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Andy Warhol Famous Campbell’s Soup Cans

Andy Warhol Campbell Soup Tomato

Campbell’sTomato Soup by Andy Warhol – 1968

We dedicate this Friday’s post to an icon: Andy Warhol.

Did you know how he displayed the paintings on his first one-person exhibition? Here it goes.

Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans transformed him into an overnight sensation when they were first exhibited in Los Angeles in 1962.

It was his first one-person exhibition organized by Irving Blum, the legendary and visionary director of the Ferus Gallery.

The exhibition featured thirty-two “portraits” of soup cans, each identical except for the flavor inscribed on their labels.

These revolutionary paintings were displayed on a small narrow shelf that ran along the wall of the gallery in a way that suggested not only a gallery rail but also the long shelves in a grocery store.

With these works, Warhol took on the tradition of still life painting, declaring a familiar household brand of packaged food a legitimate subject in the age of Post-War economic recovery.

the lunatic is in my head

the lunatic is in my head

Next Quote? On the Mobile Marketing Campaign against Drunk Driving Article

AARP The Magazine Now a Most Read Consumer Magazine

Latest MRI Study Shows AARP The Magazine, People, and Better Homes & Gardens Lead the Way as Most Read Consumer Magazines

AARP The Magazine Now Has Three Times the Number of Readers as the Total Number of Twitter Followers of Ashton Kutcher, Oprah and Ryan Seacrest Combined*
AARP The Magazine continues to penetrate households as one of the industry leaders in reach and readership and is the only magazine to report consecutive growth in readership in the last six years, now boasting more than 35.7 million readers, as reported in the Fall 2009 Mediamark Research Inc. (MRI) survey. At a critical time for the publishing industry, AARP The Magazine joinsPeopleGood Housekeeping and Sports Illustrated as one of only four publications in the elite top 10 reach magazines group, that achieved growth in readership vs. Spring 2009 MRI. As the world’s largest circulation magazine and the definitive voice for 50+ Americans, AARP The Magazine now reaches three times as many readers as the total number of Twitter followers of Ashton Kutcher, Oprah and Ryan Seacrest combined.*

Additionally, it continues to be the No. 3 most read magazine by American adults (age 18+) after only People and Better Homes & Gardens, and remains the number No. 1 magazine in capturing the boomer audience. AARP The Magazine is now tied with Sports Illustrated in growth among influentials (461,000 more influentials vs. Spring 2009 MRI). Furthermore,AARP The Magazine readers have a 15% higher median household income and are 27% more likely to have graduated college with a B.A. or higher degree.

“As media fragmentation continues, AARP The Magazine bucks the trend with a 47% increase in audience over the past six years,” said Jim Fishman, SVP/Group Publisher, AARP Media. “By joining PeopleGood Housekeeping and Sports Illustrated as one of only four publications in the top 10 reach magazines to see growth in the recent MRI wave, AARP The Magazine further reinforces its effectiveness in reaching a vast and influential audience.”

As online activity grows and Facebook reports its fastest-growing demographic is age 55+ (ComScore, March 2009), AARP The Magazine’s online property (www.aarpmagazine.org) also experienced tremendous growth, gaining more than 1 million internet users. It is one of only five magazines that saw an increase of this magnitude.

In addition to AARP The Magazine, AARP’s media properties consist of AARP Bulletin and AARP Bulletin Today, the daily go-to news source for AARP’s nearly 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. multimedia property dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; www.AARP.org; AARP TV’s original programs My Generation and Inside E Street; and AARP’s nationally syndicated radio programs.

About AARP The Magazine

With more than 35.7 million readers nationwide, AARP The Magazine (www.aarpmagazine.org) is the world’s largest circulation magazine and the definitive lifestyle publication for Americans 50+. Reaching over 24 million households, AARP The Magazine delivers comprehensive content through in-depth celebrity interviews, health and fitness features, consumer interest information and tips, book and movie reviews and financial guidance. Published bimonthly in print and continually online, AARP The Magazine was founded in 1958 and is the flagship title of AARP Publications.

About AARP Media Sales

With unparalleled knowledge of 50+ consumers, as well as unique access across multiple media, AARP Media Sales connects marketers to the ever-growing and influential 50+ population. In addition to representing www.aarp.org, AARP’s trusted Web portal; AARP The Magazine, AARP’s flagship publication and the world’s largest circulation magazine with over 35.7 million readers; AARP Bulletin and AARP Bulletin Today, the daily go-to news source for AARP’s nearly 40 million members and Americans 50+; and AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. multimedia property dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community, AARP Media Sales also has sponsorships for television, radio as well as national and regional events.

*Based on number of Twitter followers as of November 18, 2009 at 1pm EST.

SOURCE AARP

A Latino company with a heart – a mother’s heart

Precious Baby Doll Company is a company with a mission to create a loving home for wonderful baby dolls through “adoption.” The Precious Doll Company was a dream of a woman who experienced first-hand the pain of relinquishing a baby for adoption and the joy of becoming a mother to an adopted daughter. It was her vision to establish a company that would realize the story behind every adoption and breathe life into each by creating stories that celebrated the joy of finally bringing the baby home.

It was summer, and a young Mary Beth Wells, gave birth to a beautiful daughter, whom she silently and privately named Kimberly Caryn. It was her struggle to relinquish this baby to parents who could provide a home with love and stability. It remains the most painful decision of her life, to love this child enough to place her with a family who would raise her to be their own.

Years later, Mary Beth found her birth daughter and began to have a relationship with her. Part one of the healing had occurred. Her prayers were answered when she became the mother to Sophia whom she adopted from Guatemala. Sophia became the love of her life. At last, she had two daughters- the circle of adoption to adoption was complete.

It was time to realize another dream- to give birth again, this time to a company that could bring precious dolls into loving homes. She knew, in her heart, that the Precious Baby Doll Company could help tell the stories of babies adopted all over the world, babies that now lived in America with their new families.

The dolls and their stories help any child learn the gift of adoption. Each doll comes with a book that tells the story about their country of birth and the love that brought them to a new world. The books that accompany these dolls tell the story of the journey that brought them home- these are stories of love with arms outstretched in two directions, one giving and one receiving. The stories tell how the children were wanted for such a long time and the supreme happiness in finally bringing these babies home to forever live with their new family.

The Precious Baby Doll Company is dedicated to providing the highest quality standards in clothing, design and story. The dolls are made to be permanent members of the family, with quality and beauty that is durable and precious like its name.

Every adoptive child has two histories and a bright future. It’s the history of the native land, the history of the family to which it is now a member and the future that has yet to unfold. The Precious Baby Doll Company celebrates and respects all three through stories, clothing and accessory lines. The books tell the stories of the beginning of their lives, leaving room for the parents to fill in all the details that made their child so uniquely wonderful. The books affirm the pride in having a home in “two lands”, with a foundation of knowledge about the country of origin as well as a deep love of America.

Source: Precious Baby Doll

Hispanics Celebrate Christmas In Uncertain Economic Times

The Heart of the Holidays

Hispanics Celebrate Christmas In Uncertain Economic Times

Hispanics Celebrate Christmas In Uncertain Economic Times

When it comes to the holidays, Hispanic families have always relied on traditions to celebrate the season. Whether attending Posadas, preparing special family recipes, or just getting together to share memories, traditions strengthen family ties and make the season more special. And during this recession, more than half (52 percent) of Hispanics feel that holiday traditions become more important in difficult economic times, according to a new survey* commissioned by Sears.

“This holiday season more than ever, Americans are getting creative with how they will make the most of, and, celebrate their holidays with everything from adopting new traditions to altering the way they shop,” said Don Hamblen, Sears’ chief marketing officer. “Sears is a company known for its long-standing traditions so we understand just how important traditions are to families. Whether it’s a new twist on an old favorite or something entirely new, Sears continues to look for ways to bring value to our customers this holiday season by helping them create and keep family traditions.”

Nearly all Hispanics (94 percent) plan to practice new traditions, especially when it comes to the gifts they will give. Among those practicing new traditions:

  • Nearly three in five (59 percent) will set a price limit on presents
  • Others will use a grab bag approach (20 percent) or give gifts from a whole group of people to share the costs (15 percent)
  • Many (48 percent) also plan to alter the way they shop this holiday, taking advantage of everything stores have to offer, such as:
    • Sales and coupons (91 percent)
    • Layaway plans (33 percent)
    • 0% financing options (23 percent)
    • Shop at discount stores (81 percent), and
    • Venture out to shopping malls on “Black Friday” (57 percent)

No matter what changes they will make, many Hispanics admit that a holiday without traditions would be worse than a holiday without gifts (52 percent)

This year, the celebrated Sears Holiday Wish Book, a long-time shopping tradition for families to make their Christmas wish lists, is being spiced up with the launch of an interactive, online version available at www.sears.com/wishbook. And for those consumers planning to buy more group gifts this year, the Sears Give Together program offers an easy way for them to do so.

Another long-time tradition, Black Friday, is made easier this year with Sears’ “Black Friday Now!” doorbusters – providing earlier savings on everything from home electronics and kitchen and housewares to jewelry and apparel – on each of the five consecutive Saturdays leading up to Thanksgiving. Sears also offers layaway, which is available both in-store and online, enabling customers to reserve holiday gifts, including Black Friday Now! doorbusters, pay for them over time and pick them up right before the holidays.

ShopYourWay(TM) serves to change traditional holiday shopping altogether by giving customers a wide-variety of new, convenient ways to shop. Sears ShopYourWay offers personalized and convenient shopping options which allows for shopping to revolve around the customer 24/7. With convenient options such as Web2Store and Sears’ Personal Shopper, customers can get what they want, when they want and how they want when they shop in store or online.

For more information, visit www.sears.com.

*An online survey of 400 nationally representative Hispanics ages 18 and older

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 929 full-line and approximately 1,200 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands’ End — among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation’s largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

About the Survey

The Sears Holiday Traditions Survey was conducted by Kelton Research between Oct. 16, 2009 and Oct. 22, 2009 using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the Hispanic U.S. population ages 18 and over. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than three percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

SOURCE Sears Holdings

Photo courtesy: iStockPhoto

Mega News 1st and Only Interactive News in Hispanic TV

Mega News ‘Edicion Nocturna’ 1st and Only Interactive News in Hispanic Television’

What: Mega TV is proud to be the first and only Hispanic broadcaster to have a news show that gives the community and audience a voice in its content and reporting. “Edicion Nocturna,” airs on Mega News and uses the Internet and new media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Skype to give audiences the opportunity to report live and be a part of the news.

How: Hosted by journalist Fernando Del Rincon, one of the most respected political analysts in Mexico and the United States, Mega News “Edicion Nocturna” uses Skype, a free Internet service, to allow the audience to participate via Webcam from anywhere around the world. Twitter and Facebook also play an important role in the way the audience can interact live with the news. Host Del Rincon reads the public’s Tweets on the show as they are submitted.

Several audience interactions have already been successful. A Facebook user recently commented on the controversy of the video of child actors in Puerto Rico who were playing with weapons on Factor Del Rincon News’ Facebook page, essentially turning this viewer into a Web news reporter. The video caused a legal investigation by the island’s Government because they did not know if the weapons were real. Additionally, through the use of Skype, viewers spoke about the Maras and their possible relationship as role models that the children actors in Puerto Rico follow.

“This is a stepping stone for future generations of the media. I feel proud to be a pioneer and a channel of the people’s voice,” said journalist and TV host Fernando Del Rincon.

When: Every Monday through Friday at 10:30 P.M. ET / 7:30 P.M. PT, and 11:30 P.M. in Puerto Rico.

Where: Mega TV Channel 22, Channel 57 in West Palm Beach, Channel 32 in Las Vegas, Channel 169 on DirecTV in Puerto Rico, Channel 30 in Puerto Rico, Channel 38.2 in Orlando, Channel 36.2 in Tampa, Florida, Channel 40.2 in Charleston, Channel 19.2 in Palm Springs, CA, and Channel 405 on DirecTV Mas in the main cities of the United States.

www.mega.tv

SOURCE Spanish Broadcasting System