| | Mystery Woman in Iconic Elvis Presley Photograph Taken by Alfred Wertheimer Identified
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Photographer Alfred Wertheimer of New York, talks about one of the many photographs he took of Elvis Presley in 1956 as he displays his work at a gallery. Wertheimer was given a free-lance assignment by RCA Victor to take publicity shots of the 21-year-old, up-and-coming rock'n'roll star. Given complete, unsupervised access to Presley, Wertheimer followed him backstage, to rehearsals, on the road, into his family home in Memphis, and into the recording studios to capture unposed, candid shots of Elvis. AP Photo/Lennox McLendon.
NEW YORK (REUTERS).- A U.S. magazine has identified the mystery woman seen kissing singer Elvis Presley in a backstage theater stairwell in an iconic 1956 photograph. Barbara Gray, now 75 and living in Charleston, S.C., told Vanity Fair magazine that she didn't reveal her identity for the money or fame. "I just wanted to get my name on the damn picture," she said. Gray admitted that she become fed up with being known only as the "unknown woman in the wings" with a young Elvis in a stairwell at the Mosque Theater in Richmond, Virginia. Photographer Alfred Wertheimer said he never asked for the woman's name when he took the photograph and she never told it to him. After newspaper coverage of Wertheimer's photography exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. in early 2010 showed him standing in front of the photograph called "The Kiss," Gray tracked Wertheimer on Facebook and sent him a message. "I'm the girl. 'The Kiss.' Have a good story for you," she said. ... More |
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| Chinese Dissident Artist Ai Weiwei Endured "Immense Pressure" in Detention | | J. Paul Getty Museum Acquires Important Selection of Photographs by Herb Ritts | | London-Based Art Historian Clovis Whitfield Finds Answers to Some of the Mysteries of Caravaggio | 
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in front of his artwork, entitled Template, at the Haus der Kunst in Munich. EPA/TOBIAS HASE.
By: Sui-Lee Wee
BEIJING (REUTERS).- Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, whose disappearance in April caused an international outcry, endured intense psychological pressure during 81 days in secretive detention and still faces the threat of prison for alleged subversion, a source familiar with the events told Reuters. In the first broad account of Ai's treatment in detention since he was released in June, the source, who declined to be identified fearing retribution, said the 54-year-old artist was interrogated more than 50 times by police, while he was held in two secret locations. The questioning focussed on his purported role in the planned Arab-inspired "Jasmine Revolution" protests in China in February and his writings that could constitute subversion, said the source. That account runs counter to the Chinese government's repeated statements that Ai's detention was based on alleged economic crimes. "What you're doing is illegal," Ai told police officers at one ... More | | 
Herb Ritts, Cindy Crawford - Ferre 3, Malibu, 1994. Gelatin silver print, 55.9 x 45.7 cm © Herb Ritts Foundation. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Gift of Herb Ritts Foundation.
LOS ANGELES, CA.- The Getty Museum announces the acquisition of 69 photographs by famed fashion and celebrity photographer Herb Ritts. Consisting of photographs of nudes, portraits, and images made for high-fashion ad campaigns, this acquisition is the most significant body of the artist's work on the West Coast. The majority of the acquisition comes in the form of a generous gift from the Herb Ritts Foundation. "We are happy to have this opportunity to acquire an important selection of prints by Herb Ritts, whose work in fashion blurred the lines between art and commerce," says Judith Keller, senior curator of photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum. "This acquisition not only helps build our collection of fashion photography, but also fulfills our commitment to collect bodies of works by Los Angeles-based artists." Other artists in the Getty's collection who established a reputation for their fashion photographs include Ric ... More | | 
By exploiting new advances in glassmaking and optics and the contemporary fascination with light, Caravaggio found a way of making realistic copies of what the camera obscura projected onto a wall.
LONDON.- An important new study of Caravaggio by a leading international expert stands the conventional modern view of this controversial painter on its head. Caravaggio’s Eye by Clovis Whitfield rejects the current obsession with Caravaggio as a violent street brawler reputed to have been homosexual and instead provides a compelling picture of a revolutionary whose grasp of new technology threatened the artistic establishment’s very existence. Whitfield, a London-based art historian and dealer in Old Master Paintings, finds answers to some of the mysteries of Caravaggio’s success by regarding him as an artisan who stumbled across a revolutionary way of capturing the appearance of what he saw around him. His revolution was one of technique rather than style and involved the sophisticated use of a camera obscura and so-called ‘burning’ or parabolic mirrors. By exploiting new advances in glassmaking and optics and the ... More |
| WW Gallery has a Close Call when Rioting Youths Filtered Down their Street | | New iPhone App Makes It Easy to Find, Explore, Discover, Share and Purchase Art | | "Missing" Renaissance Manuscript Acquired by the Art Fund for Rylands University | 
Police officers wearing riot gear stand in front of a burning building. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
LONDON.- On Monday afternoon, moments after Eva Lis completed work on WW Gallery's newly commissioned sculpture Mudman, looters - for we can only use the word 'rioters' advisedly - spilled into Queensdown Rd and Hackney Downs and were seen off by riot & mounted police. Although WW Gallery is currently closed for summer, their new initiative Patio Projects is open 24/7 and plays host this August and September to new work by Eva Lis. While bins and cars burned bright on neighbouring Clarence Road, youths filtered down their street, searching bins and gardens for missiles. Two boys entered Patio Projects to pick up loose concrete and bricks, and threatened to smash in the gallery's window when they saw a camera, however they pretty much ignored Mudman himself. WW's Debra Wilson said yesterday: "Mudman is the personification of the British resolve to damn well have a summer and be outdoors, even if the reality involves ... More | | 
ArtMatch™ for the iPhone uses Art.com's innovative Visual Search™ technology.
EMERYVILLE, CA.- Art.com, Inc.,the world's leading online specialty provider of wall art, today announced the introduction of artMatch™ for the iPhone, which makes it easy for art lovers to find, explore, discover, share and purchase art right from their iPhones. artMatch™ allows you to snap a photo of any work of art and instantly search for matching or similar items on Art.com. You can also preview selected artwork in your own space by simply holding up your iPhone. The application is free and can be downloaded through Apple's App Store. "Art.com has one simple goal—to make art accessible to all—and our new artMatch™ application for the iPhone takes that one step further, making it easy and fun for people to engage with art wherever and whenever inspiration strikes," said Geoffroy Martin, CEO of Art.com, Inc. "Imagine walking down the streets of your favorite city, spotting a work of art you love in a c ... More | | 
Page from the Colonna Missal, John Rylands University Library.
LONDON.- The Art Fund has helped the University of Manchester’s John Rylands University Library acquire the ‘missing’ seventh volume of a celebrated Renaissance manuscript. The volume is part of the famous Colonna Missal, a magnificent service-book made for use in the Sistine Chapel in Rome and one of the most important religious manuscripts of the sixteenth century. It now joins the six other volumes that have been housed at the John Rylands Library since 1901. Some of the decoration of the beautifully produced volume dates from exactly the same time as Michelangelo’s fresco of the Last Judgment over the High Altar. It was commissioned by Cardinal Pompeo di Girolamo Colonna for use in some of the most important masses of the year in the Sistine Chapel, Rome. Jan Wilkinson, University Librarian and Director of the John Rylands Library, said, 'We are delighted to have secured the missing ... More |
| Amid Global financial Market Turbulence, More Chinese Investors May Turn to Art | | Joslyn Art Museum Debuts Newly Re-Installed Galleries of American and Western Art | | Bonhams to Sell Rare and Important Watercolours by One of Australia's First Free Settlers | 
A visitor looks at an installation, entitled Moon Chest, by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. EPA/ENNIO LEANZA.
BEIJING.- With global financial markets around the world reacting violently to the debt problems plaguing Europe and the U.S., gold hitting US$1,700 per ounce for the first time, inflation in China continuing to hit new highs and the real estate market remaining volatile, Chinese investors are likely to maintain their preference for stability and long-term gain. Having relatively few investment options at their disposal, this means we can expect more of these investors to join the ranks of China’s new collectors, who have increasingly driven sales at auction houses not only in mainland China but also Hong Kong, London and New York. In the last two years, as Jing Daily has previously noted, this class of collectors has aggressively sought to diversify their assets with comparatively safe investments like art, fine wine, rare watches and gold and jewelry — items seen by many in China as “portable hedges” that will hold or grow value in the face of inflation or ... More | | 
Grant Wood (American, 1891–1942), Stone City, Iowa, 1930 (detail), oil on wood panel, Gift of the Art Institute of Omaha, 1930.
OMAHA, NE.- A new presentation of Joslyn Art Museum’s renowned collection of American and American Western art awaits visitors. Debuting today, the re-installation of the Memorial Building's five north galleries highlights the history of American painting from 1750 to 1950, and features a new interpretation of the Museum’s collection of art of the American West and Plains Indian cultures. Support for this reinstallation has been provided by the Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and The Sunderland Foundation. Toby Jurovics, Joslyn's chief curator and Richard and Mary Holland Curator of American Western Art, said the galleries offer a new look at familiar favorites as well as important works that have been off view for many years. “Our desire is to offer a more cohesive narrative of the history of American Art, arranging our collection of painting, sculpture, and deco ... More | | 
George French Angas, The Flower Show, Adelaide. Watercolour over pencil heightened with white, gum arabic and scratching out, 25.4 x 38.7cm. Estimate: AU$20,000 - 30,000. Photo: Bonhams.
SYDNEY.- Two rare and important watercolours by George French Angas are to be auctioned at Bonhams Australian Art sale on 22 August at Byron Kennedy Hall, Sydney. One shows the departure of Sturt's third and final expedition from Adelaide, while the other depicts the first Royal Adelaide Show. They are estimated to fetch AU$20,000-30,000 each. George French Angas was the son of Englishman George Fife Angas, who supporting the establishment of an Australian state settled entirely by free settlers, founded the South Australian Company. In February 1836, the Company's three ships set sail for South Australia with the first emigrants, livestock and provisions on board. In 1843, his sons George French and John Howard followed aboard the Augustus, arriving in the colony in 1844 George French joined several exploring expeditions for the South Australian ... More |
| Guilty Plea for Last Defendant in Connection with Counterfeit Clementine Hunter Paintings Sales | | First Printed Depiction of the Taj Mahal to Be Sold in Bonhams India and Beyond Auction | | Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University Acquires Two Works by Andrew Kuo | 
Art collector Don Fuson conducts an interview in front of what is thought to be a forged Clementine Hunter paintings in Baton Rouge, La. AP Photo/Bill Haber.
ALEXANDRIA, LA.- United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Robert E. Lucky, Jr, 64, of New Orleans, pled guilty to a one-count bill of information charging mail fraud in connection with selling non-authentic paintings falsely attributed to Clementine Hunter. Lucky utilized various sources to obtain Clementine Hunter paintings, including paintings from William and Beryl Toye, which have been determined by government experts to be non-authentic. Lucky then resold the fake paintings for a profit. Lucky faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both when he is sentenced on October 21, 2011. William Toye, 80; his wife, Beryl Ann Toye, 70, of Baton Rouge; and Robert Lucky were named in a four-count indictment charging all three defendants with mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. William Toye ... More | | 
The Taj Mahal appears in the background of a view of the Fort of Agra. Photo: Bonhams.
LONDON.- The first printed depiction of one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal, is among the highlights of Bonhams ‘India and Beyond: Travel and Photography’ sale in London on October 4. It is included in a volume of aquatint views of India by William Hodges who travelled through the country in the 1780s executing drawings on the spot. The Taj Mahal appears in the background of a view of the Fort of Agra suggesting that Hodges was more interested in the military installation than the building which in future generations came to symbolise eternal love. This is one of the most important books of aquatints of India and is estimated at £30,000-35,000. The volume is part of a extensive collection of books, photographs and prints about India put together privately over 25 years which makes up the greater part of the sale. Among the other prominent items from the collection are: A complete copy of ... More | | 
Self-Portrait (Rise and Shine),” 2009, Courtesy Taxter & Spengemann, New York © Andrew Kuo.
EAST LANSING, MI.- The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University has acquired two works by multidisciplinary artist Andrew Kuo. The works, “Self-Portrait (Rise and Shine),” 2009, and “The More You Know About Me, The More You'll Think Twice Before Calling/I'd Be More Tolerable If I Smoked Weed Because...,” 2011, are the first acquisitions for the new contemporary art museum, which will also assume care for the 7,500 object collection of the university’s former Kresge Art Museum. Dedicated to exploring global contemporary culture and ideas through art, the Zaha Hadid-designed museum will serve as both an educational resource for the campus community and a cultural hub for the central Michigan region. The Broad at MSU is scheduled to open in spring 2012. The Broad at MSU is the first museum to acquire works by Andrew Kuo, who is known for his diaristic charts that meticulously docu ... More |
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 St Paul's Cathedral 300th Anniversary Photo Competition Winners Announced LONDON.- Michael Murphy from London has been announced as the overall winner of the St Paul’s Cathedral 300th Anniversary Photo Competition. Michael took the title after capturing the judges’ imagination with this stunning photograph of the dome illuminated red to mark World AIDS Day. In addition to the overall winner, nine other winning images were chosen by the judges. All ten photographs will be displayed in the crypt as part of the digital timeline outside film experience Oculus: an eye into St Paul’s from Thursday 11th August until late 2011. The Reverend Canon Mark Oakley, Treasurer of St Paul’s and one of the judges, said of Michael Murphy’s winning image: “Amongst so many poignant photographs of the cathedral this one stood out. It captures the cathedral by night as it responds to an urgent situation in the world. The darkness and snow seem to retreat from a warmer light than the street ... More Butter Sculptures Churn 100-Year State Fair Legacy DES MOINES, IA (AP).- Life-size butter sculptures of everything from cows to space heroes and Hollywood stars are among the most beloved traditions of state fairs, drawing thousands of admirers each year from Iowa to Ohio and as far south as Texas. In Iowa, where the tradition started, the fair will celebrate the 100th year of its butter cow when it begins Thursday. While other state fairs may mimic the butter cow or tout other creamy creations, none has gained as much fame as the original, Iowa State Fair President Gary Slater said. "None of the others have become that one thing that when you think of the fair, you think of it like you do here at the Iowa State Fair," Slater said. "It's become our icon." Other states with butter cows include Illinois, Kansas, New York and Utah, while the Wisconsin and Indiana state fairs feature mammoth cheese carvings. But Minnesota may come the closest to Iowa in celebration of its dairy ... More MCA Announces Rafael Lozano Hemmer Exhibition for Summer Sydney International Art Series SYDNEY.- The Museum of Contemporary Art will present Australia’s first solo exhibition by one of the world’s best-known electronic artists. Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano- Hemmer has attracted global attention for his highly interactive and complex digital artworks. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Recorders features 13 recent pieces by the artist, including two new works. Public engagement is critical to the work - visitors play the role of performer, leaving traces of themselves, whether it is objects from their pockets, questions they have typed, the pace of their heartbeat, their voice or their image. Trained in physical chemistry, the artist uses robotics, projections, sound, internet and cellphone links, sensors and other devices to create critical and poetic platforms for public interaction. In the process, the viewers become the viewed. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer explains: ‘In Recorders, artworks hear, se ... More New York City's Elaine's Restaurant Memorabilia Up for Auction NEW YORK, N.Y. (AP).- Memorabilia from the famed New York City restaurant Elaine's is going up for auction next month. The watering hole on Manhattan's Upper East Side was patronized by writers and celebrities including Kurt Vonnegut, Norman Mailer and Jackie Onassis. It shut its doors in May following restaurateur Elaine Kaufman's death last year. An eclectic collection of art, barware and other items will be sold at the Doyle New York auction house Sept. 20. Among the items will be the bar's vintage cash register and Table No. 1, a sought-after spot where patrons sat to see and be seen. Two Andy Warhol prints and books signed by Richard Avedon, Katharine Hepburn and Truman Capote also are up for grabs. The public can view the items at the auction house Sept. 17-19. A catalog is online at doylenewyork.com. ... More Lottery Ticket Collectors Eye Keepsakes, Not Money PHILADELPHIA, PA (AP).- Among the mountains of losing lottery tickets piled high in a hotel conference room, someone may yet hit a jackpot. But it won't be money that makes the winner. For members of the Global Lottery Collector's Society, the scratch-off cards themselves are worth keeping because of their quirky themes and colorful designs. From a $3 Montana lottery ticket based on the game Uno to a series of $2 "Star Trek" stubs from Virginia, the game themes run the gamut from movies and TV shows to sports teams and holiday cheer. The cards come in different sizes, shapes and denominations. "The whole purpose of collecting is not to get rich, or to get lucky, but to get the tickets," said club co-founder Bill Pasquino. "But if I happen to hit a jackpot along the way, I'd be very happy." Last weekend, Pasquino joined about two dozen other club members at the group's annual "Lotovention." Held this year in northeas ... MoreWorks of Art by Two Contemporary Artists, Arturo Herrera and Leonardo Drew, Acquired by the Philbrook Museum of ArtTULSA, OK.- Works of art by two contemporary artists are the latest acquisitions announced by the Philbrook Museum of Art: Arturo Herrera’s Door (2009) and Leonardo Drew’s Number 148 (2010), both purchases made possible by Philbrook’s Contemporary Consortium Fund. Lauren Ross, the museum’s first, and recently hired, Nancy E. Meinig Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, states that “these acquisitions provide further evidence of Philbrook’s growing commitment to modern and contemporary art.” Ross, who comes to Philbrook after a successful tenure as Curator & Director of Arts Programs at the High Line in New York City continues: “These works, acquired through the efforts of the Contemporary Consortium, underscore our efforts to make contemporary art a center of excellence within our collection.” Each work is uniquely substantial in size, scope and impact. Of Drew’s sculptur ... More Trash Becomes Treasure for One Thai ArtistBANGKOK (REUTERS).- From custom-built motorcycles to statues of Yoda, one Thai artist is building works of art using scrap metal from Bangkok's garbage heaps, recycling trash to create his very own treasure. A former woodcarver, Rungroja Saengwongpaisarn began working with metal in 1996 at the request of a patron, soon fusing his passion for conservation with his art and creating a distinctive style. "It's using metal that was discarded. We are giving the material a new life by using it to create art," the 54-year-old Rungroja said. Where some see junk, he sees raw material, salvaging discarded car parts and household goods such as woks with his team everyday. The items are then used to craft statues, models and even robots. An ancient Asian warrior snarls on one side of his gallery, which also contains a toothy dinosaur, elephants and a pensive Yoda. Recycling has paid off for the sculptor, whose works range in price from $60 to $40,000 and can take anywhere from 3 days to up t ... More |
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