LES Arist ZITO to paint 100 portraits in 24 hrs!!!! May 22, 2007

NEW YORK CITY PORTRAIT MARATHON
ARTIST ANTONY EDWARD ZITO ATTEMPTS TO PAINT 100 PORTRAITS FROM 100 LIVE MODELS DURING 24 HOURS
PORTRAIT MARATHON CULMINATES AT OPENING OF
ARTIST’S NEW EXHIBIT AT GALLERYBAR

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New York – NY What is the largest number of portraits painted in one sitting? Starting Wednesday, May 23rd at 8pm and going till Thursday, May 24th at 8pm New York City painter, Antony Edward Zito, will attempt to paint at least 100 watercolor portraits from 100 live models during the course of these 24 hours at the Lower East Side's GalleryBar (120 Orchard Street between Rivington and Delancey Streets). This "portrait marathon" will be filmed as part of a documentary currently being created about the artist, with proceeds to be donated for the film “Raw For 30 Days,” an explosive soon-to-be-released documentary which chronicles the experiences of a group of diabetics as they transition to a healthier lifestyle. The marathon, which begins during the weekly event “Art for Progress Presents the GalleryBar Collective,” will culminate at the opening party of Zito’s new exhibit at GalleryBar titled “Visionary Expressionism” on May 24th from 6:00 pm to midnight.

Sign up online by sending an email rsvp to [email protected] and for a $100 suggested donation you can have your very own portrait (which is sure to increase in value) from the much sought after artist. During this punishing session, the 37-year-old painter and raw foodist plans take no breaks longer than 15 minutes for the 24 hour period. Raw food delicacies and juices will be provided for Zito during this experiment by Organic Avenue (www.organicavenue.com).

The former proprietor of Ludlow Street’s legendary Zito Studio Gallery, which closed its doors of in September 2006, Zito is known for his powerfully emotive portraits, most often painted on found materials. However, for his new show at GalleryBar, he will unveil a new direction with a series of large enamel paintings on canvas. These intense psychedelic images celebrate the artist's personal influences in a group of iconic portraits depicting what he calls "great minds of spirit and culture". Stirring a vibrant palette of glossy color, Zito's new work features the faces (and spirits) of such luminous figures as Mark Twain, John Lennon, Marlene Dietrich and Abe Lincoln. Blending cultural and temporal barriers, his eclectic selection of personal heroes also include Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett, Oscar Wilde, Sitting Bull and Salvador Dali.

The New York Post has called Zito's portrait paintings "sensual" and his renderings of people on materials other than canvas have prompted The Village Voice to refer to him as "a master of the found object". A dedicated resident of The Lower East Side, he is credited with founding the Every Last Sunday art loop, a walking tour that features up to 30 independent art studios and galleries each month. His paintings have been seen in Milk Studios, The Sundance Film Festival, The National Arts Club, The American Museum of Natural History, P.S. 122, The Museum of Sex, Fuse Gallery, Angel Orensanz Foundation and Anthology Film Archives, along with galleries in Los Angeles, Japan and Austria, among others. In May 2004, Zito's portrait of Lee Marvin was featured along side The White Stripes in the United Artists film, "Coffee and Cigarettes", directed by Jim Jarmusch, and he has contributed work to the director's most recent release, "Broken Flowers". His tribute to the Mona Lisa was shown at Deitch Projects in Soho and featured in the 2004 Fall Arts Issue of BlackBook. His illustrations have been published in The New York Press and his murals are featured on the walls of the legendary Lombardi's Pizza and The Spring Lounge in Little Italy. Besides the documentary film to be completed in 2008, Zito is also currently writing an autobiography of his work during the past 15 years in New York City. Driven primarily by the images of his portraits, the book focuses on the layered biographies of the people he has painted. Both the film and book are slated for release in 2008.

For more information please contact:
Tracey Henry
Type A Media
212-226 - 3175 (P)
212-226 - 3978 (F)
[email protected]

Official Website: http://www.zitogallery.com