MEDIA ALERT FOR COMING EVENTS EDITORS, ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIETY EDITORS

Attention: Events Editors. Arts / Entertainment Editors

Marci Ien

McMichael Canadian Art Collection

The 2nd annual McMichael Canadian Art Collection’s premier fundraising event, Moonlight Gala, will be held under the stars, the evening of June 8^th.  The event will feature jazz chanteuse Holly Cole and the food of culinary expert Chef Jamie Kennedy. Host of the evening is Canada AM's Marci Ien.

One of the highlights of the evening will be the Scotch Bar. Via Allegro Ristorante, a Toronto award-winning landmark restaurant returns to the Gala, inviting guests to sample a wonderful array of Curated Libations:  Wine Tasting, Scotch Bar, and Martini Bar, featuring the  “Moonlight Vodka Martini”.

The gallery is expecting over 500 people to attend this special evening. Single seat tickets are $350. Proceeds of this event support excellence in interactive and accessible educational programming and inspirational exhibitions, creating a lasting impact on Canadian art and culture now and in the future.

About the McMichael Canadian Art Collection 
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of almost 6,000 artworks by Canadian artists, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, as well as First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists. The gallery is located at 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in the City of Vaughan. For more information: www.mcmichael.com

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For pre-event interviews and to cover the Moonlight gala please contact Stephen Weir, event publicist, 416-489-5868, stephen@stephenweir.com. http://moonlightgala.mcmichael.com/

Special photo taken for Vaughan Today (well actually on Sunday)

ONE OF A SERIES PICTURES TAKEN AT THE McMICHAEL GALLERY IN KLIENBURG, ONTARIO FOR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

It was snowing really bad so it was not a shock to find out that Vaughan Today couldn't free up a reporter to attend a media preview for the newly installed Norman Rockwell exhibition at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. They were willing to run something "good" about the show, but what?
It was Sunday, the kick-off to March Break and I had this picture taken exclusively for Vaughan Today. The picture, by McMichael volunteer (and professional photographer) Jason Hashimoto shows 20-year old Alexandria Maida, assuming a pose for the camera made famous by Norman Rockwell in his triple self- portrait. It shows the late American aritst painting a painting of himself using a large mirror.
All day Sunday visitors to the gallery were invited to dress up like a Norman Rockwell painting. Hashimoto took their masterpieces and the gallery emailed the pictures to the visitors. 20-minutes before quiting time I convinced Hashimoto to try his hand at copying the master. Ms Maida, a University student and weekend guide at the gallery, agreed to be the model.
Did it work? "Brilliant Steve,Thanks" wrote editor Dan Hoddinott. Within hours of receiving the photograph it was posted on their website. Did get a call from a competing media wanted to know why they didn't get a copy too?

Promised to get Hashimoto to take another masterpiece just for them the next time he was at the gallery with his Cannon and lighting kit. Could be a new career!

CUTLINE

Top: Alexandria Maida strikes the Norman Rockwell Pose from the painting Triple Self Portrait
Middle: Triple Self Portrait by Norman Rockwell
Bottom: My picture of Jason taking a picture for Vaughan Today.

Dress-up Like Marilyn For Free Admission Sunday

Marilyn Monroe Opening Weekend Activities
Dress-up Like Marilyn For Free Admission Sunday
Peep Culture Author to Speak on Saturday 1pm in Kleinburg

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is expecting a large turnout for the weekend opening of two exhibitions about Marilyn Monroe. Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe (curated by Artoma, Hamburg, Germany; the tour organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC) and Marilyn in Canada (organized by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and curated by Chris Finn, Assistant Curator) both open on February 19th and run to May 15th, 2011. Contemporary art and artists, celebrity, notoriety, fame and fortune are key ingredients to these two Marilyn Monroe exhibitions.

There are a number of free with admission programmes taking place all weekend including:

* All weekend long, enjoy movie theatre lobby décor and Marilyn movies playing in the gallery's theatre
* a special Marilyn prix-fixe menu served in the gallery's Seven Restaurant. All weekend
* McMichael educators and docents will give a series of twenty-minute-long tours of the Marilyn Monroe exhibitions, Saturday, Sunday and Monday
* Experience a 1950's theatre-style food concession stand featuring retro Coke, old-fashioned candy bars, ice cream, and popcorn! All Weekend
* DJ Goin'Steady playing Marilyn's Mix, a selection of 1950's music. Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
* Lecture by Hal Niedzviecki, Celebrity to Cewebrity: How Marilyn Ushered in the Age of Peep Culture Saturday, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
* Hal Niedzviecki book signing. Hal's Niedzviecki's book, The Peep Diaries, as well as other books by this author, on sale in Gallery Shop. 2:00 p.m.
* Get in the spirit and dress up like Marilyn for FREE admission all day! Sunday only Guests dressed like Marilyn Monroe are invited to walk the Red Carpet. Sunday 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.
* Family Day kids programming on Monday.

“Although it has been fifty years since the death of Marilyn Monroe, worldwide interest in her life and career has sustained,” says McMichael Chief Curator, Katerina Atanassova. “Our two exhibitions examine how the art world has been motivated by the myth and legend of this iconic star. Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe is an internationally touring exhibition (over 180 paintings and photographs) which has been enhanced by McMichael curators for our visitors.”
Curated especially for the McMichael by the gallery’s Assistant Curator, Chris Finn, Marilyn in Canada provides an intriguing glimpse into Marilyn’s experiences while filming in Canada, as well as her popularity among Canadian artists. Works by artists such as Shelley Niro, John Vachon, and George S. Zimbel are some of the highlights of this unique Canadian content-based exhibition.

ABOUT THE McMICHAEL CANADIAN ART COLLECTION

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of more than 5,500 artworks, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, First Nations and Inuit artists. The gallery is located on Islington Avenue, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in Kleinburg, and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors/students and $30 for families. There is a $5 fee for parking. For more information about the gallery, visit www.mcmichael.com.