Art

GALLERY IN THE AIR
Virgin Atlantic

Is it some art? Is it a plane? Actually it's both... BY NATASHA COLYER

The beautiful thing about art is the way in which it can transport you another place far away, and now Virgin Atlantic is giving this a more literal meaning. They are launching the world’s first commercial art gallery at 35,000ft in a unique partnership with acclaimed British artist Ben Eine, taking art to (very literal) new heights!

Upper Class passengers flying between London and New York now have the opportunity to view and purchase a series of one-of-a-kind paintings in this cutting edge initiative from Virgin Atlantic.

“We have created a completely original way of appreciating and buying art..."

It aims to further enhance passengers’ in-flight shopping and entertainment experience, taking the display and sale of fine art into a previously un-ventured territory.The ten bespoke pieces of art will be priced between £2,500 and £15,000 in Ben Eine’s trademark typography style...

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Art

WHITECHAPEL GALLERY 
And Swarovski

We all love fashion, we all love art, and of course, we all love Swarovski. So what could be better than an event that combined the three…BY NATASHA COLYER

The evening of Thursday 14th March sees the Whitechapel gallery announce an exceptional evening of art, fashion and moving-image for the annual fundraising gala in partnership with Swarovski.

Everyone from Giles Deacon, Bella Freud, Marios Schwab and Nadja Swarovski will be attending, selecting the most promising fashion postgraduates from London to take centre stage.

"It is set to be a truly fabulous evening of art and fashion..."

A committee of renowned figures from the worlds of art, fashion, film and music invite you to join an evening of premiering this fabulous next generation of designers...

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PENGUIN CLASSICS 
Valentine's Gift ideas

Roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine Days is coming, and we have just the thing for you... BY NATASHA COLYER

Valentine’s day is approaching, and once you’ve scoured through the scores of teddies and heart shaped chocolates, it can be hard to find something personal for that special someone. And this is where originallwall.co.uk step in.

When you think of Penguin books, you’re likely to remember snuggling up with a classic as a child, perhaps reading it to a younger sibling, or even having it read to you. And now you can recapture this magic of your favourite stories in an innovative and magical wall art feature. Priced at £44.95 you can choose

"Once you have picked your treasured title, it will be set into a stylish white, black or oak frame and shipped out just in time for the special day....”

a romantic and quirky title just perfect for Valentine’s day such as ‘The Loved one,’ ‘The Passionate Year’ or ‘Peonies and Ponies’ or from the other selection of over 150 titles online...

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Art

CHARLESTON MASTERCLASS
Claridge's

Celebrating the Great Gatsby and the Hotel's Art Deco heritage, Claridge's are offering a dance class with a difference…BY NATASHA COLYER

New years resolution to get fit in a more interesting way than just hitting the treadmill? Or simply always held a burning desire to ballroom dance? Well we have a solution for you, with Claridge’s launching Charleston masterclasses to celebrate the great Gatsby and the Hotel’s art deco heritage.

Learn to shimmy in true style as Claridge’s are partnering with London’s finest flappers ‘The Bees Knees’ to offer monthly lessons in the dances of the Roaring Twenties.

Under the gorgeous and elegant surroundings of Claridge’s

"It will be a fabulous and fun treat transporting you back to the twenties..."

legendary ballroom you can learn dances such as the Charleston and the Black Bottom to help celebrate the jazz age and the launch of new Great Gatsby film later in 2013...

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Art

BEAT THE JANUARY BLUES
Belgraves Hotel

Case of the January blues? Have no fear, for the Beautiful Belgraves Hotel can turn that right around…BY NATASHA COLYER

Christmas is over and there is a severely lacklustre case of darkness encasing the City. (Aside from the idle last few who have yet to take down their Christmas lights.) But like it or lump it, the festive season is well and truly over and it’s time to pack away the tinsel and trees for another year.

Stop moping however, for we have a fabulous way of getting over those dreaded January blues that somehow manage to affect even the most seasoned optimist.

"You can enjoy an eclectic selection of delicious cocktails and hearty snacks ..."

The stylish Belgravia Hotel is at hand for raising your dampened spirits by swapping its regular jazz nights for Blues Nights...

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Art

EXTRAORDINARY STORIES  
The Design Museum 

The Design Museum unveils its new exhibition Extraordinary Stories About Ordinary Things on the 30th of January. The collection reveals insights in the most exceptional everyday objects…BY MICHAEL ZODIATIS

The Design Museum is a place where beautiful and intriguing objects are showcased, and before moving to the new Kensington building, the Museum is presenting an extraordinary exhibition of key designs that have shaped the modern world and inspired several generations.

Presenting six key stories, the exhibition offers an investigation into the impact of design upon our everyday lives.

"Design is a unique way of making sense of the world around us..."

The aim is to show the surprising origins of famous and lesser well-known designs alongside images, documents and specially commissioned films...

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ART

JULIA VOGL
Artist

Artist Julia Vogl talks about her amazing art, her influences, and her London ...BY NATASHA COLYER

Julia Vogl-the truly fabulous London artist with a fearless attitude and an aim to create work which reveals underlying Cultural values. Her work is fabulous and colourful; her minimalist approach influenced by the aesthetic of Russian Constructivists, with colour/pattern being an integral part of her designs.

A most admirable trait of Vogl, (despite her brilliantly bubbly character) is the substantial ambition she holds, with no fear to aim high (she has previously scaled buildings including the 40 front windows of Mudd library in Ohio and the University College London Portico.)

"I wanted to make accessible work, that was fun, engaging and provocative..."

Julia’s passions for both architecture and colour has also resulted in her collections of abstract drawings, her most recent being the Metropolis Series.

Here she answers some questions on her art, her work, and her London…

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Art

ORTHODOX EROS 
Fred Gallery 

When religion taboos and art meet, the result is the surprisingly amazing photographic exhibition from Lea Golda Holterman…BY MICHAEL ZODIATIS

From the 28th of November until the 12th of January, the Fitzrovia-based Fred Gallery will feature Lea Golda Holterman’s portraits serie called Orthodox Eros. This very interesting exhibition presents portraits of young Jewish boys and their relationship to sexuality.

They are aware of sexual desire however religion constraints force them to restrain themselves and wait for the right time, place and manner. Under Jewish Law sex needs to be controlled and masturbation is forbidden.

"Holterman’s mastery resides in her ability of grasping boundaries, giving us a very fresh and poetic vision..."

Holterman examines the relationships between faith and body and finds a subtle way to balance ethic and aesthetic producing powerful yet beautiful and seductive images...

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Art

NATIONAL THEATRE
Traditional Christmas gifts

Fed up with the drama of christmas shopping? The National Theatre has a range of presents guaranteed to charm this festive season…BY NATASHA COLYER

Fed up with the drama surrounding Christmas gift ideas? Well fear no more, because the national theatre bookshop has a beautiful new gift range out. The range features exclusive items to suit any budget or taste, with a range of perfect stocking fillers and presents- just perfect for Christmas!

With everything from models toys (a beautiful articulated DIY model of the War Horse Goose priced at £30) to a selection of DVD’s (including the beautiful recording of the National’s hit The Cat in the Hat £8.99.)

"Melody Rose’s stylised, upcycles tea cups, teapots and saucers, are a beautiful gift idea..."

A whole selection of vintage children’s toys will be available- making a lovely stocking filler, and adding a bit of retro magic to Christmas morning...

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Exhibition

WORLD PRESS
Photo Exhibition

 Contemporary issues by award-winning photographers are presented in the must-see photographic exhibition of 2012. ...BY MICHAEL ZODIATIS

The Southbank Centre, the UK’s largest arts centre, hosts the annual contest for professional photojournalists worldwide from the 9th of November 2012.

The exhibition gives the opportunity to the public to discover award-winning photographers from around the world, who captured the most powerful and moving images of the year.

More than 5000 photographers from 124 different countries submitted almost 102000 images for the 2012 contest.

"An exhibition not to miss as it allows each one of us to face harsh realities and challenges us to rethink the kind of world we want to live in..."

167 photographs were chosen to be showcased without censorship in over 45 countries all over the world together with the award-wining images from each of nine contest categories....

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