ANIMAZING GALLERY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Whitney Leigh Morris APRIL 2008 Phone: 212.226.7374 Email: whitney@animazing.com ARTIST, ANIMATOR, PIONEER RALPH BAKSHI GUEST OF HONOR AT OPENING RECEPTION AT ANIMAZING GALLERY IN SOHO NEW UNIVERSE BOOK ENTITLED UNFILTERED: THE COMPLETE RALPH BAKSHI LAUNCHED AT HIS SOLO SHOW New York—The legendary writer, producer, and director of many outrageous animated classics, such as Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic, and Cool World has been painting fine art in his mountain-top retreat since 2002, and will soon visit New York City for the opening reception of his solo show at Animazing Gallery in SoHo. His original works on paper and canvas, which will be on exhibition and for sale, have been published in a new book that will be launched at this event, and the artist will be on hand to sign books that are purchased during the show. UNFILTERED: The Complete Ralph Bakshi is published by Universe, an imprint of Rizzoli International Publications. This fully authorized chronicle of Bakshi’s career explores the life of an artist who handled Hollywood on his own terms. Animazing Gallery is located in SoHo at 461 Broome Street, between Greene & Mercer. RSVPs are requested for the opening night cocktail reception on Thursday April 17th, from 6-9PM. Call 212.226.7374, or email rsvp@animazing.com. The exhibit is open 7 days/ week through May of 2008, and is free to the public. Moody, with sumptuous texture and emotion that launches the viewer into his passionate and cynical world, Bakshi's fine art paintings are filled with complex emotion. Bakshi expresses discontent and sometimes fury at the games people play. In his most recent works, he satirizes and mocks politics as usual. Bakshi acknowledges that his paintings are very personal; "All the chaos I see--every drop of joy and fear, every bit of adventure & melancholy I feel goes into my paintings." This political satirist has indeed become a formidable contemporary master during his more than 50 years of work. Bakshi is Brooklyn born, and has enjoyed an illustrious yet "infamous" career with such animation studios as Warner Bros., (Hey, Good Looking) Terrytoons, (Deputy Dog) and Paramount, (Coonskin, Cool World.) Heavy Traffic, Wizards and Lord of the Rings were all directed by Bakshi through his own studio, Bakshi Productions. His controversial films create and reflect adult worlds that are strange, powerful, and political. The Museum of Modern Art in New York has many of his films in their permanent collection. Film critics have passionately applauded and panned these films, but love them or hate them, they are wild. Bandwagon Government ANIMAZING GALLERY 461 Broome Street New York, NY 10013 (SoHo, between Greene & Mercer) www.animazing.com Animazing Gallery is located in SoHo and at the Chateau de Belcastel in France. Animazing began showcasing animation art from all major studios in 1984, and remains the exclusive authorized Disney gallery in New York. The gallery's focus has shifted in recent years to illustration art and the fine art that has been born from it. The gallery’s permanent collection includes The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss and The PEANUTS Paintings by Tom Everhart. Owner Heidi Leigh is a member of The Society of Illustrators, a charter member of The Animation Art Guild, and is on the board of advisors for MoCCA, New York's Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art and Art Business World Magazine. For more information about Animazing Gallery, please log on to www.animazing.com For more information about the book or to set up an interview with the artist, please contact Joshua Machat at Rizzoli International Publications, at 212.387.3410 or by email at jmachat@rizzoliusa.com. For information about additional book-signings and events, visit the Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art at moccany.org and the New York Comic Con at nycomiccon.com. Lame Duck Ralph Bakshi with Animazing Gallery Animazing Gallery, SoHo owners Heidi Leigh & Nick Leone ANIMAZING GALLERY 461 Broome Street New York, NY 10013 (SoHo, between Greene & Mercer) www.animazing.com