3.7.10

ROYAL FAMILY OFFERED FREE RADON TESTS FOR BALMORAL


THE ROYAL FAMILY HAVE BEEN OFFERED FREE TEST TO CHECK WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO CANCER-CAUSING RADON GAS AT BALMORAL. THE QUEEN'S DEESIDE HOME IS IN AN AREA EXPOSED TO POTENTIALLY HARMFUL LEVELS OF THE GAS. SHE IS AMONG 3,000 RESIDENTS IN PARTS OF ABERDEENSHIRE TO BE OFFERED THE FREE TESTS. THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF HOMES AFFECTED ARE IN ABERDEENSHIRE, FOLLOWED BY THE HIGHLANDS, ORKNEY AND THE BORDERS. AND A RISK MAP SHOWS THAT THE BALMORAL ESTATE IS IN AN AREA WHERE THE PERCENTAGE OF HOMES AT OR ABOVE THE ACTION LEVEL IS BETWEEN 10 AND 30, THE SECOND HIGHEST CATEGORY. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY SAID BALMORAL WAS IN THE AREA OF PROPERTIES TO BE OFFERED THE FREE TESTS, BUT DECLINED TO SAY ON CONFIDENTIALITY GROUNDS IF IT HAD ACCEPTED THE OFFER. BUT SO FAR ONE IN THREE HOMES THAT RECEIVED THE OFFER HAVE ACCEPTED. RADON IS THE SECOND-BIGGEST CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER, RESPONSIBLE FOR 1,000-2,000 DEATHS IN THE UK ANNUALLY, COMPARED WITH ABOUT 30,000 DEATHS FROM SMOKING. THE TESTING KITS CONTAIN TWO SMALL CIRCULAR MONITORS WHICH ARE PLACED IN A LIVING ROOM AND BEDROOM FOR THREE MONTHS BEFORE BEING RETURNED TO HPA FOR ANALYSIS. THE RESULTS WILL BE ISSUED IN WRITING, WITH ADVISE TO REDUCE THE HEALTH RISK, IF NECESSARY.

YALE UNIVERSITY PAINTING REATTRIBUTED TO DIEGO VALAZQUEZ


BASED ON THE RESEARCH OF JOHN MARCIARI, CURRENTLY CURATOR OF EUROPEAN ART AND HEAD OF PROVENANCE RESEARCH AT THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART, THE 17th CENTURY SPANISH PAINTING PORTRAYING THE EDUCATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN THE COLLECTION OF THE YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY HAS BEEN REATTRIBUTED TO DIEGO VELAZQUEZ. THE PAINTING WAS DONATED TO THE GALLERY IN 1925 BY HENRY HOTCHKISS TOWNSHEND AND RAYMOND TOWNSHEND. IT IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN IN THE TOWNSEND FAMILY FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS AND WAS IN POOR CONDITION WHEN IT ARRIVED AT THE GALLERY. PRIOR TO THE CURRENT ATTRIBUTION, THE PAINTING WAS CONSIDERED TO BE BY AN UNKNOWN ARTIST FROM SEVILLE, SPAIN. THE WORK OS NOW BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN PAINTED BY VELAZQUEZ IN SEVILLE AROUND 1617, MAKING IT ONE OF THE ARTIST'S EARLIEST WORKS. THE PAINTING IS CURRENTLY BEING STUDIED IN ADVANCE OF CONVERSATION TREATMENT.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON VIEW AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY


ONE OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S GREATEST TREASURES, A FULL TEXT VERSION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HANDWRITTEN BY THOMAS JEFFERSON WILL BE ON VIEW THROUGH 31.JULY AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S STEPHEN A SCHARZMAN BUILDING IN THE SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM II GALLERY. THE DISPLAY WILL BE OPEN FOR A SPECIAL VIEWING OVER THE INDEPENDENCE WEEKEND, 3-5.JULY. THE EXHIBITION ALSO INCLUDES EARLY PRINTINGS OF THE DECLARATION AS WELL AS A LETTER FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO GEORGE WASHINGTON MENTIONING THAT THE DECLARATION WAS BEING DRAFTED. IN THE DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING RATIFICATION ON 4.JULY.1776, JEFFERSON MADE SEVERAL COPIES OF THE TEXT THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, UNDERLINING THE PASSAGES TO WHICH CHANGES HAD BEN MADE. JEFFERSON WAS DISTRESSED BY THE ALTERATIONS MADE, MOST NOTABLY THE REMOVAL OF HIS LENGTHY CONDEMNATION OF SLAVERY. THE LIBRARY'S COPY IS ONE OF THE TWO KNOWN TO SURVIVE INTACT. IT IS SHOWN TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST PHILADELPHIA PRINTING AND THE FIRST NEW YORK PRINTING OF THE FINAL VERSION ISSUED BY CONGRESS. THESE VERSIONS ARE COMPLEMENTED BY THE EARLIEST NEWSPAPER PRINTINGS; THE SECOND OFFICIAL VERSION ORDERED BY CONGRESS, PUBLISHED BY A WOMAN PRINTER IN BALTIMORE.

2.7.10

LIZA MINNELLI SELLS FASHION COLLECTION ON HSN



ICONIC ENTERTAINER LIZA MINNELLI MADE HER FIRST TELEVISION APPEARANCE IN RECENT YEARS ON AMERICAN TELEVISION CHANNEL, HOME SHOPPING NETWORK. THE SINGING LEGEND SPENT TWO HOURS SELLING HER NEW CLOTHES AND JEWELRY COLLECTION, THE LIZA COLLECTION, ON THE US STATION ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. AT TIMES SHE APPEARED TO SLUR HER WORDS, AND FLAILED HER ARMS AROUND AS SHE DISCUSSED HER NEW LINE. AND SHE SPENT SEVERAL MINUTES TALKING TO VIEWERS WHO CALLED INTO THE SHOW, TELLING ONE: 'IT'S THRILLING TO TALK TO YOU, I'LL REMEMBER IT.' SHE TOLD ANOTHER: 'YOU'RE MY MENTOR TOO!' MINNELLI TOLD HOST PRESENTER BOBBI RAY CARTER THAT SHE BEGAN DESIGNING JEWELRY AFTER A RECENT STINT IN THE HOSPITAL. 'I BROKE MY KNEE, SO I HAD NOTHING TO DO IN THE HOSPITAL. I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST START FOOLING AROUND WITH STUFF I LOVE, AND I STARTED WORKING WITH CLAY', SHE EXPLAINED WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR ONE BRACELET. AMONG HER DESIGNS ARE THE LIZA FLUID FACETED BENGAL BRACELET AND THE LIZA COLLECTION VELVET PANTS AND THE RUFFLE OR VELVET CASCADE JACKET. AT ONE POINT SHE GIVES A MODEL, JESSIE, SOME ADVISE AS SHE SHOWED OFF THE CLOTHES. SHE ALSO OFFERED SOME OF HER OWN FASHION MAXIMS, INCLUDING: 'THE WOMAN SHOULD WEAR THE DRESS, NOT THE DRESS WEAR THE WOMAN.' AND SHE INSISTED THAT HER CLOTHES DIDN'T NEED SELLING BUT THAT: 'IT SELLS YOU.'

CHARLES SAACHI DONATES COLLECTION TO THE NATION



CELEBRATED ART COLLECTOR CHARLES SAATCHI IS GIFTING MORE THAN 200 WORKS, INCLUDING TRACEY EMIN'S UNMADE BED, AND HIS SAATCHI GALLERY TO THE NATION. THE WORKS, BY ARTISTS INCLUDING MISS EMIN, JAKE 7 DINOS CHAPAM AND GRAYSON PERRY, ARE WORTH MORE THAN £25 MILLION. THE SAATCHI GALLERY I CHELSEA WILL BECOME THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, LONDON (MOCA LONDON). THE WORKS WILL BE DONATED TO THE MOCA LONDON FOUNDATION AND THE SAATCHI IS IN DISCUSSIONS WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, WHICH WOULD OWN THE COLLECTION ON BEHALF OF THE NATION. THE PERMANENT COLLECTION THAT SAATCHI IS GIFTING INCLUDES THE RICHARD WILSON OIL ROOM INSTALLATION AND EMIN'S SIGNATURE WORK 'MY BED'. THE CHAPMAN BROTHERS' WORK TRAGIC ANATOMIES, WITH MUTATED MANNEQUINS FROLICKING IN A GARDEN SETTING, LAST SEEN IN THE SENSATION EXHIBITION, WILL BE ANOTHER MAJOR HOLDING. THESE AND OTHER WORKS GIFTED TO THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE LENT TO OTHER GALLERIES FOR EXHIBITION. A STATEMENT ISSUED ON THE COLLECTOR'S BEHALF SAID: 'SAATCHI'S VIEW IS THAT IT IS VITAL FOR THE MUSEUM ALWAYS TO BE ABLE TO DISPLAY A 'LIVING' AND EVOLVING COLLECTION OF WORK, RATHER THAN AN ARCHIVE OF ART HISTORY.' ALONGSIDE A PERMANENT COLLECTION, THE GIFT WILL INCLUDE SEVERAL WORKS THE MUSEUM CAN SELL, USING THE MONEY RAISED TO ACQUIRE NEW WORKS. NEW ACQUISITIONS WILL BE ADDED TO THE FOUNDATION'S HOLDINGS TO ENABLE THE MUSEUM TO REMAIN INVOLVED IN SPEARHEADING THE 'NEWEST DEVELOPMENTS IN CONTEMPORARY ART'. THIS WOULD CONTINUE IN THE TRADITIONS FOLLOWED BY THE SAATCHI GALLERY SINCE IT BEGAN PRESENTING PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO. THE LONDON GALLERY SAT IN FIRST PLACE OUT OF THE UK ATTRACTIONS IN A RECENT LEAGUE TABLE OF GLOBAL EXHIBITION AND MUSEUM ATTENDANCE FIGURES CARRIED OUT BY THE ART NEWSPAPER. THE STATEMENT SAID THE SAATCHI GALLERY'S MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL ENSURE THAT THE MUSEUM WILL CONTINUE TO BE FREE TO THE PUBLIC, AND RUN AS IT IS TODAY BY SECURING SPONSORSHIP, AND BY USING REVENUES FROM ITS FACILITIES AND EVENTS. THE MUSEUM WILL AIM TO CONTINUE COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER GALLERIES IN THE UK AND AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE STATE HERMITAGE IN ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, FOR WHICH IT HAS PRODUCED EXHIBITIONS OF RECENT US AND UK ART.

TEH QUEEN CELEBRATES CANADA DAY


DRESSED IN RED, AND WEARING A DIAMOND MAPLE LEAF BROOCH, THE QUEEN HELPED CANADA CELEBRATE ITS BIRTHDAY, AS THOUSANDS TURNED OUT FOR A TELEVISED PARTY TO MARK THE HISTORIC OCCASION. THE QUEEN TOLD CANADIANS OF THE 'ENORMOUS ADMIRATION' SHE FELT WATCHING THE COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY GROW AND MATURE 'WHILE REMAINING TRUE TO ITS HISTORY, ITS DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER AND ITS VALUES.' SHE AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, ON A NINE DAY TOUR OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATION, WERE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS, BOTH FORMAL POMP AND MILITARY PAGEANT AND A RELAXED POP CONCERT. THE IMMENSE CROWDS PACKING PARLIAMENT HILL IN THE CAPITAL, OTTAWA, WERE A SEA OF RED AND WHITE, THE NATIONAL COLOURS, WHICH MANY SUPPORTERS WAVING THE CANADIAN FLAG. MINDFUL OF THE COUNTRY'S COLOURS AND ICONS, THE QUEEN WORE A RED CHIFFON DRESS AND JACKET, SET OFF BY A WHITE STRAW HAT WITH A SCARLET FLOWER, AND A DIAMOND MAPLE LEAF BROOCH ON HER SHOULDER. WHEN SHE STOOD UP TO GIVE A SPEECH, SHE DREW A LARGE CHEER FROM THE CROWDS WHEN SHE TOLD THEM: 'THANK YOU FOR INVITING PRINCE PHILIP AND ME TO JOIN YOU ALL ON THIS SPECIAL DAY.' MUCH OF HER ADDRESS WAS DELIVERED IN FRENCH, AND SHE ADDED: 'DURING MY LIFETIME, I HAVE BEEN A WITNESS TO THIS COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN HALF ITS HISTORY SINCE CONFEDERATION. THIS NATION HAS DEDICATED ITSELF TO BEING A CARING HOME FOR ITS OWN, A SANCTUARY FOR OTHERS AND AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD." THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE ARRIVED IN A HORSE-DRAWN LANDAU ESCORTED BY A GROUP OF ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE, THE MOUNTIES. THE ROYAL COUPLE WERE CHEERED AND WAVED AT BY THE CROWDS, SOME OF WHOM HAD WAITED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, QUEUEING BEFORE OFFICIALS ARRIVED TO START ORGANIZING THE DAY. THE QUEEN INSPECTED TWO IMMACULATE ROWS OF THE CANADIAN FORCES' CEREMONIAL GUARD, COMPLETE WITH RED TUNICS AND BEARSKINS, LIKE THEIR BRITISH COUNTERPARTS, THE GUARDS DIVISION, AND THEN TOOK THE ROYAL SALUTE AS THEY MARCHED OFF. SHE AND THE DUKE THEN JOINED PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER AND HIS WIFE FOR THE SHORT WALK TO THE STAGE WHERE THEY TOOK THEIR SEATS FOR THE HOLIDAY CONCERT. THE ARTISTS WHO PLAYED REFLECTED THE COUNTRY'S DIVERSE MUSIC SCENE FROM ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY AND RAP TO SOUL, GOSPEL AND POP AND SANG IN BOTH FRENCH AND ENGLISH. ON 1.JULY.1867 THE DOMINION OF CANADA WAS BORN WHEN THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN ACT UNITED THE BRITISH COLONIES OF NOVA SCOTIA AND NEW BRUNSWICK WITH THE PROVINCE OF CANADA TO FORM A NEW NATION. THE DATE IS CELEBRATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR AND IS ALSO A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

BOUCHERON REFLET XL CHATEAU MILLESIME 2005


THE BOUCHERON REFLET XL CHATEAU MILLESIME 2005 IS A STUNNING NEW CREATION MADE BY LUXURY JEWELER BOUCHERON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHATEAU LATOUR. THE WATCH USES THE GP4000 AUTOMATIC SELF-WINDING MECHANICAL MOVEMENT AND FEATURES A FORTY HOUR POWER RESERVE. BOTH THE STRAP AND BRACELET ARE INTERCHANGEABLE AND ARE AVAILABLE IN STEEL AND LEATHER. THE CASE IS MADE OF STEEL WHILST THE DIAL IS MADE OF WOOD FROM BARRELS MADE FROM TWO HUNDRED YEAR OLD FRENCH OAK IN WHICH CHATEAU LATOUR'S GRAND MILLESIME 2005 VINTAGE WAS AGED. ONLY 100 EXAMPLES OF THIS UNIQUE TIMEPIECE WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH BOUCHERON

PHOENIX ART MUSEUM PRESENTS 'CEZANNE AND AMERICAN MODERNISM'


FRENCH MASTER PAUL CEZANNE, ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAMES IN ART, IS CELEBRATED WORLDWIDE FOR HIS POST-IMPRESSIONIST MASTERPIECES. HOWEVER, CEZANNE'S GREATEST LEGACY MAY BE THE TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT HIS WORK HAD ON THE 20th CENTURY ARTISTS. 'CEZANNE AND AMERICAN MODERNISM' WHICH IS BEING PRESENTED AT THE PHOENIX ART MUSEUM IS THE FIRST EXHIBITION TO EXAMINE CEZANNE'S INFLUENCE ON AMERICAN ARTISTS WORKING BETWEEN 1900 AND 1930 BY BRINGING TOGETHER 16 OF THE FRENCH MASTER'S PAINTINGS AND WORKS ON PAPER WITH MORE THAN 80 WORKS BY 33 AMERICAN ARTISTS, INCLUDING MARSDEN HARTLEY, MAURICE PRENDERGAST, ARSHILE GORKY, ALFRED STIEGLITZ AND MAN RAY. THE EXHIBITION SHOWCASES OUTSTANDING WORKS FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE US. PAUL CEZANNE IS UNIVERSALLY ACCLAIMED AS THE FATHER OF MODERN ART FOR HIS REVOLUTIONARY USE OF FLATTENED PERSPECTIVE, CAREFULLY STRUCTURED COMPOSITIONS AND HIS SIGNATURE TECHNIQUE OF PAINTING WITH PATCHES OF COLOUR. CEZANNE AND AMERICAN MODERNISM REVEALS HOW A SMALL GROUP OF PIONEERING AMERICAN ARTISTS CHAMPIONED THE RECLUSIVE ARTIST AS HE GAINED INTERNATIONAL PROMINENCE IN THE YEARS SHORTLY AFTER HIS DEATH. ALTHOUGH THESE PAINTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS NEVER MET CEZANNE IN PERSON, HIS LONG AND PROLIFIC CAREER PROVIDED MANY AVENUES OF INFLUENCE FOR THEM TO EXPLORE. CEZANNE'S INFLUENCE ON EARLY 20th CENTURY AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY IS EXAMINED FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE EXAMPLES BY ALFRED STIEGLITZ, EDWARD STEICHEN, PAUL STRAND AND OTHERS WHO PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN INTRODUCING MODERNISM TO AMERICA. THEIR EXPERIMENTATION INCLUDED CLOSELY CROPPED PORTRAITS, ABSTRACT STILL LIFES AND NUDES AND BATHERS IN LANDSCAPE SETTINGS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.phxart.org

1.7.10

ANCIENT ENGLISH ESTATE VALUED AT £12,000,000 PUT ON THE MARKET




A HISTORIC ANCIENT ENGLISH ESTATE VALUED AT £12,000,000 HAS RECENTLY GONE ON THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS RECORDED HISTORY, ROUGHLY 1,000 YEARS. SPANNING 1,300 ACRES, SHAKENHURST HALL IN SHROPSHIRE HAS SEEN THE LIKES OF THE CATTLE OF HASTINGS AND THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR AND WAS FIRST RECORDED IN THE DOMESDAY BOOK OF 1086. THE GRADE II-LISTED MAIN PROPERTY BOASTS 13 BEDROOMS AND SEVEN BATHROOMS, WHILE ELSEWHERE YOU'LL FIND SIX WORKING FARMS, 12 HOUSES AND VARIOUS COTTAGES DOTTED AROUND THE LUSH GARDENS. THE LARGELY GEORGIAN HALL WAS BUILT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE 1790s AND CONTAINS: A LIBRARY, DRAWING ROOM, RECEPTION HALL, DINING ROOM, KITCHEN, A BUTLER'S PANTRY, BOOT ROOM, SCULLERY, CLOAKROOMS, OFFICES AND CELLARS AS WELL AS A SERVICE PASSAGE BOASTING PERIOD FEATURES SUCH AS REGENCY CHIMNEY PIECES AND MOLDED CORNICES AND OVER-DOORS. OUTSIDE THE ESTATE THE OFFERINGS INCLUDE ITS OWN LAKE AND PROFESSIONALLY LANDSCAPED PARKLAND, AS WELL AS SHOOTING AND FISHING ON THE RIVER REA. THE GROUNDS ARE DESCRIBED AS 'A LEGACY OF HISTORIC ELIZABETHAN, GEORGIAN AND VICTORIAN DESIGNS' AND INCLUDE A WALLED KITCHEN GARDEN AND A SUNKEN ROSE GARDEN. DAVID GROVES, LAND AGENT FOR BALFOURS SAID IT WAS 'EXTREMELY RARE' TO FIND A PROPERTY WITH SUCH A HISTORY WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN SOLD BEFORE.

LOUIS VUITTON TATTOOS FOR THE RUNWAY



FOLLOWING THE STUNNING JEAN PAUL GAULTIER AND CHANEL 'TATTOOING' THEIR MODELS LAST FALL, LOUIS VUITTON HAS FOLLOWED IN THE UNIQUE FASHION GENRE DURING THE RECENT LV MENSWEAR COLLECTION THAT WAS PRESENTED RECENTLY. DESIGNER MARC JACOBS REPORTEDLY ASKED HIS PERSONAL TATTOOIST, NEW YORK BASED ARTIST SCOTT CAMPBELL, TO COME UP WITH SPRAY-ON TATTOOS INSPIRED BY THE CLASSIC LV MONOGRAM, WHICH WERE WORN ACROSS MODEL'S NECKLINES, MUCH LIKE 'TATTOOED-ON' SCARVES. CAMPBELL ALSO CUSTOMIZED SEVERAL PIECES FROM THE NEW COLLECTION FOR THE RUNWAY SHOW. PERHAPS THE NEW 'LV TATTOO' WILL SOON BECOME COLLECTION IN ITSELF.

LADY GAGA AND POLAROID PRESENT MIT MUSEUM WITH PHOTO OF LADY GAGA


POLAROID TODAY GATHERED AT THE MIT MUSEUM, CAMBRIDGE, MA, TO CELEBRATE THE BRAND'S RICH 73 YEAR HISTORY AND BRIGHT FUTURE. POLAROID PRESENTED AN EXCLUSIVE PHOTO OF LADY GAGA, POLAROID'S CREATIVE DIRECTOR, TO THE MIT MUSEUM THAT WILL BECOME A PART OF THE POLAROID ARTIFACTS AT THE MUSEUM, WHILE NAMING BOBBY SAGER AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR POLAROID. MERGING POLAROID'S PAST WITH ITS FUTURE, THE ICONIC POLAROID 20X24 INCH VIEW CAMERA CAPTURED THE IMAGE OF POLAROID'S CREATIVE DIRECTOR LADY GAGA TAKING IN INSPIRATION FOR HER UPCOMING PRODUCT LINE AT THE MIT MUSEUM. THE POLAROID 20X24 INCH VIEW CAMERA IS PART OF THE 10,000 POLAROID ARTIFACTS THAT THE NEW OWNERS OF POLAROID DONATED TO THE MIT MUSEUM IN MAY 2010. LADY GAGA'S RECENT APPOINTMENT AS POLAROID'S CREATIVE DIRECTOR IS THE FIRST OF MANY CORPORATE OBJECTIVES TOWARD DEVELOPING NEW AND EXCITING PRODUCTS, INTRODUCING POLAROID TO A NEW GENERATION. EARLIER TODAY, LADY GAGA PRESIDED OVER A PRODUCT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT SESSION FOR FUTURE POLAROID PRODUCTS. TODAY'S SESSION WAS A MILESTONE IN THE ROAD TO DEVELOPING LADY GAGA'S CO-BRANDED POLAROID PRODUCTS THAT BLEND FASHION, TECHNOLOGY AND PHOTOGRAPHY.

30.6.10

TESCO TO SELL DIY FLATPACK HOMES




SUPERMARKET GIANT TESCO IS WELL KNOWN FOR SELLING EVERYTHING A SHOPPER COULD NEED, WANT OR DESIRE, AND NOW THAT INCLUDES PROPERTY. THE COMPANY, BETTER KNOWN FOR OFFERING GROCERIES, WINE, CLOTHES AND ELECTRONICS, HAS LAUNCHED A RANGE OF LARGE, SELF-ASSEMBLY LOG CABINS. SHOPPERS CAN PICK UP A FINNLIFE STRUCTURE COMPLETE WITH FIVE ROOMS AND A 'HANDY UPSTAIRS STORAGE AREA' FOR £9,999, EARNING CUSTOMERS A STAGGERING 19,998 CLUBCARD POINTS. THE HELSINKI MODEL EVEN HAS A DECKING AREA WHERE HOMEOWNERS CAN SIT AND ENJOY THE DAY. IT COMES COMPLETE WITH DOUBLE-GLAZING AND CAN BE UPGRADED TO INCLUDE A GUTTERING KIT, LAMINATE FLOORING AND EVEN UNDERFLOOR HEATING. MANUFACTURED FROM HIGH-GRADE SCANDINAVIAN WHITEWOOD, IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM TESCO'S WEBSITE AS IT IS TOO BULKY TO PICK UP INSTORE. SHOPPERS HAVE TO PAY A £5 DELIVERY CHARGE. THEN THERE'S THE SMALL MATTER OF SELF-ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDES PLANS AND STEP-BY-STEP BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS BUT IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN AN IKEA WARDROBE. PROSPECTIVE OWNERS ARE ALSO WARNED THAT THEY MAY NEED PLANNING PERMISSION AND BUILDING APPROVAL BEFORE PUTTING UP THEIR NEW BUILDING. THE LOG CABIN IS CONSTRUCTED USING 44mm THICK TONGUE AND GROOVE BOARDS WHICH SLOT TOGETHER AND EVENTUALLY MEASURE 32ft BY 16ft. IT HAS EIGHT WINDOWS, FRENCH DOORS AND A FELT SHINGLE ROOF. DESPITE OFFERING SUCH A SPACIOUS LOG CABIN, TESCO CLAIMS THE PROPERTY IS NOT ACTUALLY INTENDED FOR HABITATION AND WOULD SIMPLY PROVIDE EXTRA SPACE. A TESCO SPOKESMAN SAID: 'CUSTOMERS LIFESTYLES MEAN DEMAND FOR EXTRA SPACE AT HOME JUST KEEPS GROWING. AT £9,999, WE DON'T EXPECT OUR TESCO DIRECT LOG CABIN TO BE AN IMPULSE PURCHASE BUT IT IS CERTAINLY LESS HASSLE AND LESS COSTLY THAN MOVING HOUSE OR BUILDING AN EXTENSION.'

RAY HARRYHAUSEN DONATES A LIFE'S WORK TO THE NATIONAL MEDIA MUSEUM


ON THE DAY OF RAY HARRYHAUSEN'S 90th BIRTHDAY, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION 'RAY HARRYHAUSEN - MYTHS AND LEGENDS' AT THE LONDON FILM MUSEUM, THE RAY AND DIANA HARRYHAUSEN FOUNDATION HAS ANNOUNCED ITS INTENTION TO DEPOSIT THE COLLECTION OF THE LIFE'S WORK OF CELEBRATED SPECIAL EFFECTS ANIMATOR RAY HARRYHAUSEN AT THE NATIONAL MEDIA MUSEUM IN BRADFORD, UK. HARRYHAUSEN MADE HIS NAME BY DEVELOPING FANTASTIC ANIMATED CREATURES BASED ON LEGENDS AND CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY, AND CREATING A UNIQUE BODY OF FANTASY FILMS FROM THE 1950s TO THE 1980s THAT TOOK THE MOVIE MAKING WORLD, AND THE PUBLIC, BY STORM. HIS SPECIALTY WAS COMBINING STOP-MOTION ANIMATION SEAMLESSLY WITH LIVE ACTION CINEMATOGRAPHY THROUGH HIS INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUE OF DYNAMATION. HARRYHAUSEN'S FILMS INCLUDE 'THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS' (1953), 'THE 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD' (1958), 'JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS' (1963), 'ONE MILLION YEARS BC' (1966), 'THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD' (1973), AND 'CLASH OF THE TITANS' (1981). THE RAY HARRY HAUSEN COLLECTION CONTAINS MOST OF THE MATERIAL CONNECTED WITH THE CONCEPTUALIZATION AND REALIZATION OF HIS FILMS, SUCH AS DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS, AND STORYBOARDS, TOGETHER WITH HIS ANIMATION MODELS AND THE ORIGINAL MOLDS USED TO MAKE THEM. EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE SKELETONS FROM JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS AND THE MEDUSA AND THE KRAKEN FROM CLASH OF THE TITANS. THE COLLECTION ALSO INCLUDES RARE WORK BY THE PIONEER SPECIAL EFFECTS DESIGNER WILLIS O'BRIAN, THE CREATOR OF KING KONG, WITH WHOM HARRYHAUSEN WORKED EARLY IN HIS CAREER AND WHO WAS A MAJOR INFLUENCE. THE RAY AND DIANA HARRYHAUSEN FOUNDATION IS WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL MEDIA MUSEUM IN BRADFORD TO ESTABLISH A HOME IN THE UK FOR THE UNIQUE COLLECTION. BRADFORD WAS DESIGNATED THE WORLD'S FIRST UNESCO CITY OF FILM IN 2009 AND HAS A RICH HERITAGE IN FILM PRODUCTION. THE MUSEUM ALREADY HOLDS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT COLLECTIONS OF MOTION PICTURE TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFACTS.

MOET & CHANDON IMPERIAL ICE




MOET & CHANDON RECENTLY LAUNCHED IMPERIAL ICE, AN AMAZING NEW TASTE SENSATION CREATED BY CHEF DE CAVE BENEDICT GOUEZ AND THE WINEMAKERS OF MOET & CHANDON. THE NEW PREMIUM RANGE COMES IN A UNIQUE THREE-DIMENSIONAL WHITE AND GOLD BOTTLE AND IS A BLEND OF PINOT NOIR, PINOT MEUNIER AND CHARDONNAY WITH NOTES OF TROPICAL FRUITS SUCH AS MANGO AND GUAVA, SWEET SPICES LIKE LICORICE, RED FRUITS AND PEPPERMINT. THE MOET IMPERIAL ICE WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLY IN THE MOST EXCLUSIVE RESORTS AROUND THE WORLD.

ROBERTO CAVALLI REDESIGNS LOGO


IT'S CELEBRATION TIME FOR ROBERTO CAVALLI, THE MASTER OF 'ANIMAL PRINTS', AS THE FAMOUS LUXURY FASHION HOUSE WILL BE CELEBRATING 40 YEARS IN THE DESIGN BUSINESS THIS YEAR. TO MARK THE MOMENTOUS EVENT, THE MASTER OF DESIGN HAS GIVEN A NEW LOOK TO HIS CORPORATE LOGO. THE STUNNING NEW EMBLEM IS A GOLD-COLOURED 40, WITH AN INTERLOCKING R AND TWO Cs IN THE CENTER OF THE ZERO, AND THE WORD 'ANNIVERSARY' SCRAWLED ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE 'GOOSE EGG'. THE WAY THE '4' AND '0' ARE ARRANGED IS ALSO SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT APHRODITE, THE GODDESS OF LOVE AND BEAUTY, WHICH IS A NOD TO CAVALLI'S PERSONAL LOVE FOR WOMEN AND THE WORK HE DOES TO ENSURE THEY FEEL ULTRA-FEMININE. TRULY AN AUSPICIOUS OCCASION FOR ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING CREATORS OF LUXURY AND REFINEMENT.

29.6.10

MARILYN MONROE X-RAYS SELL FOR $45,000


THREE X-RAYS OF HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS MARILYN MONROE'S CHEST AND PELVIS TAKEN DURING A HOSPITAL VISIT HAVE SOLD FOR MORE THAN 10 TIMES THEIR PRE-SALE ESTIMATE, EARNING $45,000. AUCTION HOUSE JULIEN'S SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE SALE WAS PART OF AN AUCTION OF HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS MEMORABILIA WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS OVER THE WEEKEND WITH TH EX-RAYS EXPECTED TO SELL FOR $800 TO $1,200 EACH. THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SALE HAD TOURED IRELAND, JAPAN AND CHINA BEFORE FINALLY GOING UNDER THE HAMMER. THE MONROE X-RAYS CAME FROM A 1954 VISIT BY THE ACTRESS TO THE CEDARS OF LEBANON HOSPITAL. THE ACTRESS DIED IN AUGUST 1962 AT THE AGE OF 36. OTHER ITEMS ALSO SOLD AT THE AUCTION INCLUDED A CHAIR FROM MONROE'S LAST PHOTO SHOOT THAT WENT FOR $35,000, CHRISTOPHER REEVES' SUPERMAN VI COSTUME WHICH SOLD FOR $32,500 AND A DRESS WORN BY AUDREY HEPBURN IN FUNNY FACE WHICH WENT FOR $56,250.

THE QUEEN BEGINS CANADIAN TOUR AMIDST A TORRENTIAL RAINSTORM


A TORRENTIAL RAINSTORM THREATENED THE BLOW THE QUEEN AWAY WHEN SHE ARRIVED IN CANADA FOR A NINE-DAY TOUR OF THE COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY. AS BRITAIN ENJOYED SWELTERING TEMPERATURES, THE QUEEN'S CHARTERED AIR CANADA PLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, IN A DOWNPOUR THAT SOAKED WAITING DIGNITARIES SHELTERING UNDER UMBRELLAS. WHEN MEMBERS OF THE QUEEN'S ROYAL HOUSEHOLD EMERGED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, SOME OF THEIR UMBRELLAS WERE BLOWN INSIDE OUT AS THEY WALKED DOWN THE STEPS ONTO THE TARMAC THAT RESEMBLED A LAKE. THE QUEEN, IN A BEIGE RAINCOAT, NEEDED ONE OF HER TRADEMARK TRANSPARENT DOME UMBRELLAS TO FEND OFF THE LASHING RAIN AND HUNG ON TO A RAIL AS SHE MADE HER WAY DOWN TO GROUND LEVEL. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WAS A FEW PACES BEHIND HER BUT SIMPLY CARRIED HIS BLACK UMBRELLA IN HIS HAND. THE LINE-UP OF WAITING OFFICIALS AND NOVA SCOTIA POLITICIANS HELD ON TO THEIR UMBRELLAS AS THE QUEEN CAME TOWARDS THEM, BUT THE WIND WHIPPED THEIRS INSIDE OUT ALSO. AFTER STAYING LONG ENOUGH TO COLLECT A POSY OF FLOWERS FROM A NINE YEAR OLD GIRL ANGEL LEE JORDAN, WHO MOMENTS BEFORE HAD GATHERED HER DRESS INTO HER ARMS AGAINST THE TORRENT, THE ROYAL COUPLE LEFT IN A WAITING CHAUFFEUR-DRIVEN LIMOUSINE. THE WET WEATHER THREATENED TO WASH OUT AN OUTDOOR CEREMONIAL WELCOME FOR THE QUEEN AND DUKE AND ANOTHER EVENT FEATURING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. THE ROYAL COUPLE'S NINE-DAY TOUR WILL CELEBRATE THE COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY'S ACHIEVEMENTS AT A LOCAL, NATIONAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL. THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE WILL TRAVEL HUNDREDS OF MILES MEETING OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS, LEADING BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO HAVE ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE LIFE OF THE NATION.

TSAR NICHOLAS II ROLLS-ROYCE TO BE AUCTIONED


A UNIQUE ROYAL PURPLE 1914 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER GHOST THAT IS REPUTED TO HAVE ONCE BELONGED TO NICHOLAS II, THE LAST TSAR OF RUSSIA, IS BEING OFFERED FOR SALE IN GERMANY VIA GLOBAL ONLINE LUXURY MARKETPLACE JAMESLIST FOR AN ESTIMATED $7 MILLION. IN THE 1920s THE CUSTOM-MADE CAR, WHICH FEATURES NICKEL PLATED FITTINGS, A SPEAKING TUBE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH THE CHAUFFEUR AND COACHWORK BY BARKER, FOUND ITS WAY INTO THE COLLECTION OF CIRCUS IMPRESARIO JOHN RINGLING OF RINGLING BROS AT CA D'ZAN, HIS FAMOUS 30 ROOM VENETIAN MANSION IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA. AFTER BEING DISPLAYED IN A CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM NEXT TO HITLER'S MERCEDES FOR A BRIEF TIME, IT WAS THEN ACQUIRED BY A GERMAN COLLECTOR WHO KEPT IT IN AN UNDERGROUND BUNKER FOR WHICH IT WAS RECENTLY UNEARTHED. THE NEARLY CENTURY-OLD ROLLS, MADE JUST 10 YEARS AFTER HENRY ROYCE BUILT HIS VERY FIRST CAR, OFFERS NOT ONLY A ROYAL PEDIGREE BUT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY.

COUPLE CREATES PAPIER MACHE SCULPTURES



THE STUNNINGLY DETAILED SCULPTURES ARE CREATED ONLY FROM COMMON ORDINARY PAPER, BUT YET THEY ARE BEING SNAPPED UP BY ART COLLECTORS FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS. THE UNIQUE ECKMAN METHOD® OF FINE ART CAST PAPER SCULPTURE CALLS FOR HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM ALLEN AND PATTY ECKMAN TO PLACE THE PULP PAPER IN CLAY MOLDS BEFORE PRESSURIZING IT TO REMOVE ALL THE EXCESS WATER. THE HARD, LIGHTWEIGHT PIECES ARE THEN REMOVED AND THE COUPLE PAINSTAKINGLY ADD ALL THE DETAILED FINISHING ACCENTS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF TOOLS. THE INTRICATE CREATIONS CAN TAKE UP TO 11 MONTHS TO COMPLETE. THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING THE AMAZING CREATIONS SINCE 1987 AT THEIR HOME STUDIO IN SOUTH DAKOTA, AND HAVE AMASSED OVER $3 MILLION SELLING THEM. THE PIECES DEPICT TRADITIONAL SCENES FROM NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY OF CHEROKEES HUNTING AND DANCING. THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE CREATION SO FAR IS CALLED 'PRAIRIE EDGE POWWOW' WHICH SOLD FOR OVER $40,000. ECKMAN SAID ABOUT HIS WORKS: 'WE CREATE INDIANS PARTLY BECAUSE MY GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS A CHEROKEE AND MY FAMILY ON BOTH SIDES ADMIRE THE NATIVE AMERICANS. I WORK ON THE MEN AND ANIMALS AND PATTY DOES THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. I ENJOY MOST DOING THE DETAIL. THE PAPER REALLY LENDS ITSELF TO UNLIMITED DETAIL.' ECKMAN ADDED: 'IT SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH PAPIER MACHE. THE TWO MEDIUMS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I CALL WHAT WE DO CAST PAPER SCULPTURE. SINCE WE STARTED WE HAVE BECOME FOREMOST IN THE MEDIUM AND ARE RECOGNIZED WORLD WIDE AND HAVE A REGISTERED TRADEMARK HERE IN AMERICA. WE BEGIN WITH THE PAPER WE MAKE FROM OUR OWN ACID FREE PULP. WE MAKE MOLDS OF HUMAN FIGURES AND ANIMALS THAT WE SCULPT IN SCALES THAT CONFORM TO EACH OTHER IN SIZE. WE HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR FINE ART TECHNIQUES OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE CREATED A PROCESS THAT IS WORTH SHARING.'

SOTHEBY'S TO SELL 'CUSTER'S LAST STAND' FLAG


AN AMERICAN FLAG FOUND AT THE SITE OF THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN IS EXPECTED TO FETCH OVER $3 MILLION AT AUCTION. THE FLAG WAS RETRIEVED FROM THE BLACK HILLS OF MONTANA, WHERE LT COL GEORGE CUSTER AND MORE THAN 200 MEN WERE MASSACRED BY INDIAN WARRIORS IN 1876. NEARLY ALL THE MILITARY ARTIFACTS OF THE 7th CAVALRY REGIMENT WERE CARRIED AWAY BY THE VICTORIOUS LAKOTA SIOUX, BUT THE SINGLE SWALLOWTAIL FLAG WAS FOUND DAYS LATER UNDER THE BODY OF A FALLEN SOLDIER. SINCE 1895, THE SILK AMERICAN FLAG, CALLED A GUIDON, HAS BEEN THE PROPERTY OF THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS, WHICH HAS DECIDED TO IT AND USE THE PROCEEDS TO BUILD ITS COLLECTION. THE GUIDON, DISCOVERED BY SGT FERDINAND CULBERTSON WHILE ON A BURIAL DETAIL OF THE BATTLEFIELD, HAS BEEN VALUED AT $2-5 MILLION AND IS TO BE AUCTIONED IN OCTOBER, SOTHEBY'S AUCTION HOUSE ANNOUNCED RECENTLY. THE CURRENT AUCTION RECORD FOR ANY TEXTILE IN $12.3 MILLION, FOR AN AMERICAN FLAG CAPTURED BY THE BRITISH IN A 1779 BATTLE IN BEDFORD, NEW YORK, SOTHEBY'S SOLD IT IN 2006. THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIG HORN, ALSO KNOWN AS CUSTER'S LAST STAND, RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF 210 SOLDIERS, INCLUDING CUSTER, AS SEVERAL THOUSAND WARRIORS LED BY SITTING BULL FOUGHT FOR THEIR LAND NEAR WHAT'S NOW CROW AGENCY, MONTANA. THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA (PRESENT-DAY SOUTH DAKOTA) WERE DECLARED INDIAN LAND IN THE LATE 1860s. THE CONFLICT ERUPTED WHEN THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO DRIVE THE INDIANS OFF THE LAND AFTER WHITE SETTLERS DISCOVERED GOLD THERE. THE 1876 BATTLE'S DEVASTATING LOSS CAME AS A GREAT SHOCK TO THE NATION AS IT PREPARED FOR ITS CENTENNIAL. THE GUIDON MEASURES 32 1/2 INCHES BY 26 1/2 INCHES. ONE STAR AND A PATCH OF THE WHITE AND RED STRIPES ARE MISSING, CUT FROM IT AS SOUVENIRS, A COMMON 19th CENTURY PRACTICE, SOTHEBY'S SAID. THE 7th CAVALRY HAD FIVE GUIDONS AND ONE REGIMENT FLAG, THREE OF THE GUIDONS HAVE VANISHED AND THE FOURTH, KNOWN AS THE KEOGH GUIDON, IS IN VERY POOR CONDITION, EATEN BY MOTHS', SOTHEBY'S SAID. GRAHAM WJ BEAL, DIRECTOR OF THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS, SAID THAT BECAUSE THE GUIDON DOESN'T FIT THE CRITERIA FOR A WORK OF ART, THE MUSEUM HOPES, 'TO EXPLOIT IT FOR OUR REAL MISSION, WHICH IS TO COLLECT AND INTERPRET ART.'

28.6.10

QUEEN'S PONY WINNS BEST IN ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW


THE QUEEN MAY BE NOTED FOR HER LOVE OF HORSES AND HORSE RACING, BUT NOW SHE HAS NOTCHED UP HER FIRST SCOTTISH WINNER FOR SOME TIME WITH A PONY. IT MAY BE A FAR CRY FROM THE RACES AT ROYAL ASCOT, BUT THE MONARCH HAS HAD HER FIRST WIN AT THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW FOR MANY YEARS, IT HAS RECENTLY EMERGED. BALMORAL MANDARIN, A YEARLING HIGHLAND PONY COLT, WON ITS CLASS AND THEN WENT ON TO WIN THE BREED'S RESERVE MALE CHAMPIONSHIP. THE HOME-BRED COLT, BY ULLEAM OF CROILA AND OUT OF MISTY MORN OF TURNHILL, IS ONE OF 35 PONIES THE QUEEN KEEPS AT BALMORAL ON ROYAL DEESIDE. SYLVIA ORMISTON RE-ESTABLISHED THE BALMORAL STUD THREE YEARS AGO. HER HUSBAND, CAMERON, IS STOCK MANAGER AT THE ESTATE AND HAS ACHIEVED CONSIDERABLE SHOW SUCCESS WITH THE HIGHLAND CATTLE THE QUEEN KEEPS AT BALMORAL TOO. ORMISTON SAID: 'I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE QUITE A FEW YEARS SINCE THE QUEEN LAST HAD A SERIOUS WIN AT THE ROYAL HIGHLAND. THIS HAS BEEN MY FIRST OUTING TO THE HIGHLAND WITH PONIES FROM BALMORAL.' THE QUEEN, A SKILLED HORSEWOMAN, TAKES A CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THE HIGHLAND PONY BREED. SHE IS PATRON OF THE HIGHLAND PONY SOCIETY.

FRESH LAUNCHES 'EAT, PRAY, LOVE'


THE BESTSELLING MEMOIR BY AUTHOR ELIZABETH GILBERT 'EAT, PRAY, LOVE', ABOUT A WOMAN WHO ONCE MADE IT HER GOAL IN LIFE TO MARRY AND REAR A FAMILY FINDS HER PRIORITIES SUDDENLY SHIFTING, IS NOW A MOVIE WITH JULIA ROBERTS AND JAMES FRANCO, WHICH OPENS ON 13.AUGUST. IN ADVANCE OF THE MOVIE FRESH IS RELEASING A TRIO OF FRAGRANCES BRANDED WITH THE THREE THEMES. 'EAT' CAPTURES THE SCENTS OF ITALY AND IS FOOD FOCUSED WITH NOTES OF ITALIAN LEMON, BASIL, AND BERGAMOT, PLUM, CARAMEL, MERINGUE AND VANILLA. 'PRAY' GOES FOR THE SPIRITUAL WITH NOTES OF INCENSE, ROSE, PATCHOULI, AMBER AND MUSK. 'LOVE' WHICH SHOWCASES THE WRITER'S TIME IN INDONESIA WITH NOTES OF JASMINE, SANDALWOOD AND MANGO BLOSSOM. THE OUTER PACKAGING USES A SIMILAR DESIGN PATTERN TO THE BOOK COVER. THE PERFUMES WILL RETAIL FOR $32 FOR A 1oz EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY AND A TRIO OF SCENTED CANDLES WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR $45.

THE FONDATION MAEGHT PRESENTS 'GIACOMETTI & MATGHT 1946-1966'


FROM 27.JUNE THROUGH 31.OCTOBER, THE FONDATION MAEGHT IS PRESENTING AN EXCEPTIONAL RETROSPECTIVE OF THE WORK OF ALBERTO GIACOMETTI. 'GIACOMETTI & MATGHT 1946-1966' WILL ASSEMBLE THE ARTIST'S BEST KNOWN MASTERPIECES, INCLUDING THE BRONZE SCULPTURES L'HOMME QUI MARCHE (WALKING MAN), LE CHIEN (THE DOG) AND LE CHAT (THE CAT). THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO INCLUDE PAINTINGS, PLASTER CASTS AND DRAWINGS ON LOAN FROM MAJOR FRENCH AND INTERNATIONAL MUSEUMS, AND FROM PRIVATE COLLECTIONS. THE FONDATION MAEGHT WILL ALSO HONOR THE MAN HIMSELF. ALBERTO GIACOMETTI AND AIME MAEGHT WERE FRIENDS FOR TWENTY YEARS. FOR TWENTY YEARS THEY WORKED, DEBATED AND OBSERVED THE CREATIVE PROCESS TOGETHER. THEIR FRIENDSHIP IS REVEALED IN LETTERS, FILMS AND PORTRAITS WHICH SHED NEW LIGHT ON THE MAN WHO WAS ALBERTO GIACOMETTI. A LONGSTANDING PROJECT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER OVER 170 IMPORTANT WORKS, THE RETROSPECTIVE WILL GIVE VISITORS AN INSIDER'S VIEW OF GIACOMETTI. SOME OF THE HISTORIC WORKS ARE BEING PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHILE SOME EARLY WORKS AND OTHERS FROM HIS SURREALIST PERIOD ARE INCLUDED, THE EXHIBITION WILL FOCUS PRIMARILY ON THE POST-WAR PERIOD AND GIACOMETTI'S STRETCHED, LONG-LIMBED SCULPTURES. AMONG THE 170 WORKS IN THE EXHIBITION ARE SOME 60 SCULPTURES, INCLUDING THE ICONIC HOMME QUI MARCHE (WALKING MAN). THE FONDATION MAEGHT IS THE ONLY COLLECTION TO OWN VERSIONS OF THIS SCULPTURE. THEY ARE ALL THE MORE OUTSTANDING IN THAT THE BRONZES WERE PAINTED BY ALBERTO GIACOMETTI AS OPPOSED TO THE USUAL PATINA. WHILE SOME OF GIACOMETTI'S SCULPTURES ARE KNOWN AND ADMIRED THE WORLD OVER, HIS PAINTINGS, LESS NUMEROUS, HAVE YET TO BE DISCOVERED. THEY ACCOUNT FOR A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF THE EXHIBITION, IN PARTICULAR PORTRAITS OF AIME AND MARGUERITE MAEGHT WHOSE FRIENDSHIP WITH GIACOMETTI IS THE CENTRAL PREMISE OF THE EXHIBITION. PAINTINGS, OILS ON CANVAS, WOOD AND CARDBOARD, TOGETHER WITH OVER 80 DRAWINGS, AND EXTREMELY RARE PAINTED CASTS, ETCHINGS AND LETTERS WILL ALSO BE SHOWN. CERTAIN WORKS AND LETTERS CARRY A HUGE EMOTIONAL CHARGE, SUCH AS GIACOMETTI'S DRAWINGS OF GEORGES BRAQUE ON HIS DEATHBED, OR LETTERS TO AIME MAEGHT.

OAKVILLE GALLERIES PRESENT EXHIBITION OF WORKS BY RON MUECK AND GUY BEN-NER


OAKVILLE GALLERIES WILL BE PRESENTING THE ONLY ONTARIO STOP OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA'S TOURING EXHIBITION 'REAL LIFE', FEATURING ARTISTS RON MUECK (ON VIEW AT OAKVILLE GALLERIES AT CENTENNIAL SQUARE) AND GUY BEN-NER (ON VIEW AT OAKVILLE GALLERIES IN GAIRLOCK GARDENS). THE STUNNING AND UNIQUE EXHIBITION WILL BE ON VIEW AT OAKVILLE GALLERIES FROM 26.JUNE THROUGH 5.SEPTEMBER. REAL LIFE SHOWCASES THE WORK OF TWO IMPORTANT FIGURES IN CONTEMPORARY ART: INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SCULPTOR RON MUECK, AND BERLIN-BASED VIDEO ARTIST GUY BEN-NER. THE EXTRAORDINARY HYPER-REALIST SCULPTURES OF MUECK REVISIT THE COURSE OF LIFE FROM BIRTH TO DEATH, WHILE BEN-NER'S AFFECTIONATE AND INTIMATE 'HOME VIDEOS' DWELL ON MORE PRECISE MOMENTS WHEN LIFE AND OUR RELATIONS WITH OTHERS BEGIN. TOGETHER, THE WORK OF THESE TWO ARTIST CREATES A NARRATIVE ABOUT THE CONTRADICTIONS, CHALLENGES AND CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. THE MAGICAL, LIFE-LIKE QUALITY OF MUECK'S HYPER-REALIST SCULPTURES IS STRIKING. THEY SHOW NO TRACES OF THE ARTIST'S HAND, WHICH ALLOWS EACH WORK TO CREATE ITS OWN PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT, FROM DEFIANCE TO PUZZLEMENT TO SORROW, WITHOUT AN APPARENT MEDIATOR. THE ARTIST'S SCULPTURES NOT ONLY ENGAGE THE VIEWER IN AN EMOTIONAL VOYAGE FROM BIRTH TO DEATH, BUT PRESENT A POIGNANT IMAGE OF THE EXISTENTIAL PROBLEM OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. ORGANIZED BY THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA AND PRESENTED BY OAKVILLE GALLERIES, THE EXHIBITION FEATURES TWO SCULPTURES BY MUECK AND FIVE WORKS BY BEN-NER. AN EXTENSIVE DISPLAY OF PREPARATORY MATERIALS FOR EACH ARTIST, INCLUDING SKETCHES, MARQUETTES AND STORYBOARDS IS ALSO FEATURED.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.oakvillegalleries.com

27.6.10

WORLD'S LARGEST GOLD COIN SELLS FOR £2.68 MILLION


A SPANISH PRECIOUS METALS TRADING COMPANY BOUGHT THE WORLD'S LARGEST GOLD COIN FOR £2.68 MILLION, ITS EXACT GOLD WEIGHT WORTH, FROM THE ESTATE OF AN INSOLVENT INVESTMENT FIRM AT A RARE AUCTION IN VIENNA ON FRIDAY. THE 220.5 lb PIECE, ONE OF ONLY FIVE $1,000,000 GOLD MAPLE LEAF COINS THE ROYAL CANADIAN INT HAS EVER PRODUCED, WAS BOUGHT ALMOST INSTANTLY IN A WRITTEN BID FROM ORO DIRECT, A GOLD TRADING COMPANY BASED IN MADRID. THERE WERE NO COUNTER OFFERS IN THE AUCTION ROOM THAT WAS PACKED WITH MORE JOURNALISTS THAN POTENTIAL BUYERS. THE AUCTION WAS ORDERED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF AUSTRIAN INVESTMENT GROUP AVW INVEST, WHICH FILED FOR INSOLVENCY IN MAY AFTER ITS OWNER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE WAS ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF FRAUD, BREACH OF TRUST AND OTHER CHARGES. AVW HAD ACQUIRED THE COIN IN 2007, JOINING AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB OF OWNERS INCLUDING QUEEN ELIZABETH, WHO IS ALSO DISPLAYED ON ONE SIDE OF THE COIN, TWO UNIDENTIFIED IN INVESTORS IN DUBAI AND ONE WHO IS SO RECLUSIVE EVEN HIS NAME AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE IS UNKNOWN. AVW HAD LENT THE COIN, 21 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND ONE INCH THINK, TO VIENNA'S KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM WHERE IT HAD BEEN ON DISPLAY AS PART OF ITS COIN COLLECTION. ITS PURITY IS 99.999 PERCENT, THE PUREST TYPE IN THE MARKET. THE ROYAL CANADIAN LAUNCHED THE COIN IN 2007 TO SHOWCASE ITS PRODUCTION FACILITIES AND STEAL THE ENTRY IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST COIN.

PRINCE HARRY THROWS FIRST BALL AT NEW YORK METS GAME


PRINCE HARRY OVERCAME A CASE OF NERVES AND TENSION TO THROW THE FIRST PITCH TO START A NEW YORK METS BASEBALL GAME, AND WAS WILDLY CHEERED BY THE HOME CROWD. WHEN ASKED HOW HE FELT BEFORE MAKING HIS WAY TO THE PITCHER'S MOUND THE YOUNG PRINCE REPLIED 'DON'T ASK', THEN JOKED 'CAN I HAVE A PRACTICE FIRST?', POINTING TOWARDS HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY JAMIE LOWTHER-PINKERTON HE SAID: 'HE WANTS TO BAT AGAINST ME.' THE PRINCE APPEARED A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE TO THROW THE BALL TO THE CATCHER AT THE NEW YORK METS' CITI FIELD STADIUM. BUT HE RECEIVED A RAPTUROUS WELCOME FROM THE NEAR CAPACITY AUDIENCE OF AROUND 40,000 PEOPLE WHO APPLAUDED AND CHEERED AS THE PRINCE WAS INTRODUCED. HE POINTED AT THE METS CATCHER ROD BARAJAS AS IF TO WARN HIM ABOUT THE THUNDERBOLT ABOUT TO COME HIS WAY. HARRY WAS WEARING THE LOCAL TEAM'S BLUE BASEBALL CAP AND T-SHIRT SUPPORTING THE WALKING WITH THE WOUNDED EXPEDITION. THE FUNDRAISING TREK, WHICH HAS HARRY AS ITS PATRON, WILL TAKE A GROUP OF INJURED BRITISH SERVICEMEN ON A GRUELING TREK TO THE NORTH POLE NEXT YEAR. THE YOUNG ROYAL WOUND UP HIS RIGHT HAND TO DELIVER THE BALL TO BARAJAS, WHO WAS STANDING JUST BEHIND HOME PLATE, AND AS HE LET GO THE PITCH SLAMMED INTO BARAJAS' GLOVE AND THE CROWD CHEERED WILDLY. THE PRINCE TOOK HIS CAP OFF AND WIPED HIS BROW IN RELIEF RUNNING DOWN THE MOUND TO SHAKE HANDS WITH THE CATCHER.

QUEEN ELIZABETH TO MAKE HISTORIC UN ADDRESS FOR 'WORLD PEACE'


QUEEN ELIZABETH IS PREPARING TO DELIVER ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SPEECHES OF HER 58 YEAR OLD REIGN IN NEW YORK EARLY NEXT MONTH. SHE IS EXPECTED TO APPEAL FOR WORLD UNITY AND WORLD PEACE WHEN SHE ADDRESSES THE 192 MEMBER GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AT THE END OF HER TOUR OF CANADA. ACCORDING TO SENIOR ROYAL SOURCES, THE QUEEN, WHO ARRIVES IN CANADA TOMORROW, IS HOPEFUL THAT HER SPEECH OF 6.JULY WILL BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE HIGH-POINTS OF HER REIGN. THE QUEEN, WHO WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH FOR HER VISITS TO CANADA AND NEW YORK, LAST ADDRESSED THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY FIVE YEARS AFTER ACCEDING TO THE THRONE FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF HER FATHER, GEORGE VI. THE QUEEN WAS 31 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE DELIVERED THE SPEECH ON 21.OCTOBER.1957. THE QUEEN'S SPEECH WILL FOLLOW A NINE-DAY TOUR OF CANADA. SHE WILL ADDRESS THE UNITED NATIONS IN HER CAPACITY AS HEAD OF STATE OF 16 UN MEMBER STATES. THE SUMMER TOUR WILL BE THE QUEEN'S 24th OFFICIAL VISIT TO CANADA. SHE AND PRINCE PHILIP LAST VISITED CANADA IN 2005. STEPHEN HARPER, THE CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER, SAID: 'IT IS ALWAYS A HIGH HONOR TO HOST A ROYAL VISIT. THIS VISIT BY THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF OUR SHARED HERITAGE AND VALUES, WHICH ARE ENDURING SOURCES OF PRIDE FOR MILLIONS OF CANADIANS.'

ACTOR JAMES FRANCO FILMS GENERAL HOSPITAL EPISODE AT MOCA


THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, LOS ANGELES (MOCA), TAPED A SPECIAL EPISODE OF ABC's EMMY AWARD WINNING DAYTIME DRAMA GENERAL HOSPITAL ON THE OCCASION OF THE RETURN OF FRANCO THE ARTIST, PLAYED BY ARTIST AND ACTOR JAMES FRANCO, ON THE PACIFIC DESIGN PLAZA NEXT TO MOCA PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER. CONCEIVED BY FRANCO AS PART OF A PERFORMANCE WORK TITLED 'SOAP AT MOCA: JAMES FRANCO ON GENERAL HOSPITAL', THE TAPING WAS OBSERVED BY A SELECT LIVE AUDIENCE. THE SPECIAL EPISODE WILL BE SHOWN ON ABC, 22.JULY. IN THE SPECIAL EPISODE, FRANCO, JAMES FRANCO'S CHARACTER FROM GENERAL HOSPITAL, HAD AN EXHIBITION AT MOCA PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER, DURING WHICH TIME JEFFERY DEITCH, THE NEW DIRECTOR OF MOCA, AND THE CHARACTERS FROM PORT CHARLES FROM GENERAL HOSPITAL MADE THEIR WEST COAST DEBUT. THE CHARACTER'S EXHIBITION INCLUDED FULL-SCALE MODELS OF THE LOCATIONS IN WHICH HE ENCOUNTERED MOBSTER JASON MORGAN (EMMY WINNER STEVE BURTON), TO THE MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT OF HIS ARTISTIC COLLABORATOR KALUP DASHINEL, PLAYED BY CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED VIDEO AND PERFORMANCE ARTIST KALUP LINZY, WHO PERFORMED LIVE DURING THE TAPING, FRANCO ATTEMPTED TO LURE JASON AND OTHERS INTO HIS ART TRAP. IF ALL GOES TO PLAN, MASTERMIND FRANCO WILL TURN JASON MORGAN'S LIFE AND HIS OWN DEATH INTO ART, A PERFORMANCE TO END ALL PERFORMANCES. 'SOAP AT MOCA IS AN ATTEMPT TO BOTH BLUR AND DEFINE THE LINES BETWEEN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES, BETWEEN LIFE AND ART, BETWEEN ART AND POPULAR CULTURE, AND BETWEEN REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELF AS BOTH PERFORMATIVE CHARACTER AND AS NON-PERFORMATIVE SELF', COMMENTED JAMES FRANCO.

THE TAKING OF CHRIST BY CARAVAGGIO RETURNS TO NATIONAL GALLERY OF IRELAND


THE TAKING OF CHRIST BY CARAVAGGIO HAS RETURNED TO PUBLIC VIEW IN THE BEIT WING OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN. THE PAINTING, WHICH IS PLACED ON INDEFINITE LOAN TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY FROM THE JESUIT COMMUNITY OF DUBLIN, WAS ON LOAN EARLIER THIS YEAR TO AN EXCEPTIONAL EXHIBITION AT THE SCUDERIE DEL QUIRINALE IN ROME CELEBRATING THE 400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARTIST'S DEATH. THE EXHIBITION ATTRACTED OVER 500,000 VISITORS OVER A PERIOD FIVE MONTHS. THE GALLERY WISHES TO REMIND VISITORS THAT SOME ROOMS WILL BE SUBJECT TO CLOSURE THROUGH THE SUMMER PERIOD TO FACILITATE THE COMMENCEMENT OF RESTORATION TO THE ROOFS OF THE HISTORIC COMPLEX.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.nationalgallery.ie