QUEEN ELIZABETH UNVEILS STATUE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY

QUEEN ELIZABETH RECENTLY UNVEILED A UNIQUE STATUE OF ELIZABETH I AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY. AN IMPOSING FLAME-HAIRED ELIZABETH I GLARED DOWN ON THE CURRENT MONARCH AS THE QUEEN HELPED WESTMINSTER ABBEY AND SCHOOL REACH A HISTORIC LANDMARK. THERE TO HELP CELEBRATE THE 450th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRANTING OF THE INSTITUTION'S ROYAL CHARTER, THE CURRENT HOLDER OF THE THRONE UNVEILED A STRIKINGLY MODERN OVERSIZED STATUE OF HER FOREBEAR. SHE ALSO INSPECTED A CHAIR SHE LAST SAT ON MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AGO, A CORONATION SEAT USED BY ALMOST EVERY MONARCH SINCE 1308. IN 1560, WESTMINSTER ABBEY, WHICH THEN FULLY INCORPORATED THE SCHOOL, WAS GRANTED A ROYAL CHARTER BY ELIZABETH I. ARRIVING IN BRILLIANT SUNSHINE, THE QUEEN, DRESSED IN A DEEP PINK OUTFIT, ATTENDED A SPECIAL SERVICE AT THE PLACE OF WORSHIP. IN NOTES INCLUDED IN THE ORDER OF SERVICE, SHE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ABBEY'S PLACE 'CLOSE TO THE HEART OF THE SOVEREIGN' AND ITS ROLE IN REFLECTING AND INSPIRING UK LIFE. AFTER BEING LED THROUGH THE CHURCH ACCOMPANIED BY THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, THE QUEEN TOOK HER PLACE AS GUEST OF HONOUR FOR THE PROCEEDINGS. FOLLOWING THE SERVICE SHE INSPECTED THE ORIGINAL CHARTER BEFORE INSPECTING CONSERVATION WORK ON THE CHAIR. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS SEEN IT SINCE HER OWN CORONATION IN 1953. FROM THE ABBEY, THE QUEEN WAS LED TO THE NEIGHBORING WESTMINSTER SCHOOL WHERE SHE OFFICIALLY OPENED A NEW EDUCATIONAL CENTER. A GROUP OF EIGHT AND NINE YEAR OLDS HAD BEEN ASSEMBLED TO PUT ON A DISPLAY OF ELIZABETHAN DANCE FOR THE OCCASION. THE MEDIEVAL THEME WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY DISTURBED BY THE LOUD CLICK AS THE LATE 20th CENTURY TAPE PLAYER DECIDED IT HAD HAD ENOUGH AS THE MONARCH ENTERED, PUTTING AN ABRUPT END TO THE MUSIC. BUT A QUICK SWITCH OF TAPE PUT THE YOUNGSTERS BACK ON TRACK. IT WAS THEN THE TURN OF THE QUEEN TO UNVEIL THE STATUE OF ELIZABETH I IN THE SCHOOL COURTYARD. AS SHE PULLED THE PURPLE COVERING FROM THE STATUE, SHE WAS CONFRONTED WITH AN 8ft STONE AND BRASS SCULPTURE OF ELIZABETH I, COMPLETE WITH A LARGE MARBLE RUFF. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH APPEARED TICKLED BY THE ARTWORK, POINTING TO IT AND CHUCKLING AT ONE POINT. BUT ITS CREATOR, SCULPTOR MATTHEW SPLENDOR, SAID THE ROYAL GUESTS APPEARED IMPRESSED. 'THEY WERE INTERESTED IN THE TECHNIQUE I USED AND THE MATERIALS', HE SAID AFTER TALKING WITH THE ROYAL PAIR. FROM THERE, THE QUEEN WAS GUIDED THROUGH THE SCHOOL TO CHEERS OF THE GATHERED BOYS AND GIRLS. 'HIP HIP HURRAH', THEY CHANTED IN UNION TO THE QUEEN'S DELIGHT.

VERSACE MOBILE PHONE

FOLLOWING IN THE STEPS OF ARMANI AND PRADA, VERSACE HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED A STUNNING NEW LUXURY TOUCHSCREEN MOBILE-PHONE. VERSACE HAVE WORKED WITH MODELABS TO CREATE A LAVISH MOBILE DEVICE FEATURING A SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL SCREEN THAT IS SAID TO BE THE LARGEST SINGLE PIECE OFFERED IN A CONSUMER PRODUCT. 18 CARAT GOLD PLATING AND HIGH-TECH CERAMIC OR HANDMADE LACQUER CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS ADD TO THE DESIGNER LOOK. THE ICONIC VERSACE MEDUSA LOGO IS DISPLAYED BOTH ON THE LEATHER BACK AND THE FRONT OF THE PHONE. THE PHONE IS AN LG DEVICE WITH A THREE-INCH DISPLAY AND FIVE MEGAPIXEL CAMERA. IT OFFERS DOLBY MOBILE SURROUND SOUND TECHNOLOGY FOR HIGH QUALITY IN RINGTONES, MP3 MUSIC FILES AND VIDEO WITH 30 HOURS OF PLAYTIME. IT IS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT VERSACE BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE.

PRINCE HARRY HOLIDAYS IN AFRICA

PRINCE HARRY IS CELEBRATING THE END OF HIS EXAMS WITH A FIVE WEEK HOLIDAY IN AFRICA. THE YOUNG PRINCE, WHO RECENTLY QUALIFIED AS A HELICOPTER PILOT, IS CURRENTLY BACKPACKING THROUGH BOTSWANA AND SOUTH AFRICA. HE IS THEN EXPECTED TO TAKE IN SOME FOOTBALL AT THE UPCOMING WORLD CUP AND SPEND SOME TIME IN MAURITIUS WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND CHELSY DAVY. AFTERWARD HE WILL RETURN TO BOTSWANA FOR THE START OF HIS FIRST OFFICIAL ROYAL TOUR WITH HIS BROTHER PRINCE WILLIAM IN MID-JUNE. THE 25 YEAR OLD WILL BE ACCOMPANIED ON THE TRIP BY A SMALL ENTOURAGE OF PROTECTION OFFICERS PROVIDED BY THE METROPOLITAN POLICE. WHILE HE IS PAYING FOR HIS OWN FLIGHTS HIS BODYGUARDS WILL BE FUNDED BY THE TAXPAYER, ACCORDING TO THE DAILY MAIL. AMONGST PLANS FOR THE TRIP IS A STINT ON A HOUSEBOAT WITH FRIENDS ON THE OKAVANGO DELTA. THE VESSEL COSTS £600 PER NIGHT AND GUESTS CAN SLEEP UNDER THE STARS OR IN ONE OF THE THREE LUXURY BEDROOMS. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A CAMPING SAFARI IN BOTSWANA. ST JAMES'S PALACE DESCRIBED THE PRINCE'S HOLIDAY AS 'PRIVATE' AND DECLINED TO COMMENT.

DRESS WORN BY THE QUEEN WHEN MICHELLE OBAMA HUGGED HER TO BE DISPLAYED

THE PINK DRESS WORN BY THE QUEEN THE DAY MICHELLE OBAMA BREACHED ROYAL PROTOCOL BY PUTTING AN ARM AROUND HER WAIST IS SET TO GO ON DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. THE WIFE OF THE US PRESIDENT MADE THE SPONTANEOUS GESTURE, WHICH THE QUEEN RECIPROCATED, DURING A RECEPTION FOR THE G20 LEADERS LAST YEAR. HER MAJESTY'S PINK DRESS WITH A BOX PLEATED HEM WAS DESIGNED BY ANGELA KELLY, THE QUEEN'S INFLUENTIAL DRESSER, AND WILL BE PART OF AN EXTENSIVE DISPLAY WHICH MIXES THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL ASPECTS OF THE ROYAL YEAR. THE CENTER PIECE OF THE SHOW, WHICH OPENS ON 27.JULY, WILL BE THE MAGNIFICENT ROBE OF STATE, ALSO ON VIEW FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH THE QUEEN WILL WEAR AT THE STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT NEXT WEEK. THE MACE, THE GREAT SWORD OF STATE AND THE CAP OF MAINTENANCE WHICH WILL PRECEDE HER MAJESTY IN PROCESSION THROUGH THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER DURING THE STATE OPENING WILL ALSO BE ON DISPLAY. THE QUEEN'S TROOPING THE COLOUR SADDLE WILL BE ON SHOW, ALONG WITH THE PEARL AND EMERALD-ENCRUSTED VLADIMIR TIARA BOUGHT BY QUEEN MARY IN 1921 AND MOST RECENTLY WORN BY HER MAJESTY IN HER OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH AS QUEEN OF CANADA. VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THE GIFTS THE QUEEN HAS RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING A MODEL OF WALLACE AND GROMIT, THE CARTOON CHARACTERS GIVEN TO HER IN 1996, AND A BUCKINGHAM PALACE UNDERGROUND SIGN FROM THE TRIP TO ALDGATE EAST TUBE STATION IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR. TENS OF THE HATS HER MAJESTY HAS WORN AT ROYAL ASCOT OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS WILL ALSO BE DISPLAYED, TOGETHER WITH THE ONE SHE PLANS TO WEAR THIS YEAR.

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON TO OPEN NEW WING IN NOVEMBER

THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED WING FOR THE ART OF THE AMERICAS AND RUTH AND CARL J SHAPIRO FAMILY COURTYARD AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON, WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON 20.NOVEMBER. IN CELEBRATION, THE MUSEUM IS HOSTING A FREE COMMUNITY DAY TO WELCOME VISITORS TO SEE THE NEW MFA. THE WING AND ENCLOSED COURTYARD ARE THE FOCAL POINTS OF THE MUSEUM'S TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPANSION AND RENOVATION PROJECT, DESIGNED BY INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARCHITECTS FOSTER & PARTNERS (LONDON). THE NEW ADDITIONS ELEGANTLY INCORPORATE A MODERNIST AESTHETIC INTO THE MUSEUM'S 1909 BEAUX ARTS BUILDING. THE MFA'S PROJECT REPRESENTS THE MOST EXPANSIVE INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON AMERICAN ART AND CULTURE HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY. IT ALLOWS FOR MORE THAN 5,000 WORKS FORM THE MUSEUM'S ART OF THE AMERICAS COLLECTIONS TO BE ON VIEW, WHICH MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER PREVIOUSLY DISPLAYED. COMPLETING THE WING IS A SOARING GLASS COURTYARD, THE RUTH AND CARL J SHAPIRO FAMILY COURTYARD, ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE ARCHITECTURAL SPACES IN BOSTON, WHICH SERVES AS A DYNAMIC CENTRAL MEETING PLACE WITHIN THE MFA. THE AMBITIOUS EXPANSION AND RENOVATION INITIATIVES UNDERSCORE THE MFA'S MISSION, TO MAKE ART MORE ACCESSIBLE AND EXCITING FOR THE MORE THAN ONE MILLION FAMILIES, SCHOOL CHILDREN, COLLEGE STUDENTS AND ADULTS WHO COME TO THE MUSEUM EACH YEAR FOR INSPIRATION AND EDUCATION, AND WHO VALUE IT AS A VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE. THE MFA'S ENHANCEMENTS ENRICH THE EXPERIENCES FOR VISITORS FROM BOSTON AND AROUND THE WORLD BY OFFERING VIBRANT NEW SPACES AND BY SHOWING WORKS FROM ALL OF THE AMERICAS IN A COMPREHENSIVE NEW CONTEXT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.mfa.org

TATE LIVERPOOL PRESENTS 'PICASSO:PEACE AND FREEDOM'

A MAJOR EXHIBITION BRINGING TOGETHER OVER 150 WORKS BY PICASSO FROM ACROSS THE WORLD WILL BE PRESENTED AT TATE LIVERPOOL FROM 21.MAY THROUGH 30.AUGUST. 'PICASSO:PEACE AND FREEDOM' WILL REVEAL A FASCINATING NEW INSIGHT INTO THE ARTIST'S LIFE AS A TIRELESS POLITICAL ACTIVIST AND CAMPAIGNER FOR PEACE, CHALLENGING THE WIDELY-HELD VIEW OF THE ARTIST AS CREATIVE GENIUS, PLAYBOY AND COMPULSIVE EXTROVERT. THIS IS THE FIRST EXHIBITION TO EXPLORE THE POST-WAR PERIOD OF THE ARTIST'S LIFE IN DEPTH, AND WILL REFLECT A NEW PICASSO FOR A NEW TIME. TWENTY YEARS AFTER THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, THE EXHIBITION PROVIDES A TIMELY LOOK AT PICASSO'S WORK IN THE COLD WAR ERA AND HOW THE ARTIST TRANSCENDED THE IDEOLOGICAL AND AESTHETIC OPPOSITIONS OF EAST AND WEST. THE EXHIBITION WILL BRING TOGETHER KEY PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS RELATED TO WAR AND PEACE FROM 1944-1973, ALONGSIDE A WIDE RANGE OF CONTEXTUAL MATERIALS AND EPHEMERA. THE CENTERPIECE WILL BE THE ARTIST'S MASTERPIECE, THE CHARNEL HOUSE, MARKING 50 YEARS SINCE IT WAS LAST SEEN IN THE UK. THE REMARKABLE WORK WAS PICASSO'S MOST EXPLICITLY POLITICAL PAINTING SINCE GUERNICA. PICASSO'S DOVE OF PEACE BECAME THE EMBLEM FOR THE PEACE MOVEMENT AND UNIVERSAL SYMBOL OF HOPE DURING THE COLD WAR. PICASSO'S LITHOGRAPH OF THE FAN-TAILED PIGEON, GIVEN TO HIM BY MATISSE IN 1948, WA SELECTED FOR THE POSTER FOR THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONGRESS HELD IN PARIS IN 1949. PICASSO LATER PROVIDED VARIATIONS ON THE DOVE FOR THE PEACE CONGRESSES IN STOCKHOLM, SHEFFIELD, VIENNA, ROME, AND MOSCOW. THE DOVE ALSO HAD A HIGHLY PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR PICASSO GOING BACK TO CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF HIS FATHER PAINTING DOVES KEPT IN THE FAMILY HOME. IN 1949 PICASSO NAMED HIS DAUGHTER 'PALOMA', SPANISH FOR DOVE, BORN IN THE SAME MONTH AS THE PEACE CONGRESS IN PARIS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.tate.org.uk

RARE TINTIN MEMORABILIA TO BE AUCTIONED IN PARIS

BEFORE HOLLYWOOD TAKES THE CLASSIC CARTOON CHARACTER TINTIN TO THE BIG SCREEN, COLLECTORS WILL BE VYING FOR RARE MEMORABILIA OF THE BELGIAN HERO AT AN UPCOMING PARIS AUCTION. THE TINTIN SERIES, CREATED BY GEORGES REMI UNDER HIS PEN NAME HERGE, HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AND MOST RECOGNIZED COMICS IN THE WORLD WITH TRANSLATIONS IN MORE THAN 50 LANGUAGES AND 200 MILLION COPIES OF THE 24 BOOKS SOLD. THE PARIS AUCTION WHICH IS TO BE HELD ON 29.MAY WILL INCLUDE OVER 230 ITEMS FROM 70 COLLECTORS THAT EVEN HERGE'S FOUNDATION MOULINSART, A PARTNER IN THE SALE, NEVER KNEW EXISTED. THE RECENTLY OPENED TINTIN MUSEUM IN BELGIUM OWNS ABOUT 85% OF HERGE'S WORK, INCLUDING ORIGINAL SKETCHES AND EPHEMERA RELATED TO THE TINTIN CHARACTER. THE RARE AND UNUSUAL OBJECTS BEING OFFERED AT THE SALE INCLUDING ANTIQUES AND FIRST EDITION COVERS HAS SURPRISED POTENTIAL INVESTORS. 'THERE'S BEEN A HUGE EXPLOSION OF STRIP CARTOONS OVER THE LAST 10-15 YEARS AND WITH THAT A SECONDARY MARKET HAS DEVELOPED', SAID ALEXIS VELLIET, DIRECTOR OF AUCTIONEERS PIASA. 'THIS GENERATION IS NOW LOOKING AT ORIGINAL DRAWINGS...THE TRUE CREATORS AND IF WE GO BACK THEN HERGE IS ONE OF THEM.' IN 2008, AN ORIGINAL COVER OF 'TINTIN IN AMERICA' SOLD FOR ABOUT $931,000. LAST YEAR, A LOT OF ALMOST 600 ITEMS, INCLUDING HAND-DRAWN ORIGINAL CARTOON STRIPS, RAISED OVER $1.5 MILLION. THE AUCTION IS TIMELY. A MOVIE , 'THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN', DIRECTED BY STEPHEN SPIELBERG WILL GIVE A HOLLYWOOD SPIN TO THE INTREPID REPORTER NEXT YEAR. LIKEWISE, A CIVIL ACTION CASE IN BELGIUM LAUNCHED EARLIER IN MAY AGAINST THE PUBLISHERS OF 'TINTIN IN CONGO' OVER THE PORTRAYAL OF AFRICANS IN THE BOOK HAS KEPT THE SERIES ALIVE IN THE MEDIA. DESPITE THE CASE, ONE OF THE ITEMS IN THE SALE THAT HAS CAUGHT THE EYE OF COLLECTORS IS A 'SILENT' VERSION OF THE CONGO BOOK. COPIES WERE MADE WITH SPEECH BUBBLES LEFT BLANK TO CONVINCE PUBLISHERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO TAKE ON THE CARTOON IN THEIR LANGUAGE. 'IT'S HARD TO FIND ORIGINALS IN A GREAT STATE AND THESE SILENT BOOKS ARE VERY RARE...MAYBE JUST TENS OF THESE WERE PRINTED', SAID VALLIET. TINTIN MADE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE IN 1929 HEADING TO THE SOVIET UNION IN A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BRUSSELS WEEKLY LE PETIT VINGTIEME AND IS STILL GOING STRONG. HIS TRAVELS TOOK HIM FROM CHINA TO LATIN AMERICA AND EVEN FORMER FRENCH PRESIDENT CHARLES DE GAULLE ACKNOWLEDGED TINTIN'S FAME.