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Erk Russell lives as artist’s inspiration
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When University of Georgia art student Kathleen Bradshaw painted a new version of the classic Coca-Cola Santa Claus, she needed a model with a grandfatherly face and a twinkling smile. Then she saw a smiling image of the late Erk Russell, the former football coach known as much for his head-butting antics as his cherubic cheeks. “He has those kind eyes,” said Bradshaw, who used Russell as a muse for her updated Kriss Kringle. “I love his little bald head.”
Bradshaw is one of five finalists in an art contest sponsored by Coke to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the original Coca-Cola Santa, created by Swedish-American illustrator Haddon “Sunny” Sundblom. Today Bradshaw and the other finalists will be at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, where her video-game-playing Santa will be on display alongside Sundblom’s original works, and where one of the finalists will be chosen for a grand prize of $5,000.
Bradshaw, 48, of Buford came back to her college studies last year after taking off a few decades to have children, and is earning a degree in graphic design. She said she studied many different faces to find her ideal contemporary St. Nick. “I looked at Bill Cosby, I looked at the guy that played the grandfather in ‘Heidi.’ Then I came across a picture of Erk Russell. I didn’t copy Erk,” she added, “but I did use him.”
OVERSCENE
Helping Morton’s the Steakhouse to celebrate its 20th anniversary downtown Tuesday night were Carolyn O’Neil (right), food author; Spurgeon Richardson, president of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Jay Tribby, chief of staff for City Councilman Kwanza Hall.
Wild Sedaris scene
We knew something was amiss Tuesday night when suddenly we received a flurry of text messages from people we had last spoken to when Bill Campbell occupied the mayor’s office (as opposed to a prison cell). As many as 200 people tried unsuccessfully to navigate their way into author-actress Amy Sedaris’ 7:15 p.m. signing and craft demonstration at the Decatur Public Library.
“It was completely insane,” Outwrite Books owner and event co-organizer Philip Rafshoon told us Wednesday. More than 400 fans got inside the signing for Sedaris’ kitschy home entertaining tome, “I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence.”
“People were bringing four and five copies up, and she wrote something unique in each one,” veteran Atlanta author escort Esther Levine told us. “I told her, ‘Amy, those are probably all going to different places. You could have written the same thing. She told me, ‘Yes, but the person buying the books would know.’ She’s now one of my all-time favorite authors.”
Late in the evening, fans still standing outside were invited in to buy a book and meet the author. Sedaris finished up just shy of 1 a.m. Wednesday. Watershed chef Scott Peacock (who’s name-dropped in “Influence”) sent over a bag of his famous fried chicken, slices of pecan pie and sides as a midnight snack.
At deadline Wednesday, Outwrite had about 100 signed copies remaining from a stash Sedaris signed prior to her appearance.
Fergie on the town
Staffers from Prime restaurant were spotted delivering takeout to Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, during her Lenox Square Macy’s appearance Wednesday. Prime chef Daniel Atwood prepared a broiled chicken breast, salad and a cheese platter for her. Ferguson also did a little yuletide shopping. Upon spotting a display of Priscilla the Pink Pig stuffed animals, she said, “I have to get these for my girls,” meaning her teenage daughters. She scooped up a half-dozen of the plush toys.
The drunken ‘View’
Co-workers frequently mock us for faithfully checking out “The View” each day. Our answer? If every morning at 11, you knew there’d be a 14-car pileup on I-285, wouldn’t you watch?
On Wednesday morning, a visibly drunk Danny DeVito appeared on the live ABC chat show to promote his new comedy, “Deck the Halls.”
And to slur, burp, get bleeped twice for calling President Bush an obscenity and causing Barbara Walters to repeatedly go ashen-faced.
It seems DeVito had been out all night drinking shots of limoncello with pal George Clooney. ABC declined comment when we rang and referred us to DeVito’s publicist, Stan Rosenfeld.
“I’m sure Mr. DeVito will issue a statement, but first he wants to personally speak with Barbara Walters,” Rosenfeld told Buzz.
The ring-kissing had not yet commenced as of our deadline. Coincidentally, we had our first-ever sip of limoncello while dining at Shaun’s over the weekend. Our new stomach lining is scheduled to arrive via cooler today …
Celebrity birthdays
Actor Robert Guillaume is 79. TV personality and producer Dick Clark is 77. Singer-actor Mandy Patinkin is 54. Singer Billy Idol is 51. Actor-director Ben Stiller is 41. Actress Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Sideways”) is 36. Country singer Mindy McCready is 31. Singer Clay Aiken is 28. Actress Elisha Cuthbert (“24”) is 24.
Contributing: Bo Emerson, Marylin Johnson and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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By jonny159
December 10, 2006 4:22 AM | Link to this
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