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.

Live Feed From CNW for Charles Taylor Prize For Literary Non-Fiction Award, February 14th 1-2pm

Toronto resident Stevie Cameron and Peterborough, Ontario’s Charles Foran are in the running for Monday’s Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction.
CNW to stream event from Toronto

Ontario authors Stevie Cameron and Charles Foran are two of five Canadian authors in the running for this year’s Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction. The $25,000 prize will be awarded on Monday February 14th at a lunchtime ceremony at the famed King Edward Hotel in Toronto.

Stevie Cameron has been nominated for her book On the Farm: Robert William Pickton and the Tragic Story of Vancouver's Missing Women. Peterborough’s Charlie Foran is nominated for his biography Mordecai: The Life & Times. You can follow the proceedings through CNW who will be streaming from the Awards Luncheon. https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp&eventid=283693&sessionid=1&key=C155B553AA9DE3FFCC99187EC6988B71&sourcepage=register

2011 Charles Taylor Prize Finalists And Their Books Are:

Stevie Cameron
On the Farm: Robert William Pickton and the Tragic Story of Vancouver's Missing Women
Charles Foran
Mordecai: The Life & Times
Ross King
Defiant Spirits: The Modernist Revolution of the Group of Seven
George Sipos
The Geography of Arrival: A Memoir
Merrily Weisbord
The Love Queen of Malabar: Memoir of a friendship with Kamala Das

The Charles Taylor Prize celebrates Canada's literary voice, recognizing the exceptional authors who captivate us with superb command of the English language, an elegance of style and a subtlety of thought and perception.

2011 is the 10th awarding of The Charles Taylor Prize. The prize was originally awarded every two years, but due to an ever-increasing number of submissions, since 2004 the Prize has been presented annually. The Prize commemorates the late Charles Taylor, one of Canada's foremost essayists, a foreign correspondent and a prominent member of the Canadian literary community whose dream was to raise the public profile of non-fiction.

The Prize consists of $25,000 for the winning author and an award of $2,000 for each finalist with promotional support for each short listed title.

The Charles Taylor Foundation with the support of its partners presents the Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction: Ben McNally Books, Bravo! and Book Television, CNW Group, Event Source, Indigo Books and Music, Le Meridien King Edward Hotel, Quill & Quire, The Globe and Mail, and Windfields Farm.

For more information: www.thecharlestaylorprize.ca

CUTLINE: Noreen Taylor stands behind this year's short-listed books for the 2011 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction

Contacts

Stephen Weir: 416-489-5868 cell: 416-801-3101
stephen@stephenweir.com
Linda Crane: 905-257-6033 cell: 416-727-0112
cranepr@cogeco.ca

Media get the first peek at Marilyn Monroe Exhibitions this Thursday at the McMichael

MEDIA PREVIEW
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Marilyn Monroe makes her debut at the McMichael, featured in two exhibitions
Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe makes its final stop on an international tour at the gallery

When: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg (just north of Major Mackenzie Drive)

Why: The public gallery is expecting a large turnout for 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.

Who: Tour the exhibitions and meet with McMichael Chief Curator, Katerina Atanassova and Assistant Curators, Chris Finn and Sharona Adamowicz-Clements.

What: “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.

Both shows demonstrate the broad range of artists who responded creatively to Marilyn’s life – from a constellation of great fashion photographers of her day, to the champions of the Pop Art movement in North America, to well-known artists in Canadian contemporary art.


About the Gallery

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.

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Please RSVP:
Stephen Weir, Publicist
Gallery: 905.893.1121 ext. 2529
Toronto Office: 416.489.5868
Cell: 416.801.3101
sweir@mcmichael.com

Media Advisory - The Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction

Media Advisory - The Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction

2011 AWARD CEREMONY & LUNCHEON


Monday, February 14
Le Meridien King Edward Hotel, Toronto
Reception 11:30 a.m. • Luncheon 12:00 p.m. • Winner Announcement 1:45 pm
What: A luncheon to honour this year's CTP author finalists. Meet the jurors and Prize Trustees. Cover the winner after the announcement of this prestigious $25,000 national book prize.
Where: Le Meridien King Edward Hotel, Sovereign Ballroom, 37 King St. E., Toronto

2011 Charles Taylor Prize Finalists

Stevie Cameron
On the Farm:
Robert William Pickton and the Tragic Story of Vancouver's Missing Women

Charles Foran
Mordecai: The Life & Times

Ross King
Defiant Spirits: The Modernist Revolution of the Group of Seven

George Sipos
The Geography of Arrival: A Memoir

Merrily Weisbord
The Love Queen of Malabar: Memoir of a friendship with Kamala Das

Prize spokespersons:
Noreen Taylor, Chair, The Charles Taylor Foundation
CTP Inaugural Year Jurors: Neil Bissoondath, Eva-Marie Kroller & David McFarlane
Prize co-founder and Trustee Dr. David Staines

The Charles Taylor Prize celebrates Canada's literary voice, recognizing the exceptional authors who captivate us with superb command of the English language, an elegance of style and a subtlety of thought and perception.

2011 is the 10th awarding of The Charles Taylor Prize. The prize was originally awarded every two years, but due to an ever increasing number of submissions, since 2004 the Prize has been presented annually.

The Prize commemorates the late Charles Taylor, one of Canada's foremost essayists, a foreign correspondent and a prominent member of the Canadian literary community whose dream was to raise the public profile of non-fiction.

The Prize consists of $25,000 for the winning author and an award of $2,000 for each finalist with promotional support for each shortlisted title.

The Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction is presented by the Charles Taylor Foundation with the support of its partners: Ben McNally Books, Bravo! and Book Television, CNW Group, Event Source, Indigo Books and Music, Le Meridien King Edward Hotel, Quill & Quire, The Globe and Mail, and Windfields Farm.

For more information: www.thecharlestaylorprize.ca

Contacts

Media covering the event are requested to RSVP* through Stephen Weir & Associates:
Stephen Weir:
Linda Crane: 416-489-5868
905-257-6033 cell: 416-801-3101
cell: 416-727-0112 stephen@stephenweir.com
cranepr@cogeco.ca

*Working media are welcome for lunch. Due to limited seating capacity
please indicate if seating required by noon on Friday
Feb. 11th. Greenroom lunch available for camera crews.

Marilyn Monroe Comes to the McMichael

Spend the Family Day Long Weekend exploring the legend of Marilyn Monroe
Special programming based on two new,intriguing art exhibitions at the McMichael!

For Immediate Release
February 7, 2011 Kleinburg, ON – When the McMichael Canadian Art Collection opens two special exhibitions on February 19, 2011, based on the late iconic American film star Marilyn Monroe, it will be a weekend filled with guided tours, films and music along with special programming every day based on these shows, all included with gallery admission. Plus on Sunday, February 20 only, the gallery will waive its entrance fee for visitors who dress in Marilyn Monroe attire! The public gallery in Kleinburg is expecting a large turnout to see the new exhibitions, Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe (curated by Artoma, Hamburg, Germany and 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). Contemporary art and artists, celebrity, notoriety, fame and fortune are key ingredients to these two Marilyn Monroe exhibitions on show at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection from February 19 to May 15, 2011.

A weekend of programs to celebrate the opening of the Marilyn Monroe exhibitions will take place on the Family Day Long Weekend, February 19 to 21, 2011. Over the weekend the gallery will feature movie theatre lobby décor and there will be Marilyn movies playing in the gallery’s theatre, plus a special Marilyn prix-fixe menu will be served in the gallery’s Seven Restaurant. Here is detailed information on what will take place at the McMichael from February 19 to 21:

All weekend long, join McMichael educators and docents for a series of twenty-minute-long tours of Marilyn’s Fragments and Fabulous 1950s, documentary films about Marilyn, and music by DJ Goin’ Steady, and more, all included with gallery admission.

Saturday, February 19:
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lecture by Hal Niedzviecki: Celebrity to Cewebrity: How Marilyn Ushered in the Age of Peep Culture
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Join the McMichael’s Assistant Curator, Chris Finn, for a tour of his exhibition, Marilyn in Canada.

Sunday, February 20:
Get in the spirit and dress up like Marilyn for free admission all day at the McMichael! Then, at 1:00 p.m., we invite you to strut your stuff on the “Red Carpet” in the gallery’s Grand Hall!

Monday, February 21:
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Celebrate Family Day by taking a tour or join a family silk screen workshop at 11:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m.

These exhibitions capture the making of a celebrity and the myth behind the woman the world knew as Marilyn Monroe. Nearly five decades after her death, Monroe remains undisputedly one of the most famous movie stars in the world. Her intriguing personality and the aura surrounding her tragic death continuously attracted many artists, who responded more acutely to the creation of a legend.

“Although it has been fifty years since the death of Marilyn Monroe, worldwide interest in her life and career has sustained,” said McMichael Chief Curator, Katerina Atanassova. “Our two exhibitions examine how the art world has been motivated by the myth and legend of this iconic actress. Life as a Legend is an internationally touring exhibition which has been additionally curated by McMichael staff to enhance its content for our visitors. The uniquely McMichael-curated show, Marilyn in Canada, provides an intriguing glimpse into Marilyn’s experiences while filming in Canada as well as her popularity among Canadian artists.”
Her mystique is an inspiration in many genres as currently several projects are in the works, or have just recently been released, which feature Marilyn Monroe. Two feature films are in production: My Week with Marilyn starring Oscar® nominated actress Michelle Williams and, Blonde, starring another Oscar® nominated actress, Naomi Watts. A collection of writings by the Hollywood icon was released in October 2010. The book, Fragments, includes poems, letters, and other writings dating from Monroe’s teenage years to shortly before her death.

The internationally acclaimed touring exhibition, Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe, makes its final stop of a successful tour at the McMichael. The exhibition explores the incredibly diverse array of artistic responses to Marilyn’s image. An impressive grouping of paintings, photographs, and prints by world-renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, and Eduardo Paolozzi, along with unforgettable snapshots by the most famous photographers of the day such as Richard Avedon, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Bernard of Hollywood make this exhibition a true revelation for Monroe’s fans.

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. Both shows demonstrate the broad range of artists who responded creatively to Marilyn’s life – from a constellation of great fashion photographers of her day to the champions of the Pop Art movement in North America to well known artists in Canadian contemporary art.

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.

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For further information or to receive high resolution images, contact:

Stephen Weir, Publicist
Gallery: 905.893.1121 ext. 2529
Toronto Office: 416.489.5868
Cell: 416.801.3101
sweir@mcmichael.com


Images above, Bert Stern, “Here’s to you” from The Last Sitting, 1962/1978, C-Print, © Bert Stern; Milton H. Greene, Marilyn Monroe, New York City, “Ballerina Sitting,” 1954, Inkjet print, © Joshua Greene www.legendslicensing.com; John Vachon (1914– 1975), Untitled (Marilyn with Mountie), 1953, photographic reprint, 61 x 51 cm, Courtesy of the Estate of John Vachon and Dover Publications Inc.

On-line Birthday Greeting - dehumanizing the business of saying something nice to people

Happy Birthday John - An emailed Birthday Greeting
(but I bet Plaxo, Facebook, LinkedIn,Starbucks and Boston Pizza beat me to it!)
Social media has made wishing relatives, friends, associates and clients Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas and Happy Groundhog Day pointless. Noting someone's birthday used to be a real sign of friendship, especially if you are memory challenged about names and dates, but not anymore.
John Mulvihill is a former rock and roll keyboardist from Renfrew, Ontario - he now lives and works in California. His sister Mary and I were friends back in the '60s. I didn't see John much back then (he was already on tour) but I am now in contact with him through Face Book, LinkedIn and Plaxo.
In the 60's I didn't know or care when his birthday was. Didn't know when any of my cousins, neighbours and classmates were marking birthdays, except of course for those born on February 29th. Now I know that John was born in January. How can I forget, 3 different social media sites have sent me reminders that John's birthday is approaching. Another website has offered to send him a birthday card and flowers on my behalf. Wonder if any of them are going to send me a scolding e-mail for neglecting to send John a dozen virtual roses.
Depending on the size of John's contact list, there are probably many more people around the world aware that Mr. Muhvill has turned 61 then currently live in Renfrew.
I bet that his inbox was filled with emails that graphically thrown confetti, popped on-line champagne corks and played kitchy happy birthday Elvis tunes. He may be touched by all that on-line attention, or maybe he is like me, and won't be impressed by computer generated signs of love.
When I had a birthday in April (I am way younger than John) I got a dozen emailed notes from people who have been alerted to my birthday by Plaxo and Facebook. My wife and two sons gave me cards as did my mother-in-law and brother-in-law. By the end of my big day the on-line greetings outnumbered the real cards (with handwritten notes), and phone calls four to one.
At Christmas I received computer delivered cards with melting snowmen, drunken reindeer, happy clappy Santas and night skies with travelling Christmas Stars. Because of my involvement with large auidence events I got almost a hundred season's greetings email during December many from people I don't think I know. In terms of greetings that arrived by mail we received about 10. My wife and I sent a dozen handwritten, most of them were very sincere.
Email is free. Many of the cards are come-ons for corporations who think they are embracing Social Media. How much heart does Starbucks or Boston Pizza really have? If you can remember a birthday or a holiday and do it without prodding from a website, that means something about your relationship with that person. But, simply clicking a mouse when prompted by a robotic programme, and sending off an email greeting "has virtually" no meaning at all.

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Cutline: John Mulvihill's picture scooped from Linked In. His website is: http://www.johnmulvihill.com/Departments/WinHelp.htm

SIDEBAR: Interesting Factoids Found While Researching This Blog Entry

* Typical Plaxo reminder: "A friendly reminder from Plaxo David Scanlan's Birthday is in 7 days. Schedule an eCard for delivery on David's birthday"
Send David flowers from Grower Flowers, Plaxo, Inc. • 203 Ravendale Drive, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA
* I have also recieved Starbucks Card Rewards on my big day -- a free beverage. This is what their email said: "All registered Starbucks Card get a birthday beverage of their choice. A Starbucks Card can make you feel special all year long, but for that one day you’re extra-special."
* Boston Pizza sent me a coupon for a free slice (or some other food/drink gift) on my birthday. Guess I am not that special after all - the on-line birthday coupon wasn't honoured when I tried to use it!

Media Darling Exit Stage Left - Paint On Hummers Rumbles Off Into The Sunset

The End Of The Ad on Wheels. In its time it was a Hummer

Back in the day the Hummer was eight cylnders of Über Cool. It was big. It was bold. It could run over the competition without having to use its 4-wheel drive.
The Hummer was everything that a family van was not. The Hummer was so bombastic, so American and so out-of-reach for the average consumer that it became a favourite advertising vehicle for film companies, big draw events, radio and television stations alike.
Hot radio show host? New movie comin' to town? New location for the Sgt. Splatter's Paint Ball park? A gaudy design in a vinyl wrap all over a new Hummer was just the ticket. Park it at an event, or simply drive it up and down mainstreet, the decorated Hummer and its drive-by message got noticed.
I helped handle Crane Communications with the PR for the Toronto Home Show in 1999 and arranged with a Toronto TV production company to bring to the Home Show a brand new Hummer, decorated with images from their short-lived Total Recall sci-fi series. Both the car and the TV programme were so new that we had a longer line-up for people wanting to see the Hummer than we did for the fully built, indoor Toronto Star Dream Home (both cost about the same)!
But,as the PR cliche reminds us: "what was hot is not". And, the above photograph of a Pimped Up Hummer bedecked in Teletoon logos and pictures of their popular cartoon characters, is now a record of what used to be. As leases expire across North American, the wildly decorated Hummer has become just another "So Yesterday" in the ever changing world of media PR.
A used Hummer still has drawing power, but, the demand for the $100,000+ gas guzzler dramatically dropped off with the recession of 2008. GM in the midst of its financial meltdown was unable to sell the vehicle line to any other car manufacturer in the world, and production of the civilian version of the Hummer has ended.
Media outlets were typical users of the decorated Hummers and as they phase the rolling billboard out of their PR plans, another great marketing tool drives off to the media junkyard in the skies (probably more likely to the Middle East where there is still a demand for used Hummers).
Their disapperance was (snap your fingers) just like that. The Teletoon Hummer was retired shortly after I took this cell phone picture in the Fall of 2010 at Woofstock in downtown Toronto.
How come? It is all about money and advertising.

"Usually the vehicle would be a contra trade for airtime," explains Radio PR specialist Robb Collis. " Vehicle for one year in exchange for on-air commecials. It would be very unlikely for a station to pay for a vehicle."
"The only exception might be a cash/contra deal (station gives ads and money to get an expensive vehicle)," continued the Toronto media expert. "If we are talking Hummers - this would very likely be a trade - it just dosn't make sense for a station to put up cash for a car that size and price."

Now with the Hummer gone, media outlets are turning to smaller quirky cars to ink-wrap. The The Mini and the box-like Honda Element are now getting bedecked in colourful ads and sent off to Trade Fairs and Shopping Malls across North America.
Interesting? Yes. But a Classic Rock Radio Station plastering images of Led Zeppelin on the sides and back of a dimminuative Smart Car just doesn't Hum the way it used to.

Cutline:

Middle: Sgt Splatter's Paintball Hummer at Monster Jam 2010 - from the company's website
Bottom: US radio station's vinyl shrink wrapped Hummer from www.Skinzwrap.com