British public to ‘hang out’ with legendary painters
Expedia.co.uk, Jodie Kidd and The National Gallery launch first ever ‘Blue Sky Day’
To celebrate the longest day of the year (June 21st) Expedia.co.uk, the UK’s largest online travel agent, has teamed up with Jodie Kidd and The National Gallery to launch the first ever ‘Blue Sky Day’ - a giant ‘paint-out’ involving over three hundred artists painting simultaneously in London and Edinburgh.
Aspiring artists are invited to create their own ‘masterpieces’ at one of two events, featuring two hundred giant, ‘blue sky’ canvases in Trafalgar Square, London and one hundred in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh. Between 10am and 2pm, artists will be able to paint whatever inspires them – from a work they love in The National Gallery to a travel or holiday experience. A select few will also have the ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to have their work exhibited in The National Gallery, one of the world’s most prestigious galleries. To take part, simply register online from 7th June at www.letyourselfgo.co.uk. Registration closes on 18th June at 12 noon. “Expedia.co.uk is all about inspiring people – whether it’s visiting a new destination or seeing a familiar place from a new perspective – which is why we have partnered with The National Gallery for this unique event, giving anyone across the country the chance to show what inspires them and perhaps have their work hung in one of the most prestigious galleries in the world,” says Caroline Cartellieri, managing director of Expedia.co.uk. “I am delighted that Expedia has organised an event in Trafalgar Square which will encourage the public to take to their easels, to try themselves as artists, and to be inspired by the wonderful collection of paintings in the National Gallery,” says National Gallery director Charles Saumarez Smith. “As a big art lover and a keen traveller, I am delighted to be supporting this exciting Expedia event and am looking forward to Blue Sky Day. I would encourage people to make a trip to The National Gallery if they can before June 21st for inspirational ideas for their paintings,” says supermodel Jodie Kidd. To support the event, Expedia has also teamed up with The National Gallery to produce a new 40 minute audio guide – the ‘Be Inspired’ tour sponsored by Expedia.co.uk, which features an eclectic mix of interviewees, including poets, cooks, cartoonists and an array of other creative professionals talking about the pictures that have inspired them in their work. Some of the most inspired artworks created on ‘Blue Sky Day’ in Trafalgar Square will be hung in The Space@NG in an exhibition of photographs and footage from the event, which will run from 28th June to 15th July 2007. The National Gallery will be looking for interesting, creative quality responses, inspired by the Gallery’s collection and Blue Sky Day. In addition, photographs of all canvases painted on the day in both London and Scotland will feature in an online gallery on www.letyourselfgo.co.uk after the event. Participants are encouraged to find their inspiration and feed their imaginations prior to the event by visiting The National Gallery - home to some of the world's most famous artworks. The Gallery and Expedia.co.uk are providing a series of 10-minute talks across the afternoons of 16th-20th June 2007 - where artists affiliated with the Gallery will be talking about - and in front of - the National Gallery works that have inspired them with their own art. -ends- For further information, please contact the new Expedia press office team:
Tel: 0870 990 5427
Email: expediapressoffice@golinharris.com
About Expedia, Inc.
Expedia, Inc. is the world’s leading online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to easily research, plan, book, and experience travel. Expedia, Inc. also provides wholesale travel to offline retail travel agents. Expedia, Inc.’s portfolio of brands include: Expedia.com®, hotels.com®, Hotwire®, Expedia® Corporate Travel, TripAdvisor™ and Classic Vacations®. Expedia, Inc.'s companies also operate internationally with sites in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, and China, through its investment in eLong™. For more information, visit http://www.expediainc.com/. (NASDAQ: EXPE).
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