Renowned 3-D pop artist Charles Fazzino Celebrates Nashville in Two New Works Commemorating the CMA
By Amanda Eckard
© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.
Renowned 3-D pop artist Charles Fazzino has created two new works of art that serve as the official artworks of "The 40th Annual CMA Awards."
As part of the "Nashville Celebrates Country" activities leading up to the CMA Awards broadcast on Monday, Nov. 6, Fazzino will appear at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Downtown Nashville on Oct. 27 at the Frist Fridays concert series event from 6-9 PM/CT. The public will get a chance to view and purchase the official artwork. Fazzino will sign CMA Awards cards specifically created for the event plus, autograph and personalize his artwork.
The full-sized art featured on the open edition fine art poster and 3-D 250-limited edition giclee fine art print; and the smaller art, featured on the 3-D open edition giclee mini fine art print are available for purchase at www.CMAwards.com.
The artworks, which mark the return of the CMA Awards to Nashville after a one-time visit to New York City in 2005, focus on Nashville landmarks centered around the Gaylord Entertainment Center, the 2006 home of "The 40th Annual CMA Awards."
"After creating the first commemorative CMA Awards art last year and basing them on New York City, I was eager to create companion pieces this year for the return to Nashville," Fazzino said. "What a pleasure it is to document this music city and music industry at such a dynamic time in its history."
"The artwork of Charles Fazzino has added a whole new dimension to the CMA Awards," said CMA COO Tammy Genovese. "This is exactly the type of project that CMA is here to make happen - things that enhance the Biggest Night in Country Music and bring more attention to the great things happening in Country Music and in Nashville."
A guitar representing Music City is the centerpiece of the full-sized 3-D and poster art, and familiar Nashville landmarks and CMA Awards promotional partners dot the landscape. The 2005 CMA Awards art's base was a large apple, representing New York City's nickname The Big Apple, with many historic NYC landmarks filling the colorful piece.
"It was very different to capture a piece that has to do with Nashville rather than New York, which is what I am used to," Fazzino said. "The guitar in Nashville and the apple in New York are both very strong icons that relate the respective cities. Nashville and New York are two places I love and it was just easy and fun to capture both of those cities in my artwork. I think it came out really well and the two pieces compliment each other."
The mini art also features Nashville landmarks, against a moonlit backdrop with stars and musical notes. The mini artwork is on display throughout Downtown Nashville on pole banners promoting the CMA Awards.
Fazzino is one of the most popular 3-D pop artists in the world. He is best known for detailed renderings of New York City's most famous streets and attractions, his obsession with bold colors and his unique, hand-assembled layering technique that brings his images to life.
A graduate of the New York School of the Visual Arts, Fazzino "stumbled" on his 3-D style of art while he was in Florida for an art show in 1979. Walking into an arts and crafts store, Fazzino noticed that they were teaching senior citizens how to make 3-D greeting cards using construction paper and aquarium sealant to build depth. Fazzino sat down and joined them and a light bulb went off in his head. When he returned to New York, Fazzino started cutting up his prints and then glued them back together using the 3-D technique. It was an instant success.
"I showed them at this outdoor art show in New York City in the Village. I had them up with all my other paintings on the wall," Fazzino recalled. "People were walking up and saying, 'This is really great, this little 3-D thing. How much is that?' The first few hours of the show, I sold all of them. And nobody wanted my other paintings. So it was like, 'I'm on to something.' And I've literally been doing it ever since."
With more than 600 galleries in more than 15 countries exhibiting Fazzino's work, he has a theory as to why his art crosses language and cultural barriers.
"My work is very easy to understand," Fazzino said. "You don't have to have a degree in art history, it's not intimidating. The artwork is fun, it's whimsical, and it speaks to all ethnic groups."
The trademark of most of Fazzino's pieces is the intricate detail he uses when constructing a scene or cityscape. It can take someone hours of staring at one of his pieces to really absorb everything going on in the artwork. Oh, and if you look hard enough, you might just see his dog.
"I usually hide things in each one of my pieces," Fazzino said slyly. "I have to put people in my works, so sometimes I draw in my daughter or my wife, my friends and sometimes my dog."
In addition to the poster, 3-D fine art print, 3-D mini art and pole banners, Fazzino's CMA Awards artwork is featured on the cover of the official CMA Awards Program Book, Post CMA Awards Party laminate and Awards T-shirt. Additional artwork created by Fazzino was featured on the CMA Awards collectors' ticket.
One of the most in-demand artists in the world, Fazzino was the official artist for the Indianapolis 500 (2004); Super Bowl (2001-2007); Major League Baseball All-Star Game (2003-2005); U.S. Olympic Teams (2000-2008); U.S. Tennis Foundation; CMA Awards (2005, 2006) GRAMMY Awards (2004); Daytime Emmy Awards (2006); The Belmont Stakes Triple Crown Race (2005, 2006); NBC's "Today Show" Summer Concert Series; Rosie O'Donnell's For All Kids Foundation; and the President William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation.
For additional information about Charles Fazzino and to view his artwork, visit www.fazzino.com.
CHARLES FAZZINO's 2005 and 2006 CMA Awards commemorative artwork, including the original paintings, are available for purchase at www.CMAawards.com.
Items include:
.$15 unsigned, $25 signed l open edition fine art poster
.$695 l 3-D 250 limited-edition giclee fine art print, full-sized, unframed, signed by Fazzino and numbered
.$195 l 3-D open edition giclee mini fine art print, with painted frame and signed by Fazzino
.$20 each l CMA Awards Program Books featuring Fazzino's artwork on the covers
.$20,000 each l the original paintings
Prices do not include tax, shipping or handling.
Visit www.CMAawards.com to download an order form or call CMA at (615) 244-2840 to place your order.
"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" airs live Monday, Nov. 6 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. CMA's most celebrated duo Brooks & Dunn return to host for the third consecutive year.
Tickets for "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" are now on-sale to the general public, and can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (615) 255-9600; or in-person at the Gaylord Entertainment Center box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, in Nashville). The ticket price is $150 for Bronze level seating; $200 for Silver level seating (excluding applicable service/handling fees).
"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Walter C. Miller is the Executive Producer; Robert Deaton is the Consulting Producer; Paul Miller is the Director; and David Wild will script the ceremonies. Premiere Radio Network is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards, including a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2006 CMA Awards. Chevy, an American Revolution, is the official ride of the 2006 CMA Awards. Additional promotional partners include aolmusic.com, Camping World®, Carl Black Chevrolet, Coca-Cola®, Country Music Television, Inc.®, Crisco®, Greased Lightning Cleaning Products®, Hallmark Cards®, Miller Brewing Company®, Prilosec OTC®, Purity Dairies®, T.G.I. Friday's®, The Biography Channel and Yankee Candle®. Charles Fazzino is the official artist of the 2006 CMA Awards.
October 24, 2006
courtesy of Museum Editions, Ltd.
The 3-D 250-limited edition giclee artwork created by Charles Fazzino, commemorating the 2006 CMA Awards. © 2006 Charles Fazzino. Published exclusively by Museum Editions, Ltd. Art marketing and distribution by The Art of the Game.
The open edition fine art poster created by Charles Fazzino, commemorating the 2006 CMA Awards. © 2006 Charles Fazzino. Published exclusively by Museum Editions, Ltd. Art marketing and distribution by The Art of the Game.
The 3-D open edition giclee mini artwork created by Charles Fazzino, commemorating the 2006 CMA Awards. © 2006 Charles Fazzino. Published exclusively by Museum Editions, Ltd. Art marketing and distribution by The Art of the Game.
Charles Fazzino, the official artist of the 2006 CMA Awards, sketches at his studio in New Rochelle, New York.
photo: courtesy of Museum Editions, Ltd.
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