Today, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in coordination with Dar Al-Hekma College is opening a photo exhibit entitled "Photography Through the Eyes of Saudi Arabian Women." The exhibition is the first of its kind, portraying a collection of work from dozens of Saudi women photographers to be exhibited in the United States.  The exhibit will run from July 27-August 6 at the Embassy in Washington, D.C.

The initial showing of the exhibit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in April 2010 was organized by Saudi photographer Rania A. Razek, showcasing photographs by amateur and professional female photographers. Ms. Razek helped found the first women's photography club in the Kingdom and was involved in developing the Photography Diploma Program at Dar Al-Hekma College and other institutions in the Kingdom.

The photographs from the exhibit are also featured in a book entitled Photography Through the Eyes of Saudi Arabian Women created by Ms. Razek. The book includes the experiences of female photographers living in Saudi Arabia.

Ms Razek said, "My wish is that this book and exhibit will help motivate others to share their unique visions with the world. I hope the work will help increase awareness, pride and appreciation for our cultural heritage."

The photographs featured were taken in a variety of places in Saudi Arabia and around the world. They cover the following topics: visions of life, portraiture, abstractions, Saudi Arabian culture and photo art.

For more information on Saudi Arabian culture visit the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia website.

This is distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia.  Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.saudiembassy.net/

David Gill, archaeologist, reflects on the return of 337 antiquities to Italy as part of Operation Andromeda.

In December 2008 an investigation into the business connections of a London-based antiquities dealer led police to a storage facility in the Geneva Freeport in Switzerland. The premises, owned by a Japanese dealer, were found to contain around 20,000 objects. The dealer decided to co-operate with the authorities and he agreed to the return of 337 objects to Italy. These were revealed in a carefully staged event in the arena of the Colosseum in Rome.

Among the objects returned were 10 frescoes that appeared to come from Pompeii, bronzes, and figure-decorated pottery made in Athens and Southern Italy.

Rome-based investigative reporter Fabio Isman, who recently demonstrated the link between a collection in Madrid and the dealer Giacomo Medici, has revealed the identity of the Japanese dealer as Noryioshi Horiuchi. This individual apparently played a major part in the acquisition of antiquities for the Miho Museum in Japan. It is reported that Italian authorities have identified some 50 objects in the Japanese collection from photographic images seized from Medici and other dealers; one of the key dossiers was found in a police raid on the property of a London dealer on the Greek island of Schinoussa.

The Japanese dealer has also been reported to have had close links with a husband and wife team who ran an antiquities business in Basel, Switzerland. Their premises were raided in 2002 and some 5000 objects were recovered; three trucks were needed to transport some 4400 objects to Italy.

This latest return shows that there continues to be an active market in recently-surfaced antiquities from Italy. This revelation comes in the wake of reports about Madrid's acquisition of potentially "toxic" antiquities for 12 million USD, as well as the appearance of ex-Medici objects at auctions in London and New York.

The US Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC) is in the process of extending the Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) with Italy. These cases are a reminder that such MOUs are a key part of the strategy to reduce the looting of archaeological sites that supply fresh material for the market.

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/2010/07/operation-andromeda-getting-overview.html

SOURCE Looting Matters

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com

Art.com Inc., the world's leading online specialty provider of wall art products and services, today announced the hiring of Andrew Wait as chief marketing officer.  Wait brings more than twenty years of marketing, merchandising, and product development experience to this position.  He will oversee Art.com Inc.'s overall marketing operations and strategy, including online marketing, international marketing, user experience and product management, branding and business development.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091208/ART-COMLOGO)

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091208/ART-COMLOGO)

"We are very pleased to welcome Andrew to the Art.com Inc. executive team," said Geoffroy Martin, chief executive officer of Art.com Inc. "His proven track record for driving top-line growth and increasing brand awareness through innovative marketing campaigns and programs will be instrumental to the success and profitable growth of our global business."

Before joining Art.com Inc., Wait served as senior vice president and general manager of Ancestry.com, the world's largest online resource for family history, where he led marketing, content acquisition, business development, product management and engineering for the U.S. region.  Prior to Ancestry.com, Wait was senior director of marketing at Kodak Gallery, a leading online digital photo developing service. During his tenure at Kodak Gallery, Wait helped the company generate significant growth in customers and overall revenue through innovative direct marketing and customer loyalty programs, effective merchandising and usability improvements.  Before joining Kodak Gallery, Wait was senior director of marketing for EarthLink's PeoplePC Brand, where he oversaw customer acquisition, retention and brand development. Earlier in his career, he also held various executive marketing positions with Pacific Bell/SBC, Bank of America and Hilton Hotels Corporation.  Wait holds an MBA from St. Mary's College of California and a BA from the University of California at Berkeley.

"Art.com Inc. has built an incredible set of brands with over 10 million customers worldwide," said Wait.  "I'm excited to take on the marketing reins and look forward to helping the company achieve higher levels of customer and revenue growth."

About Art.com Inc.

Art.com Inc. is the world's leading online specialty provider of posters, prints, and framed art.  Since 1998, Art.com Inc. has sold high-quality wall art online to more than 10 million customers – including home decorators, interior designers, businesses, art collectors, and art lovers – in over 120 countries worldwide.  The privately-held company is headquartered in Emeryville, CA, with other facilities in Ohio, North Carolina and the Netherlands.  For more information, visit www.art.com and www.AllPosters.com.  "art.com" and "AllPosters" are registered trademarks of Art.com Inc.

SOURCE Art.com Inc.

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.art.com
http://www.AllPosters.com

Kids love to express their individuality and moms think it's important too. Sixty-five percent of moms said it was important for a child's wardrobe to reflect their personality in the 2010 Back-to-School Survey by Parents magazine and Lands' End. This back-to-school season, Lands' End is giving kids the ultimate chance to express themselves while supporting school art programs with the "Every Tee Tells A Story" contest.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20071029/AQM053LOGO)

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071029/AQM053LOGO)

Beginning July 28 through Sept. 7, Lands' End invites kids ages 4 to 11 to submit drawings based on the theme of "Arctic Exploration" for a chance to have their design featured in the next Lands' End Graphic Tee collection. For every entry received, Lands' End will donate $1 to fund art-related classroom projects at public schools throughout the nation via its partnership with DonorsChoose.org – up to $10,000.

"Clothing is a fun way for kids to showcase their unique style. We know the best way to find out what kids want to wear is to ask them," said Liz Pierce, senior design director, Lands' End. "Whether trekking through icebergs or frolicking with penguins, we're excited to let kids show off their creativity with a t-shirt design."

Winning Designs Receive Funding for Art Programs

In addition to having their design featured on a Lands' End Graphic Tee, the boy and girl who submit the winning drawing will receive a $500 Lands' End Gift Card and a $1,000 donation to their school art program. Select entries will be available for viewing in an online gallery at www.landsend.com/thehub.

To enter the "Every Tee Tells A Story" contest, download the drawing template and official entry form from www.landsend.com/thehub. All submissions must be postmarked by Sept. 7, 2010, and mailed to Lands' End with the completed entry form signed by a parent or guardian. Winners will be notified on or around September 15, 2010.

School Support with DonorsChoose.org

In 2010, Lands' End has committed to give back $1 million to schools. As part of this commitment, Lands' End is working with DonorsChoose.org to fund educational requests from kindergarten through 5th grade teachers throughout the nation. For more details on the previous DonorsChoose.org projects supported by Lands' End please visit the Lands' End giving page at: http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=28212&1271177212049.

About Lands' End

Lands' End® is a classic American lifestyle brand with a passion for quality, legendary service, real value and a simple two-word promise to stand behind everything it sells: Guaranteed. Period.® Lands' End delivers timeless style for Men, Women, Kids and the Home at landsend.com, 1-800-800-5800, the Lands' End Shops at Sears and around the world. Lands' End is a proud member of Sears Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: SHLD).

SOURCE Lands' End

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.landsend.com/

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County will name its new arts center in downtown Winston-Salem "Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts" in honor of its current President and CEO.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100721/CL38949 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100721/CL38949 )

Tonya Deem, Arts Council chair, said, "The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County has been fortunate to have Milton Rhodes serve twice as its President and CEO.  Milton has long been considered one of the most capable and visionary leaders in the American arts community. It is with pride that The Arts Council's Board of Trustees names The Center for him."

The opening of The Center is scheduled for early September and will be celebrated by several days of events, including a gala with entertainment by a nationally acclaimed performer and two community days of free activities and entertainment.

"Saying that I am honored is understatement," said Rhodes.  "Being recognized in such a significant way in the place that I call home and that has had a special place in my heart all my adult life is overwhelming. I deeply appreciate the action of The Arts Council's Board of Trustees, and like so many people in our city and county, I can't wait to see the doors swing open on The Center in September.  In my mind, this amazing new facility is the beginning of a new era for arts, culture and community life in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County."

Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, which includes the historic Sawtooth Building, was designed jointly by Winston-Salem architectural firms, Calloway Johnson Moore & West and Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce.  General contractor is Frank L. Blum Construction of Winston-Salem. The 83,000 sq. ft. Center includes enlarged and enhanced facilities for Sawtooth Center for Visual Art; the 21,500 sq. ft. Hanesbrands black-box theatre; Reynolds Place meeting and event venue; two new gallery and exhibition spaces; and a Spruce Street main entrance with horseshoe drive and dramatic canopy.

Rhodes grew up in North Charleston, South Carolina.  He graduated from Wofford College in Spartanburg and then enrolled at New York University where he received the Masters of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Management.  At NYU, Rhodes served an internship with the Winston-Salem Symphony in the city where his wife Mattie, a flutist, had attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.  In 1971, after service in the Army Finance Corps, he landed the job of Executive Director of The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.  He was 26 years old.  

For nearly 40 years. Rhodes has been a mainstay of the nation's arts and cultural community and one of America's most distinguished nonprofit advocates and administrators. He has served twice as President and CEO of The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County – from 1971 to 1985 and then returning in October 2004.

Capitalizing on his vision and leadership, The Arts Council has transformed Winston-Salem into the "City of Arts and Innovation™" by raising funds to initiate, grow and sustain hundreds of arts and cultural organizations; advocating for a knowledge-based economy with a strong creative class; building arts spaces that allow for innovative arts programming; enhancing relationships between government, public and private sectors; championing infrastructure projects that bring vibrancy to Winston-Salem and enhance its brand; and exploring new technologies that change how people learn about and participate in arts and culture. 

Rhodes was President and CEO of the American Council for the Arts, now Americans for The Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization advancing arts in America, with offices in Washington and New York. While at Americans for the Arts, Rhodes started "Arts Advocacy Day" that has become the leading opportunity for more than 600 arts organizations and individuals to meet Congressional leaders to raise issues of national concern related to arts and culture. He also helped establish The Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy, a leading national forum for arts policy intended to stimulate dialogue on policy and social issues affecting the arts.

Rhodes is known for his fundraising prowess. As General Manager of the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, he raised $12 million in 18 months to save the financially starved organization and continue to sustain one of the most critically acclaimed arts festivals in the world.

Since 2008, Rhodes has spearheaded a Comprehensive Campaign that with the help of hundreds of local volunteers has raised almost $26 million. A portion of the funds raised will transform a city block in downtown Winston-Salem into a gleaming new, multi-functional arts space to be called the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. The Campaign has grown the annual fund that supports more than 78 arts and cultural institutions in the city; establish a significant endowment to fund the arts into the future; and create a marketing effort to brand Winston-Salem as "City of Arts and Innovation.".

Beyond the arts, Rhodes has worked with nonprofit operations that educate children, provide medical care and enhance the wellbeing of citizens around the world. He has held positions with Outward Bound USA and the Northern Westchester Hospital Center Foundation in Kisco, NY, and has served on numerous boards of directors, including The Independent Sector, a leadership forum for more than 600 charities around the world; National Center for Non-Profit Boards, Washington, DC; Give Five Campaign, New York;  Brevard Music Center, Brevard, NC; Forsyth Futures; Winston-Salem Tourism Development Authority; Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership; University of North Carolina School of the Arts Board of Visitors; and Diggs Gallery, Winston-Salem State University.

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County was established in 1949 and was the first locally established arts council in the United States. The Arts Council enriches the quality of life for people in Winston-Salem and neighboring communities by raising funds for the arts, advocating for the arts, sponsoring events in conjunction with other arts organizations, providing educational opportunities strengthening cultural resources, developing social capital, and aiding economic development.  Its continued effectiveness can be attributed to the thousands of dedicated volunteers and contributors who are firmly committed to the idea that Winston-Salem is the "City of Arts and Innovation."

SOURCE The Arts Council of Winston-Salem

Back to top