Art news: January 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

Naples Winter Wine Festival Charity Auction Features an Audi R8

HERNDON, Va., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the grandest prizes up for auction this year at the Naples Winter Wine Festival, Naples, Florida charity event is the chance to own an Audi R8 sports car finished in Ibis White and a black Fine Nappa leather interior.

The Naples Winter Wine Festival is one of the nation's leading arts and entertainment events for wealthy Americans, as ranked by the Luxury Institute. The event brings together some of the world's premiere vintners, chefs, wine collectors and philanthropists over three days. Proceeds from the festival's 2009 Dreams DO Come True Auction will benefit the Naples Children & Education Foundation, which assists underprivileged and at-risk children in that region of Florida. This year's auction will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7, at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples with 65 lots to be auctioned off this year.

Last year's auction raised $14 million for children's charities, with the average winning bid hitting $197,183 in 2008. Wine Spectator hailed the festival as the nation's most successful charity wine auction since 2004. The event has raised $69.5 million since 2001.

Audi of America and Audi Naples are providing the R8 that will be auctioned off. For more information on the Naples Winter Wine Festival and the 2009 auction, please go to http://www.napleswinefestival.com .

ABOUT AUDI OF AMERICA

Audi of America Inc. and its 270 dealers offer a full line of German- engineered luxury vehicles. The Audi line up is one of the freshest in the industry with 23 models, including 12 models launched during model years 2008 and 2009. Audi is among the most successful brands globally. In selling one million vehicles worldwide in 2008, AUDI AG recorded its 13th consecutive record year for sales growth. Visit http://www.audiusa.com or http://www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

Jeremy Strick Named Director of Nasher Sculpture Center

DALLAS, Texas, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas, announced today the appointment of Jeremy Strick as the Center's new Director. Mr. Strick will begin his position on March 2, 2009. His selection follows an extensive international search led a by a committee established by the Center's Board of Directors.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090130/DA64417)

Mr. Strick served over nine years as the Director of The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles, California. He is the second Director to be named to the Nasher Sculpture Center. The Center's first Director, Dr. Steven A. Nash, led the Center's opening in 2003, and resigned in March 2007 to become Director of the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Springs, California.

"The appointment of Jeremy Strick as the Nasher's new Director is a pivotal moment in the five-year history of this institution," said David J. Haemisegger, President of the Nasher Sculpture Center Board. "We look forward with great anticipation to Jeremy's innovative leadership in guiding the Nasher into the future and continuing to enhance Dallas' reputation as a cultural destination of international acclaim."

As Director of The Museum of Contemporary Art since 1999, Mr. Strick was responsible for exhibitions at, and operations of, three MOCA Los Angeles locations, in addition to leading a staff of over 150 full and part-time employees. Accomplishments during his tenure included the opening of MOCA Pacific Design Center, a 3,000-square-foot satellite gallery, in January of 2001, as well as a significant expansion of the museum's permanent collection - now comprising over 6,000 works - most recently strengthened through the gift of The Blake Byrne Collection, the largest single donation in the history of the institution, and The Einstein Collection.

"Having worked with the Nasher Collection at the very outset of my career, I am especially delighted to be joining the Nasher Sculpture Center at this exciting moment in the history of this marvelous institution," said Mr. Strick. "No museum anywhere is better-positioned to further the understanding of, and appreciation for modern and contemporary sculpture. I look forward to working with a talented staff and committed board to create a program that through its quality, scope, and ambition will capture the attention of the world."

During his tenure, MOCA's membership increased by over 80 percent to become the largest of any museum of contemporary art in North America, and the museum was honored with numerous awards for exhibitions, excellence in design, and civic guidance. Mr. Strick was responsible for the presentation of many landmark exhibitions at MOCA, including: Martin Kippenberger: The Problem Perspective (2008), Marlene Dumas: Measuring Your Own Grave (2008), (C)MURAKAMI (2007), WACK!Art and the Feminist Revolution (2007), Ecstasy: In And About Altered States (2005), Basquiat (2005), Visual Music (2005), Robert Smithson (2004), A Minimal Future? Art As Object 1958-1968 (2004), Rodney Graham: A Little Thought (2004), Lucian Freud (2003), Andy Warhol Retrospective (2002), Willem De Kooning: Tracing The Figure (2002), Superflat (2001), Douglas Gordon (2001), and The Architecture Of R.M. Schindler (2001).

Prior to being the Director of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Mr. Strick served as a senior curator at the Art Institute of Chicago, and held curatorial posts at The Saint Louis Art Museum and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. He pursued graduate studies in Fine Arts at Harvard University and received his Bachelor of Arts (History of Art) in 1977 with highest honors from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Additionally, he has curated numerous exhibitions including Louise Bourgeois: The Personages 1946-1954, The Saint Louis Art Museum, 1994, and Visual Music, MOCA, 2005, and has written and lectured extensively about modern and contemporary art including as a contributor to A Century of Modern Sculpture: The Patsy and Raymond Nasher Collection, exh. cat., Dallas Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1987.

About the Nasher Sculpture Center:

Open since October 2003, the Nasher Sculpture Center is dedicated to advancing the understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary sculpture through its collection, exhibition, conservation, and education programs.

The Center is located on a 2.4-acre site adjacent to the Dallas Museum of Art in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. Renzo Piano, a world-renowned architect and winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 1998, is the architect of the Center's 55,000-square-foot-building. Piano worked in collaboration with landscape architect Peter Walker on the design of the 1.4-acre sculpture garden.

The Nasher Sculpture Center was the longtime dream of the late Raymond and Patsy Nasher, who together formed one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world. The Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection includes masterpieces by Borofsky, Brancusi, Calder,

de Kooning, di Suvero, Gauguin, Giacometti, Hepworth, Kelly, Matisse, Miro, Moore, Picasso, Rodin, Rosso, Serra, Smith, Turrell, among others, and continues to grow and evolve.

The Nasher Sculpture Center presents rotating exhibitions of works from the Nasher Collection as well as special exhibitions drawn from other museums and private collections. In addition to indoor gallery space, the Center contains an auditorium, education, conservation and research facilities, a cafe, and a store.

The Nasher Sculpture Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm, Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm, and during special hours for public events. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for Members and children 12 and under. For more information, visit www.NasherSculptureCenter.org.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Adrienne Arsht Among Nation's 50 Biggest Donors on the Chronicle of Philanthropy's Annual List

MIAMI, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Adrienne Arsht, a respected, national business leader and hands-on philanthropist, ranks 39th among the nation's top 50 donors, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy (www.philanthropy.com). Arsht is the only Miami resident, and one of four women, to make this year's list. In 2008, Arsht donated $43.3 million to several recipients such as the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, Blair House, the University of Miami, American Ballet Theatre, Best Buddies, the United Way of Greater Miami, The Metropolitan Opera, and the Cuban National Council, among others.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090129/CLTH104)

A community-minded power broker, Arsht has taken a leading role promoting artistic, business and civic growth and development in her adopted hometown of Miami, Florida. In January of 2008, her commitment to the community and the arts took the form of a $30 million contribution to Miami's Performing Arts Center. With this contribution, the newly renamed Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County secured its financial footing and ensured the future of quality cultural programming for future generations. In 2008, Arsht also donated $5 million to the University of Miami for the Arsht Ethics Programs, the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami and other university initiatives.

For more than 10 years, Arsht served as chairman of the board of TotalBank. Under her leadership, TotalBank grew from four locations to 14 locations with over $1.4 billion in assets. In November 2007, she sold the bank to Banco Popular Espanol, the third largest banking group in Spain, and was named chairman emerita of TotalBank.

New to The Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual list, but not to the world of philanthropy, Arsht has generously donated funds and resources to numerous organizations over the years. In 2004, Arsht became the first woman to join the Million Dollar Roundtable of the United Way of Miami-Dade. In 2005, she announced a $2 million gift to Goucher College, creating the Roxana Cannon Arsht Center for Ethics and Leadership, in honor of her late mother, a Goucher graduate.

Arsht serves on various national boards, including the Metropolitan Opera, American Ballet Theatre, Best Buddies International and the Global Advisory Board of the Washington National Opera. In South Florida, Arsht is chairman of the Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation and vice chair of the Miami Business Forum. She also sits on the boards of the University of Miami and Amigos For Kids. Arsht is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a lifetime trustee of Vizcaya Museum and is a fellow of The Aspen Institute.

Valentines Day: A Night of Romance Starts on the Dance Floor

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Want to make this Valentine's Day more romantic? Start your evening with the sexiest pastime of all -- dancing with your partner! At Arthur Murray Dance Studios (www.arthurmurray.com) around the world, dance experts know that a real night of romance begins on the dance floor, whether the music is a sexy Latin tango, a dashing Viennese waltz, or the classic Foxtrot.

For a romantic surprise this Valentine's Day, take your date to the local Arthur Murray Dance Studio. We guarantee you'll have a fun evening together, learning new dance moves in the company of other dance lovers. It's impossible not to feel romantic when the one you love is holding you, staring at you, while you move to romantic love songs. At Arthur Murray Dance Studios across North America you'll find a comfortable atmosphere, professional instructors who are experienced in teaching couples, dance floors with lots of room to move, state-of-the-art sound systems, soft lighting and what could be better - your partner, with a smile, in your arms?

"A Valentine's dance is a warm and loving way for couples who treasure the romance of their relationship, whether they've been together for months, years, or decades. Taking your partner in your arms and moving to the music is something that you can't put in a box or have delivered," says Thomas Murdock, VP of marketing for Arthur Murray International.

"Experiencing the joy of movement together during an evening devoted just for each other demonstrates a level of caring that is missing from many couples' lives. The dance floor is a wonderful place to rediscover each other, and just in time for Valentine's Day."

Arthur Murray Dance Studios can be found throughout America and Canada and in Australia, Brazil, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, South Africa, Japan, and Puerto Rico. Arthur Murray International is based in Coral Gables, Florida (305) 445-9654 and online at www.arthurmurray.com.

Stereotypical Expectations of 'Internet Love' Ring False... True Love Story and Travel Documentary with Original Photographs and Artwork Demonstrate How Compelling Such Communications Can Be

Book Provides Intimate Examination of The Joys and Challenges of a Cross-Cultural Courtship and Marriage in Both English and Spanish

LONG ISLAND, N.Y., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet Love: How I Met My Wife chronicles the journey of two ordinary people in two different countries who courted via the Internet for nine months and then married, only to discover they needed to learn each other's languages and cultures to make a true union.

Author Dennis Cleasby is a world traveler, artist, musician, and photographer who asked a friend from Colombia if she had any single companions in her home country. Enter Diana Marcela, who has dual masters' degrees, gave up two careers, and left Colombia for the "land of milk and honey" in the pursuit of love. The climate and cultural changes were nearly enough to cause her retreat, yet in the spirit of Valentines Day, love prevails.

Replete with insider tips such as using a translation program is not the best way to interpret love letters and that introductory photographs do not always work as a means of attraction, Dennis reaffirms that finding true love came as a result of persistence, blind faith, and tremendous risk-taking.

With the tone and authenticity of journal entries, the author describes his yearning to find his soul mate, their long-distance Internet dating, his journey to Columbia to meet her, their marriage, the legal paper-chase, and their subsequent travels in the United States and abroad. As the intricacies of life intervene they meet one another's family and friends, and this network of characters blossoms into a real-life global family.

Internet Love: How I Met My Wife has global distribution:

www.denniscleasby.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.borders.com

Ebook is available at www.booksonboard.com

To view Dennis' 'Surprise Wedding Song' for Diana click link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyx6cWOAEOs

Internet Love: How I Met My Wife by Dennis Cleasby;

$38.00 Large Full Color soft cover; ISBN 978-0981701509.

$22.00 Small English soft cover; ISBN: 978-0979459801.

$22.00 Small Spanish soft cover; ISBN 978-0981701523

Skinner, Inc. Moves to Marlborough, MA

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. , Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- - www.skinnerinc.com - On February 2, 2009, Skinner, Inc., one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art, will move from its long-time Bolton gallery to a new, state-of-the-art facility located at 274 Cedar Hill Street in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The 69,000 square foot space will house the company's corporate offices, suburban auction gallery, and property warehouse. Situated on five acres just north of the junction of Interstate 495 and the Massachusetts turnpike, the Marlborough gallery is approximately three times the size of Skinner's former location in Bolton, accommodating more room for staff, greater storage for property, and parking for over 200 cars.

"The move to this new facility has been planned since early Fall 2008, and we're very excited to finally call Marlborough home," notes Karen Keane, CEO and president of Skinner, Inc. The first auction to be held in Marlborough will be Skinner's February Discovery auction, featuring Country Americana, slated for February 26, 2009 at 10 a.m. The Marlborough location will feature Skinner's monthly Discovery auctions, as well as auctions of Science/Horology and Toys & Dolls. Skinner's Boston gallery will remain as the company's primary location for its wide array of fine specialty auctions.

Closely following on the heels of this move, Skinner also plans to launch a new live online bidding applet on its own website, www.skinnerinc.com. Skinner's live bidding applet will enable bidders to compete for auction items in real-time online without leaving the Skinner website. The live bidding applet is currently being beta-tested and will be officially launched later this spring. This applet, combined with Skinner's recently redesigned website providing enhanced content and functionality, gives online buyers a better auction experience at Skinner.

Continues Keane, "With Skinner's move to Marlborough and our online bidding applet, we hope to expand our ability to market the Skinner brand to a broader range of auction buyers and consignors."

For more information on all the ways to bid in a Skinner auction, or to register to be one of the first to live bid users at Skinner, log onto the Skinner site, and click on the Skinner-Live! page under How to Buy & Sell. It can be found at http://www.skinnerinc.com/buy-sell/skinner-live.php.

About Skinner

Skinner, Inc. is one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art. With expertise in over 20 specialty collecting areas, Skinner draws the interest of buyers from all over the world and its auctions regularly achieve world record prices. Skinner provides a broad range of auction and appraisal services, and it is widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in the auction business. Skinner's appraisal experts regularly appear on the PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, and its specialty departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, American & European Paintings & Prints, European Furniture & Decorative Arts, 20th Century Design, Fine Ceramics, Fine Silver, Fine Jewelry, Couture, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Works of Art, Fine Wines, Rare Books & Manuscripts, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, Fine Judaica, Antique Motor Vehicles, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, and Discovery. Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Marlborough, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner's web site http://www.skinnerinc.com.

The Kennedy Center and Daimler Financial Services Announce Interactive Media Bus Hits the Road With Innovative Arts Education Program

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in partnership with Daimler Financial Services, has completed the launch phase of its innovative educational program On Location: Spotlight On Your Community at the Arts and Technology Academy Public Charter School here.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090129/CLTH017-a )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090129/CLTH017-b )

The digital media classroom on wheels, specializing in arts and technology, has started its odyssey across the United States and will travel to nine states through the end of May.

The program is designed to allow students the opportunity to tell the story of the arts in their communities, which will be shared worldwide on the Internet. Each of the 10 schools is receiving a media equipment package. Students and teachers will be trained in storytelling, filmmaking, editing, and producing video stories.

A new, customized Thomas Built Bus, a leading provider of school buses, manufactured and donated by Daimler Trucks North America, was converted into a media studio, and is visiting each school for two weeks. A drama teaching artist and media teaching artist will work with the classes in storytelling techniques and media skills. The teachers and students will work together to create a short video about an artist or arts group in the community. The completed video projects will be uploaded to www.onlocationproject.org web site maintained by the Kennedy Center and shared around the world.

"After months of planning, we are pleased to see the bus head out on the road," said Darrell Ayers, Vice President of Education for the Kennedy Center. "We were impressed by the enthusiasm, creativity, and talent demonstrated by the first school in D.C., and we can't wait to see the final products the other schools will produce."

"It is exciting for us to see this ambitious initiative reach the launch phase and see the bus start its' journey," said Richard Howard, Vice President of Daimler Truck Financial, a business unit of Daimler Financial Services. "It is an honor to partner with the Kennedy Center to bring this educational initiative to students, teachers and diverse communities across the United States."

    Schools Selected for the 2008-2009 School Year:
    -- Arts and Technology Academy Public Charter School, Washington, D.C.
    -- Hometown Elementary, Hometown, West Virginia
    -- Samuel S. Gaines Academy, Fort Pierce, Florida
    -- Beaufort Middle School, Beaufort, South Carolina
    -- Antonia Pantoja Charter School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    -- Anderson Middle School, Berkley, Michigan
    -- Normal Park Museum Magnet, Chattanooga, Tennessee
    -- Foley Middle School, Foley, Alabama
    -- Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School, Joplin, Missouri
    -- W.A. Meachum Middle School, Forth Worth, Texas


    Each school will receive:
    -- A two-week visit by the "On Location" Bus

-- Installed Media Lab consisting of a computer, digital editing software, camera(s), sound recording equipment, and accessories valued at approximately $5,000

-- $1,000 for the school to support the project

-- Curriculum materials and support to develop media projects about the arts in the community

-- Training for teacher(s) and students on how to use the media equipment and development of storytelling skills by professional teaching artists in drama and media

-- Ongoing relationship with the Kennedy Center's Education Department and the opportunity to work on additional projects with the Kennedy Center through its online program, ArtsEdge (www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org)

About The Kennedy Center Education Department

For more than 35 years, the Kennedy Center Education Department has provided quality arts experiences through performances, residencies, workshops, conferences, career development programs, symposia, and on-line and print resources. In the past year, the Center's education programs have directly impacted more than 11 million people across the nation. The mission of the Education Department is to foster understanding of and participation in the performing arts through exemplary programs and performances for diverse populations of all ages that represent the unique cultural life and heritage of the United States. For more information, visit the Center's web site at www.kennedy-center.org/education .

About Daimler Financial Services Americas (DCFS USA LLC)

Daimler Financial Services Americas (DCFS USA LLC), headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., provides brand-specific financing for Mercedes-Benz automotive dealers' inventories and their retail customers, and conducts business in the United States luxury car market as Mercedes-Benz Financial. In the U.S. trucking industry, Daimler Financial Services Americas conducts business as Daimler Truck Financial and finances Daimler commercial vehicles branded Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star for dealers and their customers in the fleet, vocational, municipal and owner/operator segments. Daimler Financial Services Americas serves as the headquarters for operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, and has approximately 1,600 employees. Daimler Financial Services Americas is a company of the Daimler Financial Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which operates in 40 countries with an employee base of close to 6,800. Daimler Financial Services is one of the leading financial services organizations worldwide. For more information visit www.daimler-financialservices.com/na .

About Thomas Built Buses

Thomas Built Buses (www.thomasbus.com) is the leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, with more than one-third of the market. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line in 1936, the company has focused on delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Thomas Built Buses, Inc. is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer on the continent and a leading manufacturer of class 3-8 vehicles. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company.

              For more information on this project, please visit
                       www.onlocationproject.org
            For more information about the Kennedy Center please visit
                        www.kennedy-center.org

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Mummies of the World: The Dream of Eternal Life, the Blockbuster Traveling Exhibit of 2010 Announces Its U.S. Tour

BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- American Exhibitions, Inc., in association with the Reiss-Engelhorn Museum of Mannheim, Germany, announced that the blockbuster exhibit Mummies of the World: The Dream of Eternal Life, the largest traveling exhibition of mummies and artifacts, will tour science centers and museums in the United States for a limited three year tour commencing July 2010.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090128/CLW116 )

"Never in history has there been such an important collection of mummies and artifacts," said Marcus W. Corwin, President and CEO of American Exhibitions, Inc. "This blockbuster exhibit is poised to bring record-breaking attendance to museums in its limited United States tour."

Dignified, reverent and scholarly, this unique collection brilliantly enhances our educational, scientific and cultural landscape, as mummification provides a window into the lives, history and cultures of every major region of the world.

"The largest mummy exhibition worldwide will include 70 human, animal and reptilian mummies gathered from the four corners of the world," said Dr. Wilfried Rosendahl, Curator of the Reiss-Engelhorn Museum, Mannheim, Germany. "Visitors will embark on an exciting and historical journey around the globe, with mummies representing several continents and spanning thousands of years."

Unlike exhibits which feature only Egyptian mummies, this remarkable and compelling exhibition demonstrates the different processes of mummification and serves to educate visitors as to their respective cultures. The collection includes ancient mummies and important artifacts from Asia, Oceania, South America and Europe, as well as ancient Egypt, and demonstrates how mummification can be a natural process; one which occurs in hot, dry desert sands, in eternal ice, in moors and bogs and even, amazingly, in dry cellars.

"Using state-of-the-art scientific and forensic research, the secrets of the mummies are now revealed. Sensational historic research crowns this impressive multi-media exhibition and affords a fascinating cultural and historical insight into people from ancient civilization," said Dr. Heather Gill-Robinson, renowned anthropologist. "This exhibition offers a unique opportunity for Americans to learn about the lifestyle, health and culture of ancient people from around the world."

Why do mummies of the ancient and modern worlds fascinate us so? "It is because every one of us shares a yearning for what has come before us," said James Delay, Vice President of American Exhibitions, Inc. "Natural mummification is so rare and is what elevates this exhibition to an educational level unparalleled to the current scientific and museum arena."

Mummies are the single direct archive to the human species, the study of which provides great information and data in the context of archaeology, anthropology and science. All mummies in the exhibition originate from established and respected European museum and university collections. The exhibition was prepared in accordance with all recommendations of the International Council of Museums' (ICOM) code of ethics. The exhibition is presented with respect and dignity, acknowledging the interests of the social, ethical and religious groups from which the mummies originate.

Mummies of the World: The Dream of Eternal Life is presented by American Exhibitions, Inc. in association with the Reiss-Engelhorn Museum, Mannheim, Germany. The exhibition is not merely a presentation of mummies; it originated from the scientific work of the German Mummy Project. The German Mummy Project is an international, multidisciplinary collaboration of specialists from 15 different institutes in 7 countries. The U.S. tour shall be limited to 7 markets for which museums in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles and St. Louis have expressed interest. The tour dates and sponsors shall be announced shortly.

American Exhibitions, Inc. is a producer of museum-quality touring exhibitions for science centers and museums whose mission is to produce blockbuster exhibits that physically, intellectually and emotionally excite, educate and engage those who experience them. As a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and the American Association of Museums (AAM), American Exhibitions, Inc. is one of the largest, privately-funded exhibitioners in the United States. The Reiss-Engelhorn Museum, an internationally-acclaimed complex in Mannheim, Germany, has been one of the major venues for exhibitions in Europe in the realms of archeology and world cultures. With a collection that began in the early 1700's, the museum houses over 1.2 million objects in its collection, comprising over 300,000 square feet of exhibition space.

Please visit www.mummiesoftheworld.com.

Park West Gallery, Defending Itself Against Defamation, Files Counterclaim in Michigan Against Fine Art Registry and Surrogates

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Park West Gallery, one of the world's largest art dealers, is defending itself forcefully against a campaign of defamation and business interference waged by the website Fine Art Registry (FAR). Responding to a lawsuit filed earlier this year in Oakland County Circuit Court by Park West customers recruited by FAR, the 40-year-old Southfield-based gallery has filed a counterclaim charging defamation, tortuous interference and civil conspiracy. In addition, Robert E. Goldman, one of the most respected art legal experts in the world, has joined Park West's legal team.

PARK WEST SEEKS INJUCTION AND DAMAGES

Park West Gallery's counterclaim names five plaintiffs from the earlier suit along with a third-party complaint against FAR, its founder Theresa Franks, and Frank Hunter, operator of another art website. Park West Gallery is charging the parties with:

     --   Publishing numerous false and defamatory statements about Park West
     --   Attempting to destroy Park West's goodwill and reputation by use of
          false and defamatory statements
     --   Interfering with existing contractual relationships between Park
          West and its customers, and
     --   Interfering with Park West's prospective business opportunities.

Park West is seeking a permanent injunction against these individuals and FAR along with actual and punitive damages.

INTERNATIONAL ART LAW EXPERT JOINS PARK WEST DEFENSE

Park West Gallery also announced that art legal expert Robert Goldman has joined its legal defense team, assisting the Southfield-based law firm Young & Susser. "I am proud to represent Park West Gallery in this important legal battle, the outcome of which will be important to the entire art industry," said Goldman. "If reckless individuals and organizations are permitted to falsely attack the hard-earned reputations of legitimate art dealers without consequence, the art market, including artists, auction houses, museums, dealers and collectors, will suffer irreparable harm. I look forward to highlighting the truth and righting this wrong in the courts."

Goldman served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for 19 years, during which time he focused on matters involving international art theft and museum theft. He was also Special Trial Attorney, appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice to counsel and assist the newly created FBI National Art Crime Team, which battles international art theft, antiquities smuggling, and fraud in the art collecting industry. With the FBI, Goldman was involved in the recovery of more than $150 million of stolen art and cultural property.

"In the fall of 2008, Albert Scaglione invited me in to examine the company's people, policies, operations and collection," said Goldman. "There were no boundaries or barriers to my study, and I have developed a deep respect for and trust in this extraordinary organization of honest, hard- working professionals. Based on my first-hand observations and decades of art law experience, I am delighted to be joining their legal team."

PARK WEST DEFENDS 40-YEAR REPUTATION

"Over the last 40 years we have served more than 1.2 million satisfied clients through our gallery sales as well as our land and sea auctions," said Albert Scaglione, chief executive officer and founder of Park West Gallery. "Our reputation is dear to us and we stand behind the authenticity of everything we sell, including the works of art involved in the meritless lawsuits brought by FAR. We welcome Bob Goldman, who is one of the most accomplished art legal experts in the world, to our team and are confident that we will prevail in the legal actions we have initiated against FAR as well as the baseless suits they have brought against us."

Park West Gallery's 40/40/40 Customer Satisfaction Guarantee is the most generous and comprehensive in the art industry, giving customers the opportunity to return purchased items for refund (excluding buyer's premium and shipping costs) for up to 40 days after delivery, and the right to exchange any work for another in the Park West collection for up to 40 months.

More than 90 % of the artworks sold by Park West have been created by living artists with long-standing relationships with the gallery. These internationally acclaimed artists include Yaacov Agam, Simon Bull, Alfred Gockel, Scott Jacobs, Thomas Kinkade, Anatole Krasnyansky, Linda Le Kinff, Csaba Markus, Peter Max, Itzchak Tarkay, and David Willardson, as well as Detroit favorites Marcus Glenn and Dominic Pangborn. Responding to FAR's defamation, Tarkay remarked, "I believe so much in Park West that I have entrusted the company with my intellectual property and copyrights for more than a decade, and they have tirelessly and with great expense, defended my work against counterfeiters and others who have attempted to illegally gain through my success."

BACKGROUND ON FAR DEFAMATION CAMPAIGN

As Park West's counterclaim states, FAR's defamatory attacks began in 2007 shortly after the gallery rejected a business offer from the start-up website's management. Recognizing the potential profit from Park West's clients -- the gallery sells hundreds of thousands of works each year -- FAR approached Park West to buy the website's art registry services. For an annual membership fee of $9.95 and $2.25 per registered work, FAR simply lists an artwork on its site without examining the actual work, researching its authenticity or guaranteeing the website's future existence. Park West saw no value to its customers in spending well in excess of $1 million per year for FAR's service, and passed on FAR's solicitation.

FAR's defamation began soon after, forcing the gallery in April 2008 to take its initial legal action in Michigan and Florida against FAR. While those suits progress through the courts, FAR has continued its online attacks and sponsored unsuccessful legal challenges in a number of states. A FAR- sponsored suit similar to the one filed in Michigan this year was dismissed in California in December 2008. Park West is seeking reimbursement for legal fees in that case.

ABOUT PARK WEST GALLERY

Founded in 1969, Park West Gallery conducts art auctions at locations throughout the world, as well as on 85 cruise ships operated by the Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas and Royal Caribbean cruise lines. The Park West Gallery collection includes oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors and drawings, hand-signed limited edition etchings, lithographs, serigraphs, and hand-embellished graphic works, as well as animation art and selected sports memorabilia. Park West Gallery occupies a 63,000 square foot headquarters and gallery in Southfield, Michigan and an 181,000 square foot fulfillment center and gallery in Miami Lakes, Florida.

International Artexpo Brings the Best in Affordable, Innovative and Sustainable Art to New York City

The world's leading art fair returns for its 31st year, Open to trade and consumers

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- International Artexpo New York (www.artexpos.com), the world's largest popular and fine art fair, announces its return to the Jacob Javits Center from Thursday, February 26 - Monday, March 2, 2009. Now in its 31st year, Artexpo New York will showcase exciting original artworks, prints, and the latest trends in the art world from more than 500 artists, galleries and publishers across the globe. Artwork includes paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, lithographs, photography, and posters ranging from $100 - $100,000. This year, the show expects to have more than 25,000 buyers, established dealers, collectors, designers, architects and art enthusiasts to walk the show floor.

Artexpo New York is the only art trade show to offer industry professionals access to thousands of works at wholesale prices. The first two days are open to trade only, starting February 26. Over the last three days, visitors from the general public can also buy straight from the source. For both consumers and trade buyers, acquiring artwork from Artexpo New York is the ideal solution to finding beautiful, affordable art in today's economy.

"We are excited to return to New York and host the show again this year. In today's economic climate, Artexpo New York is a great place to discover a variety of artwork at reasonable prices that will be the perfect addition to your home or office," said Eric Smith, Vice President of The Art Group of Summit Business Media.

New to the show this year is the The Global Green Artist Challenge - a call to action for artists to utilize art for the improvement of the planet through creating work with environmental themes, using eco-conscious materials, and maintaining safe earth friendly practices in their daily lives. Teaming up with renowned environmental artist and advocate Wyland, Artexpo New York will create several green events with exhibiting artists and the community to raise awareness of environmental issues in the art world.

The popular "SOLO" show will also return, with more than 250 of the worlds top emerging, independent artists exhibiting and selling their work in the hopes of being discovered as one of the next big names in the art world. Over its 30-year history, Artexpo New York has enjoyed the participation of many of the art world's most renowned artists, including Andy Warhol, Peter Max, Robert Rauschenberg, Robert Indiana, and Leroy Neiman.

In addition to an exciting showcase of international artwork, several new events have been planned for consumers and art industry insiders alike, including:

Artexpo Goes Green: The Global Green Artist Challenge

Wyland will be kicking-off the global green artist challenge with two youth-centered painting events:

THE YOUTH ART CONTEST

In partnership with NYC Department of Education and Materials for the Arts, a non-profit organization that provides arts materials to schools and community groups, twenty NYC public schools have been invited to take part in an environmental mural painting contest. Each school has been asked to paint the natural world as they see it, which can include any environmental subject such as animals, parks, lakes, and oceans. The winning class will be announced in early February and will participate in a live mural painting with Wyland at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, February 27. All painting materials will be supplied by Fredrix Artist Canvas and Pearl Fine Art Supplies.

PAINTING WITH WYLAND & JANE SEYMOUR - FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Continuing the green challenge, at Artexpo on Saturday, February 28 at 10:00 a.m., Wyland and award-winning actress/painter Jane Seymour will host a FREE aquatic mural painting event for all children in the New York City area. Ms. Seymour is an environmental advocate who recently narrated the documentary, "Running Dry," which explored the world water crisis. Admission is free for children under 12 with a complementary adult ticket for each child that registers in advance. Families can register by visiting: www.artexpos.com.

Meet Actress/Painter Jane Seymour

Actress and painter Jane Seymour will debut artwork from her Open Hearts Collection. Jane Seymour will make a personal appearance, sign her new book, and exhibit a collection of recent paintings on Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, February 29.

The SOLO show

The SOLO show is a special section of Artexpo dedicated to showcasing the work of more than 250 emerging independent artists. SOLO is the perfect place for up-and-coming, innovative artists to get their work into the art marketplace, and for galleries, who visit the show each year to find fresh talent.

The Artexpo Design Center

Through a partnership with ASID (The American Society of Interior Designers), visitors to the Artexpo Design Center can receive free interior design consultations on how to incorporate newly purchased art in their home, office or gallery.

The International Art Business Conference

The International Art Business Conference (IABC) will offer more than 20 lectures over three days, including:

Color Pulse 2010 - Sponsored by Benjamin Moore

Thursday, February 26, 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.

Hosted by color expert Frances Mooney of Benjamin Moore this lecture discusses forecasting for the year ahead. For 2010, Color Pulse takes a new perspective on how Authenticity is translated through three distinctive influences.

The ART of TRENDS - How to Connect with What's Happening in Interiors Right Now

Thursday, February 26, 4:30 - 5:45 p.m.

Linda Blair, noted interior designer and two time past president of ASID New York Metro tells it like it is - a no-nonsense expose of exactly what art is being purchased, by whom and from where. In a frank and informative appraisal of art available today, Blair debunks the myths of "trends", the influence of the media and discusses her experiences locally and globally. Be prepared for a frank and informative talk and a down and dirty Q & A.

Origins of Color - Sponsored by Benjamin Moore

Friday, February 27, 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.

The world of color comes from the colors of the world. The story is as old as time itself; a link to our ancient ancestry. Used to communicate, color has conveyed wealth, status and success, and it also reflects the hopes, fears and desires captured in each era's collective psyche. Color has sparked wars, built trade, and raised and toppled economies. Worshipped, reviled sought after discarded, its relationship to humanity is as rich and complex as our relationships with one another. This is the story color and we begin at its origin.

How to Work with an Interior Designer - The Reality of a Successful Relationship

Friday, February 27, 2:30 - 3:45 p.m.

Can you really make an interior designer a life-long client and ally? Are you put off by many designers? Find out what makes them tick and the way to forge a successful relationship. Learn how to get on the inside track and what you need to do to stay there. Join Interior Designer Judy Sheridan, ASID, CID, as she discusses the reality of what life is like on the designer's side.

To register in advance, visit www.artexpos.com.

Ticket Information:

Tickets for Artexpo can be purchased on-site at the Jacob Javits Center Box office. The show opens to trade only on Thursday, February 26 and Friday, February 27 from 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and will be open to the general public from Saturday, February 28 from 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sunday, March 1 from 11 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Monday, March 2 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

The cost for an adult ticket is $15, for students under 18 and seniors it is $5, free for children under 12. For more information visit www.artexpos.com

About Artexpo New York:

Artexpo New York is produced by The Art Group of Summit Business Media, the leading worldwide producer of art shows and art-related trade publications, including Artexpo Las Vegas, Art Miami, Art Business News, DECOR and Volume. For more information visit www.artexpos.com

Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Strikes Deal With IFC to Televise 2009 Interactive Achievement Awards

Marks First Broadcast of the "Oscars of Video Games" on a Major Television Network

CALABASAS, Calif., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences(R) (AIAS) and IFC (Independent Film Channel) today announced a partnership to bring the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (IAA) to television audiences for the first time. The awards will take place on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The IAA will be broadcast on IFC in April 2009 and comprise of a half hour special with highlights from the IAAs and will be hosted by comedian, actor and proud game enthusiast, Jay Mohr.

This landmark deal brings together the IAA, the only peer-based awards that recognize the year's best games, computer games, online entertainment, outstanding individuals and groundbreaking development teams with IFC, the network that uncovers champions and delivers alternative programming. The IAAs are supported by all of the major video game publishers and developers in the industry. No person may vote unless he or she can demonstrate a threshold level of experience and professional credits in the industry.

"The Academy is excited to bring the Interactive Achievement Awards -- the Oscars of video games -- to the IFC audience," said Joseph Olin, President, AIAS. "The amazing popularity of interactive entertainment is attributed to the manner that today's games allow people to be part of fantastic worlds, incredible challenges and the simple fun of sharing these experiences with friends and family. As IFC celebrates the creative spirit of independent filmmaking, I can think of no better place to showcase the talented men and women who are responsible for our dynamic entertainment art form."

"Bringing the Interactive Achievement Awards to our audience marries alternative culture with alternative content," said Jennifer Caserta, executive vice president and general manager of IFC. "The Interactive Achievement Awards is an exciting and highly anticipated addition to our programming line-up that will include award highlights, scenes from the red carpet and interstitials hosted by IFC News' Matt Singer."

The 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards will take place on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino in Las Vegas during the annual D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit hosted by the AIAS. The D.I.C.E. Summit is a once yearly conference dedicated to exploring approaches to the creative process and artistic expression as they uniquely apply to the development of interactive entertainment.

About the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) was founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of the interactive arts, with the mission to promote and advance interest and recognize outstanding achievement in the worldwide interactive entertainment community, as well as putting on an annual awards show (The Interactive Achievement Awards(R)) to enhance awareness of the interactive art form. The IAA's are the only peer-based awards that recognize the year's best video games, computer games, online entertainment, outstanding individuals and groundbreaking development teams that have propelled the advancement of the multi-billion dollar worldwide entertainment software industry. The awards presented by the AIAS are determined by a vote of field-specific, qualified Academy members, making the Interactive Achievement Awards the most sought-after, respected and credible recognition for creators of entertainment software, with just under 25,000 general voting members.

In 2002 the Academy created the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, a once yearly conference dedicated to exploring approaches to the creative process and artistic expression as they uniquely apply to the development of interactive entertainment. The Academy also oversees Into The Pixel, a juried exhibition of art from games, and this year started the Randy Pausch Scholarship fund for students in the games industry. More information can be found at http://www.interactive.org, http://www.dicesummit.org and http://www.intothepixel.com.

About IFC

Operating under the mantra "always uncut," IFC (The Independent Film Channel) uncovers and champions alternative content and makes it available to audiences across multiple platforms: on-air, online and On Demand. In pursuit of what's new, next and relevant, IFC presents clever, offbeat original series like "The Whitest Kids U' Know" and "Z Rock" alongside thought-provoking original documentaries such as At the Death House Door. The network also offers exclusive web series, shorts, animation, and a comprehensive independent film library of award-winning titles and cult classics. IFC broadens the audience for independent culture through its exclusive live coverage of notable film and music events like the Independent Spirit Awards and South by Southwest. The network's on demand offering, IFC Free, gives audiences the opportunity to watch premieres of all of IFC's original series before they air on the linear network. IFC Media Lab offers financing, professional development and distribution opportunities for aspiring film makers. IFC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.