Official Artist Reception

WORLD RENOWNED ARTIST CHRISTOPHER M. SELECTED AS FEATURED ARTIST FOR 11TH ANNUAL SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

Reception & Unveiling of Christopher M.’s Official Artwork for Southern California’s Largest Wine & Food Classic Set for October 16, 2014 at Exclusive Collections Seaport Village Gallery

SAN DIEGO (September 9, 2014) To kick off its 11th annual celebration, producers of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival announce the selection of internationally acclaimed artist, Christopher M., as this year’s featured and celebrity artist. In his official capacity, Christopher M. is set to take part in the wine and food festival and will participate in various events and signings throughout the weeklong fete. Each year the featured artist creates a signature piece that serves as the official art for the Festival, said Michelle Metter, the event’s co-producer.

Known as “The Painter of Chefs,” his expressive, celebratory paintings go beyond literal depiction to honor the most prolific chefs of our time by painting them and preserving them historically on canvas. In his signature realist style with a contemporary twist, Christopher M. pulls inspiration from life itself, often visiting the kitchen’s of some of today’s premier restaurants to observe and speak
with the chefs themselves.

To date, Christopher M. has worked with an impressive roster of chefs including: “Iron Chef” Kevin Rathbun of Blue Plate Kitchen in Atlanta, Gavin Kaysen of Cafe Boulud in New York City, Chef Ludo Lefebvre of LudoBites, a variety of Kimpton Hotel Executive Chefs and “Bravo’s Top Chef Finalists” Kevin Gillespie and Brian Malarkey. As an extension beyond his chef paintings, the artist recently embarked on a tour of the Napa Valley, where he had the honor of working with a selection of legendary winemakers, including Heidi Barrett of Screaming Eagle Wines.

On Thursday, October 16, Christopher M. will unveil his newest original oil on canvascommemorating this years San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. The Official Artist Reception will be from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Exclusive Collections’ Seaport Village Gallery. The original oil will be auctioned during the Festival week at the Wine Spectator Celebrity Chef Dinner on Thursday, November 20 to benefit culinary and enology scholarships provided by the AmericanInstitute of Wine and Food and Chaine de Rotisseurs.

For those who cannot attend the unveiling and reception on October 16, attendees at this year’s food and wine festival, can look forward to meeting Christopher M. at the The Vault and Christopher M. Collection on Friday, November 21, a limited ticket event where a gallery of Christopher M.’s original works will be on display. Christopher M. will also be present at the Grand Tasting on Saturday, November 22, where he will sign posters of this year’s featured artwork.

To RSVP to the Christopher M. Artist Reception on October 16, email [email protected].

Tickets for the 11th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival are available. For more information about the Festival, visit www.sandiegowineclassic.com.