"A Merry Gathering" with Michael Summers: Featured Artist Launch Party!

Artist Michael Summers with SD Bay Wine & Food Festival poster,  A Merry Gathering

On Thursday, May 19th, Exclusive Collections Gallery was proud to host the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Featured Artist Launch Party in the Historic Gaslamp District.  EC Gallery artist Michael Summers has been carefully selected as the Poster Artist for this year's event, and consequently created an original work of art to represent the Festival.

True to his "American Surrealist" style, Michael Summers's acrylic painting entitled A Merry Gathering transports the viewer to the fun and excitement that has been a part of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, and will be for the eighth year this November, 2011.  The painting depicts San Diego's iconic Coronado bridge cutting through the clear blue Southern California skyline above a blissful outdoor feast.  Guests at EC Gallery enjoyed the classic elegance of food, wine, and great company that Michael Summers has depicted in A Merry Gathering.

In an unique combination of art collectors, wine lovers, bloggers, and foodies, gallery visitors came together for one night to celebrate Michael Summers's great achievement as the Festival's Featured Artist.  Guests enjoyed complementary tastings by Ahnfeldt Wines and Carpathian Wines, both participants in the Festival as well.  Michael spoke about the creation of the Festival poster's original, and unveiled the final painting! 

The Festival's poster art has been just the beginning of Michael Summers's recent artistic successes.  All party attendees were entered into a drawing to win Michael Summers's new Fine Art Limited Edition entitled, Seeking Balance.  Known primarily for his original acrylic paintings on board, Michael Summers's Seeking Balance was chosen to be printed in a limited edition of fifty paintings.  Because collectors have found Seeking Balance so highly desirable, it seems only fair to allow the painting to be shared in this way.  There was only one condition requested by the artist:

"I would only agree to selling fine art limited editions if I could personally hand-embellish each and every one of them," said Michael Summers.

It is his personal attention and dedication to each of his creative paintings that attracts collectors to his work.  His hand-embellished details in acrylic provide texture and vivacity to the customized painting.  In this way, each edition of "Seeking Balance" is unique.

Seeking Balance by Michael Summers

Congratulations to John, the winner of the Featured Artist Launch Party drawing!  We at EC Galleries hope that you enjoy Seeking Balance!

As the Featured Artist at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, Michael Summers will attend the Reserve & New Release Tasting and Grand Tasting Event.  The poster will be available for sale and Summers will be present to sign copies and present his most recent works of art.  At the Celebrity Chef Luncheon & AIWF Big Bottle Live Auction on Sunday, November 20, Michael Summers will preside as emcee.  For those interested in acquiring the original painting of A Merry Gathering that was unveiled at the Launch Party this May, the painting will be auctioned there as well.

To see a selection of Michael Summers's available paintings, visit Exclusive Collections Galleries or go to www.ecgallery.com.

A Metaphorical Journey with Vladimir Kush

What if God was... a flower? Maybe you never imagined Jesus as a sunflower before, but when Vladimir Kush reinvents da Vinci’s Last Supper, it starts to make sense.

When you see Vladimir Kush’s artwork, you know that there is much more to a painting than meets the eye. That is why visitors at Exclusive Collections Gallery in Fashion Valley were so honored to meet Vladimir Kush in person on October 8th and 9th and listen to his unique explications of his work.

On Friday and Saturday night, art collectors and their families had the chance to meet the artist, and even buy signed copies of his books and his calendar. Vladimir Kush, wearing a self-designed pendant and accompanied by his poet father, took the time to present his famous prints and groundbreaking originals. The evening’s gathering granted the perfect opportunity to divulge upon themes of balance, discovery, and the individual journey.

Vladimir Kush, described as a “true prodigy”, defines the artistic genre of “metaphorical realism” through his paintings such as Orchid Family Rollercoaster and Daisy Games. His vision draws from the mythology, customs, and traditions of various countries and cultures, identifying with the human ability to project significance onto an image through metaphor and symbol. The paintings allow for a great deal of interpretation, appealing to the imagination and sense of wonder.

EC Galleries hopes that you enjoyed Kush’s show, and hope to see you out at our Fashion Valley location again in the first week of November for the 4th Annual Miniature Show, Nov. 5, 6, and 7. For updates on this event and those in the future, visit www.facebook.com/ecgalleries or www.ecgallery.com.