Unique Collaborative Pieces Being Sold To Benefit CITYarts
NEW YORK, June 2 /PRNewswire/ — Porsche Cars North America, Inc. partnered with five famed New York City street artists participating this month in the largest U.S. exhibition of the genre, to unveil their latest works: Porsche 911 hoods.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090602/NY26342)
The pieces are part of "Whole In The Wall: 1970-Now," a group show of 150 mostly contemporary works by 19 U.S., European and South American "street artists." In profile, they range from Old Masters of this genre — graffiti "taggers" whose controversial first works appeared on NYC subway cars in the 1970s — to painters, sculptors and photographers.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. is the Patron of this unprecedented exhibition, collaborating with the New York City charity organization CITYarts; the artists; and the curators, Chantal and Brigitte Helenbeck of the Helenbeck Gallery, Paris.
The show opened, privately, late last week to VIP fanfare: a block-long line at the front door with an hour wait. And immediate critical acclaim online, followed by unusually glowing praise in the arts section of The New York Times, among other media outlets. The public got its first look at the exhibition, and the commissioned Porsche 911 hoods, when it opened to everyone on Friday for its month-long run, through June 27. Link to NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/arts/design/30stre.html.
As a collection, the Porsche 911 hoods are colorful, whimsical and iconic. The artists, native NY graffiti writers, born between 1957 and 1966, commissioned for the Porsche collaboration, include:
  –  BLADE: The godfather of the scene, often called the "King of Graf";
  –  JonOne: Whose work has evolved from '70s train tagging to abstract
      painting;
  –  Sharp: Whose style is inspired by comic strips and ancient scripts;
  –  Crash: An NYC graf pioneer who now has works in the Museum of Modern
      Art; and
  –  Daze: Whose work today is a continuation, on canvas, of the graffiti
      movement.
All five works (spray paint on metal, 52" x 53" inches), are being sold for the benefit of CITYarts, a charity dedicated to engaging city children in constructive public art projects. CITYarts was chosen by Porsche Cars North America, Inc. as a partner in the collaboration because the five artists mentioned above tell varied stories of having no creative outlets as outer-borough NYC children in 1970s, and because the five artists all praise the work of CITYarts.
One hundred percent of the proceeds of all five works will be paid to CITYarts. Prices for the hoods range from $10,000 to $14,000. These works are presented courtesy of the artists and Helenbeck Gallery, the presenter of "Whole In The Wall." Sales inquiries regarding the works can be directed to: info@helenbeckgallery.com.
  EXHIBITION INFORMATION:
  Website: www.helenbeckgallery.com
  "Whole In The Wall: 1970 – Now"
  Through Saturday, June 27
  11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays through Saturdays; or by appointment
  529-535 W. 35th St.
  New York City 10001
  PR Contact: Ronald Alan, Spin Control,
  ron@spincontrol.biz
  212-726-2614
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., is the exclusive importer of Porsche sports cars and sport utility vehicles for the United States. It is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing.h.c. F. Porsche AG. PCNA employs approximately 180 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 202 dealers. The dealers, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service. Throughout its 60-year history, Porsche has developed numerous technologies that have advanced vehicle performance, improved safety and spurred environmental innovations within the automotive industry. The company continues to celebrate its heritage by adding to its long list of motorsports victories dating back to its first 24 Hours of Le Mans class win in 1951. Today, with more than 28,000 victories, Porsche is recognized as the world's most successful brands in sports car racing. PCNA, which imports the iconic 911 series, the Boxster and Cayman sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the U.S., strives to maintain a standard of excellence, commitment and distinction synonymous with its brand.
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090602/NY26342
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN10
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
CONTACT: Angie Reevers, Manager, Corporate Communications,
+1-770-290-3510
Web Site: http://www.helenbeckgallery.com/
