Brave Destiny

Brave Destiny was a 2003 exhibition announced as "the world's largest show of living artists working today in Surrealism, Surreal/Conceptual, Visionary, Fantastic, Symbolism, Magic Realism, the Vienna School, Neuve Invention, Outsider, Na?ve, the Macabre, Grotesque and Singulier Art" organised by Terrance Lindall at the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center in Brooklyn, New York. [http://www.wahcenter.net/exhibits/2003/surreal/index.html] . A feature essay, "What's New In the Surreal World - Surrealism isn't Dead, It's Dreaming" appeared in the March 2006 issue of Art and Antiques Magazine, the "top 100 collectors" issue.

A request to have the show was made by a contingent from England in 2002 headed by Brigid Marlin, Chairman of The Society for the Art of Imagination in England, the Society being a large international artists' membership organization. The show included such famous names as Professor Ernst Fuchs, founder of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism in the 1940s; H.R. Giger, Academy Award winner for the designs of the title character and its otherworldly environment in the film ?Alien? and many others. £5,000 in cash prizes for art were handed out by Society judges, from a total of over £20,000 contributed by the Baron of Fulwood during 2003 to The Society for the Art of Imagination.

The show included a "surrealist fashion show" [http://www.surrealistfashion.net/] , a "surrealist film festival" [http://www.wahcenter.net/exhibits/2003/surreal/BD_SurrealistFilmFest.html] , "surrealist theater" [http://www.wahcenter.net/exhibits/2003/surreal/BD_theater.html] , "surrealist butoh dance," and other events throughout the neighbourhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The show included works by Salvador Dalí that were on loan as well as artwork by H.R. Giger.

The show was opened with a "Grand Surrealist Costume Ball" [http://wahcenter.net/events/2003/surrealistball/photos.htm] with Le Viconte de St. Ouen opening the Brave Destiny exhibit at the ball along with the Baron of Fulwood and Brigid Marlin.

The Brave Destiny show continued citywide at other galleries, and internationally with a ten-museum concurrent traveling exhibit throughout Australia.

The exhibit and its attendant events were covered extensively and favorably in the print media as well as on MTV. However, the exhibit also drew criticism, including the publication of a tract entitled "Craven Destiny" which accused Brave Destiny of misrepresenting and exploiting surrealism.

The show, from set up to take down, was the most photographed art show in New York City.

BRAVE DESTINY, THE MOVIE DOCUMENTARY

Five minute sample demo Click here! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr2V3XZvvpE]

The film covers the opening reception, the ball, and has a separate trailer film showing behind the scenes on the work by the artists in putting together this colossal show. The ball footage features original musical compositions by surrealist composer Peter Dizozza. Trailer films include the ballet and the fashion show.

External links

* [http://www.wahcenter.net/exhibits/2003/surreal/ Williamsburg Center flier]
* [http://beinart.org/info/essays/terrance-lindall-brave-destiny.php "Lindall's Essay on Brave Destiny"]
* [http://beinart.org/modules/Word-Press/2007/05/18/beinart-interview-with-terrance-lindall/ "Interview with Terrance Lindall"]