Monday, May 29, 2006


VENICE
Piazza San Marco - Torre Dell' Orologio. More than 30.000 people gathered in St Mark's Square to view the Torre dell'Orologio that was restored by the Swiss watchmaking manufacturer, Piaget and Brandolin Dottor Group. Piaget's president, Yves Piaget and Brandolin Dottor Group president, Pietro Dottor accompany the superstar actress, and patron to the event, Claudia Cardinale to the unveiling of the Clock Tower. Pietro Dottor said that "Restoration is in my DNA, it's a mission which I dedicate myself to. It produces so much adrenaline to keep me going all day." Asked about Venice, Miss Cardinale told me that " It was the first Italian town I came to from Tunisia when I was sixteen. I received a prize at the Venice Film Festival."
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VENICE
MUSEO CORRER - Torre del Orologio. At the dinner, prior to the unveiling of the restored Clock Tower, in the Museo Correr, what were Venice Foundation, President, Franca Coin and patriarchal Curia to the Basilica of Saint Mark's, Mons. Antonio Meneguolo, demanding of neo elected vice premier and minister for culture, Francesco Rutelli? That he comes back to Venice to attend the concert of the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, directed by Lorin Maazel, in the Basilica on June 30th at nine pm. The proceeds will finance the restoration of The cupola of the Creation, inside San Marco. You can attend too. Contact, Venice Foundation, Venice +39 041 2774840 or email veniceinter@tin.it
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VENICE
Museo Correr - Torre dell' Orologio. After ten years, the Clock Tower in Piazza San Marco was restored, by the Brandolin Dottor Group, for the structure and by La Maison Piaget, for the clock mechanism. Originally built, just over five hundred years ago, by the Ranieri brothers, legend has it that later, their eyes were removed in order to keep them from repeating such a wonder. While the Clock Tower was being restored, the scaffolding was covered with gigantic photos of famous towers from all over the world, the brainchild of photographer, Oliviero Toscani. (See Contessanally 31 March, 2006). Toscani can wink and take photos at the same time. Anything for a bit of fun. He said that the idea came to him while he was imagining the surprise on the faces of herds of Japanese tourists in piazza, looking up and seeing, Big Ben or the Empire State Building. He described the project as "An exercise in communication. A "faulty" trompe l'oeil."
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Tuesday, May 23, 2006


LONDON
Selfridges. Save the Date! Should you be planning a trip to London, here, courtesy of Selfridges, is The English Social Calendar for the summer. Selfridges, is probably the best big London department store and has always had stunning, attention grabbing window promotions. The store carries a stylish mix of products that range from furniture to fashion, beauty to food and it is the ultimate place for new brands, experiences and ideas. Selfridges, is also credited with coining the famous phrase "The customer is always right" .
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LONDON
The Victoria and Albert Museum - The Biba Ball. Murray Blewett, is head of the design studio at Vivienne Westwood, he poses with his heroine, Barbara Hulanicki, creator of Biba. Murray collects original Biba clothes. His collection boasts more than 2500 authentic pieces. He remembers "Growing up as a Biba baby was the best gift my Mother could have given me. Visiting that wonderful magical Big Biba changed my life...The colors, cuts, glamour and slight sense of danger made me feel that just about anything was possible." Barbara, flew over especially from Miami, where she is based, to attend The Biba Ball. For the past few years she has been concentrating on interior design, mostly boutique hotels. Her latest project is designing the interiors of eighty cottages, hotel, spa, the lighting and the gardens on the Goldeneye Development in Jamaica. Goldeneye is renowned as the former home of James Bond novelist, Ian Fleming, who wrote all of the "007" thrillers there. The plantation, is being transformed by entertainment entrepreneur, Chris Blackwell into an elegant resort, thereby, becoming the ultimate Caribbean getaway for musicians, artists, entrepreneurs and stars. Can you guess the opening date? It's, 07 - 07 - 2007!
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LONDON
The Victoria and Albert Museum - The Biba Ball. Society jeweler, Theo Fennell and his wife Louise, donated a beautiful diamond cross pendant for the Clic Sargent charity auction, for children with cancer at The Biba Ball. For his latest collection, due out this Autumn, Theo was inspired, while driving to work, by the four statues on the Holborn Viaduct "It's all about mythology; snakes, dragons, beasts, bats, devils and angels." He secretly revealed.
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Monday, May 22, 2006


LONDON
The Victoria and Albert Museum - The Biba Ball. Molly Parkin and Jan De Villeneuve are old friends of Barbara Hulanicki, the creator of Biba. Molly Parkin, founded Nova magazine in the 1960's then moved into broadcasting and became a TV personality and a trend setting celebrity. She has also written many books and she also paints. Her first autobiography, Moll (1993), charts a life lived to the limits. She is currently working on her second autobiography called Seven Deadly Sins, "It's a kiss and tell, names and all." she told me. The book will be launched next year at The Chelsea Arts Club with an exhibition of her land and city scapes. Model, Jan De Villeneuve, remembers the Biba days "Entering Biba in the 1970's was a phenomenal shopping experience - everything from fashion to furniture and even the most unique baby clothes, including six different shades of diapers. It was wonderful and unconventional, yet priced for the masses. There has been nothing quite like it ever since."
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LONDON
The Victoria and Albert Museum - The Biba Ball. Marie and Eddie Jordan of Formula one/Grand Prix fame are great philanthropists. They hosted The Biba Ball at the Victoria and Albert museum. The theme was recreating the Biba look and celebrating the creativity of Barbara Hulanicki, the creator of Biba, who was guest of honor. After cocktails in the magnificent John Madejski Garden, dinner was served in the spectacular Raphael Gallery, dancing followed in the 'Biba Nightclub' set up for the evening, in The Dome. The Ball raised funds to provide desperately needed accommodation for families and their children who are being treated for cancer in London hospitals. Eddie told me, that he had just finished recording five, one hour long programs, where he took eight criminal kids out of jail and gave them a project...guess what? How to build a car. You can watch them on the ORT Channel from September 5th. Bravo Eddie and Brava Marie.
www.clicsargent.org.uk www.vam.ac.uk www.barbarahulanickidesign.com Pin It
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LONDON
Sac Freres. Quintessentially English, Sac Freres, just off Bond Street, is a really new hand bag/luggage boutique. Situated in a former art gallery space, the shop is laid out like a museum, with all the bags displayed in glass cases with visual references to original costumes, pictures and text to explain the story behind each collection. What's more, these bags can only be bought there and nowhere else in the world. They are really special, because they are made from recycling luxury materials used for other purposes. The shocking pink bag in the window, from The Matador Collection, is made from algodon sedoso or silky cotton from which bull fighters capes are made from. Then, you have The Huntsman Collection, made from authentic scarlet Calvary wool twill. Or, The House of Lords Collection, the very same ruby red deep-buttoned upholstery leather which adorns the Upper House. For evening wear, The Vatican Collection offers black silk evening bags piped in cardinal red and bishop purple, these fabrics are supplied by the pope's tailor in Rome. The concept is the brainchild of James Mullen, the founder of Thomas Pink, who after selling the shirt company for an estimated forty-three million pounds to the LVMH group, was not content to watch fabulous fabrics and workmanship pigeonholed.
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LONDON
An elegant dinner party in Chelsea. While we were in London our host and hostess, Sebastian and Elisabeth Roberts gave a black tie, elegant, delicous and very simpatico dinner party. I loved the tartan trousers or trews as they are called in Scotland, worn with dinner jackets. It seems, that it was the Duke of Windsor to start this fashion in the 1930's. On the left of the photo, is the Right Hon. Ian Chant Sempill, he is wearing the 'window-seat' Forbes-Sempill Tartan. It's called "window-seat' because the original tartan was used to cover the window-seats in Druminnor Castle in the village of Rhynie, in Scotland. Over the years, the tartan had weathered, with the sun and the light shinning through, and that is how it got it's unusual name. On the right of the photo, is our host, Major General Sebastian Roberts, he is wearing the Dress Macleod of the Isles Tartan. In the middle, sitting between them, is Sambuca, he is making sure that they don't drink too much Gregoletto Prosecco! Spaghetti boutique owner, fashion and lace designer, Nadia La Valle, who always has an eye for fashion, commented "They look very Alexander McQueen!"
Contessanally says "Please note, that it is considered very bad luck to wear a tartan that does not belong to your family."
www.army.mod.uk/irishguards www.alexandermcqueen.com www.vallismareni.it Spaghetti- 32 Beauchamp Place - SW 3 - tel: 0044(0)207 584 0631
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Sunday, May 21, 2006


LONDON
The Wolseley Cafe and Restaurant. On entering The Wolseley, right on Piccadilly and next to The Ritz Hotel, one gets the impression of entering a noisy French brassiere. It is only when you settle down, and look more closely, that you can tell the various activities the space has accommodated over the years. From a motor car showroom for Wolseley cars in the 1920's - hence the name - to a bank and then a Chinese restaurant. The Wolseley is the hot spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week and it is very difficult to get a table, especially in the celebrity central section. The impressive surrounding, the arched windows and soaring marble columns all contribute to the great atmosphere of the place. The food is delicious as well. And, though I am on a diet, I could not resist one of my favorite puddings, Floating Islands, which are very difficult to come by on restaurant menus. I love this old fashioned nursery pudding. Thanks to Christie's Magazine, editor in chief, Meredith Etherington Smith for taking me there. She confessed "I hold most of my business meetings in here, even though my office is just around the corner."
The Wolseley, 160 Piccadilly, London W1 +44(0)20 7499 6996 www.theritzlondon.com www.christies.com
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Saturday, May 20, 2006


photograph by Rob Hawkins - courtesy The Rockwell
LONDON
The Rockwell. The Rockwell, is London's latest, four star, 'boutique" hotel. The forty rooms are individually decorated by Rosy Bartlett in, Contemporary British Modern style. The garden restaurant and bar, One-Eight-One, serves modern interpretations of traditional English food, perfect for alfresco dining, for guests and locals. At the opening party, rock royalty sibling, Jade Jagger was the guest of honor. In her own right Jade is a very talented designer. Besides, being creative director of Garrards, the jewellers, with three royal warrants, she is also the concept designer at Yoo. Philippe Starck and John Hitchcox have joined forces with Jade Jagger and her long term business partner Tom Bartlett, to create Jade Jagger for Yoo. Yoo is a designed-focused property development company, enhancing quality and adding value through design, branding and marketing expertise to development projects in the U.K. and around the world. Starck explains 'We want to offer democratic, high-fashion living."
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LONDON
Transport # 3 - Scooter mania has swept the pavements of London. Every other young kid is on a folding aluminum micro scooter. And, they are usually falling over every few yards. Luckily, they are banned in the streets. Christian and Lucy's mother has already dropped off one child at Hill House School in Chelsea. This is the second drop off. "It is the quickest way to take three children of different ages to three buildings in three different streets." she told me.
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Friday, May 19, 2006


LONDON
Transport # 2 This is the story about Benjy the 'social' biker dog. He likes to go to parties in style, and until the Harley Davidson was stolen, which was his favorite mode of transport, he now travels on a 1980's Moto Guzzi or on a Vespa. He told me that "I like to ride BIKES. I like to ride bikes real fast... feel the wind in my ears...I also enjoy the luxury of being driven... chauffeur and all!...He's called Dave." Benjy is a cross between a Border Terrier and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, he is ten years old and he was found in the dogs home. His chauffeur, David Hart is the creative and managing director of Party Poker. Benjy, also has a website and an email address. "I have chosen a life of; ride bike, bark, bark, party, bark, eat, sleep...nice. And...if you want to contact me why don't you email me at benjy@gelatipertutti.com." he added. By the way, Benjy always bets on RED!
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LONDON
Michael Hoppen Gallery. The Jacques Henri Lartigue show at the Michael Hoppen Gallery is fantastic. The photos span from, a photo of Biaritz in 1905 to a photo of Carnaby Street in 1967. My favorite was a photo of Pablo Picasso, Cannes, August 1955, bare chested wearing a bowler hat. As I was arriving I caught, Kelly Hoppen on her way out of he brother's gallery, the British interior designer has created a unique style that captures the spirit of the east while incorporating the best of Western design. Her books include Table Chic, Close Up and the highly influential title East Meets West. Her latest book, Kelly Hoppen Style, came out in 2004. She is currently working on Concept to Reality due out in 2007. "It is about visualizing how we live in space. It's about zoning. If you get that right, you live well. Too many people are worried about how it looks instead of being worried about how it 'lives'." She told me.
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LONDON
Transport # 1 - Just to give you a sense of place. We are in London and what could be more English than a red double decker bus and a British racing green Mini? The Mini isn't made any more! Let's hope that the London bus will not be discontinued, as well...with globalization! The Mini is sponsoring rock and football. On the side the 182 = the group Blink 182. On the "bumper" The Clash's London Calling album, voted by Rolling Stone Magazine as the greatest record of the '80's. The Album has been updated to two Cds, plus, DVD set, to mark it's 25th anniversary. And, with the World Cup just around the corner, on the back window, what better way to show support than to "scream" COME ON ENGLAND?
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Friday, May 05, 2006


VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection. And all in all, Francois Pinault was a great success in Venice. His collection represents a personal odyssey, a passionate commitment and a profound realization that art enables an expanded perception of the world and of our being. Christie’s head in Venice, Contessa Bianca Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga, summed it up best, saying she would like to have T-shirts printed with the words “Merci M. Pinault!”
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VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection. Francois-Henri Pinault, son of the museum’s founder, arrived at the opening with the beautiful actress Salma Hayek. “I was brought up surrounded by art,” he said. “My favorite artists are Jean Rebeyrolle and Jeff Koons. But I also love boxing and collecting watches.”
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VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection. Gucci Group star fashion designer, Stella McCartney arrived with her husband, Alasdhair Willis of the graphic design team MadeThought. Willis, a well-known designer was awarded the job of designing the new logo for Palazzo Grassi. His solution reflects Tadao Ando's approach to Palazzo Grassi, manipulating contrasts and juxtaposing the traditional and the contemporary.
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Thursday, May 04, 2006


VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection. French, film director, Claude Lelouch and his beautiful wife Francesca Martinez. lelouch's latest film is entitled"Le bonheur c'est encore mieux que la vie" they looked very glamorous and happy after seeing the exhibition.

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photograph by Manfredi Bellati
VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection.This was one of the controversial works of art, called Him (2001) by Maurizio Cattelan, it is a sculpture of a little boy kneeling, as if praying, towards a wall—but the “trick” is that the boy has the face of Adolph Hitler. About the restructuring, Cattelan, always the joker, commented “What a beautiful space, they could have added at least another two hundred pieces.”
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VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection. Handsome, Jaki Elkann, grandson of Gianni Agnelli and vice president of Fiat said that he was happy this tradition continues at Palazzo Grassi. He is talking to equally handsome Alessandro Benetton. Benetton and his wife, ex-ski champion, Deborah Compagnoni's house was designed by Tadao Ando. The Benettons loved the Fontanas and the Manzonis
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VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection. French actress, Charlotte Gainbourg, who looks so much like her mother Jane Birkin, poses for the papparazzi. She will start shooting her latest film this summer entitled, I'm Not There, directed by Todd Haynes, the re-enactment of the life of musician, Bob Dylan, featuring among others, Richard Gere and Cate Blanchett The movie, embodies different stages in the singer's life.





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VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection. American socialite, Dodie Rosenkranz, who is known for her extravagant outfits, is wearing Alexander McQueen, who is also part of the Gucci Group owned by Francois Pinault. Rosenkranz, on her way out said "I just loved it."
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VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection. Elegant, actress, Kristin Scott Thomas, wearing Yves Saint Laurent (which is part of the Gucci Group owned by Pinault) was accompanied by YSL's designer Stefano Pilati. Kristin, loved the "White Room", i.e. the Manzonis and Fontanas!
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VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection. Jerome Zieseniss, who is president of the Comité Français de Sauvegarde de Venise, and is also on the Palazzo Grassi advisory board, rightfully noted that “This is the best solution for Palazzo Grassi which has international prestige and also for Venice. M. Pinault will continue in the tradition. Besides, it’s not easy to find a second Gianni Agnelli. Unfortunately, nobody in Italy came forward at that level.” Count Ruy Brandolini, photographed above with his wife Giorgina, is also on the advisory board, added “It’s most impressive and fantastic for Venice. I didn’t like the old décor before; this is so much better.” Francois Pinault hired world famous Japanese Architect, Tadao Ando to restructure the palazzo. Ando himself comments “I am astonished at how quickly, in less than a year, the restoration was done, which is unheard of in Venice. Standing here, I am moved by the contrast between the 18th century and contemporary art in this environment; it is something very new.”
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VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection.The famous Venetian artist, Fabrizio Plessi, photographed here with his wife Carla, adored “the fantastic 360-degree approach to contemporary art. For those of us who live in Venice, when the Biennale closes, there is nothing else for two years, so this is a great addition. My favorite is the Donald Judd room.” (Talking about the Donald Judd room: At the opening preview, the director of the municipal museums of Venice, Giandomenico Romanelli, was “brought to order” for leaning on a Judd sculpture.)
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Photograph by Manfredi Bellati
VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection.The entrance to Palazzo Grassi from the Grand Canal is quite impressive. The first work one meets inside is Jeff Koons’ gigantic and spectacular Hanging Heart (1994-2006). Koons, who was the only artist present for all the three days of preview events, said, “I am very honored to have such a prominent position; the work looks beautiful, and it’s like the heart of the palazzo.” Upstairs in the Jeff Koons room, which Koons describes as “The past, the present and the future.” I was bit astonished to see included the marble statue of Koons and his controversial ex-wife, the pornstar “La Cicciolina” entitled, Bourgeois Bust-Jeff and Ilona (1991). Koons said, “I’m very proud of the sculpture, it’s very romantic and the shape is like a heart, it was inspired by Canova's Kiss.”
www.palazzograssi.it www.jeffkoons.com
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photograph by Manfredi Bellati
VENEZIA - PALAZZO GRASSI - highlights from the opening
"Where Are We Going?" a selection from the Francois Pinault Collection. For those of you who haven't got time to read the full story and see all the photographs in ARTINFO - below -here are some highlights. After twenty two years of Fiat reign, Palazzo Grassi is now home to French luxury-goods and Christie's owner Francois Pinault. M. Pinault is also the wealthiest art collector in France and is one of the major collectors in the world. This spectacular debut exhibition is curated by Alison Gingeras, adjunct curator for the Guggenheim Museum; she was chosen by Pinault for their shared dispositions towards certain artists, such as Koons. "I chose what was singular and also strong pieces from the collection, as well as the works of the 20 artists Pinault collects in depth,” Gingeras said. “I wanted to create a dichotomy between Pop and Post Pop Art—between European and American Art.” Shown above is the amusing installation, entitled Vintage Violence (2004-2005) by Urs Fisher, 1.700 raindrops, cascade over the grand staircase and part of the courtyard. The internal courtyard floor is laid with Carl Andre's spectacular 37th Piece of Work (1969-1981) of 1,296 metal square plates. HRH Princess Michael of Kent commented, “I am astonished that we are allowed to walk on this beautiful, precious and valuable installation.” Beyond that Jeff Koon's Hanging Heart (1994-2006).
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Tuesday, May 02, 2006


VENICE - April 28, 2006
Francois Pinault, Jeff Koons and Larry Gagosian at the opening of "Where Are We Going?" the debut exhibition at Palazzo Grassi, Pinault's showcase in Venice for his contemporary art collection.
NEWS & FEATURES - from ARTINFO, May 02, 2006 - World’s Cultural Celebrities Flock to Venice for Pinault Museum Opening
On a gray, damp day, visitors to Venice were greeted by one thousand posters of Jeff Koons’ gigantic magenta Balloon Dog (1994-2000).The posters, plastered on walls everywhere around the city, announced the reopening of the Palazzo Grassi and the exhibition “Where Are We Going?”—a selection from the Francois Pinault collection.
Koons’ actual dog sculpture is there to welcome visitors to the museum, floating on the Grand Canal at the entrance of the last important palazzo to be built before the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797...........to read all the story and see all the photographs, please go to ARTINFO: http://www.artinfo.com/News/Article.aspx?a=15323
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