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Los Angeles Times
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
A 90-year mystery solved: ‘Lost' Maxine Albro frescoes uncovered at the Ebell of Los Angeles
The frescoes were too loud in color, critics said. Too modern. Too thin and flat. The frescoes, the club members complained, were 'out of harmony' and ruining their enjoyment of their garden — and so, they decreed, the frescoes had to go. It was 1933 at the Ebell of Los Angeles, a prominent women's club founded in 1894 that had for six years occupied a majestic new building off Wilshire Boulevard, built in the Italian Renaissance style by famed architect Sumner P. Hunt. The club's then-president, Anna May Dunlap, commissioned muralist and painter Maxine Albro to create frescoes for the north loggia of the Ebell's garden — for which Albro toiled away during the heat of July and August that year. Called 'The Four Sibyls,' the frescoes depict the female seers of ancient Greek and Roman mythology, including the Roman, Cumaean, Erythraean and Delphic sibyls. Albro had studied under a student of Diego Rivera's and would go on to become one of the country's foremost female muralists, working with the Works Progress Administration on projects including murals at San Francisco's Coit Tower. Albro's Ebell frescoes were indeed bright and modern — having been created in the style recently popularized by Rivera — and, like many great works of art throughout the ages, her creations sparked a pitched battle. In what would go down in history as the 'Sibyl War,' Ebell members argued for two years about the appropriateness of the frescoes, touching on still-universal themes including who art is for, why art matters, what art's place is in society, and how progress can be made if risks are never taken. 'It is an amazing thing that we can become so interested in art discussion that our 'sibyl war' has widened art appreciation,' Dunlap wrote in 1934 before stepping down as president because of the controversy. 'No longer are we confined to 'kitchen, children and church,' and we must see to it that these avenues are kept forever open for American women.' The Sibyl War ended in March 1945, with a vote of 385 to 223 in favor of the frescoes' removal. The Times' then-art critic, Arthur Millier, was a staunch advocate for the murals and wrote about them many times, including a particularly poignant plea for them to be spared a week before they were slated for destruction. 'There is in Los Angeles, in a semi-public place, a work of art which gives to a vast gray wall a freshness like the breath of spring, a lightsome beauty like the dawn of the Renaissance in Tuscany,' Millier wrote. 'This work of art, in fact, is one of the signs of our own California Renaissance — a thing of sure-footed youthfulness, and of bright happy color.' 'Every great work of art was once new and strange,' Millier noted. 'Time alone — plenty of time — can make its message clear to all.' What happened to the frescoes remained a mystery for 90 years, said Meredith Drake Reitan, the Ebell's first scholar in residence, who came across the history of the lost murals after gaining access to the Ebell's vast archives. No record could be found documenting the method used to remove them, but historical letters and news clippings referred to techniques that would have resulted in destruction, including dousing them with lye, chipping them off the wall and sandblasting them. Ebell Executive Director Stacy Brightman, after hearing chatter about the lost Albros upon taking her post, decided to find out. Brightman hired Kiernan Graves, a wall-painting conservator who specializes in murals and frescoes, to see what she could find beneath what turned out to be more than nine layers of paint. Graves began the work of revealing a 6-inch window of wall into art history. That was in January, just a few days after fires devastated large swaths of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Graves remembered driving through the smoky haze to the beautiful Ebell garden. 'It was a really grim time,' Graves says. 'So to see the color appear, it was just such a bright light in that moment — to feel like something is surviving rather than destroyed.' Later that night, Brightman called Graves to check in, breathless with anticipation. 'Oh, girl, you got frescoes,' Graves told her. The women laugh as they tell the story. They sit at a polished wooden table in the Ebell's lovingly preserved wood-paneled library. Visiting schoolchildren can be heard laughing during a presentation in a nearby auditorium where Amelia Earhart gave her last public appearance before disappearing over the Pacific Ocean. The ornate, stately building echoes with women's history, even as its current leaders infuse it with future purpose. The newly discovered 'lost' Albros are cause for great celebration at the center. The women who wanted to save the Albros, it turns out, not only had photographed the frescoes for posterity before they were covered but also had managed to ensure they were simply painted over, knowing full well that their time would come around to be revealed again. When looking through the archives, Reitan found evidence of the women's resolve. 'They say things like, 'We may not understand what we're doing now, but women in the future will understand.' They're absolutely confident of that,' she says. 'And so the idea that they actually are here, and they lasted into the future, and that we now have the capacity to really uncover them in the appropriate way, it's just absolutely incredible.' Because the frescoes were covered up so quickly, they never got the chance to cure as frescoes normally do, Graves says. This rendered them in pristine condition but also made them quite fragile, which is why after uncovering several 6-inch spots and confirming that the frescoes were intact, Graves immediately covered up the art again. In yet another twist for the prized works, it is unclear when they can — and if they should — be fully uncovered and restored, Brightman says. The nonprofit Ebell, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, must undergo a city-mandated seismic retrofit. The incredibly costly process will likely last many years and involve far too much dust and construction chaos for the frescoes' safety. 'This campus is a jewel for Los Angeles. We have to save it and make it sing for the next century,' Brightman says, adding that the timing is good. 'Ninety years of a mystery has been solved. The sibyls can keep sleeping safely, and we can have a really thoughtful conversation about what that means, and what the Ebell needs to look like, and be, as we come out the other side.'
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John C. Reilly Honored With Oscar Wilde Award
Will Ferrell let the throngs mingling over Guiness and chippies at the historic Ebell Los Angeles for the annual US-Ireland Alliance's Oscar Wilde Awards in on a little secret as he presented his comedy costar bestie with the honor this week. "Did you touch my drum set?" the iconic line from "Step Brothers" was inspired by Reilly's childhood on the heavily Irish south side of Chicago, an upbringing that his friend described as growing up with "roving gangs of hooligans from large families." The drum set line was a real-life squabble Reilly had with his real-life brother and like so much of the spiky wit the duo share on screen it became one of the many improvised moments mined for comedic gold over the span of their long careers, Ferrell told the crowd. 'All the gifts that historically have come out of Irish society radiate from John," Ferrell his acceptance speech, tinged with misty-eyed passion, Reilly spoke about his love of the Irish people. "What really stands out to me at this moment is their love of democracy and their common decency.… Someone more eloquent than me once said, a nation's greatness is measured by the care they give to the most vulnerable. That's how you make a country great. You put your beliefs to work. That's what the Irish do."He referenced the obstacles that Oscar Wilde, who was prosecuted for gross indecency for his affair with another man, overcame to give the world lyrical lines like,'we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking up at the stars," even as the powerful tried to crush his voice. "Oscar dying penniless in a cheap French hotel may make it appear to some that the Establishment succeeded in destroying him," Reilly said in a trembling voice. "But his work lives on and tells another story of resilience, survival and brilliance. It lives on and it continues to inspire us…. And I doubt anyone today is receiving an award named after one of those who tried to break him.'In a moment of characteristic, well, Irish humility, Reilly did not mention his own ongoing struggle. The actor is among the thousands who lost homes in the Eaton fire that ripped through Altadena in January, devouring miles of the picturesque community and killing 17 of its residents from a historically black neighborhood near Lake honorees included prolific film producer Kathleen Kennedy, whose work on 70 films has garnered 120 Academy Award nominations, including "Star Wars," which was shot in Ireland, and her husband, the director Frank Marshall. Kennedy spoke about how she is consistently grilled about whether she is one of the Kennedys, referencing the political dynasty from Massachusetts, her lineage doesn't include that clan, but still she manages to embrace their fighting "Irish spirit." "It's the resilience, creativity, and love of storytelling that has left a lasting impression on me. So tonight, let's celebrate the power of collaboration, the friendships we continue to build, and the incredible contributions of Irish artists, filmmakers, and visionaries," Kennedy said before bringing her husband to the stage. Marshall, who is now an honorary Irishman, quickly quipped: "if you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough.'Macdara Kelleher, a founder of Wild Atlantic Pictures presented the Wilde Card Award to Éanna Hardwicke. Kelleher produced the upcoming film "Saipan" in which Hardwicke plays Irish soccer legend, Roy award ceremony is intentionally planned for Oscar week and in attendance was were Northern Ireland editor, Nick Emerson, who is nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Film Editing for "Conclave," and the Irish producers of the film "The Apprentice," Ruth Treacy and Julianne Ford, of Tailored Films. Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen execs Desiree Finnegan, Andrew Reid, and Steven Davenport were seen speaking with a number of film executives in the room about opportunities for production on the the television side, the writers of the acclaimed FX series centered on the true story of two sisters who joined the IRA, "Say Nothing," Joshua Zetumer, Kirsten Sheridan and Clare Barron, were among a slew of entertainment industry bold faced names. The casual dress gala is a favorite for a reason. Guests enjoyed Irish favorites like Wilde Irish Gin's signature cocktail – a Wilde Irish Coffee, mini mugs of Irish stew, fish & chips, and a mashed potato bar paired with Five Farms Irish Cream or Writers Tears Whiskey. Explore LA Every Weekend! Don't miss the top picks for things to do in Los Angeles. Subscribe to the Weekend Guide below or by clicking here.
Telegraph
23-02-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Lazy Gen Z lead revival of the travel agents
Gen Z are leading a revival of the high street travel agent because they regard booking a holiday via an app or website as too time-consuming, the boss of TUI has said. Sebastian Ebel, the chief executive of the travel giant, said younger people are also increasingly searching for authenticity when booking their getaway, something which can be a risk when researching holidays on social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok. He said: 'We're seeing them [young people] turn back to the shop. They want to have an extra half hour for gaming instead of looking through the internet. 'It was a surprise to me. I found out from my kids when they told me they had booked through a travel agency. 'I thought, you are digital natives, what have you done? They said why should we spend all our time searching for the right thing? I want to hand over the problem to someone else.' Mr Ebell said that he initially found the trend 'weird', although he admitted that he sometimes mixed up bookings himself and that 'outsourcing it to someone makes sense'. He said: 'Very often young people will phone the shop and say I need this, and then for the decision they will go there. 'The main question they ask is, is it a good hotel? Or I want to do my yoga classes, which hotel can you recommend?' Traditional travel agents have struggled in recent years to cater to the demands of younger holidaymakers who have been choosing to book direct. Club 18-30, which provided notoriously raucous breaks for a younger clientele in Mediterranean resorts, disappeared in 2018 along with parent Thomas Cook, while STA, which arranged packages tours for younger people specialising in more adventurous itineraries, fell victim to Covid, going bust in 2020. However, since foreign travel resumed during the pandemic, packages have become more popular generally because of the security they offer over refunds compared with flight-only deals. TUI, the world's largest tour operator, counts Britain as its largest market, with about half of bookings coming from travel agents. While most come from the 330 UK shops it owns directly, a significant chunk are provided by a network of third-party agents built up in response to the rebound in demand for in-person sales. The ubiquity of the grinning selfie and a reluctance to admit on social media that a holiday has been a flop has made it tougher for Gen Z to identify the options they will most enjoy. Falling back on an agent who may have visited a destination or can advise on a cheaper travel date or airport option helps provide a safety net, said Peter Krueger, of TUI. Mr Krueger said that while young people are still seeking online inspiration, mainly from TikTok but also via ChatGPT, they worry about the authenticity of what they are booking. He said: 'We all know about fake news and pictures which are faked. We can guarantee that what you do see, you will get.' TUI's executives spoke as it launched an initiative to attract more people to its app by selling excursions and events not just to holidaymakers but to locals. The company will initially offer 350 such experiences at 40 locations including the London Aquarium and the Warner Bros Harry Potter tour, in conjunction with entertainment booking service Fever. Mr Ebel said a weakness in UK holiday bookings that led TUI shares to tumble earlier this month has eased and that the level of demand is now 'looking OK.' He added demand is expected to remain resilient as the impact of Labour's tax rises filter through to the wider economy, though holidaymakers may be forced to modify their travel habits somewhat, taking slightly shorter breaks or opting for cheaper resorts. TUI has modified its priciest long-haul offerings accordingly, cutting flights from London to Costa Rica and St. Lucia and adding a service from Belfast to the Dominican Republic, regarded as an entry-level destination for the Caribbean. Thailand is also gaining in popularity thanks to a favourable exchange rate, while Egypt and Cape Verde, less far-flung but still regarded as exotic, are also expected to benefit.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Nosferatu,' 'Wicked,' ‘Conclave' Win Costume Designers Guild Awards
'Nosferatu,' 'Wicked' and 'Conclave' have won the feature film awards at the Costume Designers Guild Awards, which were handed out on Thursday night in Los Angeles. 'Conclave' won in the Excellence in Contemporary Film category, 'Wicked' won in Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film and 'Nosferatu' won in Excellence in Period Film, the CDG category that most closely corresponds to the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. In the last 15 years, one of the winners at the CDG Awards has gone on to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design nine times, with the guild's period film winner taking six of those awards and the sci-fi/fantasy winner taking three. Only once in that period, with 'Little Women' in 2020, has the Oscar winner not been a CDG nominee. All three CDG winners are nominated for the costume-design Oscar, along with 'A Complete Unknown' and 'Gladiator II.' In television categories, 'Shōgun' won for period costumes and for costume illustration, 'Dune: Prophecy' for sci-fi/fantasy costumes and 'Hacks' for contemporary costumes. The variety, reality TV and live television award went to 'The Masked Singer.' The awards took place at the Ebell theater in Los Angeles and were hosted by Jackie Tohn. In addition to handing out awards in the nine competitive categories, the CDG also presented the Career Achievement Award to Jenny Beavan, the Distinguished Service Award to Salvador Perez, the Edith Head Hall of Fame Award to Van Smith, the Spotlight Award to Zoe Saldaña and the Vanguard Spotlight Award to Janelle Monáe. The winners: Excellence in Contemporary Film: 'Conclave,' Lisy Christl, CDGExcellence in Period Film: 'Nosferatu,' Linda MuirExcellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: 'Wicked,' Paul Tazewell, CDG Excellence in Contemporary Television: 'Hacks' ('Just for Laughs'), Kathleen Felix-Hager, CDGExcellence in Period Television: 'Shōgun' ('Ladies of the Willow World'), Carlos Rosario, CDGExcellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Television: 'Dune: Prophecy' ('The Hidden Hand'), Bojana NikitovicExcellence in Variety, Reality-Competition, Live Television: 'The Masked Singer' ('Who Can it Be Now?') Steven Norman Lee, CDG and Luke D'Alessandro, CDG Excellence in Short Form Design: 'Can't B Broken: Beyoncé' (Verizon), Shiona Turini, CDGExcellence in Costume Illustration: 'Shōgun,' James Holland, CDG Illustrator Career Achievement Award: Jenny BeavanDistinguished Service Award: Salvador PerezEdith Head Hall of Fame Award: Van SmithSpotlight Award: Zoe SaldañaVanguard Spotlight Award: Janelle Monáe The post 'Nosferatu,' 'Wicked,' 'Conclave' Win Costume Designers Guild Awards appeared first on TheWrap.
