Context
On November 3rd, BeetsDAO, along with the Estate of Alberto Rizzo, completed one of the 3 “Genesis” drops at Quantum. The drop attracted a diverse and forward thinking group of collectors and entrepreneurs that share a vision for the uniting force of the blockchain:
Advancing the Future
The BeetsDAO Foundation in collaboration with DreamYard, the Rizzo Estate and Immutable Art is proud to announce a follow-up to that collection, with a special 1/1 mint of Alberto Rizzo’s “Golf Balls” in support of DreamYard’s education initiatives for emerging blockchain creators.
Proceeds of the auction will enable DreamYard to create a first-of-its-kind program in NYC to advance NFT education, enabling a new generation of young creators to learn more about Web3, and its power to connect them directly with audiences to invest in and follow their budding careers. BeetsDAO will show further support down the road with exhibitions by this young talent.
“Golf Balls”
“The image was shot in the early 1990s for Alberto's Abstract Expressionism Series. It is a black and white photograph on a miniature set with the figure surrounded by golf balls. The figure was created by Alberto out of bent wire. It is the epitome of surrealism due to its playful juxtaposition of 3D and 2D.”
Series: Abstract Series of Color Photographs, Photomontage, Mixed Media Collages, Gel Series Circa 1970s-2002
Medium: Scanned from Film - .JPEG; Film Format: 120 film
Contract with direct provenance
“Golf Balls” was created together with Manifold with direct provenance to the Alberto Rizzo estate. The contract is viewable on Etherscan.
Bidding process
Upon a qualifying bid of 1 ETH, a 48 hour auction will kickoff. Any bids in the last 15 minutes will automatically extend the auction by 10 minutes.
100% of the sale proceeds will go to DreamYard for the establishment of its Web3 program.
History of DreamYard
DreamYard collaborates with Bronx youth, families and schools to build pathways to equity and opportunity through the arts. DreamYard works with over 50 public schools throughout the Bronx, runs an arts-based High School, a community arts center, and a digital design center. BeetsDAO's support of DreamYard will enable us to bring over 60 artists, designers and educators into classrooms to create educational experiences grounded in the arts, social justice and joy. Thanks to BeetsDao, DreamYard will introduce Bronx students to the power of digital art in shaping identity and providing creative economic opportunities as they chart futures towards post-secondary education and careers.
The Life and Career of Alberto Rizzo
Alberto Rizzo was born in La Spezia, grew up in Rome, and went on to live in numerous international cities until finally settling in New York City where he worked for the remainder of his life.
He began his career touring the world as a professional dancer, working closely with the likes of Maurice Bejard, Hermes Pan and Fred Astaire while crossing paths with everyone from Jean Cocteau to Edith Piaf amongst many others. By the mid 1960’s he switched careers and began making a name for himself in the world for photography, creating iconic and groundbreaking covers for Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, which continued throughout the 70’s. During this time he was a regular at Andy Warhol’s factory, taking inspiration from the many artists who were also part of one of the most creative think tanks of the 20th century.
Like his counterparts, Rizzo spent most of his evenings at Studio 54 and used his days to evolve as a world-renowned artist. Throughout his long–spanning 40 year career, Alberto understood when to move in a new direction and in the eighties he dedicated his time to his fine art projects: the Gel Series, the Paper Cut Out Series, the Shadow Series, and his Abstract Expressionism Series. His work on these collections continued until the end of his life and led to shows at various galleries and institutions around the world. As Alberto reflected on his artistic journey later in life, he began repurposing some of the work from his 40-year career. These experiments with abstract expressionism involved drawing over his existing art and overlaying it onto other abstract photos.
Not afraid to incorporate technology in his work, Rizzo also began integrating the use of digital art with the Gel Series and creating abstractions through pixelation. The release that Alberto’s mind experienced as an artist towards the end of his life with these series gives us a glimpse into the extent of his creative and artistic freedom.
To date, his work has been accepted into the Guggenheim Museum, Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Carla Sozzani Gallery and the J. Paul Getty Museum. Alberto remained a prolific and ever-evolving artist until his death from Leukemia in 2004, leaving an undeniable mark in the world of art and photography.
