Hell on Earth:  Oil painting by Frank Garvey, 1985.

For immediate release

Genetically Modified Surrealism:  New Paintings, Drawings and Prints by Frank Garvey at Epic Arts Gallery 

Works, compared to Bosch, Goya, Dali, offer poetic commentary on society’s ills, ghettoization and ruin 

         MONDAY, Jan. 26, 2004, San Francisco, Calif.--OmniCircus today announced the opening of a new exhibit of the paintings, drawings, prints and music of noted social surrealist artist-composer Frank Garvey, at Berkeley’s Epic Arts gallery.  An opening reception for the artist will take place on Fri., Feb. 6 from 5-7 p.m.

          Headquartered in San Francisco’s SoMa district, OmniCircus is the nation’s leading non-profit 501.3(c) center for robotics art, music and multimedia. An experimental, surreal cabaret group, founded in 1988 by composer-artist Garvey, OmniCircus shows integrate live avant-fusion music by house band DeusMachina, with dancers, actors, life-sized computer-controlled robots and midi-controlled virtual-reality puppets, whose voices are powered in real-time by live actors. 

          The Epic Arts show features new works by Garvey whose iconic, erotically-charged, dream-like imagery unleashes acid commentary on ghettoization and societal ruin. 

          The show is also a fundraiser for OmniCircus.  Autographed fine art poster-sized prints will be offered, available for a tax-deductible donation of $100 each.  Autographed copies of DeuxMachina’s new CD, Mystery Box House, will also be for sale. There will be a silent auction for a single, deluxe, leather-bound, 8-CD collection of Garvey’s complete musical works.  The exhibit opens with a free reception on Fri., Feb. 6, from 5-7 p.m. The show runs through Mar. 6.

          Following the reception, neo-Persian art band Aleph Null will be performing its exotic blend of Farsi/Kurdish music on authentic ethnic instruments. Epic Arts is located at 1923 Ashby Ave., Berkeley, CA 94703.  Telephone: 510-644-2204.  For directions see http://www.epicarts.org/map. 

          Mystery Box House, the newest production by OmniCircus, premieres on Sat., Feb. 21 at 9:30 p.m., 550 Natoma, SF.

          For more information or to arrange an interview with the artist, please contact Lori Higa at 415-701-0686, email lhiga@pagecage.com or see the OmniCircus web site at www.omnicircus.com.                 
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