"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.

Christopher M. at The 5th annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival!

Christopher M. was chosen as the Official poster artist for the 5th
annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. The event was a
huge success! He met many celebrity and well known nationally
recognized chefs at the events leading up to and during event.

Exclusive Collections Art Gallery hosted the kick off poster
signing party Tuesday November 11th at Fashion Valley Shopping
Center. Patrons of the gallery along with new collectors and wine
aficionados came to enjoy fine art, fine food and fine wine poured
by Saint Helena Road Winery.

Friday Nov 14th Christopher M. was an honored guest at the
AIWF Celebrity Chef Luncheon & Big Bottle Auction. His painting
“A Perfect Pair” that was commissioned for the poster and was
sold at auction to benefit the scholarship fund administered by
the San Diego Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food.
The luncheon featured 15 celebrity winemakers and a world-class
menu prepared by nationally acclaimed chefs Gavin Kaysen of
Cafe Boulud in New York, Executive Chef Bernard Guillas from
La Jolla's Marine Room, Jimmy Schmidt, Owner/Executive
Chef of Rattlesnake, Detroit and Palm Desert, and Sondra
Bernstein, Owner/Executive Chef of The Girl & The Fig, in
Sonoma.

Christopher M. along with Exclusive Collections staff members,
Tiffany Mendenhall and Christopher Cummings set sail on the
Hornblower Cruises newest yacht, "Inspiration Hornblower," for
yet another fun filled night of fine art, fine food and fine wine!
Hosted by Ted Allen, star of Food Network's "Food Detectives"
and food expert on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," the
event featured wines from more than 150 award-winning
winemakers and 15 food stations.

The Grand Finale of the sizzling five-day festival was the
star-studded Grand Tasting Event held Saturday, November
15th on the Embarcadero Park North behind Seaport Village.
Christopher M. was busy signing posters at the Exclusive
Collections booth. He met many celebrity chefs who want him
to come visit their kitchens and paint them.

One of the chefs, Gavin Kaysen of the world renowned Cafe
Boulud in New York City, has asked Christopher M. to come to
NYC in the Spring and paint a series of works inspired by his
kitchen! Gavin is formerly of Rancho Bernardo Inn's El Bizcocho
and has since received awards from the James Beard Foundation
(Rising Star Chef 2008) as well as Food & Wine Magazine
(10 Best New Chefs).