Illustration of Obama presented to the National Portrait Gallery

People

It's art!

Los Angeles artist Shepard Fairey presented the original of his oft-copied illustration of Barack Obama — it's red, white and blue and contains the word "Hope" — to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. Copies of the image showed up on posters, coffee mugs, T-shirts, even hats during the presidential campaign. The portrait is in the gallery's new arrivals section and will be part of its permanent collection.

Putin work gets $1M

It's no Picasso, but a painting by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sold for more $1 million at a charity auction in his hometown of St. Petersburg. Putin's picture of a frosty window in a traditional log hut was among artworks by well-known Russians from various walks of life that were auctioned Saturday to raise money for a hospital, a church and a cancer clinic in the city. Moscow gallery owner Natalya Kurnikova snapped up the Putin painting. A painting by opera singer Anna Netrebko fetched $34,000.

Clooney "snared"

Ellen DeGeneres, who made it her mission to snare actor George Clooney for her daytime television show, finally nabbed him. No lure worked until Clooney jumped at the chance to appear with Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan. DeGeneres had conducted a "George Watch '08" campaign to get Clooney. Her theme this year was "George Clooney Is Mine In '09." The show will be broadcast Monday.

Honors

France likes Donovan

France will honor Glasgow, Scotland-born singer-songwriter Donovan today with a distinguished medal as officer of arts and letters, reports Agence France-Presse. Minister of Culture Christine Albanel will present the prestigious award during the MIDEM Music Fair in Cannes.

Today in history

1778: English navigator Captain James Cook reached the Hawaiian Islands, which he dubbed the "Sandwich Islands."

1943: A wartime ban on the sale of sliced bread in the U.S. — aimed at reducing bakeries' demand for metal replacement parts — went into effect.

Birthdays

Actor-director Kevin Costner, 54. Actor Jesse L. Martin, 40. Rapper DJ Quik, 39. Singer Kristy Lee Cook, 25.

Seattle times news services