art

by Angela Rocco DeCarlo On recent visit "home" we went immediately to again visit The Art Institute of Chicago to see the John Singer Sargent and Chicago's Gilded Age exhibit...and so should you. It is a world-class museum with the latest technology to make all welcome - including TacTiles and Touch Gallery for the visually impaired.  There was a John Singer Sargent exhibit in 1986, which I attended, and it was fabulous. The printed press kit was so beautiful I've kept it. So I was pleased to again be able to view Sargent's beautiful luminous paintings.  Additionally, visitors enjoy the Impressionist Gallery, which features well-recognized master paintings such as Renoir's "Two Sisters" (On the Terrace),  Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" and other great images. I like this gallery better than the major Impressionist museums in Paris.  The 68 Thorne Miniature Rooms enable glimpses into European interiors from the late 13th century to the 1930s. It is charming and should be seen with or without children. The Art Institute offers massive amounts of art from antiquity to modern genres. It is one of my  favorite places - at once enlightening as well as soothing.  The Sargent exhibit ends September 30th so there's still time to see it. Chicago Art Institute 111 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, Ill 60603 phone 312-443-3600 Admission: Adults $25; Seniors$19; Child - age 13 & ...

There’s something about Miami. It welcomes you by not making too much of a fuss about you. “Oh, so there you are,” it seems to say. “Great. Dale, Chico. Te veo después y nos tomamos un café." And you know, it’s happy to see you. My favorite spot to welcome the day in all of Miami is not anywhere near the infamous SoBe of the tanned and gorgeous. It’s not on a boat gliding past tall downtown buildings on bayside waters. It’s sitting on the sidewalk facing the huge, colorful, exhuberant sculpture at the entryway of the otherwise unremarkable Dadeland Metrorail Station in South Miami. It ́s fittingly called “Welcome” and stands amid the light gray concrete on mornings when my own bed wants nothing to do with me and, as my mother would say, “el que me fume, pierde el vicio.” And here's the trick: you sit on the sidewalk in front of it with your newspaper and your strong, sugary, Cuban coffee... you look at it for awhile... and pretty soon you start to feel happy and... god forbid... optimistic. By then you’ll look a little crazy to couples walking by with their strollers or their dogs, so taking a few ...

I gotta say it:  Up until a few years ago, New York City held the number one spot in my heart.  Then came NOLA.  It was love at first bite.  From the incredible food, to the narrow cobblestone streets, to the artistic, caring, amazing people, this city captured my heart in a New York minute. If you’ve never been to New Orleans, you are truly missing out.   Don’t think of it as just an endless carnival, although it can be.  New Orleans is many things.  There’s Jackson Square Park in the French Quarter, where, on any given day you may witness a brass band parade or a wedding presided over by a voodoo priest.  Surrounded by artists, vendors, and most of all music, Jackson Square is the mecca of what down home New Orleans feeling. Next is Bourbon Street, just steps from Jackson Square.  Bourbon Street has survived fires, endless parties, and Hurricane Katrina.  Nothing can keep this stretch of road down.  It keeps rising up for more like a Phoenix.  Filled with jazz clubs, mom and pop restaurants and stores, Bourbon Street is the nightlife spot to go to in the French Quarter. A taste of ...

Had fun storming a castle lately? On the way to Temecula’s wine country, many roads lead to wine, but only one leads to The Castle Estate. Every detail there is designed to keep you in a past reality of castles, kings and, of course, Queens.  From the gigantic medieval iron locks that guard your room and the mural on the stairs depicting part of it’s own family history, to the most minute detail of a delightful butterfly garden right outside your bedroom door, this castle has proven to be a diva’s favorite. If you happen to endure LA traffic, a night arrival is breathtaking, as the castle lights glow to guide the way.  Past the helicopter pad out front, you’ll be greeted by the sounds of a huge front door knocker, and welcomed by dimly lit candelabra and a smile from the castle’s proprietors, Joanne and Dee. How does waking up at The Castle sound? “Ding, ding, ding!” A soft “Good morning!”   a bell ring in the morning light shining through the hand-painted stained glass windows onto the luxurious medieval bed linens, and the chain link armor guard standing by. Thankfully, you’ll still have time to enjoy the feeling of waking up in a ...

November 2009 Current exhibition The current exhibition features the french artist Cédrix Crespel, born in 1974, living and working in Guérande, France. Open from tuesday to saturday from 15h00 to 19h00 up to november 28th, 2009, the exhibition is well appreciated by visitors, art collectors and art critics. Le Quotidien 20.10.2009 Le Quotidien 10.11.2009 Opening reception 15.10.2009 expo Cedrix Crespel There are still some paintings and sculptures from Cédrix Crespel available at the gallery : Leslie VII, 2009, glycerophtalic and acrylic paints on canvas, 89 x 116 cm,  2.087 EUR HTVA Leslie VIII, 2009, glycerophtalic and acrylic paints on canvas, 97 x 130 cm, 2.261 EUR HTVA Leslie IX , 2009, glycerophtalic and acrylic paints on canvas, 89 x 116 cm, 2.087 EUR HTVA Leslie X, 2009, glycerophtalic and acrylic paints on canvas, 97 x 130 cm, 2.261 EUR HTVA Leslie's Stockings, sculptures, 80 x 80 x 25 cm (call for prices) The value added tax (VAT) of 15%  and the transport costs will be added to these prices for shipping inside the European Union. An artbook about Cédrix Crespel showing the paintings exhibited at the gallery and a selection of his former artworks has been published at the Blurb Bookstore and can be ordered online at the website. (Standard Portrait 20 x 25 ...

Written by: Josie Villa-Singleton , aka Travelista*** Let’s face it; travel and tourism have a big impact on the environment. As responsible travelers we have to acknowledge the toll that traveling exerts on the environment and look for ways to offset this impact. Flying The main offender to the environment when we travel is our flight to Europe. For example, my flight from DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport) to CDG (Charles De Gaul Airport in Paris) will release 1.79 tons of carbon dioxide into the air over a distance of 9,930 miles according to CarbonFund.org. Once you take into account radiative forcing the effect increases to a release of 4.83 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that can contribute to global warming. Almost makes me not want to step on a plane again…almost, but I’m not willing to give up traveling if there are other ways to alleviate the environmental impact. One simple tactic is to always fly direct. This is the most efficient way to travel and you won’t contribute to any excess emissions and you personally will not have to deal with another round of deplaning and boarding. Airlines are becoming increasingly aware of this impact and are also looking for ...

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo, copyright 2009 The ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, has fascinated the world since excavations began in 1748 on this city buried  more than 1700 years ago. Victim of Mt. Vesuvius' cataclysmic volcanic eruption on August 24, 79 AD, it remains one of the world's most important travel destinations. Today, visitors can get a taste of the lost city of Pompeii at Los Angeles County Museum of Art's (LACMA) exhibit, "Pompeii and the Roman Villa - Art and Culture around the Bay of Naples." The show runs from May 3 through October 4, 2009. It is testament to the voracious appetite ancient Romans had for all Greek culture and art. That single-mindedness resulted in priceless treasures being preserved for nearly two thousands of years. Fortunately, we know exactly what happened to the ill-fated people of ancient Pompeii thanks to the scholar, Pliny the Younger, who wrote a detailed eyewitness description of the sudden explosion, in 79 AD, of  Mount Vesuvius on the Bay of Naples, Italy. The powerful volcanic eruption, together with earthquakes and tsunamis, devastated the coastal area and the cities were covered under volcanic rock and nearly forgotten, until 1738 when the royal family of the region initiated ...

One of the best bands my ears have had the pleasure of listening to is Cowboy Mouth, and during this upcoming Jazz Fest, that's the tune this diva will be dancing to... Following content taken from their website:  www.cowboymouth.com The term 'Cowboy Mouth' has been used in the poetry of Shakespeare and Bob Dylan as well as a play by Patti Smith and Sam Shepard. Usually meaning one with a loud and raucous voice, it describes the band well. With over 2000 concerts under their belt and many years of reviews lauding their live show, there is still one quote which best captures their show..... "...on a bad night they'll tear the roof off the joint and on a good night, they'll save your soul." — Cake Magazine Cowboy Mouth is New Orleans rock n' roll. Annually presenting roughly 200 shows per year, releasing nearly a dozen records, and featured on TV shows and radio stations everywhere, Cowboy Mouth has been seen and heard by millions of fans worldwide. For more than 15 years, the members of Cowboy Mouth have preached and shouted at the top of their lungs the joys of being alive and the joys of being in and from New ...

By: Amanda Gunderson When you are in Washington DC don’t leave the city without a stop at the hip artist collective DEKKA.  It’s a cool, co-op style space located in the heart of the U Street Corridor.  The only one of it’s kind in DC, DEKKA is a unique boutique that showcases dozens of local and international artists and designers whose mediums include music, fashion, jewelry and a range of visual arts.   It’s a treat for the senses that will leave you completely smitten. Located on the second floor, DEKKA is a fabulous diva’s paradise, offering two stories of gorgeous one-of-a-kind clothes, original jewelry and incredibly affordable art.  The music on the indoor/outdoor system could be anything from Brazilian, to Electronic to Urban beats, and you can even explore underground music at their listening station.  The best part about the DEKKA experience is that it’s a co-op run by the artists, for the artists, so you are likely to run into any of them on any given day of the week.  They are there to answer any questions you have and maybe even custom design a piece for you. The store is the creation of artist, Josh Titkin, and his wife Liciana Titkin, ...

By Anna Carranza Title: Kalash Festival of Choimus Location: Kalash Valleys, Pakistan Description: Ever wanted to do a Winter Solstice party with the Kalash people? The Kalash are infamous for their festivals and Choimus doesn’t disappoint. The only tribe in the area, who never converted to Islam, celebrate the new year with a vibrant flurry of dancing, food, chanting and prayers to the Balomain spirit. The festival lasts for days and moves throughout the valley. Copious amounts of local brewed mulberry wine to drink as you dance in giant circles around bonfires to mesmerizing chanting accompanied by drum beats. Girls wear intricate costumes made of cowery shells, coins and beads with heavy headwear while women paint their faces with ink. Just before the main festival, seasonal foods are offered to the ancestral spirts and a kotik light is lit. Diva tip: Single Kalash women are expected to find a husband during this festival so make sure you chose wisely! Contact information: TDCP (Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab Tel: +92-91-9213762 or +92-3339233868 http://nwfp.gov.pk/Events/Tour-packages.php Start Date: 2008-12-07 End Date: 2008-12-27