTLY BEGUN A THREE-DAY TRIP TO NEW YORK IN SUPPORT OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN WAR VETERANS. THE YOUNG ROYAL WILL USE THE VISIT AS A FACT0FINDING MISSION TO SEE IF CHARITIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC THAT HELP RETURNING WOUNDED SERVICEMEN MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER. HARRY, WHO SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2007-08 FOR TEN WEEKS, WILL MEET WOUNDED SOLDERS, YOUNG ARMY CADETS AND SUPPORTERS OF AMERICA'S INJURED SERVICEMEN OVER THE COMING DAYS. THE PRINCE WILL ALSO TAKE PART IN THE VEUVE CLICQUOT POLO CLASSIC ON SUNDAY, WHICH WILL RAISE FUNDS FOR THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SENTEBALE, THE US BRANCH OF THE CHARITY HE C0-FOUNDED. DURING THE THREE-DAY VISIT HARRY WILL BE JOINED BY TWO YOUNG BRITISH OFFICERS WHO WERE WOUNDED ON OPERATIONS BUT HAVE SINCE WORKED TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR FELLOW INJURED SERVICEMEN IN THE UK. THE PRINCE, A TRAINEE APACHE HELICOPTER PILOT WITH THE ARMY AIR CORPS, WILL JOIN CADETS FROM THE FAMOUS US MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT ON THE FIRING RANGE AND CHAT WITH THE STUDENTS. HARRY WILL ALSO VISIT THE INTREPID SEA AIR SPACE MUSEUM WHERE HE WILL ATTEND A RECEPTION IN SUPPORT OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN VETERANS. THE ROYAL'S PRIVATE SECRETARY, JAMIE LOWTHER-PINKERTON, SAID: 'AS PRINCE HARRY KNOWS VERY WELL FOR HIMSELF, US AND BRITISH SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND AIRMEN FIGHT TOGETHER DAILY ON THE FRONTLINES IN AFGHANISTAN. TRAGICALLY, ALL TOO OFTEN, THEY ARE ALSO WOUNDED TOGETHER, AND THEIR IMMEDIATE TREATMENT IN THEATER IS VERY OFTEN UNDERTAKEN USING SHARED RESOURCES. BUT THEIR CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMALLY CEASES WHEN THEY ARE GET BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES FOR THE LONG MONTHS AND YEARS OF REHABILITATION.' HE ADDED: 'PRINCE HARRY WANTS TO EXPLORE WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN BE DONE TO STRENGTHEN AND WIDEN THE TRANSATLANTIC PEER GROUP, TO HELP, THROUGH THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES, AND BASIC CAMARADERIE, THE WOUNDED SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN OF BOTH COUNTRIES TO REGAIN CONFIDENCE AND SET THEMSELVES ON THE PATH TO RECOVERY AND A FULL AND SATISFYING FUTURE.'

FULLER CRAFT MUSEUM PRESENTS 'MIGRATION'

FULLER CRAFT MUSEUM, BROCKTON, MASS, PRESENTS 'MIGRATION', AN INSTALLATION BY SOUTH DARTMOUTH-BASED PAINTER AND CERAMIC ARTIST NANCY TRAIN SMITH, ON VIEW THROUGH 31.OCTOBER IN THE COURTYARD MOAT ON THE BUCOLIC GROUNDS OF THE MUSEUM. CONSISTING OF OVER 100 TERRACOTTA FISH FIGURES, THE INSTALLATION IS A DRAMATIC REINTERPRETATION OF THE LANDSCAPE THROUGH THE VISUAL TENSION BETWEEN FORM, LOCATION AND COLOUR. LOCATED ON 22 ACRES OF WOODLAND ON THE SHORE'S OF PORTER'S POND, FULLER CRAFT MUSEUM PROVIDES A PICTURESQUE HOME FOR THE STUNNING ARTWORK. BERMUDA-BORN NANCY TRAIN SMITH IS A STUDIO ARTIST WITH AN EXTENSIVE AND EVOLVING CATALOG OF WORKS IN CERAMICS AND PAINTING. SHE HAS A BA IN ART HISTORY FROM WELLESLEY COLLEGE AND HAS ALSO STUDIED AT THE SCHOOL OF THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON.

PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM REOPENS THE CROWNINSHIELD-BENTLEY HOUSE

THE PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM, SALEM, MASS. RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE REOPENING OF ONE OF ITS MOST STORIED PROPERTIES, THE CROWNINSHIELD-BENTLEY HOUSE. THE HOUSE, ONE OF 22 HISTORIC PROPERTIES STEWARDED BY PEM, IS LOCATED AT 126 ESSEX STREET IN SALEM, MA AND DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. DOCENT-LED TOURS OF THE HOUSE WILL TAKE PLACE DURING SALEM HERITAGE WEEK IN AUGUST. BUILT AT 108 ESSEX STREET IN 1727 BY FISH MERCHANT AND CHIP CAPTAIN, JOHN CROWNINSHIELD, THE HOUSE WAS HOME TO ONE OF NEW ENGLAND'S MOST RENOWNED DIARISTS, REVEREND BENTLEY, FROM 1791 THROUGH 1819. THE HOUSE WAS SOLD TO SALEM'S HAWTHORNE HOTEL IN THE LATE 1940s. THE HAWTHORNE HOTEL DONATED THE HOUSE TO THE ESSEX INSTITUTE IN 1959, AND THE HOUSE WAS MOVED TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION. UNDER THE CURATORIAL LEADERSHIP OF DEAN LAHIKAINEN, PEM'S CAROLYN AND PETER LYNCH CURATOR OF AMERICAN DECORATIVE ARTS, THE HOUSE HAS BEEN RESTORED TO ITS 1794 APPEARANCE WITH THE EXTERIOR AND ALL PUBLIC SPACES REPAINTED. RESTORATION EFFORTS THUS FAR INCLUDED RESTORATION OF OBJECTS AND WINDOW TREATMENTS, NEW CHIMNEYS, REFURBISHED INTERIOR DECOR AND SITE UPGRADES. THE NEST PHASE OF THE ONGOING CROWNINSHIELD-BENTLEY RESTORATION WILL INCLUDE REVEREND WILLIAM BENTLEY'S LIBRARY AND STUDY. BENTLEY, WHOSE FAME SPREAD FAR BEYOND SALEM, WAS A PASTOR, POLITICIAN, LINGUIST, NATURALIST, ANTIQUARIAN, AND DIARIST. THE DIARY KEPT BY BENTLEY IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NEW ENGLAND DIARIES OF THE PERIOD.

DAMIAN HIRST CREATES ARTWORK WITH AUDI AI FOR ELTON JOHN'S CHARITY

A CAR TRANSFORMED INTO A STUNNING AND UNIQUE ARTWORK BY ACCLAIMED ARTIST DAMAIN HIRST IS SET TO RAISE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS WHEN IT IS AUCTIONED OFF AT ELTON JOHN'S WHITE TIE AND TIARA BALL. THE CANDYFLOSS PINK PAINT-SPLATTERS AUDI AI CAR HAS BEEN SPIN PAINTED BY HIRST IN HIS GLOUCESTERSHIRE STUDIO AND IS DESCRIBED AS 'FULLY DRIVABLE AND ROAD LEGAL'. ELTON JOHN SAID: 'THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING AUCTION ITEMS WE HAVE EVER HAD FOR WHITE TIE.' THE ANNUAL GLITTERING CHARITY EVENT IS HELD AT ELTON JOHN'S HOME WITH IS PARTNER DAVID FURNISH AND RAISES MONEY FOR THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION. THIS YEAR'S EVENT WILL BE HELD IN OLD WINDSOR, NEAR WINDSOR CASTLE. AS PART OF THE SAME LOT, THE CAR WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF WITH A 6ft DIAMETER CANVAS SPIN PAINTING, WHICH HIRST COMPLETED AT THE SAME TIME. THE AUDI AI WILL NOT BE SEEN ON UK ROADS UNTIL NOVEMBER, AND THE SPECIAL ARTWORK WAS CREATED AHEAD OF THE CAR'S MAINLAND EUROPEAN LAUNCH DATES. AUDI UK DIRECTOR JEREMY HICKS SAID: 'WE ARE ENORMOUSLY PROUD TO SUPPORT SIR ELTON JOHN'S REMARKABLE FUNDRAISING BALL FOR THE EIGHTH YEAR IN SUCCESSION WITH THE DONATION OF A PRICELESS AND UNREPEATABLE WORK OF ART FOR THE AUCTION.'

PRINCE WILLIAM DELAYS ROYAL SOCIETY APPEARANCE FOR ENGLAND MATCH

PRINCE WILLIAM DELAYED HIS ARRIVAL AT A CEREMONY WHERE HE WAS MADE A FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY SO THAT HE COULD WATCH ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP MATCH AGAINST SLOVENIA. THE PRINCE HAD INTENDED TO ARRIVE AT LONDON'S ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL TOWARDS THE END OF THE FIRST HALF, BUT DELAYED HIS TRIP FROM CLARENCE HOUSE BY 37 MINUTES. THE YOUNG ROYAL MANAGED TO SEE JERMAIN DEFOE'S WINNING GOAL SCORED 22 MINUTES INTO THE MATCH, AND ALSO WATCHED FRANK LAMPARD'S SHOT FROM AROUND 18 YARDS OUT FLY OVER THE BAR A SHORT WHILE LATER. WILLIAM ARRIVED AT THE HALL AT ABOUT 3.41p AFTER A POLICE-ESCORTED JOURNEY THAT TOOK JUST FOUR MINUTES, AHEAD OF THE QUEEN AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH WHO ARRIVED SHORTLY LATER TO SEE THEIR GRANDSON MADE A FELLOW. THE PRINCE WAS GIVEN REGULAR UPDATES ABOUT THE MATCH DURING THE EVENT, TO MARK THE 350th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY. THE PUBS AND BARS ON LONDON'S SOUTH BANK, WHERE THE EVENT TOOK PLACE, WERE FULL OF ENGLAND SUPPORTERS GLUED TO TELEVISIONS AND AT ONE POINT STAFF AT THE HALL WERE CAUGHT WATCHING THE GAME IN A BACKROOM. AFTER ACCEPTING THE HONOR AND GIVING A SPEECH HE MET UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FELLOWS BUT WAS STILL GETTING REPORTS ABOUT FABIO CAPELLO'S TEAM, WITH THE LAST COMING A MINUTE BEFORE THE FINAL WHISTLE WAS BLOWN. WILLIAM, WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, WAS ABLE TO WATCH ENGLAND'S PREVIOUS GAME, A DISAPPOINTING GOALLESS DRAW WITH ALGERIA, FROM A VIP BOX IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA. HE WAS CHOSEN AS THE NEW ROYAL FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY FOR HIS 'ACTIVE INTEREST IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY'. BEFORE HE WAS ADMITTED AS THE YOUNGEST FELLOW OF THE ORGANIZATION, A SENIOR ROYAL SOCIETY MEMBER SAID: 'PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES IS ELECTED AS A ROYAL FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY IN RECOGNITION OF HIS DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP ROLE AT NATIONAL LEVEL, HIS ACTIVE INTEREST IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND HIS ABILITY TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN YOUNG PEOPLE.' WILLIAM SAID TAKING ON THE ROLE WAS AN 'EXTRAORDINARY HONOR'. HE SAID: 'IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ME TO BE FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF NOT ONLY THE PATRON, MY GRANDMOTHER, BUT ALSO MY GRANDFATHER AND FATHER WHO, INCIDENTALLY, WERE BOTH 29 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY WERE ADMITTED TO THE SOCIETY. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1660. THE 350th ANNIVERSARY IS OFFICIALLY ON 30.NOVEMBER AND THE SOCIETY IS CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

QUEEN MAY VISIT IRELAND AFTER RECENT TALKS

THE QUEEN IS EXPECTED TO MAKE HER FIRST STATE VISIT TO IRELAND AFTER DAVID CAMERON AD HIS IRISH COUNTERPART BRIAN COWEN AGREED THE MOVE IN PRINCIPLE. HISTORIC TENSIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND IRELAND HAVE MEANT THAT NO BRITISH MONARCH HAS SET FOOT IN THE IRISH REPUBLIC SINCE ITS CREATION ALMOST 100 YEARS AGO. BUT THE SUCCESS OF THE ULSTER PROCESS, THE IRS's LAYING DOWN OF ARMS AND THE CONCLUSION OF THE BLOODY SUNDAY INQUIRY HAVE REMOVED TE OBSTACLES TO A STATE VISIT. COWEN SAID HE WANTED THE OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE IRISH PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE LEAVES OFFICE IN NOVEMBER 2011. COWEN, WHO MET CAMERON FOR TALKS IN DOWNING STREET, SAID A STATE VISIT BY THE QUEEN, AND A RETURN TRIP TO BRITAIN BY AN IRISH PRESIDENT, WOULD BE PART OF THE NORMAL COURTESIES ENJOYED BY FRIENDLY, NEIGHBORING STATES. PRESIDENT MCALEESE, WHO IS KNOWN TO HAVE WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES FOR A BRIDGE-BUILDING VISIT, SUGGESTED THE WHEELS WERE FIRMLY IN MOTION FOR A SYMBOLIC EVENT NEXT YEAR. 'FOLLOWING TODAY'S MEETING BETWEEN THE TAOISEACH AND PRIME MINISTER CAMERON IN LONDON, PRESIDENT MCALEESE LOOKS FORWARD TO THE PROSPECT OF A VISIT TO IRELAND BY QUEEN ELIZABETH IN THE NEAR FUTURE', SAID HER SPOKESPERSON. BUCKINGHAM PALACE SAID IT COULD NOT COMMENT ON THE QUEEN'S FUTURE PLANS.

SOTHEBY'S BREAKS SALES RECORDS WITH POLAROID CORPORATE COLLECTION

A HISTORIC SALE OF WORKS BY SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN 20tH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHY SET RECORDS DURING A TWO-DAY AUCTION OF ICONIC IMAGES FROM THE POLAROID CORPORATE COLLECTION. THE AUCTION OF MORE THAN 1,000 PHOTOGRAPHS BROUGHT $12.4 MILLION, EXCEEDING ITS PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF UP TO $10.7 MILLION, SOTHEBY'S AUCTION HOUSE SAID IN A STATEMENT. FOURTEEN NEW ARTIST RECORDS WERE SET, INCLUDING ONES FOR A PHOTOGRAPH BY ANSEL ADAMS, LUCAS SAMARAS, ANDY WARHOL AND HARRY CALLAHAN. ADAMS' 'CLEARING WINTER STORM, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK', A MOODY BLACK AND WHITE MURAL-SIZE PRINT OF THE PARK'S RUGGED, ROCKY TERRAIN, SOLD FOR $722,500. IT SHATTERED THE PREVIOUS AUCTION RECORD OF $609,600 FOR HIS 'MOONSHINE, HERNANDEZ NEW MEXICO', FROM 1941, SET IN 2006. 'CLEARING WINTER STORM' HAD BEEN ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR $300-500,000. THE RECORD FOR SAMARAS WAS FOR HIS 'ULTRA-LARGE (HANDS)' A MURAL-SIZE POLAROID COLOUR PRINT THAT WENT FOR $194,500. IT WAS TAKEN WITH A 40in BY 80in POLAROID, AND IMMENSE CAMERA THAT REQUIRED THE ASSISTANCE OF SEVERAL TECHNICIANS. THE PREVIOUS SAMARAS RECORD WAS $132,000 FOR 'TRANSFORMATION: EYEGLASSES', SET IN 1989. AUCTION RECORDS FOR A PHOTOGRAPH BY WARHOL WERE BROKEN TWICE. 'SELF-PORTRAIT (EYES CLOSED)' SOLD FOR $254,500, SURPASSING AN EARLIER RECORD OF $145,500 FOR 'SELF PORTRAIT (GRIMACE)', A UNIQUE LARGE-FORMAT POLAROID POLACOLOR PRINT. A NON-POLAROID WORK, CALLAHAN'S 'CHICAGO (TREES IN SNOW), SOLD FOR $254,500, SURPASSING HIS PREVIOUS RECORD OF $168,000 FOR 'ELEANOR', A SUITE OF THREE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ARTIST'S WIFE. RECORD FOR PHOTOGRAPHS ALSO WERE SET FOR CHUCK CLOSE, ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG AND DAVID HOCKNEY, SOARING FOUR OR MORE TIMES ABOVE THEIR PRE-SALE ESTIMATES. SOTHEBY'S SAID THE PHOTOGRAPHS ON SALE, SELECTED FROM THE VAST 16,000 IMAGE POLAROID COLLECTION, CONTAINED THE LARGEST AND BEST COLLECTION OF WORKS BY ANSEL ADAMS TO EVER COME ON THE MARKET. ALL 1,000 WORKS WERE BEING SOLD BY PBE CORP, FORMALLY POLAROID CORP, WHICH BECAME A VICTIM NOT ONLY OF A CHANGING TECHNOLOGY BUT ALSO A $3.7 BILLION PONZI SCHEME IN 2005. PBE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY, AND LAST YEAR A MINNESOTA BANKRUPTCY COURT APPROVED THE PARTIAL SALE OF THE COLLECTION TO HELP PAY OFF CREDITORS. THE POLAROID CAMERA CAME ON THE MARKET IN 1948, THE INVENTION OF EDWIN H LAND.

THE TITANIC OF PIGEON FORGE

SHE MAY HAVE SET SAIL FROM SOUTHAMPTON ON HER ILL-FATED VOYAGE TO NEW YORK OVER 98 YEARS AGO BUT THE TITANIC IS ALIVE AND WELL, IN RURAL TENNESSEE. STANDING 100 FEET TALL AND THREE DECKS HIGH, THE HALF SCALE REPLICA OF THE ICONIC SHIP'S BOW IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT NEARLY ONE MILLION VISITORS. COSTING OVER £16 MILLION AND TAKING OVER A YEAR TO BUILD, THE TITANIC OF PIGEON FORGE IS BEING BILLED AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST MUSEUM ATTRACTION. BUILT TO INCLUDE A 30ft TALL REPLICA OF THE INFAMOUS ICEBERG OFF THE SHIP'S STARBOARD BOW, THE 30,000 SQUARE FOOT MUSEUM OPENED IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR TO CELEBRATE THE 1,517 PASSENGERS AND CREW WHO DIED ON 15.APRIL.1912. THE SECOND SUCH MUSEUM OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES, THE PIGEON FORGE TITANIC HAS AN IDENTICAL SISTER SHIP IN BRANSON MISSOURI. 'THIS MUSEUM IS NOT A THRILL RIDE OR HOLLYWOOD STYLE MUSEUM', SAID MARY KELLOGG-JOSLYN, THE TITANIC MUSEUM ATTRACTIONS OWNER. 'IT IS AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE THAT BRINGS IN ALL ELEMENTS OF THE FAMOUS AND TRAGIC TITANIC STORY FOR FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE.' UPON ENTERING THE FRONT FOYER ENTRANCE, GUESTS ARE PRESENTED WITH A BOARDING PASS THAT HAS THE NAME OF ONE OF THE PASSENGERS FROM THE ILL-FATED VOYAGE, THEN THEY ARE SHOWN TO THE STUNNING £675,000 EXACT RECREATION OF THE SHIP'S GRAND STAIRCASE. 'WE HAVE 75 EMPLOYEES HERE WHO ARE DRESSED AS PART OF THE PERIOD', SAID KELLOGG-JOSLYN. 'SO WE HAVE STEWARDS AND SHIPS OFFICERS ALL WHO ARE IN CHARACTER AND WHO ARE ON HAND FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHIP AND ITS SINKING. THEY WILL EVEN JOKINGLY RE-DIRECT YOU IF YOU TRY TO ENTER OUR FIRST CLASS AREA IF YOU ARE FOUND TO HAVE A THIRD CLASS TICKET' INSIDE THE SHIP ARE UP TO 400 ARTIFACTS FROM THE ORIGINAL TITANIC, BUT KELLOGG-JOSLYN POINTS OUT, NONE ARE RECOVERED FROM THE WRECKAGE WHICH WAS LOCATED IN 1985. 'WE HAVE WHITE STAR CUTLERY AND TEA SETS FROM THE COMPANY THAT BUILT THE SHIP IN BELFAST IN 1910. AND WE EVEN HAVE A TOOTH FROM A SECOND CLASS PASSENGER WHO HAD IT REMOVED AFTER SHE WAS RESCUED BECAUSE SHE SUFFERED A TOOTH ACHE WHILST ON THE SHIP. OUR MOST IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY IS THE LIFE-JACKET OF MADELINE ASTOR, THE AMERICAN HEIRESS AND MILLIONAIRE WHO WAS RESCUED FROM THE SINKING VESSEL.' THE ORIGINAL TITANIC MUSEUM IN BRANSON IS 13,000 SQUARE FEET SMALLER THAN THIS NEW VERSION AND AS SUCH, KELLOGG-JOSLYN EXPECTS VISITOR NUMBERS TO ALMOST DOUBLE. 'WE HAVE A REPLICAS THIRD CLASS CABIN THAT HAS FOUR BUNKS INSIDE AND SHOWS THE CONDITIONS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE SINKING SHIP WERE LIVING IN BEFORE IT HIT THE ICEBERG. THERE IS AN APPROXIMATION OF THE BRIDGE WHICH WE HAVE LOOKING OUT TO THE STARRY NIGHT SKY, SO AS TO HELP VISITORS APPRECIATE VISIBILITY THAT NIGHT. AND WE HAVE ALSO INSTALLED A SECTION WHERE YOU CAN PLACE YOU HAND INSIDE A TANK OF WATER WHICH IS AT -2 (28f). THE TEMPERATURE THE SEA WAS WHEN THE SHIP SANK. THAT CAUSED THE MAJORITY OF THE DEATHS AS IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO LAST MORE THAN 15 MINUTES IN THAT WATER.'

MINI TO PARTAKE IN VIENNA LIFE BALL WITH THREE DESIGNER MODELS

MINI WILL AGAIN BE TAKING PART IN THE VIENNA LIFE BALL, EUROPE'S LARGEST AIDS CHARITY EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE AHEAD OF THE 18th EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE, AND THIS TIME IT WON'T BE JUST ONE FASHIONISTA DESIGNED MINI OFFERED AS A PRIZE DRAW, BUT THREE DIFFERENT DESIGNER MINI MODELS. FRANCISCO COSTA OF CALVIN KLEIN WILL BE DESIGNING THE MINI COUNTRYMAN, DIANE VON FURSTENBERG THE MINI HATCH, WHILE KENNETH COLE HAS THE MINI CONVERTIBLE TO HELP THE RED RIBBON CAUSE. THE PROCEEDS OF THE EVENING WILL GO TO AMFAR (AIDS RESEARCH FOUNDATION) AND UP TO NOW THE FASHION LIVERIED MINI'S DESIGNED BY MISSONI (2003), FERRE (2004) AND VERSACE (2005) FOLLOWED BY DIESEL IN 2006 AND AGENT PROVOCATEUR 2008 AND THE BLONDS FOR KATY PERRY HAVE TOTALED OVER $500,000.

HAY HILL GALLERY TO PRESENT WARHOL EXHIBITION

FIFTY IMPORTANT WORKS BY ANDY WARHOL ARE ON VIEW AT THE HAY HILL GALLERY, LONDON, THIS SUMMER. THE EXHIBITION OFFERS A RARE AND FASCINATING INSIGHT INTO WARHOL'S CREATIVE MIND AND WORKING PROCESSES, WITH AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF WORKS JUXTAPOSED WITH THEIR PREPARATORY DRAWINGS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A UNIQUE COLLECTION OF ANDY WARHOL'S INDIANS (NATIVE AMERICANS)(1986), EXHIBITED ALONGSIDE THE WORKING DRAWINGS. THESE SEVENTEEN WORKS OF ART FORM AN IMPORTANT PART OF WARHOLS' OEUVRE. THEY PROVIDE A ROUNDED STUDY OF WARHOL'S GRAPHS PROCESS IN THE 1980s AND A FITTING MANIFESTATIONS OF HIS LATER OBSESSION WITH AMERICAN CULTURE, PARTICULARLY THE STORIES, MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE AMERICAN WEST. BASED ON PUBLICITY AND ARCHIVAL PHOTOGRAPHS AS WELL AS POSTCARDS, WARHOL ROMANTICIZES STEREOTYPED AND EXPLOITED IMAGES OF AMERICAN INDIANS INCLUDING MOTHER AND CHILD, INDIAN HEAD NICKELS, PLAIN INDIAN SHIELD, KACHINA DOLLS, SITTING BULL, GERONIMO AND NORTHWEST COAST MASK. THERE IS ALSO A RANGE OF HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE WORKS INCLUDING THE SCREAM (AFTER EDVARD MUNCH)(1984), PART OF A SERIES OF WORKS BASED ON THE PAINTINGS OF THE NORWEGIAN ARTIST, AND SHADOWS (1978), FROM WARHOL'S MONUMENTAL SHADOWS SERIES. IN THE 1970s WARHOL EMBARKED ON A REMARKABLE AND AMBITIOUS PROJECT, CREATING 102 PAINTINGS BASED ON EIGHT PHOTOGRAPHS OF SHADOWS THAT HE HAD TAKEN IN HIS STUDIO. THE RESULT IS A COMPELLING AND ALMOST HYPNOTIC SERIES, DRIFTING INTO THE ABSTRACT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.hayhill.com

CHRISTIE'S SELLS WILLIAM FAULKNER COLLECTION

A RARE COLLECTION OF SIGNED WILLIAM FAULKNER BOOKS AND PERSONAL ITEMS, INCLUDING ONE OF HIS MOST ACCLAIMED NOVELS, 'LIGHT IN AUGUST', SOLD AT AUCTION TUESDAY FOR $833,246. THE COLLECTION OF 90 ITEMS WAS NEARLY A COMPLETE REPRESENTATION OF FAULKNER'S WORK, SAID THE AUCTION HOUSE, CHRISTIE'S. THE AUCTION PROBABLY WAS THE LAST CHANCE TO ACQUIRE SUCH A LARGE COLLECTION OF THE AUTHOR'S WORK, LOUIS DANIEL BRODSKY, A POET AND FAULKNER SCHOLAR, SAID IN AN INTERVIEW BEFORE THE HISTORIC AUCTION. THE HIGHEST PRICE WENT FOR 'ABSALOM! ABSALOM!' A STORY ABOUT SOUTHERN POVERTY TOLD ENTIRELY IN FLASHBACKS, WHICH SOLD FOR $86,500, INSCRIBED IN 1936 TO NOVELIST AND JOURNALIST MALCOLM COWLEY, THE FIRST EDITION NOVEL EXCEEDED THE $40,000 TO $60,000 PRE-SALE ESTIMATE. INSCRIBED COPIES OF 'ABSALOM! ABSALOM!' ARE EXTREMELY RARE, WITH ONLY TWO OTHERS RECORDED AT AUCTION IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, ACCORDING TO CHRISTIE'S THE FIRST EDITION OS 'LIGHT IN AUGUST', WHICH CENTERS ON THREE CHARACTERS AND EXPLORES THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF RACISM AND RELIGIOUS FANATICISM IN THE SOUTH, SOLD FOR $47,500. THE BOOK ALSO IS INSCRIBED BY THE NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR TO COWLEY, WHO WAS WORKING ON A PROFILE OF FAULKNER FOR LIFE MAGAZINE. CHRISTIE'S DID NOT IDENTIFY EITHER BUYER, OR THE AMERICAN SELLER. IT HAD ESTIMATED THAT THE COLLECTION WOULD SELL FOR MORE THAN $1 MILLION. A FEW ITEMS OFFERED A GLIMPSE INTO THE PERSONAL SIDE OF THE AUTHOR, WHOSE STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS WRITINGS EXPLORED THE COMPLICATED SOCIAL SYSTEM OF THE SOUTH. IN A 1936 WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM TO HIS 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, FAULKNER WISHED HER 'PLENTY OF GHOSTS, GOBLINS, WITCHES AND CATS AND OWLS ON HALLOWEEN'. IN A 1951 COPY OF 'SARTORIS', FAULKNER SCRIBBLED, 'FOR JOAN, IT WAS ALL FOR HER, EVEN WHILE SHE WAS ASLEEP'. THE AUTHOR WAS REFERRING TO NOVELIST JOAN WILLIAMS, WITH WHOM HE HAD AN AFFAIR. 'HE'S NOT MERELY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR', SAID TOM LECKY, HEAD OF THE AUCTION HOUSE'S DEPARTMENT OF BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS. 'HE'S AN INTERNATIONAL AUTHOR.' FAULKNER WAS A NATIVE OF NEW ALBANY, MISS, THEN LIVED IN OXFORD, MISS. THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI RUNS A MUSEUM AT HIS GREEK RIVAL HOUSE.

CHRISTIE'S SELLS RARE WALL STREET SIGN FOR $116,500

A VINTAGE SIGN THAT ONCE MARKED AN INTERSECTION NEAR THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE HAS SOLD FOR $116,500 AT AUCTION. CHRISTIE'S SAID THE ENAMEL 'BROAD ST AND WALL ST' SIGN WAS BOUGHT TUESDAY BY AN UNIDENTIFIED PHONE BIDDER. THE AUCTIONEER HAD ESTIMATED ITS VALUE AT $60,000 TO $80,000 BEFORE THE SALE. THE SIGN STOOD IN FRONT OF THE FORMER HEADQUARTERS OF JP MORGAN & CO IN NEW YORK. THE INTERSECTION WAS THE SCENE OF A 1920 WALL STREET BOMBING THAT KILLED 38 PEOPLE AND INJURED HUNDREDS, SHRAPNEL SCARRED THE SIGN. CHRISTIE'S SAID THAT THE SIGN WENT UP IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY AND CAME DOWN SOMETIME AFTER THE BOMBING. IT WAS RECENTLY SHOWN AT THE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE IN NEW YORK.

WATERFORD OPENS NEW VISITOR CENTER

THE AGE OLD TRADITION OF GLASS-MAKING AND CRYSTAL- CRAFTSMANSHIP HAS BEGUN A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE 21st CENTURY IN WATERFORD RECENTLY. WATERFORD CRYSTAL HAS RISEN FROM THE ASHES LIKE THE PHOENIX AND THE FURNACE IS FINALLY BURNING AGAIN, THIS TIME IN THE HEART OF THE CITY AND CLOSE TO WHERE ITS HISTORIC BEGINNING STARTED MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES AGO NEAR THE RIVER SUIR AND THE OLD PORT. THE HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL COMPRISES A NEW VISITOR CENTER, RETAIL OUTLET AND MANUFACTURING FACILITY AND THE RECENT OPENING MARKED ALMOST 18 MONTHS SINCE THE FORMER COMPANY PLANT AT KILBARRY CLOSED ITS DOORS FOR THE LAST TIME AFTER GOING INTO RECEIVERSHIP. LOCATED AT THE MALL, JUST OFF WATERFORD'S CITY CENTER QUAYS AND OPPOSITE THE OLD BISHOP'S PALACE AND THE REVAMPED THEATRE ROYAL, THE CENTER WILL EMPLOY 79 FULL-TIME AND 33 PART-TIME STAFF ALONG WITH UP TO 40 TEMPORARY MEMBERS OF STAFF DURING THE PEAK SEASON. INITIALLY, IT IS HOPED 200,000 VISITORS WILL PASS THROUGH THE ATTRACTION IN A FULL YEAR, WITH THIS RISING TO MORE THAN 300,000, WHICH WOULD EQUAL FIGURES FOR THE OLD PLANT IN KILBARRY. WHILE MUCH OF THE CRYSTAL PRODUCTION HAS SHIFTED TO CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE IN RECENT YEARS, THE HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL WILL PRODUCE ABOUT 40,000 HIGH-END PIECES USING TRADITIONAL GLASS-BLOWING AND CARVING METHODS AS WELL AS ACTING AS A 'CENTRAL LABORATORY' FOR DESIGNERS. AMONG THOSE DESIGNERS IS JOHN ROCHA, WHO HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE LUXURY BRAND SINCE 1995 AND TOLD THE IRISH INDEPENDENT IT WAS A 'VERY EXCITING DAY' FOR THE NAME AND FOR THE CITY ITSELF. HE DESCRIBED THE HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL AS AN 'INCREDIBLE' ARRIVAL.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com

ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER FACES OF APOSTLES USING LASER TECHNOLOGY

ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND ART RESTORERS USING NEW LASER TECHNOLOGY HAVE DISCOVERED WHAT THEY BELIEVE ARE THE OLDEST PAINTINGS OF THE FACES OF JESUS CHRIST'S APOSTLES. THE IMAGES IN A BRANCH OF THE CATACOMBS IF ST TECLA NEAR ST PAUL'S BASILICA, JUST OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF ANCIENT ROME, WERE PAINTED AT THE END OF THE 4th CENTURY OR THE START OF THE 5th CENTURY. ARCHAEOLOGISTS BELIEVE THAT THE IMAGES MAY HAVE BEEN AMONG THOSE THAT MOST INFLUENCED LATER ARTISTS' DEPICTIONS OF THE FACES OF CHRIST'S MOST IMPORTANT EARLY FOLLOWERS. 'THESE ARE THE FIRST IMAGES THAT WE KNOW OF THE FACES OF THESE FOUR APOSTLES', SAID PROFESSOR FABRIZIO BISCONTI, THE HEAD OF ARCHAEOLOGY FOR ROME'S NUMEROUS CATACOMBS, WHICH ARE OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY THE VATICAN. THE FRESCOES WERE KNOWN BUT THEIR DETAILS CAME TO LIGHT DURING A RESTORATION PROJECT THAT STARTED TWO YEARS AGO AND WHOSE RESULTS WERE ANNOUNCED ON TUESDAY AT A NEW CONFERENCE. THE FULL-FACE ICONS INCLUDE VISAGES OF ST PETER, ST ANDREW AND ST JOHN, WHO WERE AMONG CHRIST'S ORIGINAL 12 APOSTLES, AND ST PAUL, WHO BECAME AN APOSTLE AFTER CHRIST'S DEATH. THE PAINTINGS HAVE THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS LATER IMAGES, SUCH AS ST PAUL'S RUGGED, WRINKLED AND ELONGATED FOREHEAD AND BALDING HEAD AND POINTY BEARD, INDICATING THEY MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONES WHICH SET THE STANDARD. THE FOUR CIRCLES, ABOUT 50cm IN DIAMETER, ARE ON THE CEILING OF THE UNDERGROUND BURIAL PLACE OF A NOBLEWOMAN WHO IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY AT THE END OF THE SAME CENTURY WHEN THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE MADE THE FAITH LEGAL. BISCONTI EXPLAINED THAT OLDER PAINTINGS OF THE APOSTLES SHOW THEM IN A GROUP, WITH SMALLER FACES WHOSE DETAILS ARE DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH. 'THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IN THE HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES OF ROME', BISCONTI ADDED.

SOTHEBY'S SELLS RARE MANET SELF PORTRAIT FOR RECORD £22 MILLION

SOTHEBY'S, LONDON, SOLD A RARE EDOUARD MANET SELF-PORTRAIT FOR £22 MILLION ON TUESDAY, A RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST BUT TOWARD THE LOWER END OF PRE-SALE EXPECTATIONS ON £20-30 MILLION. THE PAINTING, ONE OF ONLY TWO SELF-PORTRAITS BY THE ARTIST AND THE ONLY ONE IN PRIVATE HANDS, WAS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE AUCTIONEER'S MAIN IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ART SALE. OVERALL THE AUCTION FETCHED £112.1 MILLION, WITHIN EXPECTATIONS OF £101-148 MILLION. THREE HISTORIC WORKS OF ART OLD FOR EIGHT FIGURES, MANET'S 'SELF PORTRAIT WITH A PALETTE', ANDRE DERAIN'S 'ARBRES A COLLIOURE', WHICH SOLD FOR £16.3 MILLION, DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR THE ARTIST, AND HENRI MATISSE'S 'ODALISQUES JOUANT AUX DAMES' WHICH SOLD FOR £11.8 MILLION. SOTHEBY'S SAID THE RESULTS WERE STRONG, ALTHOUGH THE AUCTION TOTAL WAS SMALLER THAN THE EQUIVALENT SALE IN LONDON IN FEBRUARY WHICH RAISED A STAGGERING £146.8 MILLION.

ART COLLECTOR DISCOVERS A £50,000 PAINTING HIDDEN BENEATH £8,500 PORTRAIT

AN ART COLLECTOR WHO BOUGHT A PORTRAIT BY A CELEBRATED BRITISH ARTIST HAS RECENTLY UNCOVERED A £50,000 MASTERPIECE, AFTER AN X-RAY REVEALED ANOTHER PICTURE HIDDEN UNDERNEATH. THE ART LOVER BOUGHT THE ORIGINAL PIECES, A SELF PORTRAIT BY ROBERT LENKIEWICZ DEPICTING THE ARTIST IN A NUDE POSE WITH A FEMALE MODEL, AT A COLLECTIVE AUCTION OF LENKIEWICZ'S WORK IN 2003, FOR £8,500. THE OWNER OF THE DOUBLE PAINTING SAID: 'WHEN THE EXPERTS LOOKED AT IT THEY RECKONED IT CONTAINED ANOTHER PICTURE UNDERNEATH. SO I TOOK IT TO TORBY HOSPITAL AND DISCOVERED THE TRAMP, WHICH COULD BE WORTH MORE THAN WHAT IS PAINTED OVER IT. THE PICTURE I BOUGHT AT AUCTION COULD BE VALUED AT MORE THAN £50,000. IT IS A PRIVATE WORK AND PERHAPS SHOULD NEVER HAVE GONE UNDER THE HAMMER AT THE ESTATE SALE IN 2003.' LENKIEWICZ, OF PLYMOUTH, DEVON, DIED OF A HEART ATTACK AT THE AGE OF 60 IN 2002 AND LEFT BEHIND NO CASH BUT A VAST COLLECTION OF ART WORTH MORE THAN £2 MILLION. HE WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS WORKS WITH THE HOMELESS AND AFTER HE DIED, THE EMBALMED BODY OF A 72 YEAR OLD TRAMP WAS FOUND STUFFED IN A DRAWER IN HIS STUDIO. THE TRAMP, EDWIN MCKENZIE, KNOWN AS DIOGENES, WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF THE ARTIST AND HIS WHEREABOUTS SINCE HIS DEATH IN THE 1980s HAD BEEN A MYSTERY. IT WAS BELIEVED THE DYING WISH OF MCKENZIE, WHO HAD NO KNOWN FAMILY, WAS THAT HIS FRIEND SHOULD EMBALM HIS BODY AS A 'WORK OF ART'. IT IS TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE TOP PAINTING TO REVEAL THE TRAMP MASTERPIECE UNDERNEATH, BUT THE PRICE TAG WOULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED ON A £50,000 PAINTING. ART DEALER ADRIAN PHIPPEN, A LENKIEWICZ EXPERT, SAID THE DOUBLE PORTRAIT WAS 'A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF WORK' BY THE ARTIST. 'WORKS LIKE THIS ONE WILL BECOME MORE VALUABLE AND HIGHLY PRIZED BY COLLECTORS THAN THE SELF PORTRAITS WITH WOMEN THAT HE PAINTED. TO REMOVE THE TOP PAINTING WOULD BE EXPENSIVE BUT WHOEVER BUYS IT WILL HAVE A UNIQUE PIECE BY A LEADING BRITISH ARTIST.' THE OWNER OF THE PAINTING, WHO LIVES IN LONDON AND ASHBURTON IN DEVON, NOW PLANS TO SELL IT AT THE DRIFTWOOD GALLERY IN PADSTOW, CORNWALL. HE SAID: 'I THINK THE IMAGE THERE NOW IS VERY GOOD AND RARE. AND IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO RESTORE IT TO GET TO THE TRAMP.' THE POPULARITY OF LENKIEWICZ'S WORK HAS INCREASED SINCE HIS DEATH AND THE CURRENT WORLD RECORD FOR ONE OF HIS ARTWORKS STANDS AT £57,600 FOR A SELF-PORTRAIT IN 2005. HIS WORK WAS VIRTUALLY IGNORED BY THE ART WORLD DURING HIS LIFETIME, BUT NOW EXPERTS ARE COMPARING HIS COLOURFUL BOHEMIAN STYLE WITH FRANCIS BACON AND LUCIAN FREUD.

PRINCE HARRY VISITS MOZAMBIQUE MINEFIELD

THIRTEEN YEARS AFTER DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES DREW THE WORLD'S ATTENTION TO THE HORRORS OF LAND MINES, PRINCE HARRY HAS REKINDLED HER LEGACY WITH A VISIT TO A MINEFIELD IN MOZAMBIQUE. THE PRINCE SPENT TWO DAYS LEARNING ABOUT THE WORK OF THE HALO TRUST, THE SAME BRITISH CHARITY THAT THE PRINCESS SO FAMOUSLY VISITED IN ANGOLA EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE HER DEATH. PRINCE HARRY IS ACUTELY AWARE OF THE CONTROVERSY THAT SURROUNDED HIS MOTHER'S VISIT TO AFRICA IN JANUARY 1997, WHEN THE THEN JUNIOR DEFENSE MINISTER EARL HOWE DERIDED THE PRINCESS AS A LOOSE CANNON MEDDLING IN GOVERNMENT POLICY. BOTH HE AND HIS BROTHER, PRINCE WILLIAM, HAVE MAINTAINED A CLOSE INTEREST IN THE CHARITY'S WORK, AND HAVE WANTED TO VISIT THE MINEFIELDS 'FOR YEARS', ACCORDING TO ONE ROYAL AIDE, WHO SAID THE TRIP WAS 'VERY MUCH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PRINCE TO FOLLOW IN HIS MOTHER'S FOOTSTEPS.' THE PRIVATE VISIT TO THE CAHORA BASSA MINEFIELDS IN THE TETE PROVINCE WAS KEPT SECRET UNTIL THE PRINCE HAD LEFT MOZAMBIQUE, PARTLY BECAUSE OF FEARS IT WOULD OVERSHADOW THE OFFICIAL TOUR OF SOUTHERN AFRICA HE AND PRINCE WILLIAM UNDERTOOK LAST WEEK. AS WELL AS MEETING VICTIMS OF LANDMINE BLASTS, INCLUDING A 14 YEAR OLD BOY WHO LOST A LEG LAST YEAR, THE PRINCE WAS TAUGHT MINE-CLEARING TECHNIQUES AND PERSONALLY ATTACHED A DETONATOR TO A LIVE MINE BEFORE CARRYING OUT A CONTROLLED EXPLOSION FROM A SAFE DISTANCE. GUY WILLOUGHBY, FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF HALO, SAID: 'I WAS WITH HIM WHEN HE LAID THE CHARGE AND SET UP THE DETONATION. ONE OF THE DE-MINERS HAD FOUND AND CLEARED THE EDGE OF IT AND HARRY PLACED A SMALL CHARGE AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE MINE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES ABSOLUTE CONCENTRATION, RATHER LIKE THE CONCENTRATION I IMAGINE HE NEEDS AS A HELICOPTER PILOT. WE'RE DELIGHTED HE HAS COME OUT TO SUPPORT US. HIS MOTHER WAS BRILLIANT AT GETTING THE PROFILE OF THE RISK OF MINES GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED. PRINCE HARRY CLEARLY WISHES TO FOLLOW IN HER MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE, AND BY COMING HERE HE HAS HELPED SHOW THERE IS STILL A REAL NEED FOR MINE CLEARANCE.' SINCE IT WAS SET UP IN 1988 HALO HAS CLEARED 13 MILLION MINES IN TEN COUNTRIES, AND ESTIMATES THAT IT COULD MAKE MOZAMBIQUE MINE-FREE IN FOUR YEARS IF IT RECEIVES ENOUGH FUNDS TO CLEAR THE 60-70,000 REMAINING DEVISES THAT WERE LAID DURING A CIVIL WAR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO.

THE QUEEN SOFIA SPANISH INSTITUTE TO PRESENT EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO BALENCIAGA

THE FIRST IN-DEPTH EXHIBITION OF THE WORK OF CRISTOBAL BALENCIAGA, THE MASTER SPANISH COUTURIER, WHO DOMINATED PARIS HAUTE COUTURE FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, WILL OPEN AT THE QUEEN SOFIA SPANISH INSTITUTE IN NEW YORK, IN NOVEMBER. THE EXHIBITION WILL BE THE FIRST TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF SPAIN'S CULTURE, HISTORY AND ART ON ONE OF ITS GREATEST 20th CENTURY SONS, THE LEGENDARY DESIGNER WHO WAS HAILED AS 'FASHION'S PICASSO' BY CECIL BEATON. BALENCIAGA'S INNOVATIONS, THE ART OF HIS SILHOUETTE, HIS CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH VOLUME AND HIS VIBRANT INSPIRATIONS, TRANSFORMED THE WAY WOMEN DRESSED, FROM THE OPENING OF HIS PARIS FASHION HOUSE IN 1937, UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1968. THE EXHIBITION WILL SHOWCASE OVER 60 ITEMS, INCLUDING MASTERPIECES SUCH AS HIS 1939 'INFANTA' GOWN, THE MATADOR BOLEROS FROM 1946, FLAMENCO-INSPIRED DRESSES FROM 1951 AND 1961, AND THE EXTRAORDINARY, EMBROIDERED 1957 WEDDING OF SONSOLES DIEZ DE RIVERA. THE EXHIBITION WILL EXAMINE THE INFLUENCES OF HIS DESIGNS OF THE COUNTRY'S GREAT ARTISTS, FROM ZURBARAN AND GOYA TO PICASSO AND MIRO, AND OF SPAIN'S RELIGIOUS DRESS AND CEREMONY, ITS ROYAL HISTORY, ITS REGIONAL COSTUME, ITS DANCE TRADITIONS, AND THE POWER AND SPLENDOR OF THE BULLFIGHT. THE EXHIBITION, ON SHOW FROM 19.NOVEMBER UNTIL 19.FEBRUARY.2011, WAS CONCEIVED BY THE AMERICAN DESIGNER, OSCAR DE LA RENTA, WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE INSTITUTE'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND WHO BEGAN HIS CAREER IN FASHION, WORKING IN MADRID AT EISA, ONE OF SPAIN'S BRANCHES OF BALENCIAGA'S FASHION EMPIRE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.queensofiaspanishinstitute.org

TAIPEI FINE ARTS MUSEUM TO PRESENT 'MANET TO PICASSO: MASTERPIECES FROM THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART'

'MANET TO PICASSO: MASTERPIECES FROM THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART' IS TAIWAN'S FIRST TIME TO WORK WITH AN AMERICAN MUSEUM ON AN INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION. THE ARTWORKS ARE FROM 33 MASTERS, INCLUDING 53 OIL PAINTINGS AND 5 BRONZE SCULPTURES. THE EXHIBITION PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND STYLES OF WESTERN ART FROM IMPRESSIONISM TO CONTEMPORARY AVANT-GARDE ART. STARTING FROM MANET, THE IMPRESSIONISM MASTER IN MODERN CITY LIFE AND PEOPLE OF THE END OF THE 19th CENTURY, THE EXHIBITION DISPLAYS ARTWORKS OF IMPRESSIONISM PAINTERS WHO ROSE FROM 1874 TO 1886, SUCH AS BOUDIN, DEGAS, MONET, RENOIR, PISSARRO, CASSATT AND OTHERS. OTHER ARTWORKS ARE FROM POST-IMPRESSIONISM ARTISTS, SUCH AS CEZANNE, GAUGIN, VAN GOGH. THE ARTWORKS OF ROUSSEAU INFLUENCED BY POST-IMPRESSIONISM WILL BE SHOWN AS WELL. IMPORTANT GENRES CREATED FROM 1907 TO 1940 ARE ALSO DISPLAYED, INCLUDING ARTWORKS OF CUBISM AND PARISIAN ARTISTS: PICASSO, BRAQUE, LEGER, DERAIN, LIPSHITZ, GRIS, CHAGALL AND MODIGLIANI. AT THE END, THERE ARE WORKS CREATED AFTER 1913, WHICH ARE FROM AMERICAN ARTISTS WHO DEVELOPED THEIR OWN PAINTING STYLES AND TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS DADAISM, O'KEEFFE AND TANGUY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.tfam.museum

BONHAM'S TO SELL TARDIS FROM DR WHO SERIES

BONHAM'S, LONDON, ARE TO SELL THE TARDIS USED TO TRANSPORT CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON AS THE 9th INCARNATION OF DOCTOR WHO, IN THEIR UPCOMING ENTERTAINMENT MEMORABILIA AUCTION ON 23.JUNE. THE TARDIS WAS CREATED FOR THE BBC PROGRAM IN 2005 AND IS EXPECTED TO FETCH £8,000-12,000. A MORE AFFORDABLE MINIATURE TARDIS MODEL CREATED FOR EXHIBITION PURPOSES AND MEASURING 5ft IS ALSO BEING OFFERED, WITH AN ESTIMATE OF £300-400. SOME OF THE OLDEST DOCTOR WHO PROPS EVER TO APPEAR AT AUCTION WILL ALSO GO UNDER THE HAMMER. DALEKS FROM THE SCI-FI PROGRAM ALWAYS PROVE POPULAR WITH BIDDERS, AND THIS SALE INCLUDES THE TWO OLDEST EXAMPLES TO COME TO AUCTION. LOT 126 IS BELIEVED TO BE THE EARLIEST SURVIVING DALEK, IT FIRST APPEARED IN 'DR WHO AND THE DALEKS' IN 1964 AND 'THE CHASE' IN 1965 AND IS ESTIMATED AT £2,000-3,000. LOT 128 FEATURED IN 'THE EVIL OF THE DALEKS' IN 1967 AND IS ALSO EXPECTED TO FETCH AROUND £2,000-3,000. A CYBERMAN HELMET FROM THE 1967 EPISODE 'MOONBASE AND THE TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN' IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £3,000-4,000. ALSO BEING PRESENTED FOR AUCTION ARE 23 LOTS FROM THE MIKE TRIM COLLECTION, ORIGINAL CONCEPT DESIGN ILLUSTRATIONS BY MIKE TRIM FOR GERRY ANDERSON'S SCI-FI SERIES. IN 1965 TRIM BECAME A STORYBOARD ARTIST ON 'THUNDERBIRDS' AND ALSO CONTRIBUTED DESIGNS FOR SECONDARY CRAFT, VEHICLES AND BULIDINGS. HE IS MOST FAMOUS FOR ILLUSTRATING THE COVER OF JEFF WAYNE'S MUSICAL VERSON OF 'THE WAR OF THE WORLDS', AND A BOOK OF HIS ILLUSTRATIONS ENTITLED 'THE FUTURE WAS FAB: THE ART OF MIKE TRIM' WAS RELEASED IN 2006. THE DRAWINGS ON OFFER AT BONHAM'S INCLUDE VEHICLES AND BUILDINGS FROM THUNDERBIRDS, CAPTAIN SCARLET, JOE 90 AND UFO AND THEIR PRICES RANGE FROM £3,000-4,000. STEPHANIE CONNELL OF BONHAM'S ENTERTAINMENT MEMORABILIA DEPARTMENT SAID: 'GERRY ANDERSON SHOWS AND DOCTOR WHO ARE BOTH HUGELY IMPORTANT BRITISH INSTITUTIONS, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE OFFERING SUCH ICONIC ITEMS IN THIS SALE, THEY WOULD BE A FANTASTIC PURCHASE FOR ANY FAN.'

THE BRITISH MUSEUM PRESENTS 'JOURNEY THROUGH THE AFTERLIFE: ANCIENT EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD'

THE BRITISH MUSEUM'S MAJOR AUTUMN EXHIBITION WILL PRESENT AND EXPLORE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN BELIEFS ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH. 'JOURNEY THROUGH THE AFTERLIFE: ANCIENT EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD' WILL SHOWCASE THE RICH TEXTUAL AND VISUAL MATERIAL FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM'S UNPARALLELED COLLECTION OF BOOK OF THE DEAD PAPYRI. THE 'BOOK', USED FOR OVER 1500 YEARS BETWEEN 1600 BC AND 100 AD, IS NOT A SINGLE TEXT, BUT A COMPILATION OF SPELLS THOUGHT TO EQUIP THE DEAD WITH KNOWLEDGE AND POWER WHICH WOULD GUIDE THEM SAFELY THROUGH THE DANGERS OF THE HEREAFTER AND ULTIMATELY ETERNAL LIFE. THE BRITISH MUSEUM HAS ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTIONS OF THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MANUSCRIPTS ON PAPYRUS IN THE WORLD, AND THIS EXHIBITION WILL BE THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SO MANY EXAMPLES DISPLAYED TOGETHER. THE EXHIBITION WILL INCLUDE THE LONGEST BOOK OF THE DEAD IN THE WORLD, THE GREENFIELD PAPYRUS, WHICH MEASURES 37 METERS IN LENGTH AND HAS NEVER BEEN SHOWN PUBLICLY IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE. ALSO ON DISPLAY WILL BE THE FAMOUS PAINTINGS FROM THE PAPYRI OF ANI AND HUNEFER, TOGETHER WITH SELECTED MASTERPIECES ON LOAN FROM INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIONS. THESE TREASURES WILL BE EXHIBITED ALONGSIDE A DAZZLING ARRAY OF PAINTED COFFINS, GILDED MASKS, AMULETS, JEWELRY, TOMB FIGURINES AND MUMMY TRAPPINGS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.britishmuseum.org/

SWEDEN CELEBRATES TEH WEDDING OF CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA

SWEDEN HOSTED THE BIGGEST AND MOST STUNNING WEDDING SINCE THAT OF PRINCE CHARLES AND LADY DIANA SPENCER, WHEN CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA MARRIED DANIEL WESTLING. THE MARRIAGE, A LOVE MATCH THAT HAS WEATHERED THE DISAPPROVAL OF THE BRIDE'S FATHER, KING CARL XVI GUSTAF, WHO WAS INITIALLY HORRIFIED THAT HIS HEIR WAS MARRYING HER FORMER FITNESS TRAINER, AND GROWING INDIFFERENCE FROM THE SWEDISH PUBLIC, WHO HAVE INCREASINGLY QUESTIONED THE MONARCHY'S MODERN RELEVANCE, TOOK PLACE IN STOCKHOLM'S
STORKYRKAN CATHEDRAL LATE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON. DETERMINED TO MARK THE HISTORIC DAY WITH A MAJESTIC CEREMONY THE SWEDISH ROYAL FAMILY HAD INVITED SEVERAL CROWNED HEADS OF EUROPE FOR THEIR DAUGHTER'S MARRIAGE TO WESTLING, WHO NOW BECOMES HRH PRINCE DANIEL, DUKE OF VASTERGOTLAND. AS THE COUPLE STOOD AT THE CATHEDRAL ALTER AT 3.30 YESTERDAY, COINCIDENTALLY THE SAME CHURCH IN WHICH THE CROWN PRINCESS'S PARENTS, KING CARL XVI GUSTAF AND QUEEN SILVIA, WERE MARRIED AND ON THE DATE OF THEIR 34th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, VICTORIA LOOKED REGAL AND DEMURE IN AN IVORY SILK SHORT-SLEEVED OFF THE SHOULDER GOWN, DESIGNED BY PAR ENGSHEDEN. THE NEWLY CREATED PRINCE APPEARED CONFIDENT AND IMMACULATELY GROOMED, A FAR CRY FROM THE LONG-HAIRED, RATHER SCRUFFY YOUNG MAN WHO WAS FIRST PICTURED IN THE SWEDISH NEWSPAPERS EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN THE NEWS BROKE THAT THE CROWN PRINCESS WAS DATING HIM. AS HE UTTERED AN ENTHUSIASTIC 'JA' DURING HIS WEDDING VOWS, HIS EYES FILLED WITH TEARS AS HE TURNED TO SMILE AT HIS NEW WIFE. WHILE PRINCE EDWARD, THE EARL OF WESSEX, AND HIS WIFE SOPHIE, THE COUNTESS, REPRESENTED THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY, THE CONGREGATION INCLUDED THE ELITE AMONG EUROPE'S ROYALS. AMONG THE OTHER EUROPEAN ROYALS WERE QUEEN MARGRETHE AND PRINCE CONSORT HENRIK OF DENMARK; QUEEN SOFIA OF SPAIN; KING HARALD AND QUEEN SONJA OF NORWAY; QUEEN BEATRIX OF THE NETHERLANDS' PRINCESS MARTHA LOUISE OF NORWAY AND HER HUSBAND ARI BEHN; PRINCESS LAURENTIEN AND PRINCE CONSTANTIJN OF HOLLAND; CROWN PRINCESS MARY AND CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK OF DENMARK AND PRINCESS MADELEINE OF SWEDEN. AS THE CEREMONY GOT UNDER WAY THE CHURCH BELLS RANG AND STOCKHOLM'S STREETS THRONGED WITH WELL-WISHERS. THE CELEBRATIONS WILL LAST SEVERAL DAYS AND INCLUDE A PRIVATE DINNER AT DROTTNINGHOLM PALACE, A LUNCH AT THE CITY HALL OF STOCKHOLM AND A GALA PERFORMANCE AT THE CITY'S CONCERT HALL. THE £1.7 MILLION SPECTACLE AT THE NEWLY RENOVATED CATHEDRAL WAS WATCHED BY ALMOST FIVE MILLION VIEWERS ACROSS EUROPE AND ON STOCKHOLM'S STREETS CROWDS WATCHED THE CEREMONY ON SPECIALLY INSTALLED TELEVISION SCREENS. THE CROWN PRINCESS WAS ESCORTED DOWN THE AISLE BY HER FATHER, THE KING, RATHER THAN WALKING WITH HER HUSBAND TO BE, WHICH IS CUSTOMARY FOR SWEDISH BRIDES. THE STREETS WERE AWASH WITH SWEDISH FLAGS AND 40,000 ROSES, CARNATIONS, LILIES AND HYDRANGEAS DECKED THE LAMP-POSTS ANS SHOP FRONTS. ON SATURDAY EVENING, SWEDES CELEBRATED LONG INTO THE NIGHT, TOASTING THEIR ROYAL BRIDE AND WELCOMING THE NEW ADDITION TO THE ROYAL FAMILY: THE COMMONER WHO OVERCAME ALL OPPOSITION TO BECOME A ROYAL PRINCE.