Norton Simon Museum Presents an Installation of Vincent van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait”, 1889, on Loan from the National Gallery of Art, Washington
Source: Cision
Pasadena, CA—The Norton Simon Museum presents an installation of Vincent van Gogh’s electrifying “Self-Portrait” from 1889, a highlight of the National Gallery of Art’s 19th-century collection. One of 36 self-portraits by Van Gogh, and among the last he painted, the work was executed as he recovered from a severe breakdown in Saint-Rémy in the summer of 1889.
Its installation at the Norton Simon Museum is the first time the painting has been on view on the West Coast, and while Southern California is home to several outstanding works by Van Gogh, none of his self-portraits are in collections here. The loan is part of a special exchange program between the Norton Simon foundations and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., that brought Vermeer’s “A Lady Writing” and Raphael’s “Small Cowper Madonna” to the Simon in recent years.
Says Norton Simon Museum President Walter Timoshuk, “Van Gogh’s artistic skill and creativity long captivated Mr. Simon, and he collected several of the artist’s most impressive works. However, Mr. Simon was never able to purchase a self-portrait. This incredible loan from the National Gallery of Art gives us the opportunity to have such a work in our galleries for a few months, and allows our visitors a rare chance to view a Van Gogh self-portrait on the West Coast.”
Van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait” will be installed in the Norton Simon Museum’s 19th-century wing, near several of the Simon’s own Van Gogh works, including “The Mulberry Tree,” 1889, “Portrait of the Artist’s Mother,” 1888, and others. (The Simon’s “Portrait of a Peasant [Patience Escalier],” also from 1888, is on view at The Frick Collection, New York, from Oct. 30, 2012 through Jan. 20, 2013.) A series of special events will be arranged in celebration of this special loan (see next page).
Technology and Tourism in Action
Source: Cision
Tourism businesses from across Lincolnshire got the chance to experience for themselves new digital technologies, which could transform the industry at a conference in Lincoln
A Microsoft Surface table, micro-chipped posters, a video postcard kiosk and 3D holographic images were just some of the technology on display at the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce’s Transforming Tourism event at the Lincoln Showroom.
The interactive playground was organized and run by digital experts from Lincolnshire County Council’s on Lincolnshire project to demonstrate how digital technology and super fast broadband can enhance the visitor experience.
Carol Emerson, who owns Elms Farm Cottages near Boston, said: “The interactive technology playground was fascinating and I was particularly impressed with the video kiosk; I can just imagine how this would appeal to visitors from other countries like America.
“Boston attracts a lot of tourists from the States and if they had something like this at Boston Stump for instance it would be an added attraction. I realise people can use their phone these days to record video messages but older people don’t necessarily have a smart phone or know how to use it.”
As well as the opportunity to create an e-postcard and send it to friends and family around the globe, delegates were also shown smart posters embedded with micro-chips which signpost people to more information when scanned with a smart phone and digital displays which can recognize human emotion and deliver a tailored advertising message to that individual.
Angela Driver from on Lincolnshire said it is important Lincolnshire businesses get to grips with the new technology available so the county doesn’t get left behind the rest of the UK.
“We realize it’s difficult these days to keep up to date with new products and services coming onto the market, so to help people understand the opportunities the Internet can provide we’re organizing a series of wired-up events across the county. Some of these will be existing events like the Transforming Tourism conference and others will be specially organized as part of the on Lincolnshire project.
“Lincolnshire County Council is also organizing free seminars and workshops which are open to anyone and one-to-one support and advice for businesses in East Lindsey, Boston and Lincoln, the details of which can be found on our website onlincolnshire.org.”
The Transforming Tourism conference was organized by the tourism and hospitality sector of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to the technology playground there were talks from guest speakers including historical architecture expert, journalist and TV presenter Jonathan Foyle, Mary Powell from Lincolnshire County Council and Professor David Sleight and Shaun Lawson from the University of Lincoln. Delegates also had the chance to attend seminars on using PR to promote their business through the media and digital marketing. BBC Radio Lincolnshire presenter Melvyn Prior hosted the event.
Simon Beardsley, Chief Executive of the Lincolnshire Chamber, said: “Transforming Tourism was the first conference of its kind arranged by the Chamber to help tourism and hospitality businesses in Lincolnshire.
“Not only did it give businesses an insight into key projects that are taking place to improve the visitor experience in Lincolnshire, but it also showed delegates what benefits digital technology can bring to their profitability.
“But the most insightful presentation focused on how story telling can help sell Lincolnshire and was given by keynote speaker Jonathan Foyle, a Lincolnshire-born BBC presenter and Chief Executive of World Monument Fund Britain.”
Books to Devour on a Plane, Train or While Mom’s Pie Is Baking
Need an addictive read for your upcoming holiday trip? We asked our favorite authors (including Pam Houston and Erin Morgenstern) to name one mesmerizing book that got them through multiple time zones.
beenetworknews 
November 18, 2012
Entertainment, Trends