GOLF DIGEST BRINGS TIMELESS BOBBY JONES ILLUSTRATIONS TO DIGITAL AGE WITH LAUNCH OF THE GOLF DIGEST ART COLLECTION: "BOBBY JONES" BY CHRISTOPHER "CR" OBETZ
Unique Collection Bridges Generations by Transforming 50 Individual Bobby Jones Pieces by Famed Illustrator Anthony Ravielli and Others Into Contemporary Pop Art
"This collection brings Bobby Jones to life for a new generation" - Bobby Jones Estate
Golf is timeless, filled with generations of greats who live on in the sport to inspire new players in every era. Today, Golf Digest will pay tribute to one of the game's greatest, bringing him into the digital age with the debut of The Golf Digest Art Collection: "Bobby Jones" by Christopher "CR" Obetz, a collection featuring 50 unique illustrations of the legendary Bobby Jones. The collection represents Mr. Obetz's transformation of famed artist Anthony Ravielli's original drawings and other archived photos of Mr. Jones into both contemporary Pop Art pieces and companion digital collectibles in the form of NFTs. The entire collection will be available exclusively on Nifty Gateway, with the first eight pieces available for purchase starting today.
The Golf Digest Art Collection: "Bobby Jones" by Christopher "CR" Obetz collection will feature a mix of one-of-one and mass-market digital collectibles in the form of NFTs that connect Bobby Jones' legacy to different golf tentpole events including the Masters and U.S. Open. The NFTs are translated from Obetz's own mixed-media treatment of Ravielli's illustrations and other iconic photos of Jones. The one-of-one NFT creations will be packaged and sold alongside the original Obetz works that inspired them, while the mass-market digital collectibles will be available without their physical counterparts
The collection focuses on revitalizing the prolific collaboration between Jones and Ravielli, which led to the creation 'Bobby Jones on Golf,' a long-cherished instructional book that has been in circulation for nearly 60 years. Ravielli quietly observed and sketched the mannerisms, swings and gestures of Bobby Jones to fuel a trove of illustrations and inspire countless golfers taking to the sport.
Obetz, who acquired the rights of Ravielli's artwork from his estate, uses a unique approach to bring the illustrations to life. He first translates the sketches and scratchboards created by Ravielli into large-scale mixed-media works on canvas, drawing on art historical techniques from Leonardo DaVinci's illustrations and sketches of the human form to the modern Pop Art and Op Art movements of the 1960's and '70's. From that point, he uses digital technology to introduce motion to the art, exploring how animation of the swing, physical brushstrokes, and the inclusion of the movement of fluid emulsions filled with color transport a nearly century-old legacy to the modern day.
"It's an honor to carry on and celebrate the legacy of Anthony Ravielli, who was not only revered for his work at Golf Digest as the premier golf illustrator, but the treasured friend and collaborator of Bobby Jones," commented Obetz.
Jerry Tarde, editor-in-chief of Golf Digest added, "Obetz mixes classic with modern, dynamic with still life, technical perfection with artful impressionism. You can hang it on the wall or take it to the lesson tee - form and function at the same time. CR's collaboration with the late Tony Ravielli stands at the top of sports imagery today and we are honored to partner on this collection."
ABOUT CR OBETZ
Mixed media artist, CR, Christopher Robin, through his own vision of Forgotten Beauty: Found, continues the legacy and tradition of modern Pop Artists in his series POP ART GOLF.
Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, in the 1970s, CR experienced the original genius of Roy Lichtenstien's "Brushstrokes in Flight." An advocate for public art, CR successfully lobbied for its installation on grounds of the Columbus Airport, signifying the growth of an emerging city.
Years later, CR would come to know and collaborate with Vito Giallo; Pop Art Icon and Founder, Andy Warhol's first studio assistant and best friend. The two artists collaborated in their Brooklyn studios and townhouse. Based on CR's mixed media assemblage vision, combining their talents, they created series of large-scale collages celebrating the found object.
ABOUT GOLF DIGEST
Golf Digest is the No. 1 most widely read golf publication in the world and the authority on how to play, what to play, and where to play. Golf Digest's aim is to enhance the enjoyment of all facets of the game - making its readers better players, smarter consumers and more discerning travelers, while also offering the kind of informative and provocative stories that fuel the unending conversation that is golf.
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