NEW SMOKING AREA AT ANTEBELLUM GALLERY

antebellum has just installed a new smoking section for patrons & guests.
not to be confused with the famous gallery tea garden, (located in the rear of our salon) antebellum's smoking section is located in the front sidewalk on las palmas ave.

we now have an ornamental table, small spittoon for cigar smoking and two black chairs. these are temporary until my turn-of-the-century rocking chairs come in. to complete the area we've hung boston ferns on either side of the awning. all in all it looks wonderful. a welcome edition to antebellum

antebellian, (my term for people who are regular guests @ antebellum gallery) alex harwood and I having tea in the new smoking section, with his dogs baxter & mindi

OPENING NIGHT

opening night for RENFIELD: A REAL GENTLEMAN was a barrel of fun.
wil shepherd made an appearance and a live performance by garland.
in honor of oscar wilde's death day~ bill kaiser and kevin dulude did readings of oscar's favorite writings including "the young prince."
we all had tea and chatted about art, life and unrequited love.

here are some images~



















photos courtesy miguel reyes, john marin & renfield.

CHECK OUT THE EXHIBIT~ RENFIELD: A REAL GENTLEMAN
thru december 16th.
general hours~ wednesday thru saturday~ 1-7pm

LEONARDO DA VINCI'S~"THE ANGEL IN THE FLESH," PREMIERES IN LOS ANGELES

“Angel in the Flesh” (c. 1513-1515)

It is the first time ever that The Angel in the flesh by Leonardo Da Vinci is shown in the Americas, and it was interacting with The Last Angel by Bill Viola (video/sound installation).

a photo of the masterpiece

opening night's crowd was enthusiastic to say the least. italians from all regions descended on the small cultural institute for a glimpse of this rare artwork. two guards in full italian military dress greeted us at the door. a private gallery housed the two erotic masterpieces. at the foot of the drawing was the travel case with- angel in the flesh, monogramed on the front. a beefy italian bouncer hovered near by informing us we had 5 more minutes to view the relics, before the next group came in.

after a very long chat with Prof. Carlo Pedretti and bill viola, a screening of "The Greeting" was presented.

AND THEN THE FOOD WAS SERVED!!!! - fresh italian mozzarella, parmigiano-reggiano and prosciutto, champagne, wine and deserts to die for by bindi. the three layer cake was better than sex!

general info-
The controversial drawing the “Angel in the Flesh” (c. 1513-1515), discovered in 1990, will appear in its unique splendor thru December 3-12, 2009. It is a truly historical moment as this is the first time ever that the “Angel in the Flesh” (formerly in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle) will be shown on the West coast before it returns to Europe. Under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic of Italy and organized in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, Leonardo da Vinci and Bill Viola’s exhibition concludes the 9th Italian Language Week dedicated to Arts, Science and Technology.

Prof. Carlo Pedretti, in attendance, was instrumental to get the Codex Leicester for Mr Hammer UCLA.

Bill Viola presented the installation "The Last Angel" as well as a very powerful video "The Greeting"(10 minutes) which proves that Pontormo was a student of Leonardo.

bill viola, "The Greeting", (1995)

Info

10AM-6PM daily.
Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles
1023 Hilgard Avenue (Westwood)
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel. (310) 443-3250 Email: iicla@esteri.it
www.licbelgrado.esteri.it

EVERYONE HAS AIDS

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe the event, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.
AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007, and an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007.

umm.... so in honor of world AIDS day team america give us this showtune-

directed by trey parker, (2004) "Everyone Has AIDS", sung by Gary in the Broadway musical Lease (a parody of Rent).

UGANDA WANTS TO KILL ALL GAYS

president yoweri museveni of uganda is campaigning to create a bill that would put all gays to death, and anyone who helps gays in prison! this is some real scary shit..

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

BLAST FROM THE PAST!

tom lehrer's live rendition of THE MASOCHISM TANGO. this was from this live album called AN EVENING WITH TOM LEHRER, recorded in the sanders theater @ harvard- circa 1959.

OSCAR WILDE DIED FOR YOUR SINS TODAY

literary and gay icon oscar wilde, (oscar fingal o'flahertie wills wilde) died today~ november 30th, 1900.

Known for his biting wit, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest "celebrities" of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. oscar also wrote such classics as PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, AN IDEAL HUSBAND, and his version of SALOME.

As the result of a widely covered series of trials, Wilde suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned for two years' hard labour after being convicted of homosexual relationships, described as "gross indecency" with other men.


Wilde's sexual orientation has variously been considered bisexual or gay He had significant sexual relationships with (in chronological order) Frank Miles (probable), Constance Lloyd (Wilde's wife), Robbie Ross, and Lord Alfred Douglas (known as "Bosie"). Wilde also had numerous sexual encounters with young working-class men, who were often male prostitutes.


Wilde made a complaint of criminal libel against the Marquess of Queensberry, (bosie's father) based on the calling card incident, (he was sent a card with the writings~ for oscar wilde, posing sodomite, spelled incorrectly) and the Marquess was arrested but later freed on bail. The libel trial became a cause célèbre as salacious details of Wilde's private life with Alfred Taylor and Lord Alfred Douglas began to appear in the press. A team of detectives, with the help of the actor Charles Brookfield, had directed Queensberry's lawyers (led by Edward Carson QC) to the world of the Victorian underground. Here Wilde's association with blackmailers and male prostitutes, crossdressers and homosexual brothels was recorded, and various persons involved were interviewed, some being coerced to appear as witnesses.

after spending two years of hard labor in prison, oscar was a broken man. his career, destroyed, his family and lovers disowned him. oscar spent his last years in the Hôtel d'Alsace, now known as L'Hôtel, in Paris, where it is said he was notorious and uninhibited about enjoying the pleasures he had be denied in england.
upon his deathbed, oscar's last words were, ' either this wallpaper or i have got to go."


Wilde was buried in the Cimetière de Bagneux outside Paris but was later moved to Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. His tomb in Père Lachaise was designed by sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein, at the request of Robert Ross, who also asked for a small compartment to be made for his own ashes. Ross's ashes were transferred to the tomb in 1950.

antebellum gallery is hosting a tea party in the honor of oscar wilde today-november 30th~5pm~ premiere of the art of REINFIELD and the erotic embroidery of WIL SHEPHEARD, and live performance by GARLAND~ $5 cover

antebellum
1643 n las palmas ave
hollywood, ca 90028
323 856-0667
www.antebellum.us.ms

HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD 1932

here is historical footage of the world premiere of GRAND HOTEL @ GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE circa 1932
note a brief shot of william haines, ( the first openly gay film star) and joan crawford, at the time married to douglas fairbanks. my god was he dashing!

HOLLYWOOD XMAS PARADE

the annual hollywood xmas parade was tonight- november 29th, kicking off the holiday spirit. i have to admit, this is the reason i love living in hollywood. the boulevard was electric and had this dreamy glow. it almost reminded me what it must have been like to be @ a movie premiere in the 1930s. check out this little clip for a taste of hollywood @ xmas time.

COCTEAU TWINS~GARLANDS

so this was the inspiration for rich kay in naming his band after the cocteau twins song- GARLANDS- circa 1982

RICK CASTRO & RICH KAY FROM GARLAND ON LILLYCAT RADIO

garland & i went on melinda adams's radio program today to promote our event- OSCAR WILDE'S DEATH DAY TEA PARTY. on november 30th @ antebellum. the program was allot of fun.
check it out here- LILLYCAT RADIO

BLAST FROM THE PAST!

check out this incredible footage from the golden age of talk shows- circa 1977, the tonight show with special guest host FRANK SINATRA, co- host- ED MCMANN, guests- GEORGE BURNS, ANGIE DICKENSON, CARROLL O'CONNER and DON RICKLES.
don rickles tears up the place as only he can.. classic tv at is best.