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High Priestess of Punk in Rome
I was about to write an article lamenting the curious phenomenon of the 2010 summer tours, which above all seem to be about festival after festival, most of which include as headliners and special guest artists fading stars that are that are already more fossil than rocker. But when I heard that Patti Smith will perform on Friday 28 in Rome at the Teatro Romano di Ostia Antica, my cynicism receded a bit. If there is any living legend of rock (who also listens to opera), you should have a chance to see, appreciate and be thankful for it’s Patti Smith. Many call her the “High Priestess of Punk,” a moniker that she has earned over the years because she embodies what punk music is about, not only in sonic terms but also spiritual, political, and emotional ones. Raised in a working-class religious family, she left her humble beginnings in 1967 for New York; in what would be not only a move that would change her life but also the history of music. Unlike many “stars” of today, her path took her to world fame not because of how she dressed or manufactured her own image or drew attention in the tabloids but because of her energy and intelligence as a singer and songwriter , artistic and political associations and of course, attitude and empathetic energy. In New York, she got together with such artists like photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, playwright Sam Shepard and producer John Cale. She influenced a whole generation of rockers, left show business to raise her children, and returned to play after the death of her...Weird Pets
Have a dog, and maybe a cat, but are thinking about something a little more off-beat? Depending on the space you have (and the licenses – this is pretty important when considering an exotic pet), you can keep anything from tarantulas to pot-bellied pigs. Tarantulas These large, hairy spiders have a bad reputation as being dangerous, and scary. They don´t deserve this at all, as they are actually gentle and docile creatures. Yes, they can be poisonous, but not enough to kill, and they are easily handled. They´re also very low-maintenance, although they can´t really be trained to play fetch, unless they´re ´fetching´ food. The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach From arachnids to insects, the Hissing Cockroach is hard to miss. They can grow up to eight cm long and two to three cm wide. Like all members of the cockroach family, these guys are tough, and unlike your average hamster they won´t keel over and die at every loud noise or cold night. They´re good pets for kids, as they don´t bite, although they might scare your visitors, so make sure you have a suitable enclosure. The Pac Man Frog These guys DO bite. In fact, they munch everything in their path, which is how they got their name. They need to be kept in a cage alone, and kept out of the way of kids, as they compulsively bite and although frogs don´t have teeth, they supposedly don´t let go for hours. Ferrets These aren´t exactly weird, but you don´t see them every day. Ferrets are an under-rated pet: Yes they can be a bit smelly, so you need...
Open Air Cinema
The summer months not only provide us with plenty of open-air music festivals but also with open-air cinema. The concept is as old as movies themself. The Lumière Brothers are known as the earliest filmmakers and in 1895 their cinématographe marked the beginning of the history of the cinema. The oldest open-air cinema which still runs today is located in Australia. The “Sun Pictures Theater” has been showing movies since 1916. One variation of the open-air cinema is the drive-in theatre. At the time it was the perfect place to make out and get a little more intimate, especially for young couples. Drive-ins were extremely popular in the 1960s, particularly in the United States. In many cities open-air cinema takes place at very central or special places: big parks, squares, soccer stadiums, etc. as long as it’s outside and provides plenty of space. Shows usually start when it starts to get dark and concession stands are provided for any snacks and drinks. The open-air cinema returns to Vienna on June 19th. Until September 2nd the castle grounds in Simmering (Schloss Neugebäude, Otmar-Brix- Gasse 1, verlängerte Meidlgasse) will show movies starting at 21.30h. And you don’t even have to worry about rain because the organizers of the event provide roofing if needed. There will not only be a selection of current movies but also classics and some classic favorites from years past. For the whole programme visit this website http://www.kinoimschloss.at/ . So all there is left for you to do is, come to Vienna to see a movie under the stars. Whether inside or outside the movies are always a...Seal concert in Istanbul
Soul music resumes in Istanbul on July 19 as part of the Jazz Festival. After the huge success of his tour last summer, the famous British singer Seal decided it´s time to share his music in Istanbul. Winner of three Grammy Awards, Seal managed to sell more than twenty million records worldwide during his successful musical career, his talent as a singer and author propelling it into the top of the more popular musical artists. Inexhaustible sources of success, his first two albums “Seal I” and “Seal II” marked the music of the 90s and and he has found great success as a singer with songs like “Kiss From a Rose”, “Crazy” or “Love´s Divine” becoming music classics. In the concert next July, along with his band featuring Steve Sindelnyc (drums), Marc Summerlin (guitar) and Marcus Brown (bass), Seal will release several songs from his upcoming album (rumored to be out in September) and there is no shortage of hits from his career. Mixing pop with rock and soul, the famous singer once again demonstrated his talent by offering thousands of fans romantic moments as well as moments full of energy, passion, rhythm and dance. In one of his last interviews Seal said that the music has always been the most important thing in his career. Don´t miss the opportunity to hear quality music on 19th July as part of the Istanbul Jazz Festival. Rent Apartments in Istanbul and enjoy an unforgettable night enjoying the rhythms of your favorite...
Denise Grünstein in Helsinki
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, better known as Kiasma, will display a large collection of work by Swedish photographer Denise Grünstein entitled “Figures Out” Here we can enjoy four photographic series by the artist, best known for her compositions that seem like representations of strange dreams. Women, hidden by their own hair in landscapes full of sand, sea and sky which seem to have no end, make “Figures Out,” the series that gives name to the exhibition, a disturbing picture in which the female figures submerge themselves in passive suffocation. Whether in an urban or wild, in a gray room or on a pier, the women Grünstein depicts are lost or misplaced. Rounding out the exhibition are three other equally interesting photographic series: “Figures in Landscapes” (Figures in Landscape), which tells stories without a beginning or end in different scenarios, “Malplacé” (2005), in which the artist, born in 1950, visit places near her childhood home in Hanko, “Zone V”, which features black and white images that reflect her travels through Eastern Europe and her Jewish heritage. In addition to the photographs, a video installation called “All Flesh is Grass” with music by American composer Morton Feldman accompanies the show. In it, the artist expresses the ephemeral, disposable and degraded nature of modern life. Known worldwide for her work as a fashion and advertising photographer, Grünstein shares with us a unique aesthetic that creates different feelings about space and the feminine realm. The exhibition ends on August 15, 2010. Kiasma is open on Tuesdays from 10 to 17 hours, Wednesday through Friday from 10 am to 20:30 pm...ImpulzTanz in Vienna
The ImpulzTanz is an international dance festival held in Vienna every year since 1984, founded by Karl Regenburger and choreographer Ismael Ivo. It has since become the largest dance festival in Europe. Beginning with six choreographers and teachers, the four-week long festival now hosts thousands of dancers, choreographers and dance teachers eager to learn, teach, investigate and impulse contemporary dance towards soaring innovation. The festival opens July 15th with a show directed by star choreographer Wim Vandekeybu in which dancers from the dance company Ultima Vez give us the pleasure of watching them dance in the company of Belgian rock Mauro Pawlowski in the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna. Expect great performances by cult figures in the arts like Anne Juren, whose will present the piece “Magical” an introduction to the magic of the female body, or Hans van der Broeck with “Too Shy To Stare,” which will establish an intimate contact with the audience. To finish up the event, the star of Jonathan Burrows Ballet will present his latest collaboration with the composer Matteo Fargion entitled “The Cow Piece” in which language, rhythm and chaos converge. The interesting thing about this festival is, without a doubt – and apart from the fantastic entertainment programming – the possibility for every one interested in dance to take advantage of the workshops offered for both professionals and beginners. Because in addition to 40 productions, there will be 80 teachers, providing 200 workshops with 3000 participants. If you do not want to miss this incredible opportunity to learn from and watch the most important artists in the industry, sign up on the Web (http://www.impulstanz.com/festival10/workshops/en/)...
Armin van Buuren in Istanbul
Istanbul has a lively cultural life, and it would be a shame to miss out on this summer´s pleasant surprises, especially for music lovers. In the coming months there will be concerts by Massive Attack (13 July), Faithless (July 17), The Cranberries (July 22), U2 (6 September) and the rust-proof heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne (30 September). This year, travelers to Istanbul will also have an opportunity to see one of the Deities of the Trance world, the Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren, who will spin 16 July in the Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park. Van Buuren has been voted best DJ in the world for 3 years running by readers of DJ Magazine, beating the equally famous and well known Tiësto and Paul Van Dyk. In 2008 also was voted as the best trance artist under the Beatport Music Awards and in March 2010 Armin was awarded the Gouden Harp, the highest recognition that musical artists in the Netherlands can win. Van Buuren began his DJ sessions in 1995 in Nexus club, while he was still in high school. Then he started with his studies in law school, but never lost his passion for music. Since the beginning, he has had his own production studio, and has always combined his dj work with being a producer. Just a few of his hits: “Touch me”, “Communication”, “The Sound of Goodbye”, “Walhalla” … Armin van Buuren has had a golden career. He has spun in clubs around the world, and was resident dj with Godskithchen of Ibiza, as well as having a popular radio broadcast, “A State of Trance” with millions of...Life Ball 2010 in Vienna
Still haven’t gotten your tickets for Life Ball 2010? This year, the most important VIP guests are Bill Clinton and Whoopi Goldberg, and it promises to be the charity event of the year. Past celebrations have been graced by the presence of such VIP figures as Liza Minelli, Elton John, Sharon Stone, Pamela Anderson and Eva Longoria. This year it will be held on July 17. The dates have been changed ( it is usually in May) in part to kick off the XVIII International AIDS Conference, which brings together international researchers and AIDS experts to Vienna from the 18 to 23 July. The Life Ball raises funds for the organization of LIFE AIDS, and is a great celebration. You have one last chance to get tickets at an auction on Monday June 28 until Monday July 12, 2010 on www.ebay.at . To date, this event has raised more than EUR 12 million fund to support the fight against AIDS, and is Europe´s largest annual AIDS charity event. Life Ball is an evolution of the great tradition of Viennese Balls. There are extravagant performances, elaborate costumes and inspirational speeches. There is a ton of media interest in the event, which always brings people together the world´s largest fashion and film stars. The Life Ball started in 1993 and has since become a world famous event. Life Ball takes place in the City of Vienna, and is the only charity event associated with AIDS to take place in a government building, lending it a special grandeur. It also implies that there is only 3.780 tickets the event (because more people...
Edvard Munch or the Anti-Scream
The Paris Pinacothèque revisits the work of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863-1944) in an exhibition called the “Edvard Munch or the anti-scream.” Although this artist is internationally known for his painting “the scream” there are literally thousands more reasons to appreciate his work. Munch was incredibly productive throughout his life, and when he died, left more than 1,000 paintings, 15,400 prints, 4,500 drawings and watercolours, and six sculptures to the city of Oslo. That´s more than just one scream! The evolution of his painting can not be separated from his personal evolution, because his fragile health, both physical and mental, difficult family life and economic instability influenced his career. But through art found a way of expressing existential doubts, anxiety and c find a way to compulsively “open the heart.” He surrounded himself with artists and writers, bohemians and nihilists, and his personal life on several occasions led him to violence. The exhibition at the Pinacothèque, organized into five chronological sections to elucidate lesser-known facets of his artistic career, will run until July 18, 2010. His work touched on symbolism, naturalism, impressionism and expressionism, and he also began doing more and more portraits in the last stage of his career. The commercial success of his work, due in part to the controversy provoked by his paintings, motivated him to use screen printing to produce images for sale, like a proto Andy Warhol, First, his art was condemned by critics, then the Nazis, then was reclaimed (and even in sometimes notorious cases, stolen!) as the product of a deeply inspiring artist and key figure in the development of 20th century...
