CINCINNATI (July 17, 2008) –This summer the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Cincinnati Reds celebrate the great history of our city with an exclusive collaboration –the creation of a limited edition poster featuring a portrait of Pete Rose by American pop artist Andy Warhol. The poster will be unveiled to the public on Wednesday, July 30 at the Cincinnati Art Museum; all proceeds from the sales benefit the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund.
On July 30, visitors can also hear the fascinating story of how Warhol and Rose crossed paths through Cincinnati’s own Carl Solway. The unveiling takes place at 7 p.m. followed by Solway’s “Art of the Deal” talk at 7:30 p.m.
The celebration of this important partnership continues at the ballpark later this summer. Fans can purchase the poster during all home games at the Great American Ball Park in August and September.
“This historic moment reminds Cincinnatians that art is not only something you find in museums –it is part of our everyday conversation with the community,” said Aaron Betsky, director of the Cincinnati Art Museum. “We are thrilled to partner with the Cincinnati Reds and share this important work by Warhol with art connoisseurs and baseball fans alike.”
Best-known for his screen-printing technique, Warhol’s “assembly-line” effect offered his subjects a promise of immortality –more than the proverbial 15 minutes of fame. In 1985, the Art Museum commissioned Warhol to create a portrait commemorating baseball player Pete Rose, who broke Ty Cobb’s long-standing record of 4,191 lifetime hits. Derived from a picture taken by Cincinnati photographer Gordon Baer, the painting plays off the classic baseball card. The original painting Pete Rose (1985) is currently on view at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
The “Art of the Deal” talk and unveiling are free and open to the general public. Framed and numbered prints are available for purchase through the Cincinnati Art Museum’s Shop and the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund. Cost is $50 for unframed posters and $500 for signed and framed limited edition posters; the signed prints include a supplemental photo of Pete Rose signing the poster and a fact sheet with its history.
All proceeds benefit the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund and the Cincinnati Art Museum. For more information call the Cincinnati Art Museum (513) 721-ARTS or the Reds Community Fund (513) 765-7231.
Media Contacts:
Preeti Thakar
(513) 639-2954; preeti.thakar@cincyart.org
Michael Anderson
(513) 765-7333; manderson@reds.com
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Located in scenic Eden Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum features an unparalleled art collection of more than 60,000 works spanning 6,000 years. In addition to displaying its own broad collection, the Museum also hosts several national and international traveling exhibitions each year. Visitors can enjoy the exhibitions or participate in the Museum’s wide range of art-related programs, activities, and special events. General admission is always free for all, plus Museum members receive additional benefits. The Museum is open six days a week, making greater Cincinnati’s most treasured cultural asset accessible to everyone.
Hours of operation are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays until 9 p.m. The Museum is closed on Mondays. The Museum is located at 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202. For general information, call (513) 639-2995 or visit www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
The Cincinnati Art Museum is supported by the generosity of individuals and businesses that give annually to the Fine Arts Fund. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund the Cincinnati Art Museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Cincinnati Art Museum gratefully acknowledges operating support from the City of Cincinnati and The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation. The Official Airline of the Cincinnati Art Museum is Delta.