The Art Foundry Gallery in Sacramento, California Will be the First Location in the United States to Host the 2008 Beijing Olympic Sculpture Exhibition

The Art Foundry Gallery in Sacramento, California will be the first location in the United States to host the 2008 Beijing Olympic Sculpture Exhibition displaying entries from over 80 countries and regions beginning on October 9 and running through October 22, 2007. Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo will head up the Host Committee. http://www.artfoundryinc.com/

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) August 17, 2007 -- The Art Foundry Gallery in Sacramento, California will be the first location in the United States to host the 2008 Beijing Olympic Sculpture Exhibition displaying entries from over 80 countries and regions beginning on October 9 and running through October 22, 2007. Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo will head up the Host Committee. http://www.artfoundryinc.com/

Amongst the 2008 Beijing Olympic Landscape Sculpture Design contest medalists on display will be a piece from the artist Shray who is a featured artist at The Art Foundry in Sacramento, California. Shray's piece titled "Raising Tomorrows Olympic Champions" was one of eight United States entries to make the finals and one of two American entries to be awarded the distinction of "Excellent Works."

"My piece honors parents worldwide who nurture the Olympic dream," said Shray, sharing the victory with Alan Osborne's Art Foundry team. "Art is a bridge," said Osborne. "China, with its rich cultural heritage is embracing the universal language of art."

Shray found her inspiration for "Raising Tomorrow's Olympic Champions" while creating her new "Artist Nostalgia" series. In the series, she was working on a small rendition of "As One" where parents are holding a newborn baby in the air in celebration of new life and all of the potential it holds. She envisioned her monumental piece as an interactive sculpture that encourages children to honor their parents and reminds parents to uplift their children as well as reinforces the power of Olympic dreams. "Those dreams can be about achieving excellence in sports, or becoming a great teacher, writer, poet, artist or parent. The dream is as individual as the dreamer," explained Shray.

Bronze sculptor, Shray, is one of the few working artists today who employs the rare Subtractionist technique. Like Michaelangelo, who released the human form in stone, Shray unveils her forms in blocks of clay. The piece then goes throught a complex 12-step process from the mold all the way to the final pouring of the bronze. Great care is taken in the creation of each limited edition bronze. Shray feels that before she will put her name on the bronze sculpture, it must be perfect. The finished work takes from six months to a year from the creation of clay to bronze.

"Not many people realize all it takes to create a bronze," says the artist. "The foundry is extremely important. I'm in control of my work and consider each work one of a kind and its own entity. I have great respect for those at the foundry who work on my pieces."

The Beijing Organizing Committee (BOCOG) selected Alan Osborne, owner of the Art Foundry Gallery, to present this important event due to his International recognition as a sculptor specializing in public works, and the Foundry's reputation as one of the premier bronze foundries in Northern California with a history that goes back to 1979. The Art Foundry is an upscale venue with 2,300 square feet of exhibition space located in historic warehouse district in downtown Sacramento just blocks from the State Capitol. This neighborhood is an up and coming art corridor in the region. The Art Foundry shows fine art paintings, mixed media, and original ceramic and bronze sculpture in their main gallery. The focus of the gallery is contemporary art with a celebration of art's classical roots.

Artists from over 80 countries and regions entered their art and judges from counties including China, England, the United States, Italy, Germany, Austria and South Korea were part of the selection process. Over 2,300 pieces were submitted into the contest and 386 were chosen for recognition. The Olympic Sculpture tour will include 65 award winning works of art.

Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo heads up the Hosting Committee. Director for the competition and renowned artist Yuan Xikun and General Secretary Zou Wen lead the International effort. Delegates from the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) will attend the opening ceremony on October 9th. There will also be a private sponsor reception at the Art Foundry that follows on October 12. The sculpture exhibition will also be featured at Sacramento's monthly Second Saturday Artwalk on October 13. On Second Saturday Artwalk, dozens of Sacramento galleries host artist receptions and have live entertainment along with artist demonstrations.

Currently touring in China, the exhibition will move on to New York after its Sacramento run scheduled for October 9 through the 22nd at The Art Foundry Gallery, 1021 R. St., Sacramento, California.

For more information contact:
Alan Osborne
Art Foundry Gallery
1021 R St.
Sacramento, California 95814
916-444-2787
www.artfoundryinc.com

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