A Reverse: Celebrity as Umbrella Holder

In an amusing reversal of the theme of umbrella holders for celebrities, a Japanese cell phone company has decided to use Brad Pitt as the umbrella holder. JustJared has more pictures for you and plenty of comments on Brad and his imaginary role as a sumo wrestler's bodyguard.

Umbrellas for Peace Coming to Santa Rosa, CA

The WillMar Center for Bereaved Children is coordinating an "Umbrellas for Peace" project in Santa Rosa, California, on April 24. According to the Sonoma Sun, "Rain or shine, some 600 volunteer artists-–bearing their own umbrella hand-painted with a personal message of peace and unity-–will be out for a 4 p.m. stroll on Sonoma Plaza."

"As a symbol of safety and strength, she explained, the umbrella is a wonderful medium to convey the hopes, dreams and wishes of each artist." Chicago artist Matt Lamb created the initial "Umbrellas for Peace" in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the project has since spread around the world. According to Lamb:

The umbrella is a metaphor for protection. It does not discriminate, and all people-regardless of race, age, gender or country--are safe under the umbrella. The top of the umbrella is the shelter and represents our hopes, dreams and aspirations. The underside of the umbrella represents concerns and fears. Lamb Umbrella’s for Peace helps children and adults express their positive emotions and heal negative experiences by painting them onto the umbrella. It teaches children peace, hope, love and creativity instead of the daily message of war and agression. It’s our goal to spread these messages into the world through art.

A Luxury Umbrella with a Philosophy

A Neiman Marcus trunk show is featuring umbrellas from Umrelli. Expensive, limited edition umrellas, this Italian line of handmade umbrellas uses art and travel as inspirations and have brass plates indicating their number. But, more important, they have a "Philosophy": "Our mission is to provide an elegant sanctum from inclement weather by utilizing the finest parts, materials, and production expertise." I guess for the money, it is good to have a philosophy to go with the rain protection, although these may be too expensive to expose to the rain, even if they are the "product of an artist who studied through the long Ticino rainy seasons and graduated with great affection for the inspiring beauty and craftsmanship belonging to Southern Switzerland and Italy."

Original "Umbrella Girl" Icon Is Sold

Dow Chemical Co. has announced that it is selling Morton Salt to German fertilizer maker K+S Aktiengesellschaft in a deal valuing the former Rohm & Haas unit at $1.675 billion.

For umbrella fans, Morton Salt is perhaps the original iconic umbrella. According to the "History of the Umbrella Girl," the image made its first appearance in 1914 and has been unchanged since its 6th incarnation in 1968 ("the current Umbrella Girl has been with us through moon launches, hip-hop and the growth of the Internet.").

So, what is "iodized" salt anyway?

The Deductible Umbrella?: Umbrellas for Charity

According to an article in the East Valley Tribune, what started as a charity umbrella auction in conjunction with a local theater's production of "Singin' in the Rain" turned into a national fundraising effort on behalf of a set of conjoined twins. "Umbrellas dotted with signatures from the likes of Hugh Jackman, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon lined the lobby of Mesa's Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre" in advance of an auction being held at the theater and online on eBay.