When Pammie, mystery guy spent one hour in a outdoor bathroom trailer

New York, September 14 (ANI): Pamela Anderson had people talking when she attended a recent photography exhibition, as she disappeared with a guy to an outdoor bathroom trailer for almost an hour.

The hottie was present at the opening party for David LaChapelle’s new photography exhibition at the David DeSanctis gallery in LA.

“She was with a guy who plays a character in Cirque du Soleil. They were in the outdoor bathroom trailer together for almost an hour,” the New York Post quoted an attendee as saying.

The insider added: “It was a really crowded party but everyone was whispering about it. We’re not sure what was going on in there.”

Anderson’s representatives have maintained silence over the issue. (ANI)

Obama becomes first US President to be called ‘a liar’ in Congress

London, Sep 10 (ANI): US President Barack Obama became the first president to be called ‘a liar’ in front of a joint session of Congress by a Republican senator.

South Carolina senator Joe Wilson pointing angrily at the President, blurted at the top of his voice: “You lie!” when Obama was addressing the Congress on health care.

But about half way through his 40-minute address, Obama certainly became the first president in to be called a liar, The Telegraph reports.

The president was dispelling a list of myths and “bogus claims” spread by opponents of his plan, when he denied the assertion that his proposed reforms would not provide health insurance to illegal immigrants.

Wilson’s outburst prompted cries of “Shame!” from the Democratic benches, while the president looked startled and Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House.

First Lady Michelle Obama, watching from the public gallery, shook her head in dismay. Even the Republican colleague of Wilson left patted his arm to calm him down.

Later, Wilson apologized for heckling and calling President Barack Obama ‘a liar’.

“This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the Health Care Bill. While I disagree with the President’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility,” Politico quoted Wilson, as saying. (ANI)

Full, comprehensive security for Commonwealth Games: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Sep 7 (ANI): Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram on Monday assured full and comprehensive security will be provided during the Commonwealth Games to be held in October 2010 in Delhi.

Speaking to a private news channel on the security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games, Chidambaram said the participating countries need not have any fear.

“I make this promise that the Commonwealth Games will be conducted under full and comprehensive security. Nobody need fear, no country need fear,” Chidambaram said.

The England shuttlers pulled out of the World badminton Championship (WBC) held in August at Hyderabad, fearing terror attack.

Chidambaram himself witnessed some of the final events at the WBC sitting in the common visitors gallery, to allay any apprehension on the security front.

Noting that threat faced by political leaders should not be underestimated, Chidambaram said, “If a political leader faces a threat, he has to be provided security and I think the government is committed to provide security to every political leader who faces a threat.”

He also negated the reports published in a section of the media, that the security cover by the National Security Guard (NSG) provided to some of the politicians would be withdrawn. (ANI)

Exhibition glorifying female Palestinian bombers generates outrage

Jerusalem, Sep. 4 (ANI): Organizers of an art exhibition had to take down portraits depicting female Palestinian suicide bombers as the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus after the families of those killed or wounded in the attacks protested.

The controversial exhibition, which featured the work of artists Galina Bleich and Liliah Check, displayed a series of paintings of the bombers rendered to look like Renaissance-era portraits of Catholic saints, The Jerusalem Post reports.

The exhibition opened at Sokolov House press center in Tel Aviv agreed to take the portraits down, but another section – sand and dirt that had been taken from the scenes of the bombings and spread out across canvas – remained on the gallery’s walls.

The victims’ families expressed outrage over both the content of the exhibition and the fact that the headquarters of the Israeli Journalists Association, had agreed to show it.

Dalit Levy, whose 17-year-old stepdaughter Rachel was killed in a suicide bombing as she shopped at the Supersol supermarket in Jerusalem’s Kiryat Hayovel, arrived outside Sokolov House on Thursday afternoon with an Israeli flag draped over her shoulders.

“You want art?” she asked a group of reporters who had gathered around her. “Here’s art!” she said, before spilling a can of red paint next to a photograph of her stepdaughter and two memorial candles. “This is the blood of our children!”

Almagor, The Association for Terror Victims in Israel, also issued a stern response to the exhibit, and threatened to take legal action if the portraits were not taken down.

“We’ve contacted the attorney-general and asked him to take legal action against the exhibition’s representatives. Any action that strengthens or praises the murderous acts of terrorism is violating the law and hurting the general public by legitimising the murders,” he said.

Indor said his group was worried the artists would try to show the exhibit elsewhere.

“We’ve been in contact with the artists, and made it clear that we want them to add information to the material so that people will understand that this is not promoting terrorism, but against it,” he said. (ANI)

Twiggy’s 60th birthday to be marked with public display of life story in pics

London, July 9 (ANI): ‘World’s first supermodel” Twiggy’s 60th birthday is all set to be marked with a public display of pictures narrating the story of her life.

‘Twiggy: A Life in Photographs’ will celebrate the occasion by displaying more than 20 snaps starting September 19 – her birthday at London’s National Portrait Gallery.

“Over my career I’ve had the privilege of working with many great photographers. I’m very excited to see so many of these portraits coming together at the National Portrait Gallery and in my new book,” the Telegraph quoted her as saying.

“It’s really interesting to see how fashion photography and portraiture have evolved throughout my career. I hope that this display and book will give people the opportunity to see these pictures that have captured definitive moments in my career,” she added.

Twiggy became the first prominent teenage model at 16, and was known for her large eyes, long eyelashes and thin build. (ANI)

Jeff Koons unveils his works on cartoon character Popeye in London

London, Jul 1 (ANI): American artist Jeff Koons will be holding a major solo show featuring work from his Popeye series in London.

The work will go on public display at the Serpentine Gallery from July 2, and the focus will be on his paintings of iconic cartoon character Popeye, as well as inflatable beach and bath toys, including a giant lobster.

The Serpentine Gallery said that it was the first major exhibition of the artist’s work in a public gallery in England. oons said that he wanted visitors to engage with the works, and feel that “their history, their culture is perfect”.

Popeye and Olive Oyl are central to the series, with many of the pieces on loan from both public and private collections.

The exhibition also includes dolphins, a paddling pool, monkeys and lobsters, which at first glance, look like inflatable toys, but the objects are cast in aluminium and their surfaces are painted.

“Working with everyday objects, it’s about people and the acceptance of others,” the BBC quoted Koons as saying.

“I watched Popeye when I was younger… I always see a little bit of my father in Popeye,” he said.

Koons began his Popeye series in 2002, and compares his “inflatables” to life.

“In our own life we’re inflatable. We exhale and it’s a simple death,” he said.

“They’re (the artworks) in a state of being optimistic. Maybe art is the spinach,” he added. (ANI)

Russian aristocrat’s heir reclaims Van Gogh painting ‘looted’ by Lenin

Paris, May 29 (ANI): The heir of a Tsarist-era aristocrat has launched a legal fight to reclaim a Van Gogh masterpiece that was taken away from the family by Communnist era leader Vladimir Lenin and his Bolsheviks after the 1917 revolution.

Pierre Konowaloff, a naturalised Frenchman, claims that Van Gogh’s Night Cafe, which has hung on the walls of Yale University for nearly 50 years, was confiscated from his great-grandfather Ivan Morozov on the orders of Lenin.

According to The Telegraph, a court ruling in his favour would trigger a flood of similar claims from Russian imigris whose family art collections were plundered by the Bolshevik government.

It could also force western countries to widen the Washington Declaration of 1988, which required its 44 signatories to search for art plundered by the Nazis, and return it to the heirs of the original owners.

Konowaloff’s lawyers have written to Yale demanding the painting’s surrender. The university was forced to file a suit in a U.S. court to resolve the issue of ownership.

Regarded as one of the artist’s most profound interpretations of the human condition, Night Cafe was bequeathed to Yale in 1960 by Stephen Clark, a collector and benefactor who attended the university.

It was originally sold to a Berlin art gallery as one of dozens of masterpieces offloaded by Stalin in the early 1930s to finance a five-year plan meant to modernise Soviet industry and agriculture.

Yale maintains that the sale was legal and cannot therefore be challenged.

Konowaloff says he intends to give the painting to the Russian state in exchange for unspecified financial compensation. (ANI)

Tom Waits had forbidden Keith Richards from talking about him for biography

Washington, May 12 (ANI): Rolling Stones star Keith Richards was forbidden to talk about his friendship with Tom Waits to celebrated British journalist Barney Hoskyns by the gravel-voiced singer himself.

Hoskyns approached Richards while researching Waits for his new book ‘Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits’, and was delighted when the rocker agreed to be interviewed.

“Tom and his wife asked Keith not to speak to me… I just don’t think they want anyone to know too much about Tom Waits. They don’t want any major revelations creeping out,” Contactmusic quoted the writer as saying.

He added: “He’s the pre-eminent cult figure of our time, a maverick who cannot be categorised and his whole persona is a screen Waits hide behind. He’s fascinating and perhaps we don’t need to know too much about him.”

However, Hoskyns conducted over 70 interviews for his unauthorised expose, and he found out that Waits could well be responsible in some way for the Rolling Stones’ longevity.

The writer added: “Steve Jordan, who was Keith’s drummer in ‘The Expensive Winos’ told me that Keith was creatively spent in the mid-1980s and it was Waits’ records that inspired him to go off and do solo work – and that fuelled his work with the Stones.”

Hoskyns will launch his much-anticipated new Waits biography in Los Angeles on May 15 with a book signing at the Mr. Musichead Gallery. (ANI)

World’s top architects slam Prince Charles for interfering development

London, Apr. 19 (ANI): World’s leading architects have slammed the Prince of Wales for “using his privileged position” to interfere in the design of a controversial luxury development in London’s most attractive part.

Five Pritzker prize-winning architects alleged that Charles has “skewed” the democratic process by using his royal connections in an attempt to stop modernist plans for the former Chelsea Barracks.

In a letter to the Sunday Times, top architects Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Lord Foster, Zaha Hadid, Renzo Piano and Frank Gehry attacked the traditional architect supporter prince.

They disclosed that the prince had been successful in persuading the Qatari royal family, who own the site, to consider having more traditional brick and stone buildings for the development at the expense of the glass and steel proposals submitted by Lord Rogers, the project’s architect.

“If the prince wants to comment on the design of this or any other project we urge him to do so through the established planning consultation process,” they write.

“It is essential in a modern democracy that private comments and behind-the-scenes lobbying by the prince should not be used to skew the course of an open and democratic planning process that is currently under way,” they added.

The prince argues that the proposed buildings would look inappropriate adjacent to the Royal hospital, Chelsea, designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

The architects, who have attacked prince, have been attributed for the “bird’s nest” stadium for the Beijing Olympics, the Gherkin and Tate Modern in London, the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao.

Charles seems to have a particular dislike of designs by Rogers. Rogers put in proposals for the extension for the National Gallery in 1984, which were criticized by the prince.

He famously called one of the plans “a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much loved and elegant friend”. He also objected to Rogers’s ideas to redevelop Paternoster Square, next to St Paul’s Cathedral.

Architect and academic Richard Burdett said: “The prince is basically saying that Rogers should be fired.”

Robert’s famous designs

Lord Foster’s City Hall, housing the London mayor, was nicknamed “the glass testicle”. Boris Johnson rechristened it “the onion”.

Foster’s National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham, opened in 1996, has been called “excruciatingly dismal” by critics.

Heathrow’s terminal 5, designed by Lord Rogers, was called “a disaster” after baggage-handling chaos last year. (ANI)

Harry Potter sketches up for grabs

London, Apr 19 (ANI): Rare artwork for Harry Potter books is to be auctioned at the Glasgow Art Fair.

Sketches by the acclaimed artist Cliff Wright, who illustrated the book Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, are to go under the hammer later this month.

The drawings are the instantly recognisable forerunners of the images, which appeared on the front and back covers of the second novel of JK Rowling’s series.

The front illustration, which features the bespectacled wizard and his classmate Hermione Granger clinging to the back of hippogriff, is expected to fetch 13,000 pounds.

The second sketch, which features a snarling dog, is predicted to raise 11,000 pounds.

Wright said the images were completed in 1998.

“The images are part of a series of 10 which were sent to the publisher Bloomsbury as rough ideas for character development and composition,” he said.

“Each drawing was submitted by fax and returned with comments. The designs were also passed on to JK Rowling for her approval and any comments passed back to me,” the Scotsman quoted Wright as saying.

“On deciding the look of the characters and the picture composition, the watercolour illustration that you see on the cover was then completed, and when the book was published in the autumn of 1999 it became a global phenomenon,” he added.

Micky Middleton of art firm Red Gallery is dealing with the sale and believes that it would attract a huge amount of interest.

“I would encourage collectors to come and see these original works in situ at the Fair,” he said.

The Glasgow Art Fair will run from April 23-26. (ANI)

ADDING MULTIMEDIA Abound Solar Opens First Production Facility

Next-Generation Manufacturing Technology Will Reduce the Cost of Producing
High-Efficiency Solar Modules
FORT COLLINS, Colo.–(Business Wire)–
Abound Solar (formerly AVA Solar), a manufacturer of low-cost, thin-film
photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, today announces the opening of its first
full-scale production facility in Longmont, Colo. This facility utilizes a
proprietary manufacturing process that significantly reduces production costs of
solar panels. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.,and Hermann
Scheer, president of EUROSOLAR, are scheduled to deliver remarks at the
facility’s opening ceremony today at 9:00 a.m. MDT.

The fully automated facility will create more than 300 new jobs and, when at
capacity, will produce 200 MW of solar modules annually. Its manufacturing
process employs Abound Solar’s proprietary continuous in-line semiconductor
equipment to convert sheets of glass into solar panels in less than two hours.
As a leading “next generation” solar panel manufacturer, Abound Solar’s
manufacturing process simplifies the production of thin-film solar panels,
rapidly expands production capability and drives down the cost of
solar-generated electricity.

“Today’s facility opening represents a milestone for Abound. We have moved into
commercial production, which allows us to keep pace with demand from our
customers as the market expands,” said Pascal Noronha, CEO of Abound Solar. “We
are now well positioned to deliver high-performing, cost-effective, solar
modules that can accelerate clean energy usage around the world.”

“Congratulations to Abound Solar – a true Colorado success story of how
renewable energy technologies can move from the lab to the marketplace,” said
Gov. Ritter. “As we see local renewable energy companies expand operations and
create jobs, we know that the New Energy Economy is leading Colorado forward,
and will help Colorado to have a quick and strong recovery.”

“Abound Solar proves that we have the capability here in the United States to
cost-effectively meet our energy needs, while protecting our climate,” said
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Abound Solar was founded in 2007 to commercialize a proprietary process for
manufacturing thin-film photovoltaic modules. Built upon 15 years of development
at Colorado State University and with support from the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory, Abound Solar has developed a robust, commercial-scale, continuous
process for producing solar modules at an industry-leading cost that
significantly reduces the cost of generating solar electricity. For additional
information, visit http://www.abound.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5939245

Soho Square PR
Nicole Mezlo, 202-729-4210
nicole.mezlo@sohosquarepr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009

Back to basics: Masters show importance of lines and strokes

New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) In this age of digitisation of art, lines, drawing, figures and manual artistic skill have taken a backseat. To highlight the importance of these basics, the capital’s oldest art display house, the Dhoomimal Gallery, is holding an exhibition of 100 works by 80 artists.

‘Drawing: The Essence II’ shows the importance of line, strokes and basic drawing in the journey of Indian art – from its pristine classical forms to modernism, abstraction and complex digital play.

Some of the works are timeless. A mother and child charcoal line drawing in black and white on paper by Jamini Roy dating back to the 1940s shows that an artist does not need anything more than a charcoal pencil and a few spartan strokes to convey the bond between a mother and child on paper.

A 1931 pen and ink sketch of a portly Oriental man, ‘Man Vi’, by Sailoz Mookherjee speaks of his mastery over strokes and figurative drawing, while a collection of seven pen and ink figure drawings by F.N. Souza spanning over two decades between 1950s and 1970s is just a few fluid strokes that capture the contours of the human body.

Some of the other artists featured in the show include Krishen Khanna, Anjolie Ela Menon, Jatin Das, M.F. Husain, Laxma Goud, Paritosh Sen, Sunil Das, Satish Gujral, Seema Kohli, V.S. Adurkar, Zainul Abedin, Aambadas, J. Swaminathan and Arpita Singh.

‘We were losing sight of lines in the last few years and decided to highlight its importance. Lines and strokes were the bulwark of masters like Sailoz Mookherjee, F.N. Souza, M.F. Husain and Nandalal Bose,’ said Uma Jain of the Dhoomimal Gallery.

4Ps Business Marketing and Advertising Power Awards 2009 Announced

4Ps Business, Marketing and Advertising Power Awards 2009, IndiaÂ’s most aspired business, marketing and advertising awards is a platform to recognize Corporate Magicians who turned a Product into a well-established Brand.

The awards function was a night of success and festivity and was held on 8th April 2009 at J.W. Marriott, Mumbai.

4Ps BMA Power Awards is moment to interpret the appeal quotient of the Marketing and Advertising world. The attention of these honors leans on the magical origins of the high-tech imaginative and current practices of the business, advertising as well as marketing fraternity.

These awards characterize the originality of the business, advertising and marketing camaraderie.

4Ps Business Marketing and Advertising Power Awards 2009 was attended by the best-of-the-best of the business, marketing and the advertising world together with various well-known and notable personalities including Mr. Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman, Ogilvy and Mather, Mr. Ritesh Sidhwani, Producer, Rock On, Mr. Vikram Mehra, CMO, Tata Sky, Actor, Ms. Farah khan, Director and choreographer, Mr. Rajeev Kapoor, CEO, Fiat India, Mr. Rameet Arora, Marketing Head, Colors, Mr. Zak Brown, Founder, Just marketing Limited, Mr. Rajiv Agarwal, CEO and Director – The Mobile Store Limited, Mr. Prasoon Joshi, Lyricist and Executive Chairman, Mccan Advertising Agency, Mr. A. Raghunathan, Executive Vice President and CFO, UB Group, Mr. Vikram Malhotra, Vice president and Head Marketing, Kingfisher Airlines. Mr. Parvez Damania, founder Damania airways, Mr Nitish Tipnis, CEO Nishan Motors, to name a few.

The nominations for the Power Awards are tracked down after a wide study and analysis of the achievements of the business and publicity world.

The viewers had some action-packed entertainment by Laser Angels, which came down from the skies above, Olympic level gymnasts performing the quintessential Olympic ribbons choreography with a UV twist, and Shaolin Monks.

The event is being organized by Planman Media in cooperation with Zee Business and DNA, supported by LIC and SREI Equipment Finance, Radio Partner 92.7 BIG FM, and Outdoor Partner Laqshya.

Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Planman Media elatedly shared, “The 4Ps Business Marketing and Advertising Power Awards is a ceremony which has always provided great insight into the innovations in experiential marketing communication across the Country. The Power awards salute and glorify the efforts and contributions of corporate leaders, Marketing and Advertising gurus.

Abhimanyu Ghosh, CEO, Planman Media says “These awards are a platform to honour and felicitate the leaders who have with great determination and hard-work created a product into a brand and changed the lives of Indian Consumers. These awards recognize those professionals who have always by their constant innovations made an effort to make a brand a part of ones life”

The 4Ps Business Marketing Advertising Power Awards 2009 was an overwhelming and a memorable evening enjoyed by one and all.

4Ps Power Awards 2009 Gallery

Two killed in German court shooting

Landshut (Germany), April 7 (DPA) A man opened fire in a German court building Tuesday, killing a woman and wounding at least four people before turning his gun on himself, police said.

A police spokesman said the gunman, aged 60, fired shots in different rooms of the district court in Landshut, 70 km north-east of the Bavarian capital Munich.

Witnesses said the man was in the spectator’s gallery in one of the courtrooms when he suddenly stood up and began shooting at around 10.15 a.m. (0815 GMT).

Police were unable to confirm media reports the incident occurred while the court was hearing a civil case about an inheritance dispute, involving the man’s sister.

Police originally said two people died, then corrected the figure to one before saying later there were two fatalities.

The courthouse was evacuated after the shooting and the area around the building sealed off.

The shooting happened less than a month after a teenager went on the rampage in and around his former school in Winnenden, south-west Germany, killing 15 people.

Melbourne citizens express anger over display of `Naked Woman on Cross’ sculpture before Easter

Melbourne, Apr.8 (ANI): Sculptor Neil Mitchell’s move to display his work “Naked Woman on Cross” in Melbourne ahead of Easter has sparked anger and accusations of mixed messages, reports the Herald Sun.

The 40,000 dollar artwork is being displayed at a Melbourne gallery at the holiest time of the year for Christians, and Mitchell said it was meant to portray women’s suffering.

However, church leaders and art lovers have described it as a desecration of Christian beliefs.

St Michael’s Uniting Church chief Minister Dr Francis McNab said Mitchell’s message had backfired.

“I think it’s supposed to say we have crucified women in society,” Dr McNab said.

“But it’s a shame he chose to sexualise it by the use of a young female. Older women had to suffer longer and much more.

“He takes our focus on to the sexual side of it more than the social commentary.”

Living Way Church Pastor Lanil Gunasekara was outraged by the sculpture.

“It is a blasphemous insult to the image of Jesus Christ who was crucified on the cross,” he said.

“There is something wrong with an artist who produces something so insulting to Christians.”

New White Gallery owner Melanie Thornton said some visitors were dismayed at the aluminium and wood sculpture.

“It is very powerful because it is life-size and displayed on its own,” she said.

Mitchell, known for his sculptures of sporting heroes, defended the work.

“It is the duty of an artist to question society’s beliefs in religion and to test people about those beliefs, which this sculpture will do,” he said.

“I’ve travelled through 35 countries and found down-trodden women in them all.”

Mitchell’s bronzes of Sir Don Bradman, John Landy and Ron Clarke are outside the MCG.

Dr McNab said he did not find the work offensive, “but I wouldn’t go to see it”. (ANI)

Delhi’s India Habitat Centre plays host to Australian aboriginal art exhibits

New Delhi, Apr.6 (ANI): Warlukurlangu Artists, Australia, in partnership with art curator, Durga Vishwanathan, are showcasing contemporary Australian art in New Delhi.

Titled ‘Desert Dreamings’, the paintings from the Central Desert of Australia is the first exhibition of contemporary art of Central Australian Indigenous artists in India. The exhibition is being held between April 6 to 12.

The exhibition was opened by Australia’s High Commissioner to India,John McCarthy, at the India Habitat Centre.

The exhibition features 87 paintings showcasing Walpiri culture, stories and designs by 43 artists from Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, Australia.

Warlukurlangu Artists is a not for profit, fully indigenous owned artists cooperative located in the remote Central Desert of Australia.

“We are delighted to have such a rich collection of Australian Aboriginal art in New Delhi. The paintings reflect the richness of Australia’s Indigenous culture”, said McCarthy.

“India has a longstanding tradition for the art produced by its tribal and traditional communities and there is growing interest in Aboriginal art in India and around the world. The exhibition will deepen understanding in India of Aboriginal art and its complexity and richness. We are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase Aboriginal art in India,” he added.

Warlukurlangu means “belonging to fire” in the local language, Warlpiri and the artists cooperative is an important stronghold of traditional Warlpiri culture and an essential part of Yuendumu’s community life, representing both the social and cultural ‘hub’ of the community.

Established in 1985, the cooperative represents over 400 artists all of whom paint their Jukurrpa – Dreaming stories, using traditional iconography that has direct links to one of the oldest, continuously surviving cultures found in the world today. These stories have been handed down from generation to generation for millennia and relate directly to the artists ancestral lands.

These designs were originally painted on the body during ceremony and on ground paintings; today they are depicted in modern mediums using an unrestricted palette of modern acrylics.

Warlukurlangu Artists’ cooperative is renowned for the vibrancy of its art, colourful acrylic paintings, strong iconography and fine limited-edition prints. Many of its members’ works are highly collectable. Each painting is a story about the artists’ land, the landscape, plants and animals in the land. All designs have a meaning and the artists only paint stories that belong to their ancestral land.

These stories have been passed down orally through generations.

The exhibition will be held between 7 to 12 April at Open Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Centre. (ANI)

Aboriginal Australian art in capital

New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) The Warlukurlangu Artists, a non-profit cooperative of aboriginal painters from Australia, documents a legacy that has been handed down hundreds of generations among the ethnic groups inhabiting the rugged outback.

They showcase the traditional Warlpiri culture, which is central to the community life of Yuendumu, a town in the Northern territory of Australia. It is one of the largest towns in central Australia, located 30 km from Alice Springs, and is home to a large community of aboriginal artists.

Forty-three contemporary aboriginal artists from Warlukurlangu Artists will exhibit 87 paintings at the Palm Court Gallery in the India Habitat Centre in the first-ever display of contemporary Australian aboriginal art April 6-9, titled ‘Desert Dreamings’.

These Walpiri designs were traditionally painted on the body during ceremonies and on the ground by the Warlukurlangu artists, practitioners of the art.

Established in 1985, this cooperative represents over 400 artists who paint their Jukurrpa, or dreaming stories, using traditional iconographies.

The proceeds from the exhibition will support social and health projects of the community.

Two indigenous artists, Otto Jungarrayi Sims, chairman of Warlukurlangu Artists and his wife, Ormay Nangala Gallagher, will accompany the exhibition to India, a statement said.

Between Earth and Heaven

Painting as a medium has the ability to transform the human soul and take one back to one’s own soul, discover oneself and be liberated,” says artist Santosh Mahadik about the first ever joint exhibition that he is holding with his colleague Sachin Akalekar on April 4.

The exhibition has been titled Themes from Earth and Heaven, as the paintings display Mahadik’s love for rustic themes, doors, windows, and rural backgrounds which symbolises the earth and the artist’s tryst with freedom, liberty, and a sense of feeling free, which symbolises heaven. “Basically it is an exhibition where a perscan find reflections of life,” says Sachin Akalekar, the second partner from the artist’s duo.

Both Akalekar and Mahadik have been painting commercially for the last three years. While Sachin has had his paintings showcased at art festivals in Dubai and Goa, Mahadik

has to his credit exhibitions by Art for Heart’s Sake. Speaking more about this Sachin says, “Basically we both have full time jobs, while I am a web designer,

Santosh owns his own advertising studio, in spite of that we find time to pursue our interests in painting, as a result even though we know a lot about the finer nuances of painting we prefer to bill ourselves as commercial artists.”

Beginning on April 4, the exhibition will conclude on April 10, and will be held at the Indiaart Gallery. A total of 45 paintings will be on display and also for sale. The prices of which range from Rs 5000 – 1 lakh.

“The exhibition is basically a gift to our teacher,

Prof D S Khatawkar who taught us everything that we know about paintings today. The paintings are done in acrylic and have a myriad range of hues. The sizes of the canvas range from 4 by 4 ft. to 4 by 7 ft. This contemporary style gives the rural ethos a sense of timelessness and along with it ushers in a belief that combines beauty and magic and takes the person back in time to his or her own soul,” adds Mahadik

Family heirloom getting spoilt? Help is at hand

Chandigarh, April 2 (IANS) Want to learn how to restore an old black and white photograph of your grandmother, your grandfather’s watch, antique furniture, a lucky cup or an old painting? Experts from the government museum here will show you how.

Last week, they were even coming home to do so, in an initiative of the Outreach Activity Centre of the Government Museum and Art Gallery. The centre’s week-long mobile conservation workshop ended Wednesday.

During the workshop, art restoration experts travelled to schools and colleges, prominent tourist destinations and residential neighbourhoods of this city to create awareness about the techniques of conservation and restoration.

‘This is the first time such a workshop is being conducted in northern India,’ Navjot Randhawa, director of the museum and art gallery, told IANS. ‘Our main aim behind this mobile workshop is to create awareness among masses about the heritage wealth that they have right in their own houses.

‘In India, we have a tendency to throw things out once they are outdated, but in western countries, this conservation process is quite common. People in those countries are ready to spend huge amounts to preserve their old accessories.’

Well-known conservator Namita Jaspal, who was coordinating the workshop, said: ‘Everything of the past has some special history related to it and it is the duty of the current generation to safeguard this, so that even the future generations can enjoy its beauty.’

Explaining the concept and scope of restoration, she said: ‘It is the process to preserve the ancient items for years to come. There is a wide scope in this area of study and many universities are also offering specialised courses in conservation.’

Jaspal said that the restoration process could be applied to sculptures, buildings, monuments, silver articles, antiques, wood and ancient artwork. It helped to preserve valuables and extend their life and beauty, she pointed out.

‘One can bring anything (to the museum) from his family heirloom, like pictures, albums, old inherited furniture, jewellery, coins, textiles, hand-written letters, documents. We have solutions for everything.’

Many residents and young artists took keen interest in the workshop.

‘The tips that they are giving to prolong the life span of our creations are really useful. Normally we use adhesives or tapes to preserve our work but here we came to know that they are the biggest adversaries of the art work,’ Sidhartha Chatterjee, a painter and a student of fine arts here, told IANS.

K.D. Sharma, a retired army official, said: ‘I invited the mobile van of conservators to my home as I have an assortment of over 100-year-old antique pieces rusting in my store room. It is really praiseworthy that they are providing these services free.’

11yr-olds on invitation list for gay porn art show

London, Apr 3 (ANI): School children as young as 11 had been put on an invitation list for an art show that was featuring gay porn.

The invitations, which were set to be sent to every secondary school in Glasgow, was for a 240,000 pounds taxpayer-funded exhibition in the city.
The city council said on April 2 that it never intended to send the invites to the kids for the show that was taking place at the Gallery of Modern Art, even though it later admitted that the invites had been prepared.

“We will not be facilitating any access for schoolchildren at this exhibition,” the Sun quoted council deputy leader James Coleman as saying.

“The council is already very good at educating children on issues relating to equality and diversity and tackling homophobia,” he said.

The exhibition billed as a celebration of “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex art and culture” has been deemed to be inappropriate for young kids.

“Many parents will be appalled at the idea of their children being taken to see an exhibition of homosexual erotica,” a Catholic Church spokesman said. (ANI)