North America agenda: Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent retropectives

Posted on 15th March 2012 in The monuments of world

Spring festivals include Saint Patrick’s Day and Cherry Blossoms in DC, music fests range from SXSW in Texas to electronica’s Winter Fest in Miami Beach, and museum exhibits such as the art of video games in Washington DC and Yves Saint-Laurent‘s designs in Denver, Colorado.

26th WonderCon
March 16-18
Anaheim, California

This comic book conference offers a preview of upcoming films prior to the extravaganza of ComicCon in July. Presentations and panel discussions for animated films, anime, superhero movies and videogames will be showcased for fans as well as creators of classic comics such as Batman and Wolverine. In 2012, the event moves to Anaheim’s Convention Center, while San Francisco‘s Moscone Center undergoes renovations.
http://www.comic-con.org/wc/index.php


27th Winter Music Conference
March 16-25
Miami Beach, Florida

With the explosion of electronic music, this festival attracts 1900 artists and DJs, 100,000 attendees from 70 countries with 400 seminars, demo sessions and pool parties. The round-the-clock events include DJ spin-offs and club performances culminating in the Dance Music Awards. The conference at The Beachplex features panels and Q&As with industry leaders and producers. The Ultra Music Festival is scheduled March 23-25. Similar fests include Detroit’s Electronic Music Fest and Nature One near Frankfurt.
http://www.wintermusicconference.com and http://www.ultramusicfestival.com/


The Art of Video Games
March 16-September 30
American Art Museum, Smithsonian
Washington, DC

The first exhibit to chronicle the development of video games as an art medium, from the 1970s Atari to today’s Playstation 3. Visual effects, storytelling and aesthetics will be highlighted by curators PastPixels. Multimedia presentations with game footage, historic consoles and a selection of working game systems will be available for visitors to play. The show opens with GameFest, three days of talks by video game pioneers, designers and artists, screenings, and hands-on play of Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, and Myst.
http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/


250th St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 17
New York City, New York

St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated by the Irish and “Irish at heart” features parades and pub crawls in cities across the US and around the world, from Tokyo to Turkey. Since 1762, the oldest and largest party marches along New York City’s Fifth Avenue from St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 11 am to the Metropolitan Museum of Art around 5 pm. Irish music, food and drink are enjoyed by all who wear green, with some towns even dyeing the local rivers green.
http://www.st-patricks-day.com


27th LA Marathon
March 18
Los Angeles, California

Inspired by the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in the city, this “Stadium to the Sea” 26.2 mile race, starts at Dodger Baseball Stadium and wends its way along the Sunset Strip through Beverly Hills, crossing town to reach the Santa Monica Pier. With 26,054 registrants keeping a 15-minute per mile pace, the finish line closes officially eight hours after the launch start of the race. Celebrity pariticpants have included Shia Labeouf, Gordon Ramsay and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
http://www.lamarathon.com


100th National Cherry Blossom Festival
March 20 – April 27
Washington DC

The centennial celebration of the thousands of blossoming cherry trees along the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, this spring honors the original gift of 600 trees Japan presented to America in 1912. This tradition in the nation’s capital includes an annual parade, kite festival, fireworks, concerts and 90 special events over five weeks, from art to musical performances in tribute to the pink and white flowers that fill the city, monuments and National Mall.
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/


The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier
March 24-August 19
De Young Museum
San Francisco, California

For the 35th anniversary of Jean Paul Gaultier, the first retrospective devoted to the fashion designer spans 120 selections from his 1976 ready-to-wear to his 2007 haute couture collections. The exhibition, “From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk,” celebrates his avant-garde style and collaborations with Madonna, Lady Gaga, filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, dance and theater with films clips of concerts, ballets, and fashion shows. Photography includes images by Andy Warhol, Jean-Baptiste Mondino and Robert Doisneau. The Montreal-based theater company Ubu Compagnie de Création designed 30 animated mannequins who talk and sing in playful vignettes for the show.
http://deyoung.famsf.org/


Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective
March 25-July 8
Denver Art Museum

A 40-year survey of the fashion designer work arrives from the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Paris, with 200 examples of his haute couture garments, as well as photographs, drawings, and films that illustrate the development of his style and career from early days at Dior in 1958 to Saint Laurent’s recent elegant evening gowns. The DAM will be the only US venue for the exhibition.
http://www.denverartmuseum.org


25th Kid’s Choice Awards
March 31
Los Angeles, CA

Actor Will Smith will emcee the Kids’ Choice Awards, presented by Nickelodeon, the kids’ television network. Young fans who watch the channel will choose favorite artists in film, television and music. Winners take the famous orange blimp trophy and get “slimed” with green goop live at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
http://www.nick.com/kids-choice-awards


32nd Razzie Awards
April 1
Hollywood, California

Rescheduled to coincide with April Fools Day, The Razzies spoof on the Oscars moved its awards ceremony for the worst films to April 1 in 2012. The nominees for the Golden Raspberry Award, announced the night before the Oscars, were dominated by Adam Sandler this year with a record 11 Razzies nods for three films including Jack and Jill. Besides the acting, directing, writing and film categories, The Razzies dishonor the Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel. Previous repeat ‘winners’ included Sylvester Stallone and Madonna.
http://www.razzies.com


112th New York International Auto Show
April 6-15
New York, New York

New York rounds out the North American Auto Show season and normally boasts a couple of high-profile debuts of upcoming production vehicles and concept cars for visitors, who number over one million. The show traditionally hosts the prestigious World Car of the Year competition, selecting the winner from new models introduced by automakers around the world. Follow the event on Twitter @NYAutoShow
http://www.autoshowny.com


13th Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
April 13-15 and April 20-22
Indio, California, USA

More than 100,000 music fans head to the Southern California desert for the annual Coachella Festival. In the decade since launching, the multi-stage event has grown in size and acclaim and is considered the opener of the summer festival season, adding another weekend in 2012. Artists in the line-up cover pop, rock, electronica and hip-hop genres and this year’s headliners include Radiohead, The Black Keys, Bon Iver and Snoop Dog. Bonnaro and Lollapolooza are the two other big US pop musical events.
http://www.coachella.com


27th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 14
Cleveland, Ohio

Presentations to legendary pop, rock and R&B musicians and industry greats at this ceremony located at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. This year’s inductees include Guns N’Roses, Donovan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Faces, Beastie Boys, Lauri Nyro, and The Miracles. A week of activities for fans precede the event with a grand finale jam session of the latest Hall of Famers.
http://www.rockhall.com


11th Tribeca Film Festival
April 18-29-May 1
New York City, New York

Co-founded by Robert DeNiro, this event screens 135 narrative, documentaries and short films from American and international filmmakers in venues around town, as well as streaming and video-on-demand, reaching beyond the 400,000 attendees. With galas and awards, this spring event has eclipsed Lincoln Center’s New York Film Festival in fall.
http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org


Star Wars: Identities
April 19-September 16
Montreal Science Center
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

In association with Lucasfilms, scientific experts and the team that mounted the Indiana Jones exhibition, the identity of characters from the Star Wars films, 1977 to 2005, is the theme explored in this show. Displays of 200 objects from Lucasfilms’ archives of props, models and artwork, include Darth Vader’s caped costume and a full-sized Podracer. The interactive experience explores Jedi heroes, Luke and Skywalker, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Yoda, and more, allowing visitors to create their own character.
http://www.starwarsidentities.com and http://www.montrealsciencecentre.com


55th San Francisco International Film Festival
April 19-May 3
San Francisco, California

America’s longest-running film fest, SFIFF screens 200 films and presents live events with 200 filmmakers in conversations, workshops and salons, attracting more than 75,000 attendees. The Film Society also presents several awards including the Persistence of Vision and Golden Gate award to renowned filmmakers. A festival favorite is a special screening accompanied by a live musical performance. Other big spring film festivals in the US include Tribeca in New York, Seattle and SXSW in Austin.
http://festival.sffs.org/


5th Record Store Day
April 21
Worldwide

Record Store Day is an annual day-long celebration on the third Saturday of April in support of independent records shops worldwide. The event has broken vinyl record sales and each store hosts in-store performances, signings, meet & greets, DJ spinning and special product releases. This year’s “ambassador” is Iggy Pop, who says, “Small indie shops have always been a mix of theater and laboratory.”
http://www.recordstoreday.com


20th Hot Docs Festival
April 26-May 6
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Canadian International Documentary Film Festival is North America’s largest documentary festival and conference, presenting more than 150 cutting-edge films from around the globe. The event features workshops and a distribution market, attracting 2,000 attendees and filmmakers to screenings, special events, a curated competition, world showcases, pop culture, and retrospective of a master filmmaker. A prevalent theme will inform the selections and the topics discussed.
http://www.hotdocs.ca/

RC

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Travel photos of the week: March 15

Posted on 14th March 2012 in The monuments of world

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  • A boy plays near the site of 44 Nubian pyramids of kings and queens in the ruins of the ancient city of Meroe at Begrawiya, Sudan, March 10, 2012.
    (MOHAMED NURELDIN ABDALLAH/REUTERS)Hide caption

    A boy plays near the site of 44 Nubian pyramids of kings and queens in the ruins of the ancient city of Meroe at Begrawiya, Sudan March 10, 2012.

  • The Hathor Chapel, right, and the Lion Temple, left, stand in Naga and al-Musawwarat, south of the ancient city of Meroe, Sudan.
    (MOHAMED NURELDIN ABDALLAH/REUTERS)Hide caption

    The Hathor Chapel, right, and the Lion Temple, left, stand in Naga and al-Musawwarat, south of the ancient city of Meroe, Sudan.

  • Sudan's pyramids, left by its ancient Meroitic kingdom, form a cluster of more than 50 granite tombs. They are one of the main attractions for Sudan's few tourists.
    (MOHAMED NURELDIN ABDALLAH/REUTERS)Hide caption

    Sudan’s pyramids, left by its ancient Meroitic kingdom, form a cluster of more than 50 granite tombs. They are one of the main attractions for Sudan’s few tourists.

  • Sugar Loaf Mountain towers behind Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 14, 2012.
    (SERGIO MORAES/REUTERS)Hide caption

    Sugar Loaf Mountain towers behind Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 14, 2012.

  • A boat travels near Copacabana Beach at sunrise.
    (SERGIO MORAES/REUTERS)Hide caption

    A boat travels near Copacabana Beach at sunrise.

  • Paddle surfers take to the water at Copacabana Beach.
    (SERGIO MORAES/REUTERS)Hide caption

    Paddle surfers take to the water at Copacabana Beach.

  • A man takes photographs of a crocodile-shaped kite during the Cha-Am International Kite Festival at the Thai resort beach town of Cha-Am, March 10, 2012.
    (CHAIWAT SUBPRASOM/REUTERS)Hide caption

    A man takes photographs of a crocodile-shaped kite during the Cha-Am International Kite Festival at the Thai resort beach town of Cha-Am, March 10, 2012.

  • The three-day event is held annually to help promote Thailand tourism.
    (CHAIWAT SUBPRASOM/REUTERS)Hide caption

    The three-day event is held annually to help promote Thailand tourism.

  • France's Frederique Riquier flies her kite during the Cha-Am International Kite Festival.
    (CHAIWAT SUBPRASOM/REUTERS)Hide caption

    France’s Frederique Riquier flies her kite during the Cha-Am International Kite Festival.

  • The Erechtheion temple at the archaeological site of the Acropolis: Greek archaeologists said on March 14, 2012, that monuments and archaeological sites are suffering due to the austerity measures imposed on the country.
    (YIORGOS KARAHALIS/REUTERS)Hide caption

    The Erechtheion temple at the archaeological site of the Acropolis: Greek archaeologists said on March 14, 2012, that monuments and archaeological sites are suffering due to the austerity measures imposed on the country.

  • A lack of funding and personnel harms the care, research and maintenance of archaeological sites (such as the Acropolis), monuments and digs, Greek archaeologists say.
    (YIORGOS KARAHALIS/REUTERS)Hide caption

    A lack of funding and personnel harms the care, research and maintenance of archaeological sites (such as the Acropolis), monuments and digs, Greek archaeologists say.

  • The Kerameikos ancient cemetery in Athens: Illegal digging has taken place at historic sites and robberies at museums have also occurred due to a lack of guards, Greek officials say.
    (JOHN KOLESIDIS/REUTERS)Hide caption

    The Kerameikos ancient cemetery in Athens: Illegal digging has taken place at historic sites and robberies at museums have also occurred due to a lack of guards, Greek officials say.

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MONROE: Students learn about countries at fair

Posted on 10th March 2012 in The monuments of world
Amy Batista, Special Writer

   MONROE — The Barclay Brook/Brookside PTA hosted its fourth annual Cultural Fair on Feb. 10 for students to come and celebrate cultures around the world.

   It was a collaborative effort of parents, teachers and administrative and school staff. The chairpersons for the event were Anandi Nagarajan, Foroozan Fayazi-Azad and Janet Baptista.

   Every student had the opportunity to learn and experience new countries’ cultures, customs, traditions, language and more as they “traveled” around the world.

   Tables were set up around the gym, and children rotated from one to another. The event has grown over the years from a one-day event in the classroom to multiple tables in the gym.

   Each year the tables are changed, and more detail is added. This year, 12 different countries were showcased — Australia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, Holland, India, Iran, Italy, Peru and Portugal.

   At India’s booth, students participated in a tradition known as Rangoli, which is a form of Hindu decorative artwork. It is mainly done with colored rice and done at times of the Festival of Lights to welcome friends and family outside the home or in courtyards for the goddess of wealth.

   The students built a collective Rangoli at the table as they learned about the country, and at the end, they received colored orange rice to helped design their own Rangoli, which the volunteer parents at the booth took a picture of for the students’ classroom.

   Students learned the costumes were made out of cotton fabric due to the year-round warm weather there. They also learned about the national bird, which is the peacock, and the tiger, the national animal.

   At the China table, students learned that the Chinese have 20,000 characters in their language. Due to the timing of the Chinese New Year, the students had the unique opportunity to learn a little about that holiday and the fact it is the Year of the Dragon. The panda is the country’s national animal.

   Volunteers, which were mainly parents with several teachers, hosted each country. Each table included a display board that could include pictures, artifacts, currency, newspapers in their language and more.

   Students learned how to say “hello” at each of the countries as they “traveled,” and some of the countries had the word written down for them. In addition, the country flags and maps were on display. Students also learned about food, art, music, dance, monuments and inventions.

   ”(The fair is) basically to help children understand the cultural differences, what it is like in different parts of the world and educate them,” said Komila Pandit, of Monroe, and a volunteer at the India table.

   ”The whole idea is that since it is a diverse community in Monroe, and we have the fair to explain the diversity and share the diverse cultures we have here in the community,” said Ms. Nagarajan, fair chairwoman. “An event like this really helps kids, who haven’t seen different cultures, understand where their classmates come from. It gives them a really good thing to connect with, and kids are so fascinated by all the different artifacts, different holidays, languages.”

   Many of the volunteers came dressed in traditional customs or a piece of clothing that represented something their country was known for. At the China table, a dragon face was on display that was made the previous week by Ms. Smits’ second-grade class at Barclay Brook School.

   ”It’s a great experience for all of us and the children. They get a taste of each country,” said Cindy Braun, of Monroe, who was volunteering at the Holland table.

   ”It all ties into our anti-bullying policies,” said Janet Baptista, of Monroe, who was volunteering at the Holland table. “You are learning about other cultures. So what, people might look different, they might eat different things. There’s no reason to treat them any different.”

   Students were encouraged to “show your colors” this year to make the fair more festive by dressing in their traditional cultural costume or wearing the colors of a country of their choice.

   The teachers do some kind of an assignment that ties into the fair, whether it was through a bulletin board display, recipe book, creating authentic passports, sending in travel logs to be posted on the fair website and more.

   Third-grade teacher Diana Mazurek’s class did a variety of projects over the prior week to prepare the students for the fair. Her students interviewed their parents about their heritage, wrote a recipe from their culture and drew their flag. Students completed a family tree, worked on their passports, then visited the fair.

   Ms. Mazurek volunteered the day of the fair. She represented her own country, the Czech Republic. This was her first time participating in the fair.

   ”A lot of the kids don’t know of this country (Czech Republic),” she said. “My mom’s side is from there. All the stuff (on the table) is from there. The crystal, the decorations, which I thought I would share with everybody. It’s nice sharing with all the kids.”

   Art teacher David Virelles has been sharing with his class over the week the basics of his country, Cuba, where his family and his father came from. He taught them about the agriculture, architecture, beaches, the island, the baseball plays, the famous celebrities that came from Cuba and more.

   ”There is excitement when the children come to Brazil,” said Tracey Dilascio, of Monroe, who was volunteering at the Brazil table. “The first thing they know about the country is soccer, and they all have questions, and so they are very curious after the presentation to know more.”

   New this year was an online fair. It is a website developed by PTA volunteers to put together in one place a collection of student-friendly information and activities about different countries.

   ”I enjoyed the Cultural Fair very much! It was great seeing artifacts and colorful pictures from different countries,” said fourth-grader Jahnvi Seshadri. “We also learned a lot about different customs and traditions in the different countries. When I visited India, I loved doing the Rangoli, The passport and online Cultural Fair was cool, too.”

   Students were able to write online to the PTA about a country they have visited and have their entry featured in the PTA Student Globetrotter Hall of Fame.

   ”I think the Cultural Fair was a great representation of America and a way to bring America together from different parts of the world and show that we can play together as a team and really build a community of like-minded people,” said Cecilia Afonso-Cavadas, of Monroe, who was volunteering at the Portugal table.

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Make plans for March

Posted on 4th March 2012 in The monuments of world

Break out in a happy dance and celebrate the end of winter, the arrival of spring, and school break, too, all in March. Irish luck, blooming flowers and thrilling dare-devils make for a fun-filled month.

LUCK OF THE IRISH

Bring on the bagpipes, green beer, and bangers and mash! Dublin is transformed into one big St. Patrick’s Day party, March 16-19, and you’re invited. Head on over to Ireland and celebrate four fun-filled days of eclectic activities, carnivals, concerts and more, including the famous festival parade with its scientific theme, in honour of Dublin’s status as “The City of Science.” There’s even a free science-related treasure hunt along famous Dublin landmarks. From street performances and boat races to a 5-km road race and Irish artisan food, experience authentic Irish fun — or “craic” — at its best, including kicking up your heels with traditional dancing at the Festival Ceili. Check out stpatricksfestival.ie.

– Embrace your inner Celtic closer to home. Massachusetts turns shades of green and bagpipe sounds will fill the air as Irish-inspired events run throughout the month of March. Whether it’s taking in South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 18 — the second largest parade in the United States — or walking the Irish Heritage Trail, which offers 300 years of Irish-American history, get your Irish on. Visit many of the 70 landmarks throughout the state, including museums, monuments and historic pubs, including The Black Rose and The Burren. For event listings, see massvacation.com.

CRASH COURSE

Feed your need for thrills and spills with the insanely exciting Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship running March 15-17 in Quebec City. Combine hockey, downhill skiing and boardercross, and you’ve got downhill daredevils soaring across the ice at dizzying speeds of 60 km/h. Quebec’s steep downhill course is the longest, fastest and toughest of the championship series with spine-tingling jumps, twists and hairpin turns through city streets. And all of this mayhem is free. More information at redbullcrashedice.com.

FLOWER POWER

– Paradise on earth: Seven million tulips and other flowering bulbs in bloom! Wander through hectare after hectare — 32 in all — of dazzling colours, textures and fragrances at the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, Netherlands, March 22 through May 20. In honour of the international flower exhibit’s theme this year, Poland: Heart of Europe, Chopin blossoms before your very eyes. A flower bulb portrait of the composer is created from almost 50,000 flowers and measures 12-by-20 metres. Enjoy other works of art, flower shows and inspirational gardens galore. See keukenof.nl.

– Wander behind historic Charleston’s private garden gates for an award-winning tour, Spring Festival of Houses & Gardens, showcasing elegant gardens and architecture dating back to the 18th century. From March 22 to April 21, get a rare glimpse inside the private homes and gardens of this South Carolina city while it’s rich in blooms. Festival events at historiccharleston.org.

– See beauty bloom closer to home at Canada Blooms, the country’s largest flower and garden festival. Re-energize and de-stress as you stroll through 2.5 hectares of colourful gardens; take in over 200 hours of free educational workshops and gardening demonstrations during March 16-25 at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto. Check out canadablooms.com. The Fairmont Royal York is offering a one-night stay in a Fairmont Room and two tickets to the Canada Blooms, with rates beginning at $135. For reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414, or visit fairmont.com/royalyork.

MAGICAL MOMENTS

It’s still not too late to enjoy the winter we never had. Spend the night in an igloo and dine in one, too! Snow Village in Montreal is constructed entirely out of snow and ice, and features a 24-room hotel and six igloos, a 60-seat restaurant, a bar, convention centre and even a wedding chapel. Fun family activities include a maze, slides, entertainment and snow sculpture workshops. Splurge over March Break and stay the night: Sleeping in an igloo starts at $195 per person and includes a hi-tech thermal sleeping bag, continental breakfast and access to the village. Located in Parc Jean Drapeau, the village is open until March 31, weather permitting. March Break specials run March 5-9 and March 12-16; enjoy daily snow village activities for a rate of $10 per parent when accompanied by one child under 12. See snowvillagecanada.com.

WHALE OF A GOOD TIME

Celebrate the return of 20,000 grey whales on their migration of 13,000 km, from the waters of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula to the Bering Sea, at the 26th annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival in Tofino, B.C. The festival hosts over 60 events for all ages with a week-long calendar of educational, culinary and cultural arts events from March 17-25. Highlights include a performance by Juno award winner, Jim Brynes, a Chowder Chowdown, and gala dinner with silent auction. Many events are free and suitable for all ages. Wildlife enthusiasts, foodies and lovers of the arts are welcomed to be inspired by the world’s largest whale celebration. See pacificrimwhalefestival.com.

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North America agenda: 14th Armory Arts Week

Posted on 1st March 2012 in The monuments of world

Spring festivals include Saint Patrick’s Day and Cherry Blossoms in DC, music fests range from SXSW in Texas to electronica’s Winter Fest in Miami Beach, and art exhibits include New York’s Armory Arts Week, the art of video games in Washington DC and Yves Saint-Laurent’s designs in Denver, Colorado.

14th Armory Arts Week
March 8-11
Various locations
New York City, NY

Centered around the Armory Show (New York’s biggest art fair), Armory Arts Week has become an international institution that draws a crowd of around 60,000 art enthusiasts. Events at galleries from Chelsea to Harlem and museums from the Guggenheim to MoMA, involve collectors, critics and curators from around the world. Concurrent art fairs include the ADAA Art Show, Volta NY, Independent, Pulse, Scope, Dutch Art Now, Red Dot, Fountain, Pool, Korean Art show and Verge.
http://www.armoryartsweek.com/

32nd Natural Products Expo West
March 8-11
Anaheim, California

The Natural Products Expo West is one of the largest natural, organic and healthy products trade shows and conventions in the world, alongside Vivaness, with more than 55,000 industry professional attending last year’s event. More than 3,000 exhibits from over 1,900 different companies showcasing the newest products in natural and specialty foods, organic, health and beauty, natural living, supplements and pet products. Its sister show, Expo East, draws crowds of 20,000 with 1,700 exhibits.
http://www.expowest.com/

26th SXSW Conference & Festival
March 9-20
Austin, Texas

By day, SXSW is a media extravaganza with three different tracks within the event, focused on interactive technology (March 9-13), film (March 9-17) and music (March 13-18) with accompanying conferences and trade shows. By night, the festival features 2,000 bands from around the world performing at venues across the city as well as much-anticipated edgy film premieres. A must-do for 12,000 entertainment fans and industry players and artists. Similar in size, the Winter Music Conference in Miami covers dance and electronica and the CMJ in New York focuses on indie music.
http://www.sxsw.com

The International Home & Housewares Show
March 10-13
Chicago, Illinois

Thousands of buyers and exhibitors from more than 100 countries convene each year at McCormick Place to showcase furniture to appliances covering categories from Wired & Well to Dine & Design, International Pavilions and winners in the Student Design Competition. This trade event, which can be followed online, has similar shows from SIPREMIUM in Seoul and the Hong Kong Houseware Show in April http://www.housewares.org/show/info/

26th WonderCon
March 16-18
Anaheim, California

This comic book conference offers a preview of upcoming films prior to the extravaganza of ComicCon in July. Presentations and panel discussions for animated films, anime, superhero movies and videogames will be showcased for fans as well as creators of classic comics such as Batman and Wolverine. In 2012, the event moves to Anaheim’s Convention Center, while San Francisco’s Moscone Center undergoes renovations.
http://www.comic-con.org/wc/index.php

27th Winter Music Conference
March 16-25
Miami Beach, Florida

With the explosion of electronic music, this festival attracts 1900 artists and DJs, 100,000 attendees from 70 countries with 400 seminars, demo sessions and pool parties. The round-the-clock events include DJ spin-offs and club performances culminating in the Dance Music Awards. The conference at The Beachplex features panels and Q&As with industry leaders and producers. The Ultra Music Festival is scheduled March 23-25. Similar fests include Detroit’s Electronic Music Fest and Nature One near Frankfurt.
http://www.wintermusicconference.com and http://www.ultramusicfestival.com/

The Art of Video Games
March 16-September 30
American Art Museum, Smithsonian
Washington, DC

The first exhibit to chronicle the development of video games as an art medium, from the 1970s Atari to today’s Playstation 3. Visual effects, storytelling and aesthetics will be highlighted by curators PastPixels. Multimedia presentations with game footage, historic consoles and a selection of working game systems will be available for visitors to play. The show opens with GameFest, three days of talks by video game pioneers, designers and artists, screenings, and hands-on play of Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, and Myst.
http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/

250th St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 17
New York City, New York

St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated by the Irish and “Irish at heart” features parades and pub crawls in cities across the US and around the world, from Tokyo to Turkey. Since 1762, the oldest and largest party marches along New York City’s Fifth Avenue from St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 11 am to the Metropolitan Museum of Art around 5 pm. Irish music, food and drink are enjoyed by all who wear green, with some towns even dyeing the local rivers green.

http://www.st-patricks-day.com

27th LA Marathon
March 18
Los Angeles, California

Inspired by the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in the city, this “Stadium to the Sea” 26.2 mile race, starts at Dodger Baseball Stadium and wends its way along the Sunset Strip through Beverly Hills, crossing town to reach the Santa Monica Pier. With 26,054 registrants keeping a 15-minute per mile pace, the finish line closes officially eight hours after the launch start of the race. Celebrity pariticpants have included Shia Labeouf, Gordon Ramsay and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
http://www.lamarathon.com

100th National Cherry Blossom Festival
March 20 – April 27
Washington DC

The centennial celebration of the thousands of blossoming cherry trees along the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, this spring honors the original gift of 600 trees Japan presented to America in 1912. This tradition in the nation’s capital includes an annual parade, kite festival, fireworks, concerts and 90 special events over five weeks, from art to musical performances in tribute to the pink and white flowers that fill the city, monuments and National Mall.
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier
March 24-August 19
De Young Museum
San Francisco, California

For the 35th anniversary of Jean Paul Gaultier, the first retrospective devoted to the fashion designer spans 120 selections from his 1976 ready-to-wear to his 2007 haute couture collections. The exhibition, “From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk,” celebrates his avant-garde style and collaborations with Madonna, Lady Gaga, filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, dance and theater with films clips of concerts, ballets, and fashion shows. Photography includes images by Andy Warhol, Jean-Baptiste Mondino and Robert Doisneau. The Montreal-based theater company Ubu Compagnie de Création designed 30 animated mannequins who talk and sing in playful vignettes for the show.
http://deyoung.famsf.org/


Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective
March 25-July 8
Denver Art Museum

A 40-year survey of the fashion designer work arrives from the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Paris, with 200 examples of his haute couture garments, as well as photographs, drawings, and films that illustrate the development of his style and career from early days at Dior in 1958 to Saint Laurant’s recent elegant evening gowns. The DAM will be the only US venue for the exhibition.
http://www.denverartmuseum.org

25th Kid’s Choice Awards
March 31
Los Angeles, CA

Actor Will Smith will emcee the Kids’ Choice Awards, presented by Nickelodeon, the kids’ television network. Young fans who watch the channel will choose favorite artists in film, television and music. Winners take the famous orange blimp trophy and get “slimed” with green goop live at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
http://www.nick.com/kids-choice-awards

32nd Razzie Awards
April 1
Hollywood, California

Rescheduled to coincide with April Fools Day, The Razzies spoof on the Oscars moved its awards ceremony for the worst films to April 1 in 2012. The nominees for the Golden Raspberry Award, announced the night before the Oscars, were dominated by Adam Sandler this year with a record 11 Razzies nods for three films including Jack and Jill. Besides the acting, directing, writing and film categories, The Razzies dishonor the Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel. Previous repeat ‘winners’ included Sylvester Stallone and Madonna.
http://www.razzies.com

112th New York International Auto Show
April 6-15
New York, New York

New York rounds out the North American Auto Show season and normally boasts a couple of high-profile debuts of upcoming production vehicles and concept cars for visitors, who number over one million. The show traditionally hosts the prestigious World Car of the Year competition, selecting the winner from new models introduced by automakers around the world. Follow the event on Twitter @NYAutoShow
http://www.autoshowny.com

13th Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
April 13-15 and April 20-22
Indio, California, USA

More than 100,000 music fans head to the Southern California desert for the annual Coachella Festival. In the decade since launching, the multi-stage event has grown in size and acclaim and is considered the opener of the summer festival season, adding another weekend in 2012. Artists in the line-up cover pop, rock, electronica and hip-hop genres and this year’s headliners include Radiohead, The Black Keys, Bon Iver and Snoop Dog. Bonnaro and Lollapolooza are the two other big US pop musical events.
http://www.coachella.com

27th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 14
Cleveland, Ohio

Presentations to legendary pop, rock and R&B musicians and industry greats at this ceremony located at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. This year’s inductees include Guns N’Roses, Donovan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Faces, Beastie Boys, Lauri Nyro, and The Miracles. A week of activities for fans precede the event with a grand finale jam session of the latest Hall of Famers.
http://www.rockhall.com

11th Tribeca Film Festival
April 18-29-May 1
New York City, New York

Co-founded by Robert DeNiro, this event screens 135 narrative, documentaries and short films from American and international filmmakers in venues around town, as well as streaming and video-on-demand, reaching beyond the 400,000 attendees. With galas and awards, this spring event has eclipsed Lincoln Center’s New York Film Festival in fall.
http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org

Star Wars: Identities
April 19-September 16
Montreal Science Center
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

In association with Lucasfilms, scientific experts and the team that mounted the Indiana Jones exhibition, the identity of characters from the Star Wars films, 1977 to 2005, is the theme explored in this show. Displays of 200 objects from Lucasfilms’ archives of props, models and artwork, include Darth Vader’s caped costume and a full-sized Podracer. The interactive experience explores Jedi heroes, Luke and Skywalker, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Yoda, and more, allowing visitors to create their own character.
http://www.starwarsidentities.com and http://www.montrealsciencecentre.com

RC

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Heart in heritage

Posted on 29th February 2012 in The monuments of world

How do you preserve traditional buildings for posterity? Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar-Jodhpur shares his success formula

Heritage structures don’t come with an expiry date. At least for Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar-Jodhpur. Having repackaged ancient landmarks into money-spinning, ritzy star hotels, he has rewritten the rules of heritage conservation in Rajasthan and is keen on encouraging the trend in other States as well.

In a day that never seems to end — he has met Chennai’s Mayor, visited heritage sites in the city, given interviews and has a concert to attend — his cheeriness is intact. Though the trappings of royalty seen in picture-filled storybooks and lavishly-mounted films are missing, Gaj Singh’s sartorial standards — his regal blue bandgala and shoes brought to a military shine — are reminders of refined tastes and perfection that were synonymous with monarchs who lived in golden-yellow sandstone monuments.

Workable concept

Heritage hotels, a trend he set rolling by converting his sprawling Umaid Bhawan Palace into a celebrity-hopping leisure destination, are his way of connecting to his past, while engaging with the present and planning for the future. “It’s a workable concept with great potential. When we founded the Heritage Hotels Association of India in the early 1990s, there were only 14 members. Today, we have 170 members, with six from Tamil Nadu. Rajasthan leads the pack with 90. Structures built before 1950 with a distinct architectural style (it can be a palace or fort, house or haveli) are good enough to be converted into heritage hotels. We are talking to the State Governments about encouraging heritage tourism with special incentives, tax breaks and providing better infrastructure.”

The boy-king who had “inherited huge properties” from his father at the age of four, after he lost him to a plane crash in 1952, got interested in heritage conservation during his student days in Britain. “People have true love for tradition. It was amazing to see how the Europeans protected war-ravaged monuments. It was a big motivation. When I returned in the early 1970s, I found everything around me collapsing. It was a turbulent period with the abolition of privy purses and privileges extended to royalty. But the emotional resonance associated with royals was intact. I was moved by the reception given to me by the people of Jodhpur. I had a deep feeling of attachment and responsibility for them. Their affection gave me the courage and encouragement to start afresh and keep my head above water.”

By pioneering the heritage hotel movement, he was able to allow his parallel lives (as old-world Maharaja and new-age entrepreneur) to intersect. Monuments were tweaked to fulfil modern needs. He was able to draw a steady influx of tourists to Jodhpur. “It’s easy to raze rundown monuments and raise fresh structures. But what about our pride in our past,” he asks with anguish. “Heritage hotels enrich the ethnic experience in a special way. A concerted effort by the government, planners and promoters is needed to strengthen the trend. Sensitivity to heritage conservation must be inculcated at school level. And the media can play a bigger role in highlighting what needs to be done to protect the past. It’s hard to believe, but in some countries they have audio-guides and documentaries to make a single old rock come alive! That’s the way they promote heritage. By repackaging heritage buildings into charming hotels, there’s money for their future conservation too. It’s economically viable. Hotels generate jobs, the local economy improves and ethnic crafts in the vicinity flourish. Also, it helps spread the tourist footprint to rural areas as most havelis and vernacular-style homes are located away from the cities.”

Harmony with heritage

Talk about development in harmony with heritage, and he breaks into a sardonic smile. “Conservation should be high on the government’s radar. Development is not just about cement, mortar and money. I’m not opposed to flashy new structures coming up in the cities. But what worries me is the loss of heritage’s endearing face. Buildings must be zoned; skylines and certain vistas need to be preserved. I’ve seen parks and old buildings gobbled up by the construction mafia in some cities. And sadly, it’s not what the people want because these are landmarks integral to their lives.”

It’s not just about buildings. “There’s a lot of intangible heritage too that we are letting go in the name of modernisation. Our spoken word, our music, poetry… are all vanishing rapidly. We launched the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) to put local artists on a global platform and give them an opportunity to perform alongside top-notch musicians. Our Sufi Music Festival too has become a major draw.” And what about Bollywood tunes? “I listen to FM radio in the car and watch Hindi films while flying. My association with Bollywood stops there.”

Having specialised in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in Britain, Gaj Singh is not keen on taking the plunge into politics. “I’ve been on the fringes of politics by serving as an MP. But it’s not in me to get into active politics because of the special relationship I share with my people. I don’t want to take sides with political parties. I prefer to do social work and be involved with NGOs. It’s more direct and rewarding.”

FORT UPDATE

Aldous Huxley and Rudyard Kipling have celebrated the Mehrangarh Fort in their writings. Maintained by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust that’s managed by Maharaja Gaj Singh II, the 1459 AD structure houses a museum exhibiting the heritage of the Rathores and Marwars. There’s a display of arms, costumes, paintings, palanquins and furniture. The museum is set to be remodelled soon to make it more visitor-friendly. “The idea is to enhance the experience and walk them through this living monument without any hassle.”

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Washington, DC Luxury Hotel Sponsors International Wine & Food Festival

Posted on 24th February 2012 in The monuments of world

WASHINGTON, DC–(Marketwire -02/24/12)- Washington, DC is not just monuments and museums. Each year, the city hosts the Washington DC International Wine & Food Festival, which fills hotels near the National Mall in Washington, DC with food lovers from around the world.

This February 11th and 12th, the festival returned for another year, and JW Marriott Washington, DC, among Washington, DC luxury hotels, was proud to sponsor this year’s event. Partnering with the Wine & Food Festival was a great success because wine appreciation is a passion point of the JW Marriott guest.

The week-long Wine & Food festival celebrates food, wine, and culture around the city, with gourmet food booths featuring new products, offerings from local restaurants on Restaurant Row, wines from around the world, Artisan Row, chef demos, and more.

The festival culminates with the Grand Tasting at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, a premier Washington, DC event space. This 2-day grand finale features the best in food and wine. Join more than 100 wineries from around the globe, all offering tastes of more than 500 rare and loved wines; sample dishes from the best local restaurants; and see what’s new with foods from international artisanal purveyors. Every attendee has the chance to interact with and learn from winemakers, and leaves with an etched Washington DC International Wine & Food Festival wine glass. To learn more about the festival, see highlights from this year’s event, and get information for next year’s event, visit http://www.wineandfooddc.com/.

JW Marriott Washington, DC, a luxury downtown hotel in Washington, DC offers a convenient location on Pennsylvania Avenue, an indoor pool and fitness center, and two delicious dining options. Guestrooms and suites all feature a 37-inch LCD TV; signature Marriott Revive® bedding package with thick mattresses and crisp linens; high-speed wireless Internet; and a plug-in panel to connect all your devices.

About JW Marriott Washington, DC
JW Marriott Washington, DC puts you in the heart of the nation’s capitol, on Pennsylvania Avenue and just around the corner from the White House. Whether you’re here as a tourist or business traveler, this luxurious downtown Washington, DC hotel offers generous amenities and a prime location. Explore renowned monuments, the National Mall, museums, and more, including the National Portrait Gallery and the Newseum. With the Metro just a block away, you can zip to meetings or attractions within minutes. Business travelers appreciate this hotel’s fitness center, indoor pool, and whirlpool when it comes time to relax, but there’s plenty here to keep you on assignment, including an in-room plug-in panel, high-speed Internet access, a full-service Starbucks, and a concierge lounge offering continental breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres, and snacks. Guestrooms feature signature Marriott Revive® bedding, with thick mattresses and 300-thread-count sheets, and a 37-inch LCD TV. Whether you worked up an appetite walking around or sitting at the computer, treat yourself to hearty fare at the Avenue Grill, overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue, or a casual bite at 1331. Located just 15 minutes from Reagan National Airport, JW Marriott Washington, DC offers 37,000 square feet of meeting space, making it a convenient and smart choice for corporate events.

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Masked gunmen steal dozens of antiquities from birthplace of ancient Greek Olympics

Posted on 18th February 2012 in The monuments of world

By The Associated Press

Onlookers and police gather outside the antiquities museum in Ancient Olympia, where two masked armed robbers tied up a guard and made off with dozens of artifacts. Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece — Two masked gunmen stormed into a small museum at the birthplace of the ancient Olympics in southern Greece on Friday, smashing display cases with hammers and making off with dozens of antiquities up to 3,200 years old, authorities said.

It was the second major museum theft in as many months in debt-crippled Greece, and a culture ministry unionist said spending cuts have compromised security at hundreds of museums and ancient sites across the country. With unemployment at 21 percent and Greece’s economy in its fifth year of recession, crime, poverty and homeless rates also have been increasing.

Friday’s robbers targeted the museum of the ancient Games at Olympia, a few hundred yards (meters) away from the world heritage site’s main museum that contains priceless statues and bronze artifacts excavated at the holiest sanctuary of ancient Greece.

Officials said 65 artifacts were stolen by the robbers, who tied up the only site guard, a 48-year-old woman.

Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos submitted his resignation after the morning robbery, but it was unclear whether it had been accepted by Prime Minister Lucas Papademos. Geroulanos traveled on Friday to ancient Olympia, some 210 miles (340 kilometers) southwest of Athens.

“This is a very sad day … a tragedy,” ministry Secretary-General Lina Mendoni said.

Police in Olympia and neighboring regions set up roadblocks for the thieves, who are believed to have escaped in a car driven by an accomplice, while a police helicopter combed the area and special investigators were rushed in from Athens.

“According to the results of the investigation so far, unknown persons, this morning, at about 07:34 a.m., immobilized the guard of the museum and removed bronze and clay objects from the displays, as well as a gold ring,” a police statement said.

A culture ministry official said the stolen antiquities dated from the 9th to the 4th centuries B.C., apart from the seal-ring which dates to Late Bronze Age Mycenaean times and was found in another part of southern Greece.

“They took small objects made of bronze and pottery — figurines, vases and lamps — and the ring,” the official said. “The artifacts were behind reinforced glass panels which fracture like a car windscreen, and the thieves grabbed whatever small objects they could reach through the holes they opened.” Continued…

A spokesman for museum guards urged emergency government action to protect historic sites and museums, warning that spending cuts taken to save the country from bankruptcy have eroded security.

“The cutbacks imposed by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund have hurt our cultural heritage, which is also the world’s heritage” said Yiannis Mavrikopoulos, head of the culture ministry museum and site guards’ union.

“There are no funds for new guard hirings,” he said. “There are 2,000 of us, and there should be 4,000, while many have been forced to take early retirement ahead of the new program of layoffs. We face terrible staff shortages. As a result, our monuments and sites don’t have optimum protection — even though guards are doing their very best to protect our heritage.

Officials said the robbers seemed to have poor information on the museum, asking the guard where they could get golden wreaths and a valuable stamp collection — which are not part of the display.

“They seem to have operated more as if they were carrying out a holdup” rather than a professional museum heist, the ministry official told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.

The ancient Olympics were the most important sporting festival in ancient Greece, held every four years and lasting up to five days. They started in 776 B.C. and lasted until A.D. 394 when Roman emperor Theodosius abolished the festival, deeming it pagan. The site hosted an Olympic event during the Athens 2004 Games, when the shot-put was held in the ancient stadium.

The flame for each modern Olympics is lit in a special ceremony at ancient Olympia — and the ceremony for the London Games will be held there on May 10.

Olympia Mayor Efthimios Kotzas urged authorities to improve security.

“The level of security is indeed lacking,” Kotzas told state-run NET television. “These are treasures. A piece of world heritage has been lost, thanks to these thieves. … I think (authorities) should have been more mindful and the security should have been more serious.”

Friday’s robbery is the second major museum theft in the past two months in Greece. In January, thieves made off with art works by 20th-century masters Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian from the National Gallery in one of the best-guarded areas of central Athens. Continued…

In that pre-dawn heist, the burglars also took a pen and ink drawing of a religious scene by Italian 16th-century painter Guglielmo Caccia. As they fled, thieves abandoned a fourth work by Mondrian. No arrests have been made.

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Gunmen raid museum at Ancient Olympia, as guards say cutbacks threaten Greek heritage

Posted on 17th February 2012 in The monuments of world

ATHENS, Greece – Two masked gunmen stormed into a small museum at the birthplace of the ancient Olympics in southern Greece on Friday, smashing display cases with hammers and making off with dozens of antiquities up to 3,200 years old, authorities said.

It was the second major museum theft in as many months in debt-crippled Greece, and a culture ministry unionist said spending cuts have compromised security at hundreds of museums and ancient sites across the country. With unemployment at 21 per cent and Greece’s economy in its fifth year of recession, crime, poverty and homeless rates also have been increasing.

Friday’s robbers targeted the museum of the ancient Games at Olympia, a few hundred yards (meters) away from the world heritage site’s main museum, which contains priceless statues and bronze artifacts excavated at the holiest sanctuary of ancient Greece.

Police said about 60 artifacts were stolen by the robbers, who tied up the only site guard, a 48-year-old woman.

Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos submitted his resignation after the morning robbery, but it was unclear whether it had been accepted by Prime Minister Lucas Papademos. Geroulanos travelled on Friday to ancient Olympia, some 210 miles (340 kilometres) southwest of Athens.

“This is a very sad day … a tragedy,” ministry Secretary-General Lina Mendoni said.

Police in Olympia and neighbouring areas set up roadblocks, while special investigators were rushed in from Athens.

“According to the results of the investigation so far, unknown persons, this morning, at about 07:34 a.m., immobilized the guard of the museum and removed bronze and clay objects from the displays, as well as a gold ring,” a police statement said.

A culture ministry official said the stolen antiquities dated from the 9th to the 4th centuries B.C., apart from the seal-ring which dates to Late Bronze Age Mycenaean times and was found in another part of southern Greece.

“They took small objects made of bronze and pottery — figurines, vases and lamps — and the ring,” the official said. “The artifacts were behind reinforced glass panels which fracture like a car windscreen, and the thieves grabbed whatever small objects they could reach through the holes they opened.”

A spokesman for museum guards urged emergency government action to protect historic sites and museums, warning that spending cuts taken to save the country from bankruptcy have eroded security.

“The cutbacks imposed by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund have hurt our cultural heritage, which is also the world’s heritage” said Yiannis Mavrikopoulos, head of the culture ministry museum and site guards’ union.

“There are no funds for new guard hirings,” he said. “There are 2,000 of us, and there should be 4,000, while many have been forced to take early retirement ahead of the new program of layoffs. We face terrible staff shortages. As a result, our monuments and sites don’t have optimum protection — even though guards are doing their very best to protect our heritage.

Officials said the robbers seemed to have poor information on the museum, asking the guard where they could get golden wreaths and a valuable stamp collection — which are not part of the display.

“They seem to have operated more as if they were carrying out a holdup” rather than a professional museum heist, the ministry official told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.

The ancient Olympics were the most important sporting festival in ancient Greece, held every four years and lasting up to five days. They started in 776 B.C. and lasted until A.D. 394 when Roman emperor Theodosius abolished the festival, deeming it pagan. The site hosted an Olympic event during the Athens 2004 Games, when the shot-put was held in the ancient stadium.

The flame for each modern Olympics is lit in a special ceremony at ancient Olympia — and the ceremony for the London Games will be held there on May 10.

Olympia Mayor Efthimios Kotzas urged authorities to improve security.

“The level of security is indeed lacking,” Kotzas told state-run NET television. “These are treasures. A piece of world heritage has been lost, thanks to these thieves. … I think (authorities) should have been more mindful and the security should have been more serious.”

Friday’s robbery is the second major museum theft in the past two months in Greece. In January, thieves made off with art works by 20th-century masters Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian from the National Gallery in one of the best-guarded areas of central Athens.

In that pre-dawn heist, the burglars also took a pen and ink drawing of a religious scene by Italian 16th-century painter Guglielmo Caccia. As they fled, thieves abandoned a fourth work by Mondrian. No arrests have been made.

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Museum robbed at Greece's Ancient Olympia

Posted on 17th February 2012 in The monuments of world

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Two masked gunmen stormed into a small museum at the birthplace of the ancient Olympics in southern Greece on Friday, smashing display cases with hammers and making off with dozens of antiquities up to 3,200 years old, authorities said.

It was the second major museum theft in as many months in debt-crippled Greece, and a culture ministry unionist said spending cuts have compromised security at hundreds of museums and ancient sites across the country. With unemployment at 21 percent and Greece’s economy in its fifth year of recession, crime, poverty and homeless rates also have been increasing.

Friday’s robbers targeted the museum of the ancient Games at Olympia, a few hundred yards (meters) away from the world heritage site’s main museum, which contains priceless statues and bronze artifacts excavated at the holiest sanctuary of ancient Greece.

Police said about 60 artifacts were stolen by the robbers, who tied up the only site guard, a 48-year-old woman.

Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos submitted his resignation after the morning robbery, but it was unclear whether it had been accepted by Prime Minister Lucas Papademos. Geroulanos traveled on Friday to ancient Olympia, some 210 miles (340 kilometers) southwest of Athens.

“This is a very sad day … a tragedy,” ministry Secretary-General Lina Mendoni said.

Police in Olympia and neighboring areas set up roadblocks, while special investigators were rushed in from Athens.

“According to the results of the investigation so far, unknown persons, this morning, at about 07:34 a.m., immobilized the guard of the museum and removed bronze and clay objects from the displays, as well as a gold ring,” a police statement said.

A culture ministry official said the stolen antiquities dated from the 9th to the 4th centuries B.C., apart from the seal-ring which dates to Late Bronze Age Mycenaean times and was found in another part of southern Greece.

“They took small objects made of bronze and pottery — figurines, vases and lamps — and the ring,” the official said. “The artifacts were behind reinforced glass panels which fracture like a car windscreen, and the thieves grabbed whatever small objects they could reach through the holes they opened.”

A spokesman for museum guards urged emergency government action to protect historic sites and museums, warning that spending cuts taken to save the country from bankruptcy have eroded security.

“The cutbacks imposed by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund have hurt our cultural heritage, which is also the world’s heritage” said Yiannis Mavrikopoulos, head of the culture ministry museum and site guards’ union.

“There are no funds for new guard hirings,” he said. “There are 2,000 of us, and there should be 4,000, while many have been forced to take early retirement ahead of the new program of layoffs. We face terrible staff shortages. As a result, our monuments and sites don’t have optimum protection — even though guards are doing their very best to protect our heritage.

Officials said the robbers seemed to have poor information on the museum, asking the guard where they could get golden wreaths and a valuable stamp collection — which are not part of the display.

“They seem to have operated more as if they were carrying out a holdup” rather than a professional museum heist, the ministry official told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.

The ancient Olympics were the most important sporting festival in ancient Greece, held every four years and lasting up to five days. They started in 776 B.C. and lasted until A.D. 394 when Roman emperor Theodosius abolished the festival, deeming it pagan. The site hosted an Olympic event during the Athens 2004 Games, when the shot-put was held in the ancient stadium.

The flame for each modern Olympics is lit in a special ceremony at ancient Olympia — and the ceremony for the London Games will be held there on May 10.

Olympia Mayor Efthimios Kotzas urged authorities to improve security.

“The level of security is indeed lacking,” Kotzas told state-run NET television. “These are treasures. A piece of world heritage has been lost, thanks to these thieves. … I think (authorities) should have been more mindful and the security should have been more serious.”

Friday’s robbery is the second major museum theft in the past two months in Greece. In January, thieves made off with art works by 20th-century masters Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian from the National Gallery in one of the best-guarded areas of central Athens.

In that pre-dawn heist, the burglars also took a pen and ink drawing of a religious scene by Italian 16th-century painter Guglielmo Caccia. As they fled, thieves abandoned a fourth work by Mondrian. No arrests have been made.

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