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Thomas Gainsborough
Mary, Countess Howe, ca. 1764
Oil on canvas
95 x 61 in.
Kenwood House, English Heritage; Iveagh Bequest (88029039)
Photo courtesy American Federation of Arts

I recently went to see Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Gainsborough: The Treasures of Kenwood House, London at the Seattle Art Museum and it turned out to be one of my favorite exhibits I’ve seen at SAM. I went on the guided tour which I would highly recommend, especially if you are unfamiliar with the history surrounding the pieces. After the tour I went through the exhibit on my own. The tour is about an hour long and covers the history of the Iveagh Bequest as well as information on several of the paintings included in the exhibit. The paintings are mostly from the 1600s and 1700s and include portraits, landscapes, marine scenes, several portraits of people as characters in Shakespeare or in other fictional settings, and etchings by Rembrandt.

Kenwood House in London usually houses the Iveagh Bequest, but since it is currently under renovation, the paintings are being exhibited and SAM was one of the museums lucky enough to host it. Edward Cecil Guinness of the Guinness Brewery sold his stock in the brewery and retired, becoming 1^st Earl of Iveagh. He amassed a collection of Old Master paintings including pieces by Gainsborough, Rembrandt, Hals, Romney, Van Dyck and others which was later donated to Great Britain as the Iveagh Bequest and is usually displayed free of charge at Kenwood House in London. The exhibit at SAM also includes a section of pieces from European Masters collected by people in Seattle giving the show a local touch. Read the rest of this entry »

Repeat after me. Soon sun will shine shimmering off my sandy sunglasses. Now say it ten times really fast!

The sun IS coming. The question is, when it arrives do you have something fun to do? Why not a little staycation? That is the buzz word for a vacation where you stay close to home. The beauty of traveling to Vancouver Island is that you get to travel abroad and experience cultural diversity and it only takes about three hours to get there on the Victoria Clipper.

Introducing the Premiere Summer Sale Event, Price from $99/ppdo
Overnight packages are available from only $99pp/dbl and include accommodations at the historic James Bay Inn, round trip travel from downtown Seattle on the Victoria Clipper and all taxes. Four other hotel package options include the Royal Scot Suite Hotel at $110pp/dbl, Harbour Towers at $125pp/dbl, Hotel Grand Pacific at $154pp/dbl and The Fairmont Empress at $156 pp/dbl, all including round trip travel on the Victoria Clipper and all taxes. In addition, children under 12 are free (1 child per adult).

By, Manfred Waddey

Fun things to do for the whole family

Discover the adventurous side of Victoria, BC with a ziplining getaway including round trip Victoria Clipper cruise from Seattle to Victoria, a stay at your choice of Victoria, BC hotels and a zipline tour from Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours. On your Victoria ziplining adventure, seek new thrills as your soar between the treetops of a stunning West coast forest and then return to Victoria to explore a city steeped in British charm.

The Royal BC Museum is a place of discovery. Through unique galleries, the Museum showcases the human and natural history of British Columbia and temporary exhibits from other countries and cultures. Authentic artifacts and specimens are displayed in highly realistic settings, giving visitors the experience of another time and place. Its permanent exhibits include the First People’s, Modern History and Natural History Gallery. FREE Entry on May 17th 2011.

Five Star Whale Watching in Victoria, BC
Picture yourself setting sail from Victoria’s Inner Harbour and heading out into the surf for a whale of an adventure. Your boat speeds off into the waters of Vancouver Island where over 90 Orcas, or “Killer Whales,” make their home. During the three-hour trip, you’ll search for these friendly giants, taking with you memories that will last a lifetime. Sound like a dream? It doesn’t have to be. You can book a Five Star Whale Watching adventure right now!

What would you rather wear?