WHERE: Copro Nason Gallery (11265 Washington Bl., Culver City, Ca. 90230 WHAT: Ed "Big Daddy" Roth Tribute - Group Art Exhibition DATE: July 12, 2003 through August 9, 2003 CONTACT: Gary Pressman, Director, Copro/Nason Fine Art ED "BIG DADDY" ROTH TRIBUTE Ð GROUP ART EXHIBITION pays tribute to Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, the late pop culture icon who revolutionized hot-rodding in the 1960s by building outrageous automobiles from scratch. Opening Sat., July 12 with a reception from 8-11 p.m., the exhibit features work by Roth and an array of contemporary artists who he influenced. A uniquely American phenomenon, Roth was also renowned for his grungy cartoon alter ego, Rat Fink, the renegade, fly-infested rodent. The exhibit, which marks the release of "Rat Fink: The Art of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth," an authorized definitive book on Roth's creative legacy with 600 illustrations and photos, will include rare signed and numbered lithographs and original illustrations by Roth as well as paintings and illustrations by Ed Newton, Robert Williams, Von Franco, The Pizz, R.K. Sloane, Coop, Dave Burke, Ken "Mitch" Mitchroney, and others. Born in Los Angeles and raised in the epicenter of the California hot rod explosion, Roth created wild automobile forms from his own imagination rather than by altering existing vehicles. He transformed car design, turned American hot rod culture on its head and put Detroit on notice. Each of his creations transcended function and form to turn the American automobile into rolling sculpture. "Rod runs are the museums of the day," he once said with characteristic disdain of the art establishment. "Art belongs on the streets, not in some pretentious white box." Roth's irreverent attitude and outrageous art inspired generations of underground cartoonists, tattoo artists and shirt painters. Known as the "Blue Collar Warhol," he left behind a legacy of creative lunacy and helped launch the careers of such well-known artists as Newton and Williams, and fathered a movement known as lowbrow art. "I can't draw, never have been able to," he said. "I was just a guy trying whatever wild thought popped in my mind. I never spent any time thinking about art, I just did things." The book, "Rat Fink: The Art of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth," explores all aspects of Roth's art including cars, model kits, T-shirts and decals, beginning with his late-Ô50s pinstriping and ending with his 2001 demise. A book signing will be held at the gallery on Sat., July 19, 2-5 p.m. ED "BIG DADDY" ROTH TRIBUTE Ð GROUP ART EXHIBITION continues through Aug. 9th, 2003. Copro/Nason Gallery is located at 11265 Washington Blvd. (between Sepulveda and Sawtelle Boulevards) in Culver City, CA. The gallery is open Wed. Ð Sat. from 1-6 p.m. Please visit www.copronason.com to learn more about this exhibition and our gallery. ###########################