'SNIFF' CANDLES FOR DOGS

SCENTED CANDLES ARE DE RIGUEUR FOR VALENTINE'S DAY GIFTING BUT WHAT IF YOUR VALENTINE'S WALKS ON FOUR LEGS? SNIFF IS A NEW SCENTED CANDLE THAT USES HOLISTIC AROMAS TO BENEFIT MAN'S BEST FRIEND. AFTER ALL, DOGS CAN IDENTIFY SMELLS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1,000 TO 10,000 TIMES BETTER THAN THEIR HUMAN FRIENDS. THE ORGANIC DOG-FRIENDLY CANDLES INCLUDES SCENTS LIKE 'A DAY IN THE HAMPTONS' (A SUNNY SUMMER DAY SCENT WITH ROSEMARY, BASIL AND SPEARMINT); 'SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS' (GREEN PASTURES WITH TOMATO LEAVES AND CEDARWOOD); 'FIELD OF DREAMS' (SOOTHING LAVENDER, VETIVER AND SANDALWOOD); 'FRIENDS TO THE RESCUE' (A MIX OF LEMONGRASS, EUCALYPTUS AND GRAPEFRUIT HELD TOGETHER BY GERANIUM,, CYPRUS AND GINGER WITH A FINISH OF MONGOSTEEN TO KEEP PESTS AWAY) AND 'FART & AWAY' ( A MIX OF FLORAL YLANG YLANG, TUBEROSE, WHITE TEA, MYRTLE AND FENNEL FOR THE SMELLY DOG). SALES THROUGH FEBRUARY SUPPORT THE MIAMI-DADE ANIMAL SERVICES FOUNDATION, A FOUNDATION DEDICATED TO ENDING THE UNWANTED PET POPULATION WITH SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS IN MIAMI. CANDLES SELL FOR $32 EACH.

LOUIS VUITTON'S 'ART FOR BABY'

LOUIS VUITTON AND YANA PEEL RECENTLY HOSTED AN 'ART FOR BABY' RECEPTION AT ESPACE LOUIS VUITTON HONG KONG. THE 'ART FOR BABY' EXHIBITION BROUGHT TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION OF THE ASIA LAUNCH OF THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BOOK BY THE SAME NAME. IT SHOWCASES THE 20th CENTURY'S MOST PROLIFIC PAINTERS FFROM AMERICA, EUROPE AND ASIA, WITH WORKS BY DAMIAN HIRST, GARY HUME, JULIAN OPE AND TAKASHI MURAKAMI. CHOSEN FROM AMONG WORKS BY KASMIR MALEVICH, PAUL MORRISON, BIDGET RILEY AND DAVID SHRIGLEY, EACH OF WHOM IS ALSO FEATURED IN THE ART FOR BABY BOOK. THE BOOK ART FOR BABY WAS CONCEIVED BY YANA PEEL ON THE BASIS OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT WHEN BABIES ARE FIRST BORN, THEY CAN SEE COLOUR BUT HAVE NOT YET DEVELOPED THE ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH SIMILAR TONES. AS A RESULT, BOLD GRAPHICS ALONG WITH MONOCHROMATIC BLACK AND WHITE CONTRASTS PROVIDE THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO NURTURE THEIR VISUAL SKILLS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME INTRODUCE THEM TO THE WORLD OF ART. THE ART FOR BABY EXHIBITION CONTINUES UNTIL APRIL.2011, AT ESPACE LOUIS VUITTON, 5 CANTON ROAD, HONG KONG, WITH ALL BOOK SALES GOING TO THE OUTSET CONTEMPORATY ART FUND.

NEWLY DISCOVERED HONUS WAGNER CARD TO BE AUCTIONED

THE SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME IN BALTIMORE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE A LITTLE DIVINE LOVE FROM THE HOLY GRAIL OF BASEBALL CARDS. A NEWLY DISCOVERED T206 HONUS WAGNER CARD, LEFT TO THE CONVENT BY THE BROTHER OF A MEMBER OF THE ORDER WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF ON 4.NOVEMBER IN DALLAS AS PART OF HERITAGE AUCTIONS' SIGNATURE SPORTS MEMORABILIA EVENT. THE CARD IS ESTIMATED TO BRING AT LEAST $100,000. 'THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THIS CARD WILL GO BENEFIT THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME ALL OVER THE WORLD, IN ABOUT 35 COUNTRIES', SAID SISTER VIRGINIA MULLER, TREASURER FOR THE BALTIMORE CONVENT. 'WHEREVER THE NEED IS, WE WILL SHARE IT.' NEW T206 WAGNER CARDS TURN UP ABOUT AS OFTEN AS BOTTLES OF 1921 DOM PERIGNON, AUCTION COMICS #1 OR A DIAMOND AS BIG AS YOUR FIST. NONETHELESS, THIS EXAMPLE TURNED UP IN MID-SUMMER 2010 WHEN THE CARD WAS LEFT TO THE CONVENT. WHILE THE CONDITION IS NOT GREAT, FAR BELOW THE MOST FAMOUS OF T206 EXAMPLES, WHICH SOLD FOR $2 MILLION, IT IS STILL QUITE VALUABLE, HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF COLLECTORS EVERYWHERE AND REPRESENTS A REMARKABLE FIND IN THE WORLD OF HIGH-END CARDBOARD. IT CAME, PRESENTED SIMPLY IN PLASTIC, WITH A NOTE THAT READ: 'ALTHOUGH DAMAGED, THE VALUE OF THIS BASEBALL CARD SHOULD INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY THROUGHOUT THE 21st CENTURY.' 'FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THIS COPY OF THIS COVETED RARITY IS BEING PLACED ON THE AUCTION BLOCK', SAID CHRIS IVY, DIRECTOR OF HERITAGE SPORTS COLLECTIBLES. IT WAS WAGNER HIMSELF WHO PULLED THE PLUG ON THE USE OF HIS IMAGE ON THE CARD, CREATING HISTORY'S MOST FAMOUS BASEBALL CARD, THOUGH THE REASON IS A SUBJECT OF GOOD-SPIRITED DEBATE AMONG AFICIONADOS EVERYWHERE. 'THE MOST POPULAR STORY IS THAT WAGNER WANTED NO ROLE IN THE PROMOTION OF TOBACCO USE TO KIDS', SAID IVY. 'ANOTHER THEORY ARGUES THAT IT WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A FAILURE TO AGREE ON MONEY THAT LED THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY TO END PRODUCTION OF WAGNER'S CARD SOON AFTER IT STARTED.' 'I HAD NO IDEA WHO HONUS WAGNER WAS BEFORE WE SAW THIS BASEBALL CARD', SISTER VIRGINIA, 'BUT I'VE CERTAINLY TRIED READ EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT HIM NOW.' EITHER WAY, THE BOON TO THE SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME IS OBVIOUS, AND THE POTENTIAL GOOD WORK DONE AS A RESULT OF THE SALE WILL ONLY ADD TO WAGNER'S LEGEND.

BARBIE DESIGNED BY STEFANO CATURI SELLS FOR $302,500

THE MOST EXPENSIVE BARBIE IN THE WORLD, WITH JEWELS DESIGNED BY AUSTRALIA'S STEFANO CATURI, HAS BEEN SOLD AT CHRISTIE'S IN NEW YORK FOR $302,500. MATTEL COMMISSIONED CANTURI TO CREATE A FINGER-WIDE NECKPIECE AND TINY MATCHING RING TO PROMOTE ITS NEW BARBIE COLLECTION. THE JEWELERY SET FEATURES A NECKLACE MADE FROM THREE CARATS OF WHITE DIAMONDS SET AROUND A ONE CARAT, SQUARE EMERALD-CUT PINK DIAMOND. JEWELER STEFANO CANTURI ALSO DESIGNED THE DOLL'S BLACK STRAPLESS PARTY DRESS, PEEP-TOE STILETTOS AND TUMBLING BLONDE HAIR. 'I WANTED THE JEWELRY DESIGN TO PAY HOMAGE TO BARBIE'S MODERN YET TIMELESS STYLE OVER THE AGES', CANTURI SAID. THE DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY CUBISM. THE CANTURI BARBIE NOW LEADS THE PACK OF MOST EXPENSIVE BARBIE DOLLS EVER MADE, FOLLOWED BY BARBIE AND THE DIAMOND CASTLE PROMOTIONAL BARBIE ($95,361). ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE ARE GOING TO AID BREAST CANCER RESEARCH.

RARE AUDREY HEPBURN STAMP SHEET TO BE AUCTIONED FOR CHARITY

AUDREY HEPBURN LEFT AN INDELIBLE IMPRESSION, AN IMPRINT OF GRACIOUS COMPASSION AND RESPECT, WHICH ENDURES IN A FASHION AS TIMELESS AS HER HER HEART. IN 2002 THE GERMAN MINISTRY OF FINANCE DECIDED TO HONOR HEPBURN WITH A STAMP AND ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE AUDREY HEPBURN CHILDREN'S FUND (AHCF). DUE TO AND INTERNAL BREAKDOWN THE PRINTING OF THE 14 MILLION STAMPS FOR THE GERMAN POST WAS ORDERED PRIOR TO OBTAINING THE CONTRACTUAL APPROVALS FROM THE AHCF. THE AHCF, UNAWARE OF THE PRINTING, ORDERED THE ENTIRE STOCK DESTROYED...BUT FOR THREE SHEETS, I KEPT BY THE MINISTRY, I BY THE PRINTER AND ONE LOCATED RECENTLY IN A FILE IN THE OFFICE OF SEAN HEPBURN FERRER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AHCF. THESE STAMPS ARE TODAY, BY AGREEMENT WITH THE MINISTRY, THE ONLY UN-POSTED SPECIMENS AVAILABLE FOR SALE (5 POSTMARKED STAMPS WERE SOLD AT AUCTION FOR THE PRICES RANGING FROM 50,000 TO 125,000 EUROS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT SOMEONE HIGH UP INSIDE THE MINISTRY PICKED A SINGLE SHEET HOT OFF THE PRESS AND SENT LETTERS TO FRIENDS). THE MINT CONDITION SHEET OF 10 STAMPS IS THE OBJECT OF UNPRECEDENTED DESIRABILITY AND UNIQUE VALUE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE OF MODERN PHILATELY. THE MINIMUM RESERVE IS SET AT A RECORD 500,000 EUROS. THE AUDREY HEPBURN STAMP IS ESTIMATED TO REACH CLOSE TO A MILLION EUROS ON THE FINAL HAMMER. 100% OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO CHARITY THROUGH THE AHCF AND UNICEF. THE AUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON 16.OCTOBER IN BERLIN AND WILL PROVIDE 300 SEATS, MOST OF WHICH HAVE BEEN RESERVED IN ADVANCE. THE DEMAND AND REQUESTS HAVE BEEN SO NUMEROUS AND HAS ALREADY GONE TO A 'WAITING LIST'.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT briefmarken-schlegel.de

MACALLAN LALIQUE CIRE PERDUE TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION

THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE BOTTLE OF WHISKEY, A ONE OF A KIND CRYSTAL LALIQUE DECANTER HOLDING THE OLDEST AND RAREST MACALLAN SINGLE MALT EVER, WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF BY SOTHEBY'S IN NEW YORK ON 16.NOVEMBER FOR AN ESTIMATED $150,000 OR MORE. THE MACALLAN IN LALIQUE CIRE PERDUE IS FILLED WITH 64 YEARS AND OLDER MACALLAN SINGLE MALT SCOTCH, VATTED TOGETHER FROM THREE SHERRY SEASONED SPANISH OAK CASKS. THE FAMED SPEYSUDE DISTILLERY COMMISSIONED THE LEGENDARY CRYSTAL ARTISAN TO CREATE THE STUNNING DECANTER USING THE ANCIENT 'CIRE PERDUE' OR 'LOST WAX' METHOD. PAINSTAKINGLY HAND CRAFTED BY LALIQUE EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE MACALLAN, AND INSPIRED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE MACALLAN'S 150 HECTARE ESTATE IN NORTH EASTERN SCOTLAND, IT'S BASED UPON A SHIP'S DECANTER OF THE 1820s. PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITY: WATER, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BRINGING CLEAN WATER AND SAFE DRINKING WATER TO PEOPLE IN DEVELOPING NATIONS.

ART FUND LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO SAVE BRUEGHEL PAINTING

TODAY, THE NATIONAL TRUST AND THE ART FUND ARE LAUNCHING A £2.7 MILLION FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO SAVE AN ICONIC OLD MASTER PAINTING FOR THE NATION. 'THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY' BY PIETER BRUEGHEL THE YOUNGER IS THE STAR ATTRACTION AT NOSTELL PRIORY IN YORKSHIRE, OWNED BY THE NATIONAL TRUST SINCE 1954, WHERE IT HAS HUNG FOR OVER 200 YEARS. NOW, HOWEVER, THE PAINTING, WHICH IS STILL OWNED BY LORD ST OSWALD, HAS BEEN PUT UP FOR SALE, WITH THE RISK THAT NOSTELL'S GREATEST WORK WILL NO LONGER BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. COMPLETED IN 1602, AND AMONGST BRUEGHEL THE YOUNGER'S FINEST WORKS, THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY SHOWS CHRIST CARRYING THE CROSS ON THE WAY TO HIS CRUCIFIXION. HE IS SURROUNDED BY OVER TWO HUNDRED FIGURES IN A VIBRANT NARRATIVE, SET IN A CONTEMPORARY FLEMISH LANDSCAPE. THE PAINTING INCLUDES A HOST OF CAREFULLY OBSERVED INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS: RELIGIOUS FIGURES, PEASANTS, CHILDREN, ANIMALS, GENTRY AND SOLDIERS. REMARKABLE FOR BOTH ITS COMPOSITIONAL DEXTERITY AND ITS DETAILED CHARACTERIZATIONS, THE PICTURE ALSO INCLUDES AMBIGUOUS SOCIAL AND POLITICAL NARRATIVES: 'THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY' IS ONE OF BRUEGHEL'S MOST INTRIGUING AND FASCINATING WORKS. THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN GIVEN AN INITIAL MAJOR BOOST WITH £500,000 DONATION FORM THE ART FUND, BUT IT IS HOPED THAT THE REMAINING £2.2 MILLION CAN BE RAISED BY CHRISTMAS TO SECURE THE PAINTING'S FUTURE. TO ENABLE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO SEE 'THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY' DURING THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, THE PAINTING WILL BE DISPLAYED IN LONDON, AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY FROM 5.NOVEMBER AND THEN AT THE YORK ART GALLERY FROM 18.NOVEMBER UNTIL CHRISTMAS.

LACMA CELEBRATES NEW EXHIBITION HALL

THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF ITS NEWEST EXHIBITION HALL RECENTLY WITH A GLITZY PARTY, COMPLETE WITH HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS, ART ICONS AND ENTERTAINMENT BY CHRISTINA AGUILERA. AMONG THE ACTORS IN THE STAR-STUDDED CROWD WERE TOM HANKS AND WIFE RITA WILSON, TERRI HATCHER, JAMES FRANCO, JOAN COLLINS, MOLLY SIMS AND OLIVIA WILDE. PRODUCERS BRIAN GRAZER AND MARK BURNETT AND REALITY STARLETS NICOLE RICHIE AND KIM KARSASHIAN ALSO ATTENDED THE FUND RAISING EVENT, WHICH HAD THE GLAMOR OF A FILM PREMIER AND GENERATED NEARLY $5 MILLION FOR LACMA. MUSEUM TRUSTEE JANE NATHANSON CALLED IT 'THE MOST SPECTACULAR AND SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER FOR ART IN LOS ANGELES.' LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CLAD IN COLOURFUL 18th CENTURY COSTUMES WELCOMED GUESTS TO THE PRIVATE BLACK-TIE AFFAIR, CALLED 'THE UNMASKING' AS IT REVEALED THE SPRAWLING NEW BUILDING THAT BROKE GROUND IN 2008. GUESTS WERE GIVEN GOLD AND SILVER MASKS AS THEY WALKED DOWN A LONG RED CARPET ON THEIR WAY TO THE LYNDA AND STEWART RESNICK EXHIBITION PAVILION. DESIGNED BY FAMED ARCHITECT RENZO PIANO, THE WINDOW-LINED, NATURALLY LIT 45,000 SQUARE FOOT SPACE WAS DIVIDED TO HOUSE A TRIO OF INAUGURAL EXHIBITS: 'OLMEC:COLOSSAL MASTERWORKS OF ANCIENT MEXICO', WITH GREAT BASALT CARVINGS RARELY SEEN OUTSIDE OF MEXICO; 'EYE FOR THE SENSUAL: SELECTIONS FROM THE RESNICK COLLECTION', WHICH FEATURES EUROPEAN PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES FROM THE BUILDING'S BENEFACTORS' OWN PERSONAL COLLECTION; AND 'FASHIONING FASHION: EUROPEAN DRESS IN DETAIL, 1700-1915', A LOOK AT THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN DRESS AND THE BUSTLES AND PETTICOATS OF FASHION'S PAST. THE RESNICKS, WHO DONATED $45 MILLION TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR NAMESAKE BUILDING, WERE THE GUESTS OF HONOR AT A DINNER THAT FOLLOWED. AN ADJACENT TENT BECAME AN ELEGANT SUPPER CLUB FOR THE 1,000 OR SO GUESTS, WITH A SMALL ROTATING PLATFORM IN THE CENTER AND A WALL AT ONE END THAT FELL AWAY TO REVEAL A FULL STAGE. THAT'S WHERE AGUILERA, BACKED BY A 20-PIECE ORCHESTRA AND TWO SINGERS, PERFORMED HER SET. LOOKING LIKE A HOLLYWOOD SIREN IN LONG PLATINUM HAIR AND A CURVE-HUGGING CREAM GOWN, AGUILERA SANG HER HIT SONG, 'BEAUTIFUL', FOLLOWED BY WHAT SHE CALLED 'MY FAVORITE SONG OF ALL TIME', JOHN LENNON'S 'IMAGINE'. THE LYNDA AND STEWART RESNICK EXHIBITION PAVILION OPENS TO THE PUBLIC ON 2.OCTOBER.

NEW LOUIS VUITTON AD FEATURE BONO AND HIS WIFE

THE LATEST IN THE BEAUTIFUL LOUIS VUITTON AD CAMPAIGN SHOT BY ANNIE LEIBIVITZ FEATURES U2 FRONTMAN BONO (AKA PAUL HEWSON) AND HIS WIFE, ALI HEWSON. WWD SAYS THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT BONO HAS APPEARED IN AN AD WITHOUT HIS U2 BANDMATES. IT'S ALSO THE FIRST TIME THAT A LABEL OTHER THAN VUITTON IS GETTING A FASHION CREDIT, THE PAIR ARE WEARING THEIR OWN CLOTHING LINE, EDUN, A LINE OF ETHICAL FASHION. VUITTON PARENT COMPANY OWNS 49% STAKE IN THE COMPANY. IN THE NEW AD, ALI HEWSON CARRIES A NEW HANDBAG THAT WAS A JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN EDUN AND VUITTON AND HAS A SPECIAL CHARM THAT IS THE FRENCH LUXURY FIRM'S FIRST MADE IN AFRICA PRODUCT. PROCEEDS FROM THE BAG WILL GO TO TECHNOSERVE, A NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, WHICH SUPPORTS SUSTAINABLE FARMING IN AFRICA. THE AD SHOWS THE PAIR LEAVING A PLANE WITH A SOUTH AFRICAN LANDSCAPE AS A BACKDROP AND CARRIES THE TAGLINE 'EVERY JOURNEY BEGAN IN AFRICA'. THEY DONATED THEIR FEES TO TECHNOSERVE, CONSERVATION COTTON INITIATIVE AND CHERNOBYL CHILDREN'S PROJECT INTERNATIONAL. PREVIOUS ADS HAVE FEATURED MIKHAIL GORBACHEV, KEITH RICHARDS, JOHN GLENN, SALLY RIDE AND CATHERINE DENUEVE AMONG OTHERS.

JONATHAN FERRARA GALLERY TO SELL ARTWORK TO BENEFIT OIL SPILL FAMILIES

JONATHAN FERRARA GALLERY, NEW ORLEANS, HAS ANNOUNCED A LIMITED UNIQUE EDITION PRINT BY ARTIST BRIAN BORRELLO THAT WILL BENEFIT THE EXPANSION OF RESOURCES AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE BP OIL SPILL. BRIAN BORRELLO IS A PORTLAND-BASED ARTIST WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEW ORLEANS. BORRELLO IS WELL-KNOWN FOR HIS ENVIRONMENTAL WORKS AND PUBLIC ART PROJECTS. 'NEW ORLEANS SKYLINE' IS A HIGH-RESOLUTION DIGITAL PRINT ON ARCHIVAL PAPER WITH OIL COLLECTED FROM THE BP DEEPWATER HORIZON SPILL. BORRELLO HAS BEEN INTEGRATING MOTOR OIL AND OTHER MATERIALS OF A DEADLY BEAUTY IN HIS ARTWORK SINCE 1993. THE LIMITED UNIQUE EDITION PRINT WILL BE SOLD DIRECTLY FROM THE GALLERY WITH A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE ST BERNARD PROJECT IN COLLABORATION WITH LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE OIL SPILL.

WORLD CUP FINAL VICTORY BALL SELLS FOR $74,000

THE BALL USED IN SPAIN'S WORLD CUP FINAL VICTORY OVER THE NETHERLANDS HAS RECENTLY FETCHED ALMOST $74,000 IN A CHARITY AUCTION ON EBAY. THE FAMOUS JABULANI BALL WAS SOLD FOR THE '46664' HIV/AIDS CHARITY, NAMED AFTER NELSON MANDELA'S PRISONER NUMBER WHEN HE WAS HELD AT ROBBEN ISLAND. THE CALLS USED DURING THE WORLD CUP WERE CRITIQUED FOR THEIR UNPREDICTABILITY AND WERE NICKNAMED 'SUPERMARKET BALLS'. THE GOLD VERSION USED IN THE FINAL WAS NAMED 'JO' BULANI' BECAUSE THE GAME WAS PLAYED IN JOHANNESBURG, KNOWN COLLOQUIALLY AS JO'BURG. A TOTAL OF 133 BIDS FROM 55 PARTICIPANTS CAME IN FOR THE BALL. IT EVENTUALLY WENT TO A GROUP OF SPANISH FANS.

PRINCE CHARLES LAUNCHES NEW CHARITY FUND

THE PRINCE OF WALES IS TO LAUNCH A NEW FUND TO SAFEGUARD THE FUTURE OF BRITAIN'S HARD-PRESSED RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE SENIOR ROYAL HAS OBTAINED WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FROM BIG PRODUCERS AND RETAILERS, INCLUDING WAITROSE, TO SET UP THE PRINCE'S COUNTRYSIDE FUND. THE INITIATIVE, WHICH IS PRINCE CHARLES'S OWN BRAINCHILD, WILL GIVE A MUCH-NEEDED LIFELINE TO SOME OF BRITAIN'S MOST VULNERABLE FARMERS AND SMALL COMMUNITIES. THE PRINCE HAS SPOKEN EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT HIS MOTIVATION FOR SETTING UP THE NEW FUND, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO RAISE MILLIONS FOR DEPRESSED RURAL AREAS OVER THE COMING YEARS. 'I HAVE FELT FOR A LONG TIME THERE IS A PARTICULAR NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE SMALLER FAMILY FARMER, IN PARTICULAR, WAS ABLE TO SURVIVE IN THE FUTURE', HE SAID. THE PRINCE BELIEVES THAT THE FOOT AND MOUTH OUTBREAK IN 2001 AND OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE HAD A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE COUNTRYSIDE. HE SAID: 'IT IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FUND WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO DRAW ON IN THE EVENT OF THESE EMERGENCIES AND ALSO (IN) THE COUNTRYSIDE GENERALLY AND RURAL COMMUNITIES THERE IS A GREAT DEAL MORE HARDSHIP THAN PEOPLE REALIZE. IT LOOKS WONDERFUL BUT IT ISN'T ALWAYS LIKE THAT.' THE PRINCE MADE HIS COMMENTS TO COUNTRYFILE, THE BBC ONE PROGRAM. THE NEW FUND WILL BE FORMALLY LAUNCHED ON 22.JULY. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT AROUND A DOZEN LEADING FIGURES FROM THE RETAIL AND PRODUCTION WORLDS WILL SERVE ON A BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE NEW FUND AND THAT MANY COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY PLEDGED MONEY TO THE PRINCE'S NEW FUND WHICH MEANS IT WILL HAVE A 'STARTING POT' OF £1 MILLION.

JEFF KOONS CREATES ARTWOK FOR CHICAGO'S ADVOCATE HOPE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

RxArt, THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT CURATES CONTEMPORARY ART INSTALLATIONS IN HOSPITAL SETTINGS, AND KIEHL'S SINCE 1851, THE VENERABLE NEW YORK-BASED PURVEYOR OF FINE QUALITY SKIN AND HAIR CARE, HAVE PARTNERED TO BRING THE ARTWORK OF JEFF KOONS TO CHICAGO'S ADVOCATE HOPE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. KIEHL'S UNDERWROTE THE FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION OF WORKS BY WORLDS-RENOWNED POP ARTIST JEFF KOONS ON A CT SCANNER AND THROUGHOUT THE SCANNER ROOM. AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT, KOONS' ICONIC CHARACTERS WILL FIND A PERMANENT HOME IN THE HOSPITAL'S RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, TO SOOTHE AND CHEER YOUNG PATIENTS AND BRIGHTEN THE TYPICALLY STERILE AND POTENTIALLY SCARY TESTING ENVIRONMENT. TO CREATE THE INSTALLATION, THE CT SCANNER WAS DISASSEMBLED AND PAINTED, AND DECALS FEATURING KOONS' MONKEYS WERE APPLIED TO THE MACHINE. HIS ICONIC BALLOON DOG, HANGING HEART AND DONKEY IMAGERY WERE ALSO INSTALLED TO BRIGHTEN THE ROOM AS WALLSCAPES. KOONS GENEROUSLY DONATED HIS ARTWORK AND TOOK NO FEE FOR HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT. RxArt, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND AWARENESS THROUGH THE CHALLENGING YET REWARDING TASK OF ENGAGING YOUNG PATIENTS THROUGH CONTEMPORARY ART IN PEDIATRIC HOSPITALS. BY CURATING INSTALLATIONS IN HOSPITAL SETTINGS, RxArt PROVIDES A HUMANISTIC AND CREATIVE SURROUNDINGS THAT HELPS TO RELIEVE STRESS AND ANXIETY, WHILE INCREASING APPRECIATION FOR CONTEMPORARY ART. KIEHL'S SINCE 1851 HAS BEEN SUPPORTING RxArt SINCE 2002. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.rxart.net.

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.'

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.'

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.

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.

REMY MARTIN CELEBRATES CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

REMY MARTIN FINE CHAMPAGNE COGNAC RECENTLY CELEBRATED ITS SPECIAL ASSOCIATION WITH THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL BY PRODUCING AN EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITION VSOP DRESSED IN A STUNNING RED LIVERY. DURING THE 2010 FESTIVAL LAST MONTH, A JEROBOAM OF REMY MARTIN VSOP CANNES FESTIVAL LIMITED EDITION WAS AUTOGRAPHED BY TIM BURTON, PRESIDENT OF THE JURY, AS WELL AS ALL EIGHT MEMBERS OF THIS YEAR'S JURY. THE THREE LITER BOTTLE WILL BE AUCTIONED IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF REMY MARTIN'S CHARITY OF CHOICE 'KEEP A CHILD ALIVE' , WHICH WORKS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH HIV/AIDS IN AFRICA AND INDIA. ONLY 2,000 OF THE ONE LITER LIMITED EDITION BOTTLES WERE PRODUCED AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT SELECT STORES AT SOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST AIRPORTS, INCLUDING PARIS, NICE, ATLANTA, LOS ANGELES AND MOSCOW.

PRINCE WILLIAM TO SPEARHEAD NEW CHARITY FOUNDATION

PRINCE WILLIAM WILL BE SPEARHEADING A NEW PROJECT TO CREATE 2,012 PLAYING FIELDS AROUND THE COUNTRY AS A PERMANENT MEMORIAL TO THE QUEEN IN HER DIAMOND JUBILEE YEAR. ANNOUNCING HIS PATRONAGE OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II FIELDS PROGRAM, THE YOUNG PRINCE SAID HE COULD NOT THINK OF A 'MORE FITTING TRIBUTE TO MY GRANDMOTHER'S 60 GLORIOUS YEARS ON THE THRONE', WHICH COINCIDE WITH THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS. MORE THAN 6,000 PLAYING FIELDS HAVE BEEN LOST SINCE 1992. UNDER THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT THEY WERE, AT ONE POINT, VANISHING AT THE RATE OF ALMOST ONE A DAY, DESPITE LABOR PROMISING TO END THE SELL-OFF 'TRAGEDY' WHEN IT FIRST CAME TO POWER. THE ISSUE BECAME A MAJOR POLITICAL FOOTBALL WITH PRESSURE GROUPS DESCRIBING THE NATIONWIDE LOSS OF PUBLIC AMENITIES AS 'SHAMEFUL'. HOWEVER, OFFICIALS HOPE THAT THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE WILL HELP CAPTURE THE PUBLIC'S IMAGINATION TO SAVE THE VITAL GREEN SPACES FOR THE NATION. THE CHARITY FIELDS IN TRUST, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL PLAYING FIELDS ASSOCIATION, HAS ALREADY EARMARKED 550 SITES ACROSS THE UK TO BECOME QUEEN ELIZABETH II FIELDS, AND WANTS LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO NOMINATE A FURTHER 1,462 NEW PLOTS. IN A VIDEO MESSAGE RECENTLY, PRINCE WILLIAM SAID: 'PLAYING FIELDS ARE NOT A LUXURY. THEY ARE A VITAL COMPONENT OF ANY HEALTHY AND HAPPY COMMUNITY. THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT, OVER THE YEARS, THOUSANDS OF PLAYING FIELDS HAVE BEEN LOST TO DEVELOPMENT, AND MANY MORE ARE UNDER THREAT TODAY. BEING ABLE TO PLAY OUTDOORS IS A BASIC RIGHT OF CHILDHOOD. THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II FIELDS WILL GUARANTEE THAT MILLIONS MORE CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO ENJOY THAT RIGHT BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THESE FIELDS WILL BECOME A LIVING REMINDER TO ALL OF THE QUEEN'S STEADFAST DUTY, DEDICATION AND LOVE FOR THIS COUNTRY.' IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WILLIAM, WHO IS CURRENTLY TRAINING TO BECOME AN RAF SEARCH AND RESCUE PILOT, HAS BECOME INVOLVED IN SUCH A HIGH PROFILE NATIONAL SCHEME. AIDES SAY HE WAS INSPIRED NIT JUST BY THE QUEEN, BUT ALSO BY HIS GRANDFATHER, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, WHO HAS BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE FIELDS IN TRUST FOR 63 YEARS.

LOUIS VUITTON'S CORE VALLUES 2010

THREE OF THE GREATEST FOOTBALLERS OF ALL TIME ARE CAPTURED BY THE LENS OF ANNIE LEIBOVITZ FOR THE LATEST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR LOUIS VUITTON'S CORE VALUES COLLECTION. PELE OF BRAZIL, DIEGO MARADONA OF ARGENTINA AND FRANCE'S ZINEDINE ZIDANE ALL WON FOOTBALL'S ULTIMATE PRIZE, AND ALL WORE THE EMBLEMATIC N°10 SHIRT. FOR LOUIS VUITTON, THEY MET AT THE CAFE MARAVILLAS, A TYPICAL BAR IN MADRID, AND WERE TEMPTED INTO A GAME OF TABLE FOOTBALL BY LEIBOVITZ. LEIBOVITZ CAPTURES THE ATMOSPHERE OF FUN AND FRIENDLY RIVALRY IN THE HISTORIC PHOTOSHOOT. SET BY THE BAR, A LOUIS VUITTON PEGASE CABIN CASE IN MON MONOGRAM IS PERSONALIZED WITH THE INITIALS OF ZINEDINE ZIDANE, WHILE A KEEPALL RESTS ON A STOOL NEARBY. THE TAGLINE READS: 'THREE GREAT JOURNEYS, ONE GREAT GAME'. THE NEW CORE VALUES VISUAL WILL APPEAR IN JUNE 2010 ISSUES OF INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINES. SIMULTANEOUSLY, louisvuittonjourneys.com WILL FEATURE A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE THREE PLAYERS, IN WHICH THEY DISCUSS THEIR CAREERS, RECALL THE GREATEST MATCHES THEY PLAYED IN, AND EXCHANGE VIEWS ON THE WORLD'S FAVORITE GAME. TO FINISH PELE AND ZIDANE CHALLENGE EACH OTHER TO A MATCH OF TABLE FOOTBALL. IN ITS ON-GOING COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, LOUIS VUITTON IS MAKING A DONATION TO THE CLIMATE PROJECT, SPEARHEADED BY NOBEL PEACE WINNER AL GORE, ON BEHALF OF PELE, MARADONA AND ZIDANE.