Culture

Preview: “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” at the MET

“Charles James: Beyond Fashion” at the MET

By Eugénie Trochu, translated by Charlotte Sutherland-Hawes via Vogue.fr

Anglo-American designer Charles James (1906-1978) is one the biggest names in mid 20th century American fashion, a designer who thought of fashion as a mathematical science. From Thursday May 8 to Sunday August 10, 2014, the Costume Institute at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is opening to the doors to the “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” exhibition, which celebrates the work of the visionary designer. With just a few days until it officially opens, Vogue.fr brings you a look at some of the iconic images on display in this year’s MET exhibition, which draws huge crowds every year. (more…)

“NCCA to document, preserve and promote Benguet cultural heritage”

“NCCA to Document, Preserve and Promote Benguet Cultural Heritage”

by Carlito C. Dar via “Philippine Information Agency”

“BAGUIO CITY, May 13 (PIA) – – The cultural heritage of Benguet province is up for government support as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts(NCCA) is set to document and to help preserve such historical icons for the future generations.

NCCA Sub-commission for Cultural Heritage Chairman Fr. Harold Rentoria, in an interview, during the 5th Tam-awan (village) International Arts Festival here, disclosed that under the Taoid Heritage Program they are set to conduct cultural mapping in Benguet to help preserve the cultural heritage of the province and at the same time promote the welfare of Benguet artists.

Preserving national heritage is the primary mandate of NCCA through Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.

“We are set to identify cultural icons in Benguet and then we will craft cultural development plan to help preserve it,” Rentoria stressed.

Rentoria also disclosed that they are tying-up with the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the preservation of Benguet cultural heritage and in promoting Benguet artists and artworks.

“Through a partnership with DOT, we aim to promote to tourists, local and foreign alike, where they can find identified cultural heritage and artworks as it shows the identity of us, Filipinos”, Rentoria added.

For the 5th consecutive year in celebration of National Heritage Month, the NCCA in partnership with Chanum Foundation Inc. held the Tam-awan International Arts Festival 2014 at the Tam-awan Village, an artists’ haven here from May 7 to 11.

This year’s TIAF has the theme, “Cordillera Stories: Rituals and Beliefs”.

Aside from culture and art demonstration, there were also presentations of various cultural rituals from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and classroom talks from known speakers, such as United States Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer, Kristin Kneedler who talked on US-Filipino ties on ““Heritage Conservation Projects in the Philippines,” and South African Ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso who shared her country’s ““Rituals and Beliefs”. (JDP/CCD – PIA CAR)”

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Current Exhibition: “Museum of Russian Icons Peeks into Romanov Cupboards”

“Museum of Russian Icons Peeks into Romanov Cupboards”

by Sebastian Smee via “Boston Globe”

WHAT:

“The Tsar’s Cabinet: Two Hundred Years of Russian Decorative Arts Under the Romanovs”

WHERE:

“Museum of Russian Icons.”

203 Union St.

Clinton, MA 01510

Hours:

Tues.-Fri. ~ 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Sat. ~ 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

WHEN:

March 27, 2014 – May 24, 2014

HOW MUCH:

Generally:

Adults: $9

Seniors: $5

Students: $2

Children: $2

Children (under 3): Free

Special Free Admission: Varies, for more details, see here.

DETAILS:

“CLINTON — The romance of the Romanov dynasty — in odor so like certain over-evolved orchids — has been affiliated, aptly enough, with fragile accessories forever. One thinks, above all, of the products of the House of Fabergé, but more generally of the decorative arts (particularly porcelain) produced specifically for the Romanovs between the 18th and early 20th centuries, when the dynasty came to its bloody and unambiguous end.

The Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton is currently hosting a show called “The Tsar’s Cabinet: Two Hundred Years of Russian Decorative Arts Under the Romanovs” that’s filled with porcelain, as well as glass, lacquer, enamel, and other luxury materials.

Drawn from the private collection of consultant Kathleen Durdin (who, according to a biographical note in the show’s catalog, used to collect magazine advertisements that featured the Forbes Fabergé collection), the show summons the rich history of Romanov rule.

It comes to Clinton at the end of a five-venue tour of Canada and the United States. It was organized by the Muscarelle Museum of Art, which is on the campus of the College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Va., in collaboration with International Arts and Artists, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. . . . .

“Italy Heritage Sleuths Launch Stolen Art App”

by AFP via “France 24”

Italy's top art detectives, global experts in finding stolen works, launched a smartphone app Wednesday to get people to collaborate on cracking crimesItaly's top art detectives, global experts in finding stolen works, launched a smartphone app Wednesday to get people to collaborate on cracking crimes

“Italy’s top art detectives, global experts in finding stolen works, launched a smartphone app Wednesday to get people to collaborate on cracking crimes.

The application, which will be available to download from AndroidMarket and AppleStore soon, was “thought up and created for citizens”, according to Mariano Mossa, the head of Italy’s heritage police.

“It represents a first for those who hope to contribute to the fight against heritage crimes,” he said at a press presentation of the new app.

Users who come across works of art they suspect have been stolen can take a photograph of it and send it straight to the police, who check in real time whether it matches any of the works in their archives. (more…)

“Saving Guangxi’s Cultural Heritage from Decline”

via “South China Morning Post”

Dancers from the Zhuang ethnic group perform at the San Yue San festival in Wuming county, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

Residents of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are enjoying a new two-day official holiday the local government has offered to encourage them to participate in an annual ethnic minority singing festival.

Wednesday was the third day of the third month of the Chinese lunar calendar, when crowds traditionally gather to sing in the antiphonal, or call-and-answer, style to find love and make new friends.

Historically, it has been observed by more than 27 million people of Zhuang, Yao, Miao, Dong and Mulao ethnicities in Guangxi, or half the region’s total population.

However, the 1,300-year-old custom has lost its allure in the modern era, prompting government action to help it survive and regain popularity.

With the event’s auspicious date falling this year on a Wednesday, the day was a major test of whether the festival could thrive again.

Before dawn on Wednesday, Deng Zhiting from Dakeng village in Fangchenggang city got up to take part in the government-organised singalong attended by thousands of Zhuang and Yao people.

But the spritely 72-year-old, dressed in Yao traditional costume and carrying a flute-like instrument, frowned when he saw only a few young faces in the crowd.

“What a lean time for our group’s folk songs,” he grumbled. “We don’t have young people to inherit this treasure.” (more…)