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on november 18th, the spanish government officially presented miquel barcels latest art installation in the UNs palace of nations in geneva. the controversial work of art is a massive sculptural installation located on the domed ceiling of the buildings newly created human rights and alliance of civilizations chamber. the work consists of multi-coloured stalactite forms that appear to be dripping from the ceiling. however controversy over how the work was paid for has overshadowed its artistic significance.

the project was introduced by the spanish organization ONUART, which was established in 2007 to promote dialogue, through the use of spanish contemporary arts to create understanding between cultures and societies and to foster multilateralism at the UN in geneva. ONUART is a non-profit organization that receives public and private funding. ONUART commissioned miquel barcel to create the ceiling painting and paid for much of its cost. barcel began installing the piece in september 2007.

inspiration miquel barcels work often features natural elements and imagery but the chambers ceiling takes this idea literally by recreating the natural stalactite forms, albeit through the artists lens. barcel has revealed that the concept for the project came to him while he was in africa. at the unveiling barcel explained, on a day of immense heat in the middle of the sahel desert, I recall with vivacity the mirage of an image of the world dripping toward the sky. the vivid idea later took shape as he planned out the work.

execution while the concept of the work was solely barcels, the projects scale demanded assistance. to begin with, construction crews demolished the chambers existing ceiling and replaced it with a newly designed version that could support the weight of the sculpture. barcel and a team of engineers and architects created this new elliptic domed ceiling that is made from extra-strength aluminium. once in place barcel and his team of 20 assistants began construction of the sculpture.

the work began by building a raised floor that allowed the team to work closer to the high ceiling. then a plaster substance was applied to the ceiling in a variety of ways with a special consistency that created the cave-like forms. barcel consulted with particle science laboratories to ensure this mixture was the correct consistency. this material was mostly applied by hand but also using non-traditional tools like paintball guns. once the entire ceiling was covered in the plaster and all the dripping forms were complete, the ceiling was allowed to set.

35 tons of paint was then brought onto the sight to apply to the artwork. the paints used were made with special pigments sourced from all over the world. the paints were applied to the ceiling with special spray tools, as well as common objects like brooms for touch-ups. a series of different colours were applied to the ceiling. red, green, yellow, blue and almost every colour conceivable was applied to the ceiling as if the paints had exploded onto it. this multi-coloured layer was allowed to dry and the second coat was applied. unlike the vibrant hues of the first coat, the second on used only a single greyish blue tone. furthermore, the second coat was applied form only one direction. because only one side was exposed to the directional spray, the other side was left bare, revealing the multi coloured first layer. barcel has used this directional painting technique in his artwork for almost 20 years.

final after 13 months of work the ceiling of the UN chamber was complete. the ceilings total area measures a whopping 4,600 square feet and is completely covered in the special plaster and paint. the works size is so expansive that it is impossible to see it in its entirety. because the sculpture is so large, viewers are forced to circle around the room. as they move around the room and the sculpture the directional painting technique comes into play. the pieces appearance alters depending on the viewers perspective in the room. for example, the piece may appear predominately grey looking from one location, while from another it may appear multi-coloured.

the direction painting technique is perhaps the most symbolic aspect of barcels sculpture. for starters, the works multi-coloured appearance can be read as a very literal parallel to the multi-cultural nature of the world and the UN. in addition, the fact that the work cannot be properly understood from any one perspective alludes to the chambers function. like the issues discussed in the UN, altering ones perspective can affect your viewpoint.

at the unveiling on novmeber 18th, barcel gave a short speech in french, catalan and castilian. in this talk he revealed his main sources of inspiration for the installations appearance: a cave and the sea. he explained that the piece was executed to combine the two simultaneously. barcel further explained, the cave is a metaphor for the agora, the first meeting place of humans, the big african tree under which to sit to talk, and the only possible future: dialogue, human rights.

the critical reaction to the piece has largely been positive. at the unveiling the UN secretary-general ban ki-moon gave the work high praise, thanking barcel for putting his unique talents to work in service of the world. he later added, the artwork you have created for this room is innovative and radiant, i have no doubt that people will come to see it whether they have business here or not. this impression was shared by many of the dignitaries in attendance, all of who stared up at the chambers ceiling, admiring barcels sculpture. in reaction, some members of the press even likened the work to the 21st century sistine chapel. however the controversy surrounding the pieces financing has severally overshadowed the installation itself.

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room XX by miquel barceló - the spanish artist's colourful ...

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New Delhi, Dec. 13:

The Cabinet Committee on Investments, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has cleared Rs 7,947-crore worth projects in the oil and gas sector, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M. Veerappa Moily said here on Friday.

Five projects were taken up by the high-level panel on December 9. These projects involve companies such as IOC, CPCL and HPCL.

The Rs 2,379 crore Assam renewal project taken up by ONGC for the revamp and replacement of various installations has also been cleared.

Moily said that the panel also cleared a proposed Rs 5,200 crore worth LNG terminal project of GSPC at Mundra.

Subsidy transfer

The Minister said that the scheme of direct transfer of cooking gas subsidy into bank accounts has been successful. As on December 1, Rs 1,615 crore subsidy has been transferred to bank accounts of 1.274 crore domestic cooking gas customers.

The Ministry has also filed a petition and an affidavit for modification/clarification stating that Aadhaar is mandatory for receiving subsidy in bank accounts after the expiry of the three-month grace period.

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Moily also hinted that an expert panels call for a Rs 5 a litre hike in diesel and Rs 250 increase in LPG rates will be diluted, saying that a balanced view keeping consumer interest in mind would be taken, according to news agency PTI. The government-appointed Kirit Parikh committee suggested an immediate hike in prices of diesel by Rs 5 a litre, Rs 4 per litre in kerosene and Rs 250 per cylinder in LPG, reducing annual entitlement of subsidised cooking gas cylinder from six from nine and phase out diesel subsidy in one year to cut a record subsidy burden.

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Rs 8,000 cr projects in oil, gas sector approved: Moily

Police investigating suspicious death in Colerain Police investigating suspicious death in Colerain

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:40 AM EST2013-12-13 16:40:18 GMT

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:33 AM EST2013-12-13 16:33:54 GMT

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:01 AM EST2013-12-13 16:01:26 GMT

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 10:52 AM EST2013-12-13 15:52:05 GMT

Crews were called to the corner of West Southern Ave and Caroline Ave in Covington this morning after reports of a collapsed wall.

Upon arrival, it was determined that a water main burst and gas leak caused the retaining wall to crumble.

The situation is now under control, but four homes were evacuated. Authorities say those out of their home have been put on a Tank bus so that they are not out in the cold.

Crews say there is still a small leak, but it poses no danger. They plan to begin clean up and still need to determine if the homes evacuated are structurally sound enough for the families to return.

Multiple fire trucks were on the scene and are still blocking the intersection and a large area of Caroline Ave.

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Water main break leads to home evacuations in Covington

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Workers prepare an area where the first bulkhead for the South Terminal will be installed in New Bedford Harbor.PETER PEREIRA/The Standard-Times

December 13, 2013 12:00 AM

NEW BEDFORD After months of underwater work, South Terminal is beginning to pop through the surface.

This week, construction crews began to form the facility's bulkhead, or retaining wall, which is a critical component of the project that New Bedford wants to make its future in staging offshore wind farms.

"Everything we've been doing has been working toward this point," said Bill White of Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, which owns the facility. "All of the underwater work we've been doing was to be able to build this bulkhead."

The bulkhead has been specifically engineered so that the facility will be able to support 4,000 tons per square foot, even at its edges near the water. Such a load capacity is necessary to hold both the hundred-ton wind turbine components expected to be on- and off-loaded from the facility, and the cranes that will help with the work.

The bulkhead's designer, Susan Nilson of Cleengineering, explained that the circular shape of the "cofferdams" that interlock to form the retaining wall "fortifies it enough that we will be able to bring cranes all the way to the quayside. The cofferdams allow the facility to have the same capacity all the way to its the edge."

The 1,000-foot long bulkhead will be composed of 25 total interlocking circles, 13 large and 12 small. Crews are just starting on the southern-most cofferdam, executing a delicate process of lining up narrow steel sheets to form a circle.

Once the sheets are aligned correctly, they will be vibrated into the harbor floor until either they cannot be pushed in further or they hit bedrock, Senior Project Manager Shawn Wyatt said.

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New Bedford's South Terminal is taking shape above the surface

What Caught My Eye on Friday What Caught My Eye on Friday

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:43 AM EST2013-12-13 16:43:00 GMT

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:40 AM EST2013-12-13 16:40:18 GMT

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:33 AM EST2013-12-13 16:33:54 GMT

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:01 AM EST2013-12-13 16:01:26 GMT

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) - The Kentucky man leaving giant tips at restaurants around the nation in the name of his late brother has struck in New Hampshire.

Seth Collins of Lexington, Ky., handed a $500 tip Monday to 23-year-old waitress Taylor Dube at the Portsmouth Gas Light Co. Pizza Pub.

Dube said Collins spent about $7 on the pizza buffet. When he started giving her the money, she was in shock.

The 34-year-old Collins is handing out the tips in honor of his brother, Aaron, who died in 2012 at age 30 and indicated in his will he would like a generous tip to be given to a waitress. The gesture turned into a national trip.

Collins said aid he has about 10 more states to check off his list before he's done.

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NH waitress gets $500 tip from Kentucky man

What Caught My Eye on Friday What Caught My Eye on Friday

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:43 AM EST2013-12-13 16:43:00 GMT

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:40 AM EST2013-12-13 16:40:18 GMT

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:33 AM EST2013-12-13 16:33:54 GMT

Updated: Friday, December 13 2013 11:01 AM EST2013-12-13 16:01:26 GMT

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) - A 60-year-old woman accused of running a brothel in a northeast Ohio suburb will avoid prison.

Susan Sackela was sentenced Thursday to two years of probation after pleading guilty in October to two counts of pandering obscenity.

The (Youngstown) Vindicator (http://bit.ly/19lW9Dc) reports that she initially was charged with promoting prostitution, but prosecutors offered the plea deal because of possible issues at trial.

She was charged in September 2011 with running a brothel out of a home in the Youngstown suburb of Austintown.

That came after an 18-month investigation that started with complaints from neighbors. A search of the home found a fully stocked bar and a room with a dancer's pole.

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Ohio woman who ran brothel avoids prison

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