MFAH TO PRESENT

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

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

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

PRINCE HARRY BEGINS NEW YORK TOUR

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

FULLER CRAFT MUSEUM PRESENTS 'MIGRATION'

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

PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM REOPENS THE CROWNINSHIELD-BENTLEY HOUSE

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

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

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

PRINCE WILLIAM DELAYS ROYAL SOCIETY APPEARANCE FOR ENGLAND MATCH

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