"The Finish Line" Displays 50 Years of Illustrations and Paintings by American Legend, Bill Charmatz
"The Finish Line" Displays 50 Years of Illustrations and Paintings by American Legend, Bill Charmatz
Exhibit Marks End of Authentic Style of American Art Depicting Bygone Era
NEW YORK, NY, November 6, 2006 - From December 7th through 29th, 2006, The Society of Illustrators (SI) in New York presents "The Finish Line," an exhibit featuring 65 works of art from the late editorial and advertising illustrator, Bill Charmatz. The exhibit will highlight his best-known works from The New York Times Book Review collection, Sports Illustrated creations from the 1960s and 70s and never-before-seen pieces from his private collection. An opening reception at SI will be open to the public on Wednesday, December 6th, 2006 from 5:30-8:00pm.
Charmatz established himself as a "Who's Who in American Art" creating a distinct style laced with humor that combined impressionism and cartoon realism. He illustrated a weekly column for Sports Illustrated for over 20 years, plus several major painting assignments that depicted scenes from Major League Baseball, National Football League training and skiing in France. His bold and exact lines coupled with splashes of bright colors captured the drama and excitement of sport competitions in an animated way.
"I liked the artists who worked more in brush and created that ragged, jagged unfinished line that really was finished. Bill did that," said Steven Heller, senior art director at The New York Times. "Bill worked in an era where illustration and drawings were prolific. That era doesn't exist anymore. If it will again is anybody's guess."
Charmatz was a minimalist, drawing only the lines he needed to capture the essence of a scene or character. The simplicity and smart humor in his work created a sophisticated aesthetic that attracted thousands of fans all over the world and came to represent the feeling and mood of American culture in a lighthearted way. Iconic pieces included humorous depictions of animals, many of which were regular favorites in the Crime column for The New York Times Book Review for almost two decades.
"He was perfect for me. The sense of humor he brought to my column was dark and light at the same time, and that was the sort of tone I was trying to create," said Marilyn Stasio, crime and mystery reviewer for The New York Times Book Review. "His illustrations were sometimes silly yet created a sense of criminality in the situation without being frightening."
"The Finish Line" is named after one of Charmatz's paintings. The exhibit marks the first time his collective work will be on display and the first time it will be made available for public sale. The opening reception will feature a documentary produced by Charmatz's daughter, Katrina, and will talk about the artist and his work. The public can view the collection for free at the Society of Illustrators on 128 East 63rd Street, New York, New York during the following hours: Tuesday, 10am-8pm; Wednesday-Friday, 10am-5pm; and Saturday, 12pm-4pm. For more information on the artist and the exhibit, please visit www.billcharmatz.com or www.societyillustrators.org.
About Bill Charmatz
Bill Charmatz is a humorous editorial and advertising illustrator and painter whose unique style made him an international and national favorite and earned him the distinction of "Who's Who in American Art." His freelance career, spanning over six decades, included work for clients such as The New York Times (1945-2005), The Washington Post, Esquire, Playboy, Fortune, Life and Sports Illustrated in addition to top corporations and advertising firms. His illustrations were featured on national and international magazines covers such as TV Guide, Time magazine, Money and many more.
While in France in the 1940s, Charmatz chronicled his own bicycle journeys, which resulted in more than one hundred drawings and watercolors that depicted everyday life in France. He returned to Europe years later to cover ski racing for Sports Illustrated.
Charmatz attended the School of Industrial Arts in Manhattan, Ecole des Beau Arts Fountainbleu and Acadamie de le Grande Chaumiere, Paris, France. In addition to his paintings and drawings, Charmatz wrote and illustrated 12 adult and children's books. He was born in New York in 1925. For more information on the artist, please visit www.billcharmatz.com.
About Society of Illustrators
Founded in 1901, the Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to "the promotion of the art of illustration - past, present and future." It has over 1,000 members worldwide and is headquartered in an 1875 vintage carriage house in New York's Upper East Side. For more information, visit: www.societyillustrators.org or call 212-838-2560.