Los Gatos Weekly-Times Photograph by Rick Bard Popular artist Peter Max has changed his style over the years. The Virtual Gallery hosts an internationally known artist By Shari Kaplan Peter Max, an international visionary artist who has painted a wide variety of images and themes over the past four decades, is coming to Los Gatos. The Virtual Gallery, located at 105 N. Santa Cruz Ave., holds a reception for Max, whom some call the last pop artist, on Oct. 23 from 6 to 10 p.m., at which time people can meet with the artist and purchase his artwork. The public is also invited to preview Max's collection at 6 p.m. on Oct. 22. Born in Europe, Max was raised and schooled in China, Tibet, South Africa, Israel and France. It was this cross-cultural upbringing that gave Max the eclectic background for his artistic career. In the 1960s, Max was known for his "Cosmic 60s" style, which featured bold, linear paintings, color juxtapositions and transcendental themes. He later developed a more expressionistic style; his themes became more sensuous and symbolic and his palette more vibrant. Among the movements and genres that have influenced the pop artist's life and canvases are modern-day comic books, classical Western art, European Expressionism, American jazz and the ancient traditional culture of China. An environmentalist and defender of both human and animal rights, Max has worked on paintings and posters for causes that support these movements. Among these was his 1974 commission to create the first "Preserve the Environment" U.S. postage stamp. Max also enjoys delving into the political arena, as evidenced by his "Forty Gorbys" installation in 1989, an endeavor inspired by a trip to Moscow. In 1981, the Reagans invited Max to Washington, D.C., to paint six portraits in the White House library. In 1990, Max carved a dove of peace sculpture from sections of the downed Berlin Wall, which he had flown to the U.S. just for that purpose. He is also known for his "100 Clintons" installation. Overall, he has painted for five U.S. presidents. Sports, entertainment and technology are also a specialty of Max's. The official artist for World Cup Soccer in 1994 and '95, he was also an official artist for a Super Bowl and the 25th anniversary of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Max has also held the "official artist" position five times for the Grammy Awards. Currently, Max is working with high-tech firms such as Silicon Graphics--whose programs helped create the special effects of the Jurassic Park movies--to merge the fields of art and technology. In fact, Max was the designer of the official symbol for the National Information Infrastructure--also called the Information Superhighway. In one of Max's newest artistic creations, which reveals his strong patriotic side, he superimposes an icon of Lady Justice over the stalwart face of the Statue of Liberty. This project can be seen in person at Touro College in New York. Ten percent of the proceeds from all sales of Max's artwork at the Virtual Gallery benefits Interplast, the nonprofit, Mountain View-based organization that provides free reconstructive surgery to needy children throughout the world. Founded in 1969, Interplast sends teams of volunteer nurses, pediatricians, anesthesiologists and reconstructive surgeons to Third World countries to treat children born with serious deformities or who have suffered severe injuries such as burns. Interplast helps nearly 3,000 children every year and runs solely on donations; it receives no governmental funding and is not affiliated with any political or religious groups or causes. For gallery hours or more information, call 399-3456. The gallery would appreciate RSVPs from those interested in attending the Friday night reception. The Virtual Gallery's Web site is at www.virtualart.com. To visit Peter Max's home page, go to petermax.com. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, October 21, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.