Portion of proceeds from artist's sale to benefit the Jackie Robinson Foundation
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Iconic stylized painting of Jackie Robinson titled 'He Floated Like and Angel 1955 World Series' to be offered in a very limited edition in 4 sizes to benefit the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
- (1888PressRelease) July 08, 2013 - AUSTIN, TEXAS - Fans of the movie "42", as well as sports fans and baseball aficionados, will at last have the opportunity to own a limited edition print reproduction of artist Gregory Truett Smith's rendering of famous African-American baseball player Jackie Robinson.
The original painting, titled "He Floated Like an Angel - Portrait of Jackie Robinson World Series 1955" sold at a Santa Fe gallery for $20,000 in November 1996. In May 2011, the artist made a gift of a 48" X 30" on canvas reproduction of the original painting to Mrs. Rachel Robinson, widow of the late baseball legend.
"What a wonderfully creative tribute to my husband Jack," said Rachel Robinson of the painting of her late husband. "Gregory's inspiring work hangs proudly on my wall."
"The racial conflicts of the 1960's had a direct influence on my work, particularly in 'He Floated Like An Angel'," states Gregory Truett Smith. "I believe these reproductions will appeal not only to sports fans and baseball fans, but to many people who followed the stories and histories of African-Americans struggling for equality during that very pivotal period of American history."
Signed and numbered reproductions of the painting go on sale on July 8, 2013. The artist will offer three different sizes in limited editions of 150 each, with prices ranging from $485 to $685, as well as one size on canvas in a limited edition of 50, priced at $2,500. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the artwork are being donated by the artist to The Jackie Robinson Foundation, one of the nation's premier education and leadership programs boasting a nearly 100 percent graduation rate, more than twice national average for minority students.
Recently, the movie "42" has created a new awareness of the baseball icon, who signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940's and went on to become the first African-American player to break the color barrier in American professional baseball. With the success of the film, online sales of the limited edition reproductions at the artist's website at www.splendidrocketstudios.com/jackierobinsonlimitedoffer are expected to be brisk -- and brief.
About The Jackie Robinson Foundation
Established in 1973, the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) is the nation's premier education and leadership development program. Transcending financial assistance, the Foundation equips its scholarship recipients with a comprehensive set of support services including internship placement, career guidance, and practical life skills, resulting in a nearly 100% graduation rate, more than twice the national average for minority students. The over 1,400 JRF alumni are both leaders in their professional fields and consummate ambassadors of Jackie Robinson's legacy of community service. This 2012-2013 academic year, JRF is providing generous financial aid and program support to 181 Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars representing 30 states and the District of Columbia and enrolled in 87 different colleges and universities across the country.
About Gregory Truett Smith
Gregory Truett Smith is a graphic, fine art and commercial illustrator whose clientele includes The Austin American Statesman, The Hearst Corporation, National Basketball Association, The American Heart Association, Texas Monthly, and the Wall Street Journal. The artist's professional background includes stints as a full-time artist at two major television broadcast stations as well as a promotion artist and editorial illustrator for a major newspaper company. Fueled by "boyhood dreams, heroes and growing up in America" during the tumultuous 1960's, his portfolio, which features an image of "He Floated Like an Angel", can be found online at http://www.splendidrocketstudios.com.
Media Contacts:
Carla Smith Crow, Artist Representative
Carla_splendidrocketstudios ( @ ) yahoo dot com
817.360.4044
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