Contemporary Abstract Artist Melissa Ayr has been selected as one of ten artists in the United States to be represented at Art Basel in Miami by Ruinart Champagne, a brand of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey.  Melissa Ayr and Ruinart champagne share the same fundamental values of authenticity, openness, refinement and quality.  Ruinart sponsored the opening night of the “Ayr Art Transformation Tour”, a national solo art exhibition featuring new and existing works of art created by Melissa Ayr.  Featured at the Dallas exhibition was a special toast of Ruinart Champagne to unveil the new painting by Melissa Ayr titled “Be Ruinart.”

Melissa Ayr is a colorful contemporary abstract painter whose work incorporates high energy, fluidity, growth, and life.  Melissa Ayr’s art has hung in the Guggenheim Museum in New York, and her art resides in homes of high profile collectors.  Earlier this year, Melissa was featured with a solo exhibition “Ocean Drive” as part the Celebrity Super Bowl Charity Bash in Miami Beach.  Last year, Melissa was featured as the only American Artist at the 2009 World Wilderness Congress with her ground breaking “Wild Thing” painting that raised awareness and funding for the Wild Foundation and Jane Goodall.

The night the piece was unveiled Ms. Ayr shared thoughts about “Be Ruinart”.  “I was asked to create my interpretation of what Ruinart champagne would look like as a contemporary art piece. I was given a bottle to enjoy and sit alone with my thoughts.”  “The name Ruinart was something that caught my eye; ‘art’ being in the name of the champagne itself.  How could this champagne, art and the excitement built up within be combined and conveyed on a canvas?”  Ms. Ayr stated that as she opened the bottle, the Champagne cork popped and champagne spilled out.  Melissa took this into the studio and used paint tubes spilling out of the bottle onto the canvas to convey an explosion of art.

Ms. Ayr was inspired to use paint tubes in “Be Ruinart” because of a story about Picasso.  While living in Lake Tahoe, Ms. Ayr had an opportunity to work with DA Russo, a student of Pablo Picasso.  He would speak of his time living with Picasso in France when he was a young boy.  According to DA Russo, Picasso was known for keeping the left over tubes of oil paints his students discarded.   He had a box near the door of the class where the students would dispose of them.  When the box was filled Picasso would snip off the ends of the tubes, butterfly the tubes and then use the remainder of the paint that was left inside for his own art.

“Be Ruinart” is a 3-dimensional multi media painting on hand stretched linen.  Melissa states, “In the painting, I have included over 40 opened tubes of paint I used myself and have butterflied open.  I have also included my own pallet, a pallet knife, a sable paint brush, a pencil sharper, oil paint medium, a bottle of Ruinart champagne, the Ruinart cork and wrapper, small speaks of clear plastic, and my signature monarch butterfly.  If you look closely you will find a Dragon, a symbol of creativity. “

“Be Ruinart” is a Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey commission with a mission.  “Be Ruinart” will be represented at Art Basel Miami in December 2010 and then auctioned off in New York in January 2011.  The painting will benefit the Museum of Arts & Design in New York with 100% of the proceeds donated to the Museum for their education programs.

To find out more about the “Ayr Art Transformation Tour” and artist Melissa Ayr visit http://www.melissaayr.com.

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About Artist Melissa Ayr:

Melissa Ayr’s mission is simple; create with passion, open the World’s mind to creativity and become the highest valued female artist of our time.  Melissa offers high end fine art using hand crafted custom made canvas, the finest quality paint and artist talent to make every original painting unique.  Melissa sells original abstract paintings in oil, acrylic and mixed media and keeps her indelible oath to grow her brand, maintain value and hold true to the trust that many collectors have placed in her.  http://www.melissaayr.com

About Ruinart:

Champagne Ruinart is the oldest French Champagne company, established in 1729. It is a very high-quality Champagne, and has recently been re-introduced to the U.S market. It is owned now by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey, the world leader in luxury items.  http://www.ruinart.com :: http://www.lvmh.com