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ARTS
Picasso portrait fetches $95.2m A Picasso portrait of his lover Dora Maar has been sold for $95.2m, the second highest amount ever paid for a painting at auction. The 1941 masterpiece Dora Maar With Cat was sold to an anonymous buyer at Sotheby's in New York on Wednesday. Sotheby's said Dora's "sculptural presence" and the "gorgeous palette of colors" made it worth so much. Its value ranked it behind another Picasso piece, Boy with a Pipe, which fetched a record $104m in 2004. Sotheby's co-chair of Impressionist and modern art David Norman said he was "surprised, thrilled and grateful" at the sale's result. "Besides just being Dora - who was one of his most famed lovers and subjects of his work - it's really just the presence and the execution of the picture that makes it so valuable," he said. Dora Maar, who was also an artist, is said to have helped with the execution of Picasso's Guernica, his masterpiece depicting the horror of the Spanish Civil War. The couple's relationship lasted a decade in the 1930s and '40s. Her influence on the artist is thought to have resulted in the most daring portraits of his career. Other auction highlights included a new record for a Matisse work, which sold for $18.5m . Several other Picassos were also sold, including Harlequin with Baton, fetching $10m. "The energy in the room was incredible," auctioneer Tobias Meyer said. "There's just a very clear, strong demand for the kind of intense painting with an emotional pull that the Picasso represents - things that are made for our times. BOOKS Biographical Encyclopedia of People in Ufology and Scientific Extraterrestrial Research A Best-seller Material!
Ufologists should rejoice after the publication of a world-premiere encyclopedia of ufology (science of UFOs) bearing the name of Maximillien de Lafayette who does not cease to amaze us with his astonishing writing abilities. If I am not mistaken this is his 120th book and counting! But this time, the noted scholar explores un-chartered field, restricted only by imagination and fueled by visions from our future: UFOS! Unlike other writers in this arena, Lafayette is meticulous and rational. He does not write about flying saucers and aliens from a different world as a mainstream ufologist, or a fanatic believer. He is a lawyer by trade, thus, facts and logic play a paramount role in his way of thinking and presenting the pros and cons. I wish if authors of the supernatural and unidentified flying saucers could follow suit. Unfortunately, they don't.
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In this line of analysis, The New York Monthly Herald wrote a very a propos article about his outstanding book From Zeta Reticuli to Earth: Time, Space and the Ufo Technology "A very serious book on extraterrestrials and UFOs well written by a trusted scholar. This is the kind of book ufologists and the general public should read to learn the real things about UFOs and these phenomena. Prof. Maximillien de Lafayette is a serious writer who approaches the subject from different angles: Science, physics, cosmology and real facts." The same applies to his most recent book Biographical Encyclopedia of People in Ufology and Scientific Extraterrestrial Research. This Encyclopedia is a best-seller material. No doubt, this is the first straightforward and most authoritative book ever written about ufologists, their work and theories. The encyclopedia consists of two volumes. The first volume deals with biographies of ufologists, the second volume is a compilation of ufology's best articles and theories; a sort of a thematic encyclopedia. An annual yearbook appears once a year. Each volume consists of 740 pages and numerous chapters. Glowing Reviews The European Journal and World Television called the encyclopedia "extraordinary", The Globe Weekly News wrote "Biographical Encyclopedia of People in Ufology and Scientific Extraterrestrial Research, is rendering an enormous service to ufologists, researchers and students of Ufology and related fields. It is concise, comprehensive, authoritative and abundant with useful profiles and biographies. Add it to your library. You will enjoy it for years to come. " and David Blum from the World Jewish News Agency said "This is extremely timely and a much needed book. I highly recommend this encyclopedia to anyone possessing an interest in our universe."
NY-SPI UFO HUNTERS NY-SPI UFO HUNTERS on SCI FI Channel Feb. 6 at 10/9C. If you missed it, there will be a special encore presentation of NY-SPI UFO Hunters on the SCI FI Channel on Wednesday, February 6 at 10 p.m. ET (9 p.m. CT). This hour-long special episode sets out to investigate actual reports of UFO sightings and otherworldly experiences. The show involves a team of experienced, longtime researchers from the Budd Hopkins' Intruders Foundation in New York City, who have branched out to form a new, cutting-edge UFO investigation group called NY-SPI (www.ny-spi.com). Go to www.scifi.com/ufohunters to read about the show. Contact: Granados, Maureen Email: maureen.granados@nbcuni.com and feedback@scifi.com, maureen.granados@nbcuni.com, sallie.schoneboom@nbcuni.com, thomas.dima@nbcuni.com |
