Heavy snow has blanketed New Zealand’s South Island this week, ensuring the 2012 ski season opening at both Mt Hutt and Coronet Peak this Saturday 9 June. At Mt Hutt, an average 65cm of snow had covered the Canterbury ski area by Thursday morning. The snowmaking guns at Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt are also [...]New Zealand Ski Fields Ready to Open is a post from: New Zealand Travel


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[SIZE=+1][/SIZE]Sir Peter Blake Unveils Enormous Wall Frieze In Oslo

British Pop Art’s leading figure, Sir Peter Blake, is in Oslo to unveil an enormous wall frieze entitled 'Icons for Norway', which covers 1,200 square metres of the Skur 13 building at Tjuvholmen. Blake has also created unique pictures inspired by iconic Norwegians and Norwegian landmarks for an exhibition called 'The Oslo Suite' at the Stolper + Friends gallery at Tjuvholmen. The Oslo area of Tjuvholmen is emerging as a Scandinavian cultural hub with a thriving art scene surrounding the soon-to-open Astrup Fearnley Museum designed by Renzo Piano.

- I am really looking forward to the show at Stolper+Friends in Oslo, where I am showing a group of 'found art' prints together with three unique collages. I have selected a group of seven Norwegian icons from historical postcards and images that I then print large onto paper. I like the way inkjet can print beautifully in such minute detail, and how even the creases and stains look amazing. I have also made three works that continue my interest in collage, in cutting and pasting. I have always looked at iconography from different countries and cities. Having recently made collages of Paris and London, Norway feels like a logical extension of that on-going 'world tour'. The show has also meant that I have been offered to work on Skur 13, opposite the gallery, an enormous warehouse building that I have covered in some of my classic pop art imagery, as well as incorporating the Norwegian flag into one of my designs, says Sir Peter Blake.

All of the works in the ‘The Oslo Suite’ exhibition have been created exclusively for the gallery and the exhibition. The series of Norwegian icons features Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen, Sonia Henie and Edvard Munch, among others.

- This is the first time that Peter Blake will exhibit his artwork in a solo exhibition in Norway. Blake is one of our greatest living pop artists, and has an incredible list of achievements. The wall frieze ‘Icons for Norway’ is exceptional. Blake has never created something of this size before in his career, says Magne Furuholmen on behalf of the Stolper + Friends gallery.

‘Icons for Norway’ is a cooperation project involving The Thief, Tjuvholmen KS and Stolper + Friends.

- It is fantastic to welcome Peter Blake and his art to Norway in the same month as he turns 80. Tjuvholmen, which is fast becoming Oslo’s new art centre, is the perfect setting. We like Peter Blake’s work very much, and have purchased three original collages inspired by Norwegian landmarks for The Thief. The collages will be exhibited in the hotel’s penthouse suite when it opens in 2013. The room will of course be named The Oslo Suite, says Sune Nordgren, curator of The Thief.

Peter Blake held his first solo exhibition as early as 1960. Since then, Blake has secured a unique position within British pop art, and has been exhibiting at leading galleries and museums worldwide for many years. Popularly, he is perhaps best known for his iconic 1967 cover for the album «Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band» by the Beatles.

‘Icons for Norway’ was unveiled by Peter Blake in the Skur 13 building yesterday (6th June), and remain in place for around six months. Sir Peter Blake will open the ‘The Oslo Suite’ exhibition at the Stolper + Friends gallery today, on 7th June.

With reference to the earthquakes which had as its epicentre some of the areas located in the region of Emilia in Italy, the Minister for Regional Affairs, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Piero Gnudi, seeks to reassure all those who have planned or are in the process of planning a holiday in the nearby areas.

The entire region of Emilia-Romagna, the seaside locations on the Adriatic coastline, the main cities and historical locations which are set in the areas next to the ones directly affected by the earthquake, are definitively all accessible and safe.

In particular, the Adriatic "riviera" (seaside) has not been subjected to any damages and all touristic infrastructure, including accommodation and other services, are functioning perfectly.

The epicentre and the main damages provoked by the 20th and 29th May earthquakes are concentrated in the bordering areas of the provinces of Modena, Ferrara, Reggio Emilia and Mantova. At the present, with the exception of these particular areas, there is no hindrance to the normal touristic activities and services in the remaining region, or in the provinces of the neighbouring regions for that matter.

The road and railroad communication routes are all perfectly viable, airports are functioning as usual, as do also all telecommunication lines. The hotels and the accommodation infrastructure in general is continuing to operate normally, and the cultural heritage of which this area is particularly rich of remains accessible as usual.

Although full details of The Hobbit filming locations are under embargo, supervising location manager Jared Connon says about 40 different parts of New Zealand were chosen. He said some locations are on private land but several are public or national parks which are easily accessible in popular tourist destinations. “They’ve all got their tourism tie-ins [...]Hobbit locations is a post from: New Zealand Travel


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This week The Lakeside Hotel (lakesidehotel.co.uk) has unveiled its new Jubilee themed lawn art, created by the hotel's garden consultant, Richard Lucas.

Mown into the hotel's front lawn is the Queen's crown accompanied by the number 60. It is visible from the shores of Windermere and will give visitors who walk up by the jetty side an impressive welcome to the hotel.

The hotel has become renowned to repeat guests and visitors for its annual Lawn Art designs and the beautiful gardens offer an eclectic display of choice plants and shrubs with year round interest.

Tying in with the lawn art the hotel has also launched a delicious Jubilee Afternoon Tea. Taking a modern look at the traditional afternoon tea, the new menu begins with a summery chilled Gazpacho followed by a choice of delicious sandwiches and a selection of cakes, pastries and scones, as well as a wide selection of freshly brewed teas.

The Jubilee lawn art will be visible at the Lakeside Hotel until the end of June 2012.

Anyone coming for tea is welcome to view the design and in addition to the lawn art, visitors will be able to see the White garden and Scented garden, with its fragrant climbing roses and honeysuckle that are trained along the lake frontage.

In the main garden areas there is an abundance of shrub roses, herbaceous borders with seasonal bedding. On the roof of the hotel's pool and
AVEDA spa visitors will have access to the roof garden which comes complete with parterres, fruit trees, shrubs, roses and a surrounding lawn area. Then they can head indoors for afternoon tea in the Lakeview Conservatory and see the display of scented leaved Pelargoniums, tender citrus and passionflowers.

Commenting on the Jubilee themes, senior operations manager Jonathan Robb said: "Our lawn art designs have become something of an annual tradition in the last 10 years and it therefore seemed fitting to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in this way. They always provide a fun point of interest for our guests and this year it's a great way for us to show our support for the Royal family and all they stand for. They are certainly great ambassadors for tourism in the UK."

He continued, "We then decided to create a new afternoon tea menu to tie in with the launch. The new menu is our modern take on a very British and traditional pastime. Nothing is more British or more regal than afternoon tea in a relaxing and beautiful setting."

Lakeside Hotel is one of the finest four star hotels on Lake Windermere; set in two acres of gardens on the water's edge with breath-taking views of the lake and fells and beyond. Room rates start from £169 per night based on two sharing. The price includes breakfast. Evening meals at the hotel can be arranged on request in a choice of the Lakeview Restaurant or John Ruskin's Brasserie.

AfrikaBurn is a spectacular feast of visual, aural and sensory expressions created on the plains of the Tankwa Karoo by plus minus 6000 like minded people of all ages who come together to experience 6 days of pure bliss. It is a chance to invent a new world within an inclusive, incredibly creative and self-reliant... Read MoreAfrikaBurn 2012 is a post from: ArtnSpire


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  The Copenhagen International Sand Sculpture Festival 2012 is one of the largest and most spectacular sand sculpture events taking place in Europe. The sculptures are created by some of the world’s most talented sand artists, including sand art maestro Sudarsan Pattnaik from India. They have created 21 sand sculptures and an almost 200m long... Read MoreCopenhagen International Sand Sculpture Festival 2012 is a post from: ArtnSpire


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Cape Town – The Department of Arts and Culture is aiming to create tens of thousands of jobs through its rolling out of 28 heritage projects and with the launch of various new programmes under a new arts strategy, the Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile revealed in his Budget Vote speech on Thursday.... Read MoreArts and Culture Job Creation is a post from: ArtnSpire


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Barry Sullivan – Another Man’s Vine The Barnard Gallery is delighted to present an exhibition of paintings by Barry Sullivan. At first sight his work appears vaguely reminiscent of the genre of naive, or outsider, art. But a closer reading uncovers a clever ploy on Sullivan’s part to draw the viewer into fantastical vistas where... Read MoreAnother Man’s Vine is a post from: ArtnSpire


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The Artist Iain Gardiner Iain was born in England on the 14th February 1969 but educated in South Africa, where he gained a Diploma in graphic design from the University of Cape Town. He initially worked at Saatchi & Saatchi advertising before moving on to other high profile agencies as an Art Director. After working... Read MoreThe Artist Iain Gardiner is a post from: ArtnSpire


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