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Patron and Muse of the Arts
The House of Campari continues its history of supporting the arts
From left: Negroni, La Stella Grande, Campari and Orange
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Campari, the nearly 150-year-old Italian aperitif with a history of working with the arts, continues to reinforce its role as both a modern patron and muse for the contemporary visual arts. Through its patronage, Campari supports and highlights the work of emerging artists through exhibitions, commissions and programs that encourage dialogue and provide a platform for cutting-edge artists to share their passion. In 2009, Campari has continued its longstanding partnerships with leading arts organizations through support of Artists Space in New York, LAXART in Los Angeles, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, as well as supporting new organizations and institutions through its ongoing sponsorship program.
The House of Campari program embodies the brand’s commitment to highlight and celebrate the work of emerging artists. In 2009, Campari launched its fourth annual House of Campari exhibition and event series presented in Los Angeles. The group show, First Look: An Exhibition of Emerging Artists from Los Angeles Galleries showcased a cross-section of up-and-coming artists from some of the city’s top galleries. All the artists in the exhibition, selected by the New York-based curatorial team Scenic, had their first solo exhibition with a Los Angeles gallery in the past season or will have it in the upcoming season. The events featured visual art performances by performance art troupe My Barbarian, and artist Anna Sew Hoy who performed the piece “Irma Vep’s Room” with choreographer Flora Wiegmann. Campari also hosted musical performances by Those Darlins, Port O’Brien and Anya Marina.
Also on display with the First Look exhibition was the latest Campari Commission. Each year, Campari awards a commissioning grant to an artist featured in the previous year’s group exhibition. The goals of the Campari Commissions Initiative are to provide financial support for emerging artists to create significant new works of art, provide exhibition opportunities for showing the work and then to donate the artworks to appropriate museum collections. The 2009 Campari Commission for Los Angeles has been awarded to artist Andrew Schoultz, who was featured in the House of Campari Los Angeles group show in 2007 as well as the House of Campari New York group show and a House of Campari exhibition in Miami for Art Basel Miami Beach, both in 2007. The 2008 Campari Commission by artist Mickalene Thomas was recently donated to the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).
At all events hosted or sponsored by Campari, signature Campari drinks are a highlight for art lovers and Campari aficionados. Those trying Campari for the first time, the Campari and Orange cocktail is a simple, light, and refreshing drink that is easily made at home. The Negroni, originally created in 1919, is a favorite of renowned mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim who also created Campari’s signature cocktail La Stella Grande.
For more information about Campari’s visual arts program visit HouseofCampari.com.