Ruinart Selects Ten Artists for Exhibition at the Betsy Hotel South Beach

NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Betsy South Beach will be playing host to the works of ten emerging artists, commissioned by Ruinart, the first established champagne House in 1729.  On December 2, 2010, the exhibition will kick off during Art Basel in Miami Beach highlighting a commitment to the arts from both organizations.  The works were produced using classic and avant-garde techniques, in a variety of mediums, including photography, paint and sculpture.  Artists were inspired by many facets of this pioneering Champagne, from the unique bottle shape to the history of its creator Dom Ruinart, all producing unique works that will ultimately be auctioned in New York to benefit the non-profit organization The Art of Elysium .

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This November, the pieces will travel to Miami to form the pop-up gallery at The Betsy located on Ocean Drive. For years, Ruinart has been associated with artists and art fairs around the globe. The pop-up gallery is located in the lobby bar of The Betsy, where Ruinart Blanc de Blancs (100% Premier Crus Chardonnay) will be available for sale to guests wanting to sip fine champagne while browsing the exhibit, enhancing the total experience.

The artists who have been inspired by Ruinart and will be showcased at the exhibition are:  Melissa Ayr – Texas, Elijah Blue – California, Isaac Fortoul – New York, Mark Leibowitz – California, Pascal Pierme – New Mexico, Johnny Robles – Florida, Dane Storrusten – Washington, Carrie Sunday – New York, Kiki Valdes – Florida, Trish Williams – Illinois.

The exhibit closes by February 2011, at which time these contemporary works of art will travel to New York to be auctioned in the Spring. All proceeds will go to The Art of Elysium, a non-profit organization founded in 1997 supporting the creativity of children battling serious medical conditions.

About Ruinart

In 1729, when Nicolas Ruinart laid the foundations of the very first champagne house, he was in fact realizing the ambition of his uncle, Dom Thierry Ruinart. A Benedictine monk, Dom Ruinart intuitively foresaw the fame and success champagne would enjoy by gauging the popularity of this new sparkling wine amongst his contemporaries in the court of Versailles.  The House of Ruinart was the first to use Gallo Roman chalk cellars to age its wines, and opened the American market as early as 1831. Since then, Ruinart has continued to develop its reputation as the sophisticated boutique champagne for discerning wine lovers. Ruinart Champagnes are imported by Moet Hennessy USA.

SOURCE Ruinart Champagne