Posts made in June 2021

Robert Ector Releases Luxury Greeting Cards

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Luxury fashion photographer Robert Ector has recently launched his exclusive collection of luxury greeting cards. The selection consists of 25, 5” x 7” custom greeting cards, which feature Ector’s incredible eye for photography and design. Black, offset envelopes are included to encase each salutation. Ornate gold foil stamping encases the stationary, and the meme-worthy verbiage makes for a memorable address. The assortment also comes with laminated art paper. Make your statement with a statement using these high-end greetings.

Last year, Ector released his photo book, “DETAILS: City Streets Are The Real Runways.” The text features over 400 full color photographs of some of the most expensive fashion pieces in the world, luxury street wear, and street photography. Ector, famous for his creative direction for A-list celebrities such as Steve Harvey, Wendy Williams, Lala Anthony and Mary J. Blige, showcases incredible individuals donned in even more fabulous fashion on every page. Readers are sure to become enthralled and won’t be able to stop flipping through mesmerizing 650 pages.

Fashion iconoclast and multi-talented artist Mary J Blige wrote the foreword for the text, as well as attended its NYFW launch. The two have shared an artistic relationship for years. Recently, Ector was also the promotional shoot photographer for Blige’s Netflix docu-series, “My Life.” The documentary series was named after Blige’s earlier album which has the same title. Alongside Ector’s stunning photography, the series features executive production from Puff Daddy (aka, Sean “Puffy” Combs) and executive music production from Quincy Jones. Commentary from Diddy, Taraji P. Henson, and Alicia Keys is also included in “My Life.”

Another of Ector’s previous photo projects includes shooting our magazine’s cover of Tamar Braxton. As Ector continues his artistic endeavors, we look forward to seeing what is next to come from the accomplished artist.

*All photos provided by Robert Ector

Robert Ector greeting card images via Robert Ector for use by 360 Magazine

Life on Jupiter

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By: Skyler Johnson

A scientific study originally aimed at testing the capability of life on Venus has now shown that there is a chance for life not on our sister planet, but on the gaseous giant, Jupiter.

The study aimed to figure out whether Venus could maintain life based on water activity, which is measured on a 0 to 1 scale, with 1 being pure water and 0 being the complete absence of it. The minimum viable water activity for life on Earth was determined to be 0.585, with Venus being 0.007, but Jupiter just reaching the threshold at 0.585.

Jupiter is also the perfect temperature to maintain life, being -40 degrees F, which is just survivable. Life can only survive at that temperature and above.

While these statistics may be exciting, you’re not exactly going to be seeing E.T. coming from Jupiter. After all, it’s a gaseous planet. Life, if any at all, would be existing within Jupiter’s clouds, and would only be made up of a single cell. The planet has a lot of Ultraviolet Radiation and very little nutrients, so sustaining life may not even be possible. Nevertheless, life is possible for the gaseous giant.

The scientific possibilities of this finding, while it may seem relatively minor given we don’t actually know if there’s life outside of planet Earth, it does offer some interesting possibilities. After all, we have no idea what these creatures may look like and what biological adaptations they may have in order to adapt to living in the dangerous conditions Jupiter provides. What we could end up finding might lead us to find ways to adapt as a species.

Interestingly, if Jupiter ends up being inhabitable, there’s also a chance that one of Jupiter’s moons, Europa, houses life beneath it’s under-ice ocean, which would be similar to Earth’s Deep Ocean hydrothermal vents, which are basically a volcano erupting underwater and spouting out life-providing sediments. While we have no idea what’s under Europa’s surface there have been some calls for a probe so we may soon get some answers.

Nevertheless, only time will tell what may be found on other planets. But with more information like with the study released today, who knows what the future may bring.

Home Decor Inspiration

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Evesome’s Fall/Winter 2021 2022 Collection

Evesome’s Fall/Winter 2021 2022 collection features eye-catching decorations that are sure to compliment any space. The French boutique brand is designed in Paris and produced by artisans with an eye for detail. This lavish company invites luxury into your life with their newest look book. The colorful collection of both home goods and accessories makes for a vibrant, boho chic home display.

When entertaining, guests are sure to love lounging with Evesome’s ornamental tweed pillow. Dress up for the occasion with an elegant tweed coat, fuschia pink wrap scarf, or stylish pom-pom beanie. For everyday use, the company’s versatile totes and clutches are perfect for easy transport. To view all of Evesome’s products, please visit their website.

Viridian Bay Coastal Decor

Viridian Bay, an online home and garden decor company, celebrates coastal decor trends below that will give your home that beachy vibe. From candleholders and lanterns, to wind chimes and torches, there are so many ocean-themed decor options for both indoors and out. These laid-back, summertime interior design options will transform your home into an oceanic oasis.

Viridian Bay offers coastal creatures décor, featuring different creatures from the sea including octopuses, fish, sea urchins and starfish. The home and garden company also has ocean-themed lighting décor, such as a sandpiper lantern and seashell oil torches are a perfect way to add a soft glow to your outdoor living space. Not only sea-themed, but also useful and practical home details, try a pair of flip flop beach towel hooks, floating jellyfish bookends, or a shell-inspired hose holder.

Redbox Christmas in July

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Christmas in July or Christmas in Summer is a second Christmas celebration held around the summer season, mainly during July. It is centered around Christmas-themed activities and entertainment, including small gatherings, seasonal music and specials, and shopping, with the goal of getting the public in the “Christmas spirit” during the summer season in the Northern hemisphere.

To celebrate Santa in summer, Redbox is showcasing entertainment fun that will get you basking in the holiday spirit. List of movies available below.

Free Live TV

On Demand

Free On Demand

12AM × JUTES — “SKI MASK”

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Prolific alternative Pop, Hip Hop and R&B artist 12AM taps Jutes for his latest single “Ski Mask” out now via Sony Music Canada. The new heat arrives with a Spring Breakers-inspired video co-directed by 12AM himself and Chris Villa (Post Malone, Tyla Yaweh). You can listen to “Ski Mask” HERE. You can watch the new video HERE.

The hard-hitting track encompasses infectiously melodic vocals escorted by 12AM’s ability to captivate audiences with his storytelling prowess. With lyrics outlining love and what can be put on the line to keep it, “Ski Mask” is one of many chapters to come.

“Me and Jutes have been wanting to put out a song for so long together but we had to have the right one… we made a couple records here and there but once I free-styled the hook for “Ski Mask” we both knew this was the one. He laid his verse down and bodied it and it made me step my game up on my verse,” explains 12AM.

“12 played me just the hook and said, yep this the one. I went in, recorded my verse in 15 mins, it just came out mad easy, showed him and he went crazy for it. Definitely feels good to finally have a track together. We’ve lived together and been grinding this music shit together for so long and never released a song together but it was worth the wait,” Jutes adds.

On the making of the video, 12AM also notes, “I’ve always been super hands on with everything I do. I was directing my own music videos in high school and just always had a vision for it. Chris and I work easy together and I’ve learned a lot from him from doing multiple videos and he let me do my thing for this one. He had ideas, I had ideas, and we met in the middle but when I wasn’t in the shots I loved being behind the camera and having my vision come to life.”

“Ski Mask” arrives as a follow up to “come over” and “Voices” whose success resulted in early rotation on Apple Radio 1, premieres with Travis Mills and media coverage from cultural tastemaker Lyrical Lemonade, among others. Adding to mainstream radio and media coverage, praise for upcoming releases can be seen on social media from artists such as Travis Barker, Tyla Yaweh and Elijah Woods.

Los Angeles-based, Ottawa native Matthew Dubois better known as 12AM is an emerging alternative R&B singer stemming from the ever-expanding Canadian music scene.

Earning love from streaming platforms and radio alike, 12AM’s releases have landed consistent debuts on new music playlists in the US and Canada, garnering early support in rotation on Apple Music 1 Radio which led to premieres with Travis Mills for “love dies” and “come over.” Notably 12AM boasts over 15 million streams with 6 million of those branching from viral tracks “Voices” and “come over.”

No stranger to media coverage and acclaim from tastemakers, praise can be seen coming from industry key players such as Lyrical Lemonade who said “12AM has been having a massive year without being able to tour, the Canadian [and LA-based] artist has an innate ability to craft big choruses which is why more and more artists are tapping in to use his melodic talents.”

A prolific storyteller, 12AM consistently writes for other artists as well as himself. 12AM can be seen frequently working with Elijah Woods and Omer Fedi (Kid Laroi “Without You”), (24kGoldn & Iann Dior “Mood”) and (Lil Nas X “Montero”) also regularly working with producers Midi Jones, Bizness Boi and NGHT NGHT. Apart from writing and making music, 12AM has an extensive touring background, in his most recent run touring North America with Souly Had, 12AM completed over 30 show dates on a single tour amassing sold out venues in Salt Lake City and Toronto. Touring accolades include dates with Internet Money, Iann Dior, Jez Dior, 24kGoldn, Jutes and Trevor Daniel. A one-of-a-kind artist, 12AM’s passion and pain shine through his music-making and unique narrative ability.

With highly anticipated upcoming releases with Travis Barker, Jutes, and Pyrex, paired with the heavy hitting management team of Tes Siyoum (Tyla Yaweh) and Alec Strasmore (ex-Post Malone), 12AM is creating the pathway for a summer 2021 takeover. 12AM’s repertoire is only at its inception, the future looks incredibly bright for the multifaceted and highly talented singer.

Original Sin – The Seven Sins Short Film & Soundtrack

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ORIGINAL SIN – THE SEVEN SINS SHORT FILM REIMAGINES DANTE’S INFERNO, ACCOMPANIED BY A SOUNDTRACK FEATURING REINTERPRETED INXS CLASSICS

Autumn Miller And Trevor Jackson Star In The Vibrant Short Film

Film Premiere and Soundtrack Available On July 16

In 2020, as the world shut down, we had to learn new ways to manage our lives and hearts, especially if they were broken.

On July 16, Petrol/UMe will launch Original Sin – The 7 Sins featuring the songs and music of INXS on the Veeps streaming platform. Original Sin is a modern-day love story about a broken-hearted heroine and her journey through the seven sins and the quest towards the virtue of Hope. The music of the legendary global rock band INXS seamlessly accompanies the film, and ultimately, the young heroine finds true love while the world heals with her. Beginning today, purchase tickets to the Original Sin screening on Veeps HERE.

Directed by Amy Tinkham and championed by the founder of Petrol Records and Executive Producer Chris CM Murphy before his passing earlier this year, Original Sin is the last project and passion that CM was working on during his final days. The film is loosely based on and inspired by celebrated Italian writer Dante Alighieri’s Inferno and the spiritual journey through the Seven Sins of Purgatory — pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust. The Original Sin short film reimagines Dante’s tale through the eyes of Jane, a 21st-century heroine isolated during the recent pandemic, who continues to search for love and the means to validate her soul.

I was so honored to be asked by the legendary Chris Murphy to explore telling a story through INXS music, but was also overwhelmed with how to start because it is such an iconic and incredible catalog, said Amy Tinkham. So instead, I sat with the music for many, many weeks and let it tell me a story. It was an out-of-body experience actually because it feels more like the songs and the times we are living in, wrote this film than anything I consciously tried to do.

Original Sin reflects the world’s current state of affairs and the universal quest for reconnection and romance. The short film is harmoniously intertwined with the symbolically poetic music of rock icons, INXS. The entire film threads together the epic tale of all seven sins by way of a bacchanalia of color, sound, imagery, and movement. The heroine’s journey through the seven sins, ultimately finding love with each other, and together, their love heals them both as well as the world around them. Framed with minimal narration, the unscripted short film runs close to 26 minutes and is a story of isolation and love, inspired by the songs and music of INXS, as a young woman is catapulted through the 7 SINS to find true love and heal her heart.

We are honored that our music inspired such a beautiful and innovative short film. INXS has always explored the marriage of our music with visuals, and we welcome the reimagined versions of our songs performed by a roster of contemporary and up-and-coming global artists. These versions of our songs are a perfect accompaniment to the film, said Kirk Pengilly of INXS. Knowing that ‘Original Sin’ was Chris Murphy’s last passion project makes it even that much more impactful. We are deeply grateful that we are now able to share Amy’s emotive and thought-provoking short film with our audience. Play it loud…

Amy Tinkham’s artistic vision using our music within the film is refreshing and truly inspired, the global & diverse artists who brought their imagination through their interpretations of our songs really complement the film while still respecting our original music. It’s such an honor to have these incredible artists cover our music!! I’m humbled by their passion and in awe of their talent, Said Tim Farriss of INXS.

Original Sin stars notable actress/dancer Autumn Miller who shot to fame as a dance sensation in her role in Bad Liar from Imagine Dragons’ and Trevor Jackson, who is a true triple threat, singer/songwriter, producer, and actor (Superfly, Grown-ish, American Crime). Both Miller and Jackson personify the unyielding spirit of those among us who are searching for love and redemption in a time fraught with much personal and social peril. Fabrice Calmels, the ballet prodigy who entered the Paris Opera Ballet at age 11 and is currently dancing with Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet, embodies each of the sins within his stunning performance as the Angel in the film.

The accompanying 13-song soundtrack — the first-ever INXS-specific project between Petrol and UMe, will also be available July 16 and features a wealth of INXS-related material, including some dramatic reworkings and reinterpretations of some of the band’s most iconic tracks, including Australian female chanteuse George Alice’s edgy take on Suicide Blonde, and international electropop sensation Loane’s otherworldly French lead vocals on Mystify. Other soundtrack highlights include Michael Hutchence’s sultry, Spanish-flavored cover of Eric Burdon & War 1970 collaborative classic Spill The Wine, Tricky’s rapid-fire rumination on Mediate, the sultry vocals of Sweden’s Ida Redig on Taste It and Kill The Pain and Trevor Jackson’s pleadingly personal Need You Tonight. GRAMMY Award-winning Petrol – INXS Executive Music Producer Giles Martin collaborated with Amy, developing the original concept. Academy Award-winning sound engineer Chris Jenkins mixed the 5.1 reimagined audio for the soundtrack. Order Original Sin – The 7 Sins soundtrack on all major digital platforms on July 16 HERE.

ORIGINAL SIN: THE SEVEN SINS – SOUNDTRACK

Drum Opera – performed by Jon Farriss (INXS)
Let it Ride – performed by INXS
Kill The Pain – performed by Ida Redig
Never Tear Us Apart – performed by Global Network & Sophia Amato
Mediate – performed by Tricky & INXS
Suicide Blonde – performed by George Alice
Mystify – performed by Loane & INXS
What You Need – performed by Wyatt Stromer & Eric Stromer
Spill The Wine – performed by Michael Hutchence
Taste It – performed by Ida Redig
Don’t Change – performed by Vimala & Aden Jaron
Need You Tonight – performed by Trevor Jackson & Wyatt Stromer
New Sensation – performed by Alterboy

Watch the Original Sin Trailer on YouTube and also visit their website, Original Sin’s Instagram and their personal Instagrams.

ABOUT CM MURPHY AND PETROL RECORDS

Petrol, founded in 2000, is the world’s most successful first all-digital record company and the first independent label to sign a worldwide distribution agreement with Apple Inc.’s iTunes. Petrol’s numerous chart and sales successes over the years in various musical genres, together with the late Christopher M. Murphy’s other multimedia endeavors, resulting in Murphy receiving the New South Wales Premier’s Expo Award for Arts & Entertainment and being named Australian Entrepreneur of the Year by Business Review Weekly for his many achievements. In 2008 Murphy received a Grammy nomination for his documentary on the street music of Cuba (now referred to as ‘Reggaeton’). In 2009, Petrol signed INXS’ classic catalog to the label, and in 2017, INXS was awarded for achieving 50 million worldwide sales. With iTunes alone, Petrol has achieved more than 180 #1’s, more than 700 Top 10, and more than 1,600 Top 100 positions. In addition to Murphy’s Grammy nomination for a cutting-edge documentary and following the # 1 rated television mini-series in 2014, Petrol broke all records with six albums in the Top 10 & INXS were recently named ARTIST of the DECADE in Australia for their highest selling album, The Very Best. With millions of records sold worldwide and ranking as one of the world’s most successful independent labels, Petrol continues to succeed in the marketplace.

ABOUT UMe

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) is the centralized U.S. catalog and special markets entity for UMG. Working in concert with all of the company’s record labels, UMe provides a frontline approach to catalog management, a concentration of resources, opportunities in new technologies, and an emphasis on strategic marketing initiatives to engage all types of consumers across multiple entry points and platforms.

ABOUT VEEPS

Veeps is a direct-to-fan experiential platform, custom-built for artists, by artists. Founded in 2017 by Benji and Joel Madden, it is the music industry’s leading, premium live-streaming platform. Since then, Veeps has hosted hundreds of live-stream shows and events, in partnership with Live Nation, Veeps continues with a mission to power artists in the most critical early stages of their development, all the way through the biggest, most important moments of their careers.

ARMANI HOTELS × LUSH EXPERIENCES

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ARMANI HOTELS SELECTS LUSH EXPERIENCES TO REPRESENT ITS TWO UNPARALLELED PROPERTIES IN DUBAI AND MILAN

Lush Experiences, one of travel’s premier sales, marketing and representation organizations boasting long held and deep relationships with travel advisors and members, today announced Armani Hotels has selected it to represent its two distinct hotels in Dubai and Milan to travel advisors and the travel industry across North America. Armani Hotels & Resorts was established in 2005 under an agreement between Giorgio Armani and Emaar Properties with the objective to develop, own and operate an exclusive collection of hotels, resorts and residences in the world’s most important cities and holiday destinations.

The name Giorgio Armani is synonymous with high fashion, extraordinary design, and the epitome of true luxury. The Armani Hotel Dubai, the first of the two Armani designed and developed hotel properties, is in the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, in downtown Dubai. The Armani Hotel Milano that followed the development of the Dubai property anchors the world-famous Milan fashion district. Both hotels exemplify the warm Italian style that are the global signature of the designer himself.

“We have decided to start a journey of collaboration with Lush Experiences because of their reputation, being active and dynamic in the market and absolutely for the fine collection they are already representing: We are expecting a huge growth in terms of brand awareness and how that can positively impact the hotel,” said Milan General Manager Giuseppe Losciale.

“Everyone knows the Armani name is the definition of understated elegance. Both the hotels in Dubai and Milano showcase this in a way that defines their respective destinations. Milan as the epicenter of design and fashion, and Dubai as a place where luxury abounds. We are humbled to add Armani Hotels to the Lush Experiences unparalleled curated collection and look forward to showcasing these uniquely world-class hotels to the top travel advisors in North America,” said Brad Beaty, Co-Founder of Lush Experiences.

About Lush Experiences

Lush Experiences is one of travel’s premier sales, marketing and representation organizations boasting long held and deep relationships with travel advisors and members. Proud of a client retention rate greater than 90%, one of the highest in the industry, Lush Experiences is all about professionalism, service, and your success.

Lush Experiences prides itself on making travel advisor’s work simpler and effortless and approaches its member’s business with a philosophy that “every booking is a relationship.”

Lush Experiences portfolio is comprised of the finest luxury hotels and destinations throughout the world. From regions including Asia Pacific to Europe to Mexico and the Caribbean, its members are recognized by travelers and travel professionals as being among the most prestigious names in the industry. Also offering destinations services, the experienced team at Lush Experiences treats its clients and relationships as family and the results show it.

The Lesson GK Release Debut Album

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The Lesson GK, a diverse multi-instrumental collective that have become a legendary staple over the course of their 7 year residency performing in New York City, have released their debut full-length album Another World, on Jammcard Records.

Earlier this month, The Lesson GK gave listeners their first glimpse of what is bound to be the underground hit of the summer, with the single “Boogie” featuring the hip-hop legend DJ Premier.

The Lesson GK started out as a passion project for renowned drummer Lenny “The Ox” Reece, who grew up performing in the church and wanted to start a band that would be composed of true artists who cared about the music and creating a space to connect with a live audience in a genuine way. “The Lesson,” Lenny decided, would be to find people of diverse backgrounds with a common love for music, who could learn to get along and jam together. Determined, Lenny found his people, and the improvisational jams started with a weekly jam session in 2012, which has since become the cornerstone of the NYC underground hip hop scene. Each member comes from a different upbringing, a different race, a different vibe and together they’ve built something that transcends all the things that have pulled the world apart as of late. With their unparalleled stadium-ready sound, The Lesson GK have created a unifying example of how people should act, and how music should feel.

“Music is a reflection of comradery,” says Lenny, and The Lesson GK is precisely that. They rely on each other and have found success in their group equilibrium as players. “Watever our weakness is, we rely on each other’s strengths.”

The band’s secondary name “Gentei Kaijo” (Japanese for “limitation cancellation”) perfectly captures the ethos of the fully improvised experimental hip-hop, jazz, R&B, funk and progressive soul experience that proudly challenges both the artists and the crowd to become the best version of themselves by taking notice of their neighbor regardless of cultural background, race, occupation and orientation and learning about them in a space that fosters family.

Their mantra? Community. Magic. Life changing. Church. Home.

Fans have been asking for an album to take home for ages, but the band didn’t want to rush it. Now, with the release of Another World, the time finally felt right to take production from the stage to the studio, in a way that was most authentic for the group.

“Usually people write a song, compose it, record, then figure out how to get it live but we do it live first,” Explains Lenny of their process. “We tricked ourselves into making an album. We all care so much about what happens – we’re all best friends – this is our passion project. Sometimes caring so much can be a hindrance, so we started with making a beat tape to set low stakes, but we tricked ourselves into making a tape that came ultimately together into an album.”

The care, the heart, the community can be fully heard on The Lesson GK’s new music. It’s the perfect sound for summer and an anthem for modern times.

Al Hirschfeld Foundation Presents a New Online Exhibition

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The Al Hirschfeld Foundation presents its latest online exhibition, The Dog Show: Hounds by Hirschfeld. Now live through August 15, the exhibition features drawings of dogs by the artists between 1924-2001. Featuring some of the most famous dogs in 20th century media – and some not-so-famous dogs who were well-loved by their humans. Canines take center stage in this exhibition including the artists’ reflections of The Thin Man, Frasier, Lassie, The Wiz, Annie, Gypsy, The Will Rogers Follies and more.

Dogs appear in drawings in nearly every category of the artists’ work, theatre, film, television, music, and literature, as well as politics, private commissions, and Hirschfeld’s earliest lithographs. The dogs seen in this show have been sorted by breed, just as they do in the best dog shows. There are breeds from each of the seven American Kennel Club groups represented: Sporting, Working, Terrier, Hound, Toy, Herding, and Non-Sporting.

The exhibition is curated by Katherine Eastman, Archives Manager of The Al Hirschfeld Foundation. “Westminster may be over, but this dog show is ready to begin,” says Eastman. “For this exhibition, we’ve searched through the Hirschfeld archive for images of dogs of every size and shape. You’ll learn some fun facts about different breeds. Maybe you’ll even fall in love with a breed and start looking for your next best friend.”

Go behind the lines of Hirschfeld’s art with The Hirschfeld Century Podcast, nominated as “Best NYC podcast” by the 2020 Apple Awards. A special episode focusing on “The Dog Show: Hounds by Hirschfeld” will be available starting July 19, 2021 on iTunes and other popular podcast sites.

ABOUT KATHERINE EASTMAN, CURATOR OF “THE DOG SHOW: HOUNDS BY HIRSCHFELD”

Katherine Eastman is the Archives Manager of The Al Hirschfeld Foundation. On her days off, Eastman practices as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She brings her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chandler, and Bennett to work every day. You can follow their adventures on Instagram. The Al Hirschfeld Foundation is waiting for her to train them to sniff out NINAs.

ABOUT THE AL HIRSCHFELD FOUNDATION

The mission of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation is to promote interest in the theater and visual arts by supporting non-profit museums, libraries, theaters, and similar cultural institutions. The Foundation fulfills its mission through grants and exhibitions of Hirschfeld’s art. The Foundation maintains an extensive collection of Hirschfeld artworks and lends and/or donates pieces to institutions all over the world. Another primary mission is arts education, which the Foundation does primarily with the Hirschfeld Arts Curriculum. Created in conjunction with the New York City Board of Education, The Hirschfeld Arts Curriculum is an innovative visual/performing arts education program based on Hirschfeld’s art to engage students K through 12 in a variety of arts activities. Our programs encourage writing, reading, researching, observing, movement and performance to learn about the arts, its history, and the opportunities for education and employment in the arts field. The web based Al Hirschfeld curriculum is easy to use and is intended to be a free resource for teachers and students.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Al Hirschfeld’s drawings stand as one of the most innovative efforts in establishing the visual language of modern art through caricature in the 20th century. A self-described “characterist,” his signature work, defined by a linear calligraphic style, appeared in virtually every major publication of the last nine decades (including a 75-year relationship with The New York Times) as well as numerous book and record covers and 15 postage stamps. Hirschfeld said his contribution was to take the character, created by the playwright and portrayed by the actor, and reinvent it for the reader. Playwright Terrence McNally wrote: “No one ‘writes’ more accurately of the performing arts than Al Hirschfeld. He accomplishes on a blank page with his pen and ink in a few strokes what many of us need a lifetime of words to say.”

In 1945, Hirschfeld celebrated the birth of his daughter Nina by placing her name in the background of a drawing. What the artist described as an innocent prank soon became a personal trademark and national obsession, as he began hiding numerous NINA’s throughout his drawings for years to come.

He is represented in many public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the National Portrait Gallery, and Harvard’s Theater Collection. Hirschfeld authored several books including Manhattan Oases and Show Business is No Business in addition to 10 collections of his work. He was declared a Living Landmark by the New York City Landmarks Commission in 1996, and a Living Legend by The Library of Congress in 2000. Just before his death in January 2003, he learned he was to be awarded the Medal of Arts from the National Endowment of the Arts and inducted into the Academy of Arts and Letters. The winner of two Tony Awards, he was given the ultimate Broadway accolade on what would have been his 100th birthday in June 2003. The Martin Beck Theater was renamed the Al Hirschfeld Theater.

UFC × Battle Motors

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UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, is now sponsored by Crane Carrier, a Battle Motors truck company, it was announced today. The groundbreaking partnership aligns Battle Motors with UFC as the inaugural sponsor in two distinct categories within the U.S. market. Battle Motors will become the “Official Light Duty Truck of UFC,” as well as the first-ever presenting partner of UFC’s Light Heavyweight Division.

Under the new partnership, UFC will provide Battle Motors with a branded presence on the Octagon canvas at select UFC® events. In addition, Battle Motors will have numerous sponsorship integrations within UFC® content on both linear and digital platforms, including live broadcasts, pay-per-views, and social media assets.

Battle Motors branding will also be integrated into UFC marketing material related to the Light Heavyweight Division including the Main Card Light Heavyweight bouts on UFC® pay-per-view broadcasts.

Inside the arena, fans can cheer on their favorite UFC athletes from the Battle Motors brigade section, a seating area near the Octagon that is set aside to celebrate front-line industrial workers. “Battle’s refuse truck customers and workers are the toughest of the tough in the US workforce. We are in the streets and in the factories, working with steel on concrete. The UFC® brand resonates very strongly with our family!” says Battle CEO, Mike Patterson.

“We love creating innovative partnerships, like this one with Battle Motors, that gives us the opportunity to provide extraordinary value to our sponsors” said Paul Asencio, senior vice president, Global Partnerships, UFC. “We’re looking forward to helping Battle Motors reach more customers than ever through the power of the UFC brand.”

Crane Carrier Company (CCC), a Battle Motors company, is based in New Philadelphia, Ohio and has been manufacturing the world’s strongest and most durable trucks for 75 years. CCC specializes in heavy duty refuse and recycling trucks. Battle Motors acquired Crane Carrier Company in early 2021 and added an electric vehicle offer to CCC’s diesel and CNG offerings.

You can learn more on UFC’s website and the Battle Motors website.