7.8.10

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS 'SALVADOR DALI: THE LATE WORK'


A NEW EXHIBITION OPENING EXCLUSIVELY IN ATLANTA EXPLORES ARTIST SALVADOR DALI'S LATE WORKS, INCLUDING SEVERAL MAJOR PIECES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SEEN IN THE US IN HALF A CENTURY. DALI IS BEST KNOWN AS A SURREALIST, HIS MELTING WATCHES AN ICONIC IMAGE OF THAT MOVEMENT. BUT AFTER ABOUT 10 YEARS, HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GROUP GREW STRAINED IN THE LATE 1930s FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS BOTH ARTISTIC AND POLITICAL. 'SALVADOR DALI: THE LATE WORK', OPENING AT THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART IN ATLANTA ON SUNDAY, FOCUSES OF THAT PERIOD FROM 1940 TO 1983. THE EXHIBIT OPENS WITH PHOTOS BY AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER PHILIPPE HALSMAN OF THE MUSTACHIOED ARTIST IN CRAZY POSES SHOWCASING WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS DALI'S ';WACKY SHOWMAN' SIDE. IT THEN MOVES ONTO SOME EARLIER WORKS TO GIVE VISITORS SOME BACKGROUND. FROM THERE, IT PROGRESSES TO DALI'S EXPLORATION OF 'NUCLEAR MYSTICISM', WHICH REFLECTS TWO RECURRING INFLUENCES ON DALI'S LATE WORK, HIS RETURN TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS. A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS CONCEPT ID 'MADONNA OF PORT-LLIGAT', WHICH SHOWS THE MADONNA AND CHILD FRAGMENTED AND BREAKING INTO PARTICLES. THE LARGE-SCALE PAINTING IS ON LOAN FROM A MUSEUM IN JAPAN AND HASN'T BEEN SEEN IN THE US SINCE 1951. ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS IMAGES IN THE EXHIBITION IS 'CHRIST OF ST JOHN OF THE CROSS', STUNNING IN PART FOR ITS VANTAGE POINT, LOOKING DOWN FROM ABOVE ON THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST. ON AN ADJACENT WALL IS A PHOTO OF DALI WITH BOBBY KENNEDY IN FRONT OF THE PAINTING IN 1965, THE LAST TIME THE PAINTING WAS IN THE US FROM ITS HOME IN SCOTLAND. THE FINAL SECTION OF THE EXHIBITION CENTERS ON WHAT IS CALLED DALI'S POP ART, WHICH CAME WELL BEFORE SIMILAR COMMERCIAL EFFORTS BY ARTISTS LIKE ANDY WARHOL AND JEFF KOONS. THERE ARE BROOCHES SO GAUDY THEY LOOK LIKE COSTUME JEWELRY; A CHESS SET IN WHICH ALL THE PIECES ARE MOLDS OF HIS FINGERS, EXCEPT THE ROOKS WHICH ARE COPIES OF THE SALT SHAKERS FROM THE ST REGIS HOTEL; AND PORTRAITS OF AMERICAN HIGH SOCIETY FIGURES. THE LAST GALLERY HOUSE A HOLOGRAM OF ROCK STAR ALICE COOPER AND THE SISTINE MADONNA PAINTING FROM 1958 THAT SUPERIMPOSES THE IMAGE OF THE VIRGIN AND CHILD OVER A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE POPE'S EAR RENDERED IN A BENDAY DOT PATTERN, PRECEDING SIMILAR POP ART WORKS. A WALL OF TWO DOZEN MAGAZINE COVERS, JUST A FRACTION OF THE MANY HE APPEARED ON OVER THE YEARS, DEMONSTRATES HIS STATUS AS A TRUE CELEBRITY ARTIST.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.high.org

DALI SCULPTURE DONATED TO ANDORRA


THE SALVADOR DALI SCULPTURE, THE 'NOBILITY OF TIME' HAS BEEN PLACED IN ANDORA'S CAPITAL CITY, IN THE PIAZZA ROTONDA ANDORRA LA VELLA. IT WAS DONATED TO THE ANDORRAN GOVERNMENT BY ENRIC SABATER, WHO WAS DALI'S AGENT, COLLABORATOR AND CONFIDENT BETWEEN 1968 AND 1982. THE STUNNING FIVE METER HIGH SCULPTURE HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE CITY'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS AND HISTORIC SQUARE, IN THE TOWNS OLDEST QUARTER WHICH DATES FROM THE 12th CENTURY. THE BRONZE SCULPTURE IS ONE OF THE MELTED WATCH SERIES OF SCULPTURES WHICH WAS CREATED BY DALI TO SYMBOLIZE THE PASSAGE OF TIME. THE SOFT MELTING WATCH IS DRAPED AROUND A TREE TRUNK; ATOP THE WATCH FACE IS A CROWN, SYMBOLIZING TIME'S MASTER OVER HUMANITY. BANIAMINO LEVI, PRESIDENT OF THE STRATTON FOUNDATION AND CURATOR OF OVER EIGHT DALI EXHIBITIONS WORLDWIDE, HAS EXPRESSED HIS APPROVAL OF THE DONATION AND IS DELIGHTED THAT THE SCULPTURE IS NOW THE MAIN ARTISTIC ATTRACTION IN ANDORRA LA VELLA.

6.8.10

V&A TO PRESENT PICASSO'S LE TRAIN BLEU CURTAIN


IT'S SO LARGE THAT IT HAS HAD TO SPEND THE BEST PART OF 80 YEARS IN STORAGE. BUT RECENTLY, PABLO PICASSO'S LARGEST WORK WAS UNROLLED IN ALL ITS AMAZING GLORY AT THE VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM. STRETCHING OVER MORE THAN 34ft (FAMED MURAL GUERNICA IS JUST 11ft BY 26ft), IT'S LITTLE WONDER STAFF WONDERED WHERE TO PUT THE CANVAS, WHICH WAS CREATED FOR RUSSIAN BALLET IMPRESARIO SERGE DIAGHILEV. IT TOOK A TOWER OF SCAFFOLDING, FIVE RIGGERS PULLING IT UP AND TEN MUSEUM STAFF UNROLLING IT DOWN TO HANG THE FRONT CLOTH. A FRONT CLOTH IS A THEATRICAL CREATION, DESIGNED TO HANG JUST BEHIND THE RED VELVET CURTAIN AND TO BE VIEWED BY AN AUDIENCE WHILE MUSICIANS PLAY THE OVERTURE. THIS PARTICULAR PIECE WAS DESIGNED FOR THE BALLETS RUSSES PERFORMANCES OF LE TRAIN BLUE, IN PARIS, IN 1924. PICASSO, A GREAT FRIEND OF INFLUENTIAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DIAGHILEV, PAINTED A MUCH SMALLER PAINTING TITLED DEUX FEMME COURANT SUR LA PLAGE, SHOWING TWO ROTUND WOMEN ON THE BEACH, TWO YEARS EARLIER IN 1922. DIAGHILEV LIKED IT AND PICASSO AGREED THE DESIGN COULD BE ENLARGED TO AN ENORMOUS STAGE CANVAS. IT WAS DULY PAINTED IN GOUACHE, FLAT ON THE FLOOR AND SQUARE BY SQUARE, BY THEATER ARTIST PRINCE ALEXANDRE SHERVASHIDZE IN JUST 24 HOURS. IMPRESSED BY THE COPY, WHICH WAS MADE DURING THE YEAR PARIS HOSTED THE OLYMPICS, PICASSO ADDED HIS SIGNATURE AND A DEDICATION. THE ARTWORK WAS UNFURLED FOR PERFORMANCES OF LE TRAIN BLEU OVER TWO SEASONS. IN BETWEEN PERFORMANCES IT WOULD BE FOLDED UP (HENCE THE LINES MARKING THE CANVAS) AND PACKED AWAY IN A TRUNK, A SET DESIGNER PATCHING UP ANY DAMAGED AREAS WITH FRESH PAINT AS REQUIRED. IT EMERGED FROM STORAGE AGAIN IN 1939 FOR AN EXHIBITION, AND THEN REMAINED TUCKED AWAY OUT OF SIGHT UNTIL AN AUCTION IN 1968 WHEN IT WAS ACQUIRED FOR THE NATION BY THE V&A. THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 25.SEPTEMBER TO SEE THE STUNNING WORK, WHEN AN EXHIBITION ENTITLED 'DIAGHILEV AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE BALLETS RUSSES 1909-1929' OPEN. THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO FEATURE COSTUMES WORN BY CHARISMATIC DANCER VASLAV NIJINSKY, WORKS BY HENRI MATTISE, COCO CHANEL'S BATHING COSTUMES FOR LE TRAIN BLEU AND WORKS OF ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS DIAGHILEV KNEW.

DIANA DORS' 1949 DELAHAYE TYPE 175 S ROADSTER UP FOR AUCTION


AS CURVACEOUS AS ITS OWNER, THE 1949 DELAHAYE TYPE 175 S ROADSTER IS GOING UP FOR AUCTION ON 4,AUGUST IN MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA FOR BETWEEN $4 AND $6 MILLION. THE STUNNING CAR WAS ONCE OWNED BY DIANA DORS, AN ENGLISH ACTRESS AND SEX SYMBOL WHO IS ALSO REFERRED TO AS BRITAIN'S ANSWER TO MARILYN MONROE. THE CAR IS ONE OF ONLY 51 EVER MADE AND FLAUNTS FRENCH CURVES OF THE 1930s, SEE THROUGH STEERING WHEEL AND BIRD MOTIFS ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOORS. DELAHAYE'S BEAUTY IS CLEARLY VISIBLE IN THE DETAILS, SUCH AS CHROME ACCENTS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE CURVES, THE EMBEDDED TURN SIGNALS FLANKING THE SIDES AND THE ELEGANT FACADE. PARISIAN COACH-BUILDING COMPANY SAOTCHIK CREATED THE BODY OF THE UNIQUE BEAUTY. SIR JOHN GAUL, A GOOD FRIEND OF PRINCE RAINIER, PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN PARIS AND AFTER ABOUT FIVE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, HE SOLD IT TO DIANA DORS FOR £5,000.SHE WAS JUST 17 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE. THE CAR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RESTORED AND DELIVERS 165bhp WITH ITS 4.5 LITER SIX-CYLINDER ENGINE.

5.8.10

ABSOLUT CELEBRATES BRAZILIAN FATHER'S DAY


WORLD RENOWNED VODKA BRAND ABSOLUT HAS RECENTLY COLLABORATED WITH DESIGNERS PEDRO BRANDO, STONE BONKER AND OPTICA VENTURA TO CREATE A STUNNING COLLECTION OF SWAROVSKI-STUDDED BOTTLES TO CELEBRATE THE FATHER'S DAY IN BRAZIL, 8.AUGUST. THE NEW LIMITED-EDITION LINE OF 'ABSOLUT 100' ARE BEING SOLD EXCLUSIVELY IN SAO PAULO. THE COLLECTION INCLUDES THREE UNIQUE BOTTLE DESIGNS. FAMED JEWELRY DESIGNER PEDRO BRANDO HAS CREATED TWO DESIGNS, ONE WITH A SILVER SKULL PENDENT ON THE NECK OF THE BOTTLE AND ANOTHER WITH A SILVER RING, WITH AN ESTIMATED PRICE OF $650 EACH. STONE BONKER, BRAND OF DESIGNER JOAO HENRIQUE CORREIA, DESIGNED TWO BOTTLES FOR THE OCCASION. THE BOTTLES WERE DONE BY STONE BONKER'S DESIGNER JOHN HENRY COOPER, AND SPORT A TIE MADE OF ITALIAN SILK AROUND THEIR NECKS IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS AND SELL FOR AROUND $350. FINALLY THERE IS THE DESIGN FROM OPTICA VENTURA WHICH FEATURES TWO BOTTLE WITH BIG SUNGLASSES AND A BLACK CASE THAT READS 'ABSOLUTE 100' AND ARE PRICED AR $490 EACH.

AFTER SEVEN YEAR FACE-LIFT CAIRO MUSEUM TO REOPEN


THE WORLD'S LARGEST MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART WILL REOPEN IN CAIRO IN COMING WEEKS AFTER A SEVEN-YEAR FACE-LIFT, MUSEUM OFFICIALS SAID RECENTLY. TOURISTS FLOCK BY THE MILLIONS TO THE PYRAMIDS AT GIZA AND THE TEMPLES OF LUXOR DATING BACK MORE THAN 3,000 YEARS, BUT THE WEALTH OF ART AND DESIGN HERALDED BY THE ARRIVAL OF ISLAM TO EGYPT IN THE 7th CENTURY TENDS TO TAKE SECOND PLACE. BEFORE IT CLOSED IN 2003, ONLY A FEW THOUSAND CURIOUS TRAVELERS WERE VENTURING EACH MONTH INTO THE MUSEUM, SET BY A NOISY ROAD IN THE HEART OF EGYPT'S FRENETIC CAPITAL. THE BUILDING DESIGNED BY ITALIAN ALFONSO MANESCALO DATED FROM THE EARLY 20th CENTURY AND WAS JAMMED WITH SOME 3,000 TREASURES FROM A COLLECTION OF OVER 80,000, MANY POORLY LABELED, INCLUDING CERAMICS, TOMBS, DOORS, WOODEN SCREENS, ROBES AND RUGS. DURING THE CLOSURE, A RIVAL MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART OPENED IN THE GULF STATE OF QATAR DESIGNED BY CELEBRATED CHINESE-AMERICAN ARCHITECT I M PEI. 'OUR MUSEUM WAS OLD AND NEEDED ITS WALLS STRENGTHENING OR IT WOULD BE AT RISK OF COLLAPSE', MOHAMMED ABBAS SELIM, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE CAIRO MUSEUM TOLD REUTERS IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. AMONG THE 80,000 OBJECTS THAT SELIM AND HIS TEAM HAD TO CHOOSE FROM, SOME 1,700 ARE ON DISPLAY IN THE REFURBISHED MUSEUM. THEY INCLUDE AN EWER FOUND BESIDE THE TOMB OF EGYPT'S LAST UMMAYAD DYNASTY CALIPH AND DOORS COMMISSIONED BY THE FATIMID CALIPH AL HAKIM FOR THE AL AZHAR MOSQUE. THE NEW MUSEUM IS BRIGHTER, CLEANER AND LESS CLUTTERED. IT TELLS A STORY OF THE NUMEROUS ISLAMIC EMPIRES THAT PASSED THROUGH EGYPT OVER 1,400 YEARS AND HOW THEY INFLUENCED ART AND DESIGN ACROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN AND AS FAR AS BRITAIN.

MULLIN MUSEUM TO PRESENT $30 MILLION 1936 BUGATTI


A 1936 BUGATTI THAT RECENTLY SOLD FOR MORE THAN $30 MILLION WENT ON DISPLAY AT THE MULLIN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM IN OXNARD. THE MUSEUM SAY THE 1936 BUGATTI TYPE 57SC ATLANTIC IS ONE OF ONLY THREE EVER MADE AND WAS FIRST PURCHASED BY LORD VICTOR ROTHSCHILD OF LONDON. IN 1939, IT WAS SENT BACK TO THE FACTORY TO BE SUPERCHARGED. THE OWNERS HAVE INCLUDED DR PETER WILLIAMSON, WHO BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1971 FOR $59,000 AND RESTORED IT. THE CAR SOLD IN MAY IN A DEAL BROKERED BY GOODING & CO. IT SAYS THE UNIDENTIFIED BUYER PAID BETWEEN $30 AND $40 MILLION. THE MUSEUM SAYS IT IS NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WILL BE DISPLAYED. THE MULLIN MUSEUM IS AN HOMAGE TO THE ART DECO AND MACHINE AGE, ERAS THAT PRODUCED EXQUISITE ART AND MAGNIFICENT AUTOMOBILES. THE MUSEUM IS HOME TO EXAMPLES OF THE FINEST OF HISTORIC FRENCH AUTOMOBILES FROM THE BUGATTI TO THE VOISIN AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT AND REPRESENTATIVE DECORATIVE ART.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com

PILGRIM MONUMENT CELEBRATES 100 YEARS


QUICK, NAME THE LANDMARK IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT MARKS THE SPOT WHERE THE PILGRIMS FIRST LANDED IN THE NEW WORLD. PLYMOUTH ROCK? TRY AGAIN. SOARING MORE THAN 250 FEET ABOVE PICTURESQUE PROVINCETOWN HARBOR AT THE VERY TIP OF CAPE COD IS THE NATION'S TALLEST ALL-GRANITE STRUCTURE, A 100 YEAR OLD MONUMENT AT THE PLACE WHERE THE MAYFLOWER INITIALLY DROPPED ANCHOR AFTER ITS PERILOUS JOURNEY FROM ENGLAND. IMPRESSIVE AS THE TOWER MAY BE, ITS STORY SURPRISES MANY VISITORS WHO SINCE CHILDHOOD HAVE LEARNED ONLY THE ICONIC TALE OF PILGRIMS, PLYMOUTH ROCK AND THE FIRST THANKSGIVING, AND LITTLE IF ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED FIRST. 'THEY'RE SHOCKED', SAID LAUREL GUADAZNO, EDUCATION AND PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE PILGRIM MONUMENT AND PROVINCETOWN MUSEUM. OFTEN TOURISTS ASK: 'REALLY? HOW COME WE WEREN'T TOLD THAT?' GUADAZNO SAID. PERHAPS IT IS BECAUSE THE MAYFLOWER PILGRIMS SPENT ONLY ABOUT FIVE EVENTFUL BUT DIFFICULT WEEKS IN THEIR FIRST LANDING SPOT BEFORE A SEARCH PARTY SCOUTED OUT PLYMOUTH HARBOR, ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTHWEST ACROSS CAPE COD BAY, AND DETERMINED IT TO BE A MORE SUITABLE LOCATION FOR A PERMANENT SETTLEMENT. ON THURSDAY, THE MONUMENT WILL CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF ITS DEDICATION ON 5.AUGUST.1910. A PARADE, CONCERT AND FIREWORKS ARE PLANNED. CARRYING ENGLISH SEPARATISTS AND OTHER SETTLERS, THE MAYFLOWER'S ORIGINAL DESTINATION WASN'T MASSACHUSETTS AT ALL BUT THE HUDSON RIVER IN WHAT WAS THEN PART OF VIRGINIA COLONY. THE SHIP WAS BLOWN OFF COURSE, AND THE PILGRIMS ARRIVED AT WHAT IN NOW PROVINCETOWN ON 21.NOVEMBER.1620. THE CAPE COD PILGRIM MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION, FOUNDED IN 1892, COMMISSIONED THE PROVINCETOWN MONUMENT IN AN EFFORT TO SET THE HISTORICAL RECORD STRAIGHT. MODELED BY ITS ARCHITECT AFTER THE TORRE DEL MANGIA IN SIENNA, ITALY, THE TOWER WAS CONSTRUCTED FOR THE MODEST SUM OF $92,000, WITH $40,000 PAID BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REST RAISED THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS. THE EFFORT CERTAINLY GOT ATTENTION AT THE TIME. PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT LAID THE CORNER STONE FOR THE MONUMENT IN 1907 AND PRESIDENT WILLIAM TAFT WAS ON HAND FOR THE DEDICATION CEREMONY IN 1910. JAMES BAKKER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MONUMENT, CONCEDES THAT PLYMOUTH PROBABLY HAS DONE A BETTER JOB OF SELLING ITS STORY, BUT THE TOWER IS MORE IMPRESSIVE.

4.8.10

'AMERICAN GOTHIC' SCULPTURE TO BE DISPLAYED AT INDIANA STATE FAIR


A 25 FOOT TALL SCULPTURE INSPIRED BY GRANT WOOD'S ICONIC PAINTING 'AMERICAN GOTHIC' WILL STAND GUARD IN DOW AGROSCIENCES CELEBRATION PARK DURING THE GREAT INDIANA STATE FAIR, 6-22.AUGUST. 'GOD BLESS AMERICA', WHICH HAS TRAVELED TO CHICAGO, FLORIDA, ARIZONA AND NEW YORK, WILL FEATURE THE WELL-KNOWN FARMER WITH HIS PITCHFORK AND DAUGHTER BY HIS SIDE. THE SCULPTURE, INSTALLED 26.JULY WITH THE HELP OF GIANTS CRANES, IS A REMINDER OF THE NATION'S AGRICULTURAL ROOTS. ARTIST J SEWARD JOHNSON SAID HIS WORK IS ALSO INTENDED TO HELP VIEWERS LOOK BACK AND REEXAMINE WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED SINCE THE COUPLE IN THE PAINTING FIRST BECAME ICONS AND HOW PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING MAY HAVE SHIFTED SINCE THEN. THE SCULPTURE IS ON LOAN FROM THE SCULPTURE FOUNDATION, A NON-PROFIT THE ENCOURAGES THE PLACEMENT AND SHARING OF PUBLIC ART. THE INDIANA STATE FAIR IS THE STATE'S LARGEST MUTI-DAY EVENT ATTRACTING MORE THAN 900,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY. NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR OFFERING THE BEST IN ENTERTAINMENT, SHOWCASING YOUTH, INTERACTIVE AGRICULTURE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PREMIERE FACILITIES AND A VARIETY OF UNIQUE, FUN FOODS, THE INDIANA STATE FAIR IS AN ANNUAL TRADITION FOR GENERATIONS OF HOOSIERS.

BETSEY JOHNSON DESIGNS PLAZA HOTEL'S 'ELOISE SUITE'


ON 16. AUGUST, THE PLAZA HOTEL IN NEW YORK WILL DEBUTING ITS ONE OF A KIND 'ELOISE SUITE', DESIGNED BY CELEBRATED FASHION DESIGNER BETSEY JOHNSON. JOHNSON HAS DESIGNED AN EXCLUSIVE ELOISE SUITE THAT BLENDS LUXURY AND WHIMSY FOR A CHARMINGLY ORIGINAL RESULT. IT IS JOHNSON'S FIRST-EVER HOTEL COLLABORATION. THE SUITE CHANNELS THE EBULLIENT SPIRIT OF THE PLAZA'S MOST FAMOUS 'RESIDENT', ELOISE, THE PRECOCIOUS SIX YEAR OLD IN KAY THOMPSON'S CLASSIC 1955 BOOK, WHO LIVED WITH HER NANNY, PET PUG WEENIE AND TURTLE SKIPPERDEE AT THE PLAZA AND HAD THE UNFETTERED RUN OF THE PLACE. AS IS ONLY FITTING FOR NEW YORK'S QUINTESSENTIAL 'CITY CHILD', ELOISE'S SUITE IS LOCATED ON THE 18th FLOOR OF THE FAMOUS NEW YORK HOTEL AND IS COMPRISED OF TWO ROOMS, ONE FOR ERSTWHILE YOUNG ELOISES AND ONE FOR THEIR PARENTS, AND JOHNSON'S DESIGN CAPTURES ALL THE BRIO OF NEW YORK'S NAUGHTIEST. THE SUITE IS RESPLENDENTLY RENDERED IN AN ELOISE APPROVED PALETTE OF PINK AND BLACK, AND A SIGNATURE PLAZA CHANDELIER FITTED WITH PINK BULBS WHICH CAST A ROSY GLOW THROUGHOUT. WALL PANELS ARE CANDY STRIPED WITH PINK AND WHITE AND OUTLINED WITH GOLD LEAF MOLDING PROVIDING A STRIKING CONTRAST TO THE BLACK AND WHITE ZEBRA-PRINT CARPET WHICH MUFFLES THE SOUND WHEN ELOISE SLOMPS HER SKATES TO 'MAKE A REALLY LOUD AND TERRIBLE RACKET'. FANS OF ELOISE SHOULD ALSO BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE ELOISE BOUTIQUE IN THE PLAZA SHOPS ON THE CONCOURSE LEVEL OF THE PLAZA. THE 2,100 SQUARE FOOT BOUTIQUE RESEMBLES A PLAYHOUSE AND FEATURES ELOISE-THEMED MERCHANDISE FROM DOLLS AND COSTUMES TO BOOKS AND ACCESSORIES. THE BOUTIQUE IS EQUIPPED WITH A FASHION ROOM WHERE CHILDREN CAN DRESS UP IN COSTUMES AND MODEL THEIR FAVORITE LOOKS ON A STAGE AS WELL AS A LIBRARY, WHERE GUESTS CAN WATCH THEIR FAVORITE ELOISE MOVIES OR SIT AND READ AN ELOISE BOOK. THE BOUTIQUE ALSO HAS A SPACE WHERE IT CAN HOST TEA AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.theplaza.com

3.8.10

TRAFALGAR SQUARE 'POP-UP' HEDGE MAZE


TOURISTS VISITING LONDON OFTEN COMPLAIN THAT IT'S ALL TO EASY TO LOSE ONE'S WAY AROUND THE CAPITAL CITY'S TWISTING STREETS. NOW THEY CAN LOSE THEMSELVES WITHOUT LEAVING FAMED TRAFALGAR SQUARE, IN A TEMPORARY 'POP-UP' HEDGE MAZE SET UP IN THE FAMOUS LONDON LANDMARK. THE LABYRINTH OF HEDGES, ORGANIZED BY THE WEST END MARKETING ALLIANCE, WILL BE AT THE FOOT OF NELSON'S COLUMN UNTIL FRIDAY. VISITORS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A NOT ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT SEARCH FOR THE EXIT, BUT KEEPING THINGS INTERESTING ALONG THE WAY ARE AREAS REPRESENTING THE WEST END'S VARIOUS DISTRICTS. EACH FEATURES A 'BLUE PLAQUE' FEATURING A NUGGET OF TRIVIA ABOUT THE AREA IN QUESTION. THE CENTER OF THE MAZE WILL HOST A DIFFERENT EVENT EVERY DAY, SHOWCASING SOME OF WESTMINSTER'S BEST ATTRACTIONS SUCH AS MUSICAL ROUTINES PERFORMED BY THE CAST OF THE WEST END SHOW PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, A GIANT PAPER DRAGON SHOW FROM CHINATOWN AND A SIXTIES-THEMED CARNABY STREET PARTY. THE MAZE IS A MIXTURE OF LAUREL AND THUJA, IS JUST UNDER EIGHT FEET TALL AND MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 98ft BY 66ft. THE ATTRACTION WILL BE OPEN TO VISITORS FROM 11.a TO 9.p EVERY DAY UNTIL FRIDAY, AND ADMISSION IS FREE. IT IS PROVING POPULAR, WITH LONG QUEUES OF TOURISTS LINING UP TO GET LOST IN LONDON.

RARE COPY OF BATMAN NO.1 TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION


A LONGTIME ALASKA COMIC BOOK COLLECTOR IS SELLING ONE OF THE GEMS OF HIS VAST COLLECTION, A RARE COPY OF BATMAN NO.1 PUBLISHED 70 YEARS AGO. MIKE WHEAT OF FAIRBANKS HAS PUT THE 1940 COMIC BOOK ON THE AUCTION BLOCK THROUGH DALLAS-BASED HERITAGE AUCTION GALLERIES, WHERE IT'S EXPECTED TO FETCH MORE THAN $40,000. ONLINE BIDS ALREADY HAVE CLIMBED TO $35,000 FOR THE BOOK, BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF FEWER THAN 300 STILL IN EXISTENCE. ONLINE BIDS WILL COMPETE WITH A LIVE AUCTION SET FOR THURSDAY. THE SECOND AND FORTH BATMAN ISSUES ALSO WILL BE PART OF THURSDAY'S AUCTION. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BRING MORE THAN $5,000 COMBINED. WHEAT A RETIRED CITY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR, SAID HE CONSIDERS THE BATMAN COMICS AN INVESTMENT. HE SAID IT FEELS LIKE THE RIGHT TIME TO SELL. 'I JUST DECIDED IT'S TIME FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO HAVE IT', HE ADDED. THE BATMAN NO. 1 COMIC BOOK WAS DISCOVERED AFTER LOCAL BUSINESSMAN RON JAEGER BOUGHT AN OLD DRESSER AT A GARAGE SALE IN THE EARLY 1970s, THEN KEPT IT IN STORAGE FOR A FEW YEARS. WHEN JAEGER FINALLY BROUGHT IT OUT, HE NOTICED ONE OF THE DRAWERS DIDN'T SLIDE EASILY. THREE COMIC BOOKS AND A FEW OLD ISSUES OF THE FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER WERE TUCKED BENEATH THE DRAWER AND A QUARTER-INCH PIECE OF PLYWOOD. THE HAUL INCLUDED A COPY OF BATMAN NO. 1, SUPERMAN NO. 17 AND AN OLD ISSUE OF A RED RYDER WESTERN COMIC. WHEAT ALREADY HAD A REPUTATION AS AN AVID COMIC COLLECTOR IN 1974, AND JAEGER SOLD HIM THE COMIC FOR $300. THE AUCTION HOUSE HAS HANDLED MANY COPIES OF BATMAN NO. 1, BUT WHEAT'S COPY IS NOTABLE BECAUSE THE LOW HUMIDITY AND COOL TEMPERATURES IN FAIRBANKS HAVE KEPT THE PAPER IN EXCELLENT CONDITION SAID BARRY SANDOVAL, DIRECTOR OF COMIC AUCTIONS AND OPERATIONS AT HERITAGE. OLD COMICS WERE PRINTED ON CHEAP NEWSPRINT, BUT THE PAGES IN WHEAT'S COPY REMAIN WHITE AND CRISP.

2.8.10

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL LOUIS VUITTON COLLECTION


ON 28.SEPTEMBER CHRISTIE'S, LONDON, WILL BE OFFERING AN INCREDIBLE COLLECTION OF VINTAGE LOUIS VUITTON LUGGAGE DURING ITS INTERIORS: STYLE & SPIRIT SALE. OVER 20 ORIGINAL PIECES FROM THE FAMED LUXURY GOODS HOUSE DATING FROM THE LATE 19th CENTURY TO THE 1940s WILL GO ON THE BLOCK, INCLUDING PERFECTLY PATINATED SUITCASES, CABIN TRUNKS, SMALL TRUNKS, HAT BOXES AND VANITY CASES. EACH TIMELESSLY LUXURIOUS ITEM TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY, WITH MANY STILL SPORTING VINTAGE TRAVEL LABELS FROM TRIPS WITH THEIR ORIGINAL OWNERS ON STEAMSHIPS AND TO EXOTIC LOCALES, WHILE OTHERS FEATURE HAND-PAINTED MONOGRAMS. WITH AN INVITING ESTIMATE RANGE OF £400 FOR SMALLER CASES TO
£6,000 FOR THE STEAMER TRUNKS ALONG WITH FAVORABLE EXCHANGE RATES, THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO OR BEGIN A VINTAGE LUGGAGE COLLECTION AND RECAPTURE THE GLAMOR OF A BYGONE ERA OF LUXURY.

MARTINI GOLD BY DOLCE & GABBANA


ITALIAN LUXURY DESIGNERS DOLCE & GABBANA HAVE RECENTLY TEAMED UP WITH BACARDI'S VERMOUTH BRAND MARTINI TO LAUNCH THEIR MARTINI GOLD BY DOLCE & GABBANA. THE NEW STUNNING NEW CREATION IS DRESSED IN A LAVISH GOLD BOTTLE IN A BLACK CASE. SWIDE.COM REPORTS THAT THE MARTINI GOLD VERMOUTH IS A REFINED BLEND OF 'BERGAMOT FROM CLABRIA, LEMONS FROM SICILY AS WELL AS ORANGES, SPANISH SAFFRON, MYRRH FROM ETHIOPIA, GINGER FROM INDIA AND CUBEBE PEPPER FROM INDONESIA'.

SOULAGES TILE MURAL TO BE REINSTALLED


PIERRE SOULAGES, AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTIST OF FRENCH ORIGIN, WHOSE WORKS WERE RECENTLY EXHIBITED IN A RETROSPECTIVE AT THE POMPIDOU CENTRE IN PARIS. IN 1968, SOULAGES CREATED A SITE-SPECIFIC TILE MURAL COMMISSIONED BY THE OWNERS OF ONE OLIVER PLAZA, AN OFFICE BUILDING IN PITTSBURGH. IN THE SPRING OF 2009, THE OLIVER BUILDING WAS SOLD AND THE NEW OWNERS PLANNED TO REMOVE THE 14 x 20 FOOT MURAL, COMPOSED OF 294 INDIVIDUAL, HAND-FORMED CERAMIC TILES. THE MASTERWORK, UNVEILED IN MAY OF 1968, WAS OFFERED TO MUSEUMS AND ORGANIZATIONS, BUT NONE WERE WILLING TO UNDERTAKE THE DIFFICULT REMOVAL OF THE WORK. THE DIRECTOR AND BOARD OF THE BUTLER INSTITUTE ACCEPTED THE WORK AS A GIFT FROM THE NEW OWNERS OF THE OLIVER BUILDING, AND REMOVED THE DELICATE TILE MURAL IN AN EXTENSIVE TEN-DAY PERIOD IN JULY 2009. THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK (NOW UNDERGOING FINE ART CONSERVATION) WILL BE REINSTALLED IN A GLASS-FRONTED ROOM, CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MASSIVE PIECE. DESIGNED BY BART GILMORE OF CORTLAND, OHIO, THE 'SOULAGES GALLERY' WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AT THE INSTITUTE'S TRUMBULL BRANCH, LOCATED IN HOWLAND TOWNSHIP, OHIO. THE SOULAGES MURAL, TITLED '14 MAY, 1968', WILL BE FEATURED IN THE NEW GALLERY, AND WILL BE ACCESSIBLE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING NIGHT AND DAY, FREE OF CHARGE.

1.8.10

Griffith Frank - Unusual Way

LEONARD NIMOY'S 'SECRET SELVES' ON SHOW AT MASS MOCA


INSPIRED BY ARISTOPHANES' THEORY THAT HUMANS WERE ONCE DOUBLE-SIDED CREATURES WITH TWO HEADS AND MULTIPLE LIMBS BEFORE ZEUS CLEAVED MAN IN TWO AND LEFT HIM FOREVER STRUGGLING TO BE WHOLE AGAIN, LEONARD NIMOY'S PHOTOGRAPHS REVEAL HIS SUBJECTS' OTHER HALF. SHOT IN NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, IN 2007, THE SERIES WILL BE EXHIBITED FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SUMMER, OPENING AT MASS MOCA ON 31.JULY. FOR 'SECRET SELVES' NIMOY RECRUITED VOLUNTEERS TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED, POSED AND DRESSED AS THEIR TRUE OR IMAGINED SECRET SELVES. FROM THE POPULAR ROCK STAR AND SUPERMAN TO THE MORE UNEXPECTED WIZARD AND WOOD NYMPH, THESE OFF-LINE AVATARS OFFER AN INTIMATE, SOMETIMES HUMOROUS, AND OFTEN PROFOUND NEW LOOK AT THE RESIDENTS OF NORTHAMPTON WHILE TAPPING INTO A SHARED SENSE OF INNER YEARNING AND FANTASY. THE EXHIBITION PRESENTS A COMPELLING PERSPECTIVE ON THE COMPLEX STRUCTURE OF IDENTITY AS WELL AS AN INTIMATE LOOK AT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PORTRAIT SUBJECT AND PHOTOGRAPHER.
LEONARD NIMOY WAS BORN IN BOSTON, MASS, IN 1931. AFTER A STINT IN THE ARMY, NIMOY WORKED IN FEATURE FILMS, TELEVISION AND THEATER APPEARING IN MANY OF THE WELL-KNOWN TV SERIES OF THE PERIOD. HOWEVER, IT WAS NIMOY'S ENORMOUS SUCCESS AS MR SPOCK IN THE SCIENCE FICTION SERIES, STAR TREK, WHICH GAINED HIM WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION. THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE NIMOY HAS BEEN ENGAGED WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AS BOTH STUDENT AND PRACTITIONER. IN THE 1970s HE STUDIED UNDER THE INFLUENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHER ROBERT HEINECKEN AT UCLA. IN 1973 NIMOY HAD HIS FIRST SHOW AT A GALLERY. THAT SAME YEAR HIS BOOK OF POEMS AND PHOTOGRAPHS, YOU AND I WAS PUBLISHED, AND BY 1977 HE RECORDED FOR THE DOT LABEL AND EARNED A MASTERS DEGREE IN EDUCATION. NIMOY AND HIS WIFE, SUSAN BAY NIMOY, HAVE CONTRIBUTED TOWARD A VARIETY OF CAUSES INCLUDING THE RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY IN LOS ANGELES AND THE THALIA THEATER IN NEW YORK CITY. A NEW LECTURE HALL AT THE OBSERVATORY, THE LEONARD NIMOY EVENT HORIZON, HAS BEEN NAMED IN HIS HONOR AND THE THEATER IN NEW YORK IS NOW NAMED THE LEONARD NIMOY THALIA.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.massmoca.org

VIRGIN MARY STATUE CLAD IN LOUIS VUITTON


THE DEVIL MAY WELL WEAR PRADA, BUT AT THE RECENT BIENNIAL EXHIBITION OF SACRED ART IN ITALY, A STATUE OF THE VIRGIN MARY IS CLAD IN UNIQUE LOUIS VUITTON ROBES. THE VEIL WHICH TRADITIONALLY COVERS THE VIRGIN'S HEAD BEARS THE ICONIC FRENCH LUXURY BRAND'S TRADEMARK 'LV' LOGO IN GOLDEN LETTERS. FRANCESCO DE MOLFETTA SAID HE CREATED THE CONTROVERSIAL WORK TO 'DENOUNCE A SOCIETY BASED ON THE CULT OF APPEARANCE THROUGH THE USE OF A BRAND THAT REPRESENTS THE SEARCH FOR EPHEMERAL HAPPINESS.' 'THIS NEW WAY OF INTERPRETING SACRED ART IS ALONG THE LINES OF THE FAMOUS WORK PRESENTED IN 1999 IN VENICE BY MAURIZIO CATTELAN THAT SHOWED A WAX ICON DEPICTING POPE JOHN II BEING CRUSHED BY A METEOR', THE CURATOR OF THE BIENNIAL GIUSEPPE BACCI TOLD IL CENTRO. 'IT IS A WAY TO HIT THE VISITORS' UNCONSCIOUS', HE ADDED. THE BIENNIAL IS HELD AT ISOLA DEL GRAN SASSO IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF ABRUZZO.