The project is expected to cost about $500,000, which is to be raised through private donations. Artists may submit slides of their most recent work by Sept. 9. Ten to 15 semi-finalists will be asked to submit proposals, and by February, three artists will be invited to make scale models.
SURELY, THEY JEST
So who's America's favorite nightclub comedian?
Bill Cosby? Eddie Murphy?
Would you believe Jay Leno? A frequent guest on TV's Late Night with David Letterman, Leno finished first in a poll taken by Comedy USA, a magazine distributed in the nation's nightclubs. He's followed, in order, by Robin Williams, Steven Wright, Cosby, a tie between Rodney Dangerfield and Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin, Billy Crystal, Garry Shandling and a tie between Murphy and Sam Kinison.
THE ROYAL WATCH
Now that Prince Andrew is safely tucked away in marriage, attention shifts to the last eligible man in the royal family, Prince Edward. But how eligible is he? Yesterday's New York Daily News reported that the prince has a relationship going with commoner Eleanor Bridget Weightman, 21, which the paper says "sounds serious." She's a field hockey-playing Cambridge student who has skied and sailed with Edward, 22, and has been his date at royal functions. Because of her 5-foot-2 height, Edward calls her "munchkin." Both Weightman and Edward are mum about what's going on.
On other royal fronts, weekend visitors to London's Madame Tussaud's museum will get a look at the only exact copy of Sarah Ferguson's wedding gown displayed on a wax figure. Designer Lindka Cierach made one gown for the wedding and one for the museum. She said the idea of bees, thistles, anchors, waves and hearts woven into the gown came to her in a dream. "I wanted the Duchess of York's sense of fun and joy to come out in the dress," she said.
And in a written statement to the House of Commons, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said the street decorations, temporary toilets, security and ceremonial services for Wednesday's wedding cost British taxpayers $168,370.
COUNTERPOINT
Marvin Mitchelson, the subject of a three-month Los Angeles police investigation for allegedly forcing sex on two clients in separate incidents, said yesterday that his unnamed accusers had histories of reporting sex attacks. The celebrity lawyer, who denies the charges, said one "has sued two psychiatrists and a dentist claiming they sexually attacked her" and the other tried to get him to represent her in a suit charging a minister with a sexual attack but he refused. A spokesman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said a decision on whether to file charges would be made early next week.
STILL AN ITEM
Carly Simon denied a report in the current issue of People magazine that she has split up with her live-in lover, drummer Russ Kunkel. "We're having a better time together than we've ever had," the singer said Thursday. She noted the report was probably fueled by her appearance at Caroline Kennedy's wedding last Saturday with restaurateur Richard Friedman. Simon said Kunkel was tied up in Los Angeles, where he's co-producing Dan Fogelberg's next album.
FUN(D)-RAISING
Krista Pflanzer, who bares her all as the July Penthouse Pet of the Month, is raising money in Louisiana for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Leukemia Society by selling autographed copies of the magazine. Pflanzer, 20, who has been knocked out twice as a female boxer, said she took on the duty at the request of the Jaycees in Metairie, La. "I think it's great," she said. Responded a spokeswoman for the state Leukemia Society: "An awful lot of people here don't approve of Penthouse. There might be some who will never give money to us again because of this. But how do we turn down the cash?" A Penthouse spokesman said, "Maybe people will see we're not a bunch of sex perverts."
