Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend movie premieres.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the Los Angeles Premiere for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt on December 8, 2008 - Photo by PR Photos

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the London Premiere for Changling starring Angelina Jolie on November 17, 2008 - Photo by PR Photos

Philanthropist By Day

Brad Pitt has committed to rebuilding 150 houses in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward and he has established a foundation to raise money for the project. His Make It Right Foundation has already received more than $30 million in donations, including $5 million out of Pitt’s own pocket. Six houses were completed by October 2008.

From the January 2009 Architectural Digest (not an exact quote):

The houses being designed by Pitt’s foundation are based on the ideas of William McDonough, an architect who has conceived a “cradle to cradle” design philosophy: comfortable homes that demand little energy today and whose materials can be recycled in the future when the houses are torn down. Brad Pitt says, “It’s radical thinking — zero waste — but actually very simple. Why can’t we change the way we do things? Not to change our way of life but to change the way we do things.”

You can read more in the January 2009 issue of Architectural Digest or visit ArchitecturalDigest.com. Also, visit Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation on the web.

-Thomas

Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson and Matthew Broderick with Despereaux, December 7, 2008. The Tale of Despereaux World Premiere - Hollywood - Photo by PR Photos

The world premiere of The Tale of Despereaux was held in Hollywood Sunday, December 7, 2008.

The movie is being released later this month by Universal Pictures. It is the tale of three unlikely heroes - a misfit mouse who prefers reading books to eating them, an unhappy rat who schemes to leave the darkness of the dungeon, and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflower ears - whose fates are intertwined with that of the castle’s princess.

Emma Watson and Dustin Hoffman - The Tale of Despereaux World Premiere - December 7, 2008 - Hollywood - Photo by PR Photos

I enjoy movies about courageous ordinary characters who join forces to take on the bad guys and win. The amazing thing about animated features in general and The Tale of Despereaux in particular is the willingness of big stars to lend their voices to the characters. In fact, the dialogue is usually recorded first and the actors may be filmed to guide the animators in depicting facial expressions.

Enjoy the trailer from the official Tale of Despereaux movie site.

This looks like a fun movie. I look forward to watching it.

-Thomas

Gwen Stefani performing with No Doubt - October 11, 2002 - Photo by PR Photos

Gwen Stefani — wife, mother, singer, songwriter, fashion trend setter, fashion designer, actress!

Gwen Stefani with her second son Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale - Posted on her official site October 29, 2008 - Photo by Dennis Stefani - see license info at the end of this post.

Gwen is abundantly talented. The cool thing - or one of the cool things - is that she arrived in her creative career so naturally. Her parents introduced her to music and her older brother expanded her musical taste. She first performs on stage in high school and then is invited to sing for her brother’s band, No Doubt, and then she begins her solo career.

Another cool fact about Stefani (and No Doubt) is that they don’t follow trends. Some have labeled No Doubt’s music as punk ska (I hate labels for original artists like Gwen and her band mates). Well, at the time grunge was the ‘in’ music with one of the most desirable demographics. However, real artists follow their creative passions. They don’t consult record company research to get in on the most commercial music of the moment.

Gwen Stefani - VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards - October 19, 2001 - Photo by PR Photos

Gwen Stefani - 2003 Billboard Music Awards - December 10, 2003 - Photo by PR Photos

Gwen Stefani’s artistry is on full display in both of her solo albums, Love, Angel, Music, Baby (L.A.M.B.) and The Sweet Escape.

Wikipedia reports:
Stefani’s debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. was released in November 2004. L.A.M.B.’s third single “Hollaback Girl” became Stefani’s first U.S. number-one single. The song was the first U.S. digital download to sell more than one million copies legally.

I like most of the songs on these albums but I’ll just single out Early Winter for this post. This song is passionate and moving. Gwen sets the mood (the song seems, to me, to be about a difficult relationship) with finesse and conviction. Gwen adds some humor with these lines:
Why?
Why do you act so stupid?
Why?
You know that I’m always right

This is a link to the song, Early Winter, on iTunes:

The Early Winter video is a true work of art.

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale - The Aviator Los Angeles Premiere - December 1, 2004 - Photo by PR Photos

Gwen Stefani’s Fashion

Gwen came to fashion just as naturally as she came to music. Her mom evidently made much of Gwen’s clothing in her childhood and, no doubt : ), Gwen picked up this talent, as well. She first performed on stage in high school in a self-made dress.

Wikipedia says: “Stefani made most of the clothing that she wore on stage with No Doubt, resulting in increasingly eclectic combinations.”

In 2004, Gwen launched her fashion line, L.A.M.B. and in 2005 added her Harajuku Lovers line.

Gwen Stefani - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2008 - L.A.M.B. Fashion Show - September 5, 2007 - Photo by PR Photos

Both fashion lines include perfumes. You can learn more about those perfumes at MyLuxeStyle.com.

More links:
More about Harajuku Lovers perfumes.
GwenStefani.com.
Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Lovers Perfumes posted on FragranceWebLog.com.
Gwen’s Wikipedia Page.

Note on the photo license from GwenStefani.com for the Gwen and Zuma photo above: [(c) Mrs. Me, Inc., 2008.] This photo is licensed under aCreative Commons BY-NC-ND license. In addition to the permissions granted to the public under this license, this photograph may also be used in its original and unaltered form for commercial purposes by publishers in connection with the distribution of news or human interest stories, such as magazines, blogs, and newspapers. All other rights, including without limitation use of this photo in whole or in part or in connection with commercial posters, calendars, and other commercial products and services, are reserved exclusively by the copyright holder.

-Thomas

Quadriga, Fort Worth, Texas

 
These magnificent bronze statues, located at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas,  are identical reproductions of the four horses at the Cathedral of St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy.

 A quadriga is a chariot drawn by four horses abreast. It was raced in the Olympic Games, as well as, in ancient Roman chariot races. Quadrigas were symbols of victory.

The word quadriga may refer to the chariot, the four horses, or the chariot and horses together.

According to wikipedia, all modern quadrigas are based on the Triumphal Quadriga, a Roman or Greek sculpture which is the only surviving ancient quadriga. It is housed in St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice.

Quadriga, detail

Quadriga, detail

Quadriga, detail

Quadriga, Fort Worth, Texas

For more information on quadriga see this Wikipedia article.

-Thomas

Vortex by Richard Serra

I am going to begin with the extraordinary sculpture that greets you as you approach the museum. It is named Vortex and it is the creation of Richard Serra. This incredible work is at least three stories tall and made of cor-ten steel.