'Emotional' Elton John closes out Glastonbury festival

PILTON -- Elton John gave the final concert at Britain's legendary Glastonbury Festival on Sunday, bringing down the curtain on the annual spectacular with what could be his final UK performance.

"I never thought I'd ever play Glastonbury," he told the crowd. "It's a very special and emotional night for me –- it might be my very last show in England, in Great Britain, so I'd better play well and entertain you."

The 76-year-old pop superstar is winding down a glittering live career with a global farewell tour, having played his last concerts in the United States in May ahead of a final gig in Stockholm on July 8.

Glastonbury, Britain's best-known music festival, has been hosted on a farm in southwest England for five decades.

Before John took to the main Pyramid Stage on Sunday night, anticipation was high among fans.

"Elton's a legend," PhD student Giles Briscoe, 26, told AFP ahead of the set, wearing a replica of the iconic baseball outfit John wore at his famous 1975 concerts at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles.

"The fact that he's going to perform on such a big stage, at such a historic moment of his career, is such a big event."

John did not disappoint, kicking the show off with "Pinball Wizard" -- a role he memorably played in The Who's rock opera "Tommy" -- before reeling through some of his biggest hits, including "Candle in the Wind," "Crocodile Rock" and an intense "I'm Still Standing".

John dedicated "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" to his "friend" and "inspiration" George Michael, who died on Christmas Day in 2016, and who would have turned 60 on Sunday.

'Incredible journey' 

John's husband David Furnish had told Sky News ahead of the concert that John would not stop making music after the farewell tour ends next month, and would start work on a new studio album later this year.

He also teased Sunday's performance, saying it would be "very special," and "not just another day in the office."

Indeed, John was joined on stage by several surprise guests: first off, the London Community Gospel Choir and Jacob Lusk of the soul-pop group Gabriels.

Next up was Stephen Sanchez, with John singing one of the 20-year-old American's songs.

He later shared the stage with Brandon Flowers of The Killers for "Tiny Dancer," and with Rina Sawayama for "Don't Go Breaking My Heart."

He closed out the set with a soaring rendition of "Rocket Man," complete with fireworks.

During the concert, John thanked his fans "for 52 years of amazing love and loyalty."

"It's been an incredible journey and I've had the best, best time. I will never forget you -- you are in my head, my heart and my soul."

John's UK swansong caps days of big-name performances in front of more than 200,000 fans at Glastonbury, including veteran US rockers Guns N'Roses, who were making their debut at the long-running festival in the coveted Saturday night headline slot.

They rocked through their extensive catalogue during a two-hour-plus set, playing hits including "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "November Rain."

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, whose band played a so-called secret slot Friday, joined them onstage to help play a special rendition of "Paradise City."

Other acts playing this year included UK indie giants Arctic Monkeys, singer Lizzo, rapper Lil Nas X, post-punk icon Blondie and "rickroller" Rick Astley, highlighting Glastonbury's eclectic ethos.

On Saturday, a supportive crowd sang along as Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, who suffers from Tourette's syndrome, struggled to finish his set.

He announced he would take a break, after previously cancelling gigs to recuperate over health concerns.

No mud 

Dairy farmer Michael Eavis first organized the festival in 1970, the day after Jimi Hendrix died, and fans who came to see acts including Marc Bolan and Al Stewart paid £1 each for entry and received free milk from the farm.

It was held intermittently in the 1970s, but it wasn't until the 1990s that it really began to acquire its cult status.

While able to draw the biggest performers from every genre and generation, it is equally known for hosting thousands of small acts and left-field events across the huge Worthy Farm site, as well as for often rainy and muddy conditions.

That has not proved a problem this year, with Britain in the midst of a prolonged dry period leaving much of the country scorched.

More than 100,000 standard tickets for this year's festival sold out in just over an hour, despite the price rising to £335 ($427) this year.

Agence France-Presse

Pick up the pieces– turning junk into art

Jan Andrew Denila has a message: Let’s help each other and  get the country back on its feet after every crisis.

He didn’t need elaborate materials to convey his optimism. He used scrap and other found objects, transforming them in something beautiful and outstanding.

His work has won the grand prize in the sculpture category of the 47th Shell National Students Art Competition—the longest-running and most anticipated contest for young Filipino artists.

His entry, “Buuin Natin Ulit. Bangon Na, Sulung Na!” was his first-ever for the Shell contest.

The 26-year-old senior Interior Design student from the Philippine Women’s College (PWC) of Davao emerged victorious in a formidable category (which included an entry from the University of the Philippines Diliman) and impressed Filipino contemporary artists and competition judges Ral Arrogante, Junyee and Leeroy New. 









Imagination

“I formulate my ideas in a junk shop where I can easily compose artistic figures in my mind,” he said in an interview. “When I see a pile of junk with different shapes in front of me, I  imagine what my art will look like.”

Denila’s winning artwork is mostly made up of nuts and bolts. “I started by picking up some junk materials, and classifying them according to shapes and then material,” he described the process.

After deciding on an angle and visualizing his piece, he brought his draft to his small shop where he used a welding machine to assemble the pieces. He did it while praying to God for guidance; his attachment to his process was evident when he revealed its meaning.

Islands of hope

“I dedicate my masterpiece to the ‘Yolanda’ survivors. The three figures symbolize the three islands of hope: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” he said.

His sculpture shows how we all can help each other in times of dire need. “The drowning man represents ‘bangon na,’ while the man at the center holding the rope expresses ‘sulong na,’” he said. “The figure at the top is more complete compared to the two other figures—this time conveying the process of survival from tragedy to recovery.”

Denila earned well-deserved prizes of P60,000 in cash, a medal, and a plaque.

Art and culture

“Being a Mindanaoan artist, I dedicate my work to my countrymen, because for me, the soul of a real artist comes from his or her culture,” he said. “Culture develops values and inspirations—very important if you’re an artist.”

He believes that being an artist doesn’t only require skill; the creative process also involves the heart and mind.
“Before I started doing my piece, I made sure that I went through the process of feeling and thinking,” he said.

‘Design thinking’

Denila is one of the artists-and-visionaries-in-the-making at PWC, where “design thinking” is said to be at the core of its art education. The student’s recognition nationwide also earned the PWC of Davao a citation for Excellence in Curricular Program of Study in Fine Arts.

The Shell competition was aptly titled “Art Spark,” symbolizing the new revolution in modern art forms. The contest received a record number of 1,600-plus entries across all categories.

The awarding ceremonies were held at the Ayala Museum in Makati.

“I believe that one of the roles of an artist is to contribute new ideas for change, to inspire people to innovate and to make impossible things possible,” he said. “I want to make something meaningful for humanity.”

The young artist wants to mount a solo exhibit soon and open his own furniture store—a one-stop shop for paintings and sculptures.

“I want to help my countrymen develop their skills, too. I believe that Filipinos are skilled and strong,” he said.

His vision for the country is reflected in the scraps of metal that are pieced together to form art that speaks from the heart and mind of its creator.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Halloween-theme holders you can DIY with your kids

Liven up your home with these very easy to make pumpkin- and bat-theme holders. They’re great for holding paper napkins at the dinner or buffet table. They may also hold the pens on your kid’s desk.

As a fun and creative do-it-yourself (DIY) project, you may do it with your kids. You hit two birds with one stone: you not only bond with your kids, you get to teach them the value of environmental conservation as well.

For this project, teach your kids how to transform their used and rinsed Tetra Pak cartons into colorful holders that are easy to create and design.









What you’ll need:

Tetra Pak carton
A pair of scissors
Cutter
Glue gun/double-sided tape
Fancy wrapping paper
Bond paper
Pencil
Coloring materials


Instructions:

1. On the bond paper, ask your child to draw his or her favorite animal. You may print out stencils or actual shapes from your computer. Color in the drawing and cut it into shape. Set aside for decorating.

2. Help your child cut open the top part of the carton.

3. Cut off half of the carton’s left, right and front sides. Leave the back part of the carton as it is.

4. Cover the carton with fancy wrapping paper of your choice. This will be the background of your animal.

5. Help your child design the pencil holder with the animal that s/he has drawn. For this project, we taped the head of the giraffe on the back board, while the body was taped on the front board for a multidimensional effect. You can also create a 3D effect by using foam tapes.

6. Use it to display and store your child’s pencils and coloring materials and set it up on his or her study desk to make study time more exciting for your little one.

DIY projects need not be complicated. Start involving your kids in simple projects and who knows, you could just spark up the little DIY aficionados in them. Bond with your kids by helping them develop their creativity by upcycling materials and encourage them to make useful items from upcycled materials.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

The perfect place to view the latest design movements

Ongoing this weekend at the SMX Convention Center, Manila Fame is about craft, creativity and connectivity. This annual design and lifestyle event is the perfect place to view the latest design movements. It’s a must-see for interior designers and architects.

Among the many resurgent designs on display at Manila Fame is reawakened Philippine design. Organic materials such as bamboo, rattan, shell, wood and natural fibers are used in industrial units, creating a modern Philippine ambience. These new fresh expressions are making waves in the global market.



Classic raw material

Bamboo, for example, is the classic Pinoy raw material that has so many versatile uses. The cultural narrative of the Philippine handicrafts industry is told in live demonstrations by masters of traditional crafts such as the singkaban or bamboo shaving from Bulacan, bamboo basket weaving from Palawan and bamboo carving from Benguet.

The event features several areas of Philippine creativity—from furniture and fashion to art and accessories. The Millennial, a special setting for the new consumer, showcases Manila Fame’s top manufacturers that have tied up with leading Philippine designers.

Josie Natori is a key international fashion designer featured at Manila Fame. In Manila Wear, she brings together 29 of the country’s fashion icons and rising star designers to showcase fashion wearables and accessories that reflect artisanal crafts and contemporary sensibilities.

The international, modern furniture designer, Dedon, is also featured at Manila Fame. Dedon has tied up with Elle Decoration Philippines to produce Café Elle Deco + Dedon, where Manila Fame visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf while relaxing on Dedon’s exceptional furniture. The café was designed by Jinggoy Buensuceso of Epoch. At the opening night last Thursday, the Katha Awards were given out at the Café Elle Deco + Dedon.

Another beautifully arranged booth is the Far East Furniture (www.far-east-furniture.com) unit, excellently located at the center of the SMX Convention Center. Far East Furniture blends western design with eastern style. The company plays off these contradictions to great effect, matching Dutch sensibility and Filipino flair in their new collection, all composed of unique and dramatic furniture pieces.

The European and Pinoy designers who collaborated on the Contradictions Exhibit have done a wonderful job. The team originated in Europe, but has evolved into an international group of artists together with their Pinoy designers. That Asian flair was evident throughout the collection.

Wish

I wish the entire Manila Fame could be featured on the new, home-oriented TV show, “My Home Today,” which airs on ANC every Saturday from 6:30-7:00 p.m. with replays on Sunday mornings at 11. Host Issa Litton did a stellar job in the first episode, with her excellent choice of guests and features.

The second episode airs tonight and features feng shui master Maritess Allen. Maritess focuses on the newly arrived Year of the Water Snake, guiding viewers as the gentle serpent slithers inside our lives and our homes. She talks about what cures and enhancers we can put in our dwellings to boost our luck and secure our wealth and health.

As an avid feng shui practitioner myself, I have mastered the art of fusion and even juxtaposition in my own home. Issa interviewed me for this section of “My Home Today,” so I will be watching the show tonight for sure.

source: business.inquirer.net