ORGANIZED BY ISOLDE BRIELMAIER AND KNOX ROBINSON

AS PART OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME: CONTEMPORARY ART AND FÚTBOL,
CURATED BY TREVOR SCHOONMAKER AND FRANKLIN SIRMANS

Brooklyn, NY (May 10, 2006) - Brooklyn, NY (June 6, 2006) - Brooklyn's Rotunda Gallery is pleased to present THE AFRICAN GAME, organized by Isolde Brielmaier and Knox Robinson in conjunction with The Beautiful Game: Contemporary Art and Fútbol, curated by Trevor Schoonmaker and Franklin Sirmans. The African Game will open on Wednesday, June 22, 2006 and run through July 22, featuring never before seen photographs, video footage, and a site-specific installation by photographer Andrew Dosunmu and writer Knox Robinson, inspired by their forthcoming book project The African Game (published by PUMA® North America and distributed by powerHouse Books, 2006).

On Wednesday, June 28 at 7:00 pm, the Gallery will host A Conversation about Art, Life and Fútbol in Africa, featuring a discussion between Robinson, curator Franklin Sirmans, and TRACE editor Claude Grunitzky. A book signing will follow; limited edition copies will be available for $50 with proceeds benefiting Grassroots Soccer's AIDS education and prevention programs.

During 2005-06, Andrew Dosunmu and Knox Robinson traveled throughout West Africa documenting the spirit and passion surrounding the game of fútbol. Their trip came to a dramatic climax at the African Cup of Nations held in Egypt in January 2006. Using photography and narrative, Dosunmu and Robinson capture the unique culture and character of African fútbol through eyes of local communities, fans and players on the field. From Senegal and Cameroon to Ghana and Egypt, Dosunmu's photos effortlessly shift between the soccer field and the street, capturing candid moments that reveal Africa's passion for fútbol. Narratives by Robinson further frame the story, elucidating the continent's deep-rooted ties to the game.

Isolde Brielmaier, Rotunda Gallery's new director and chief curator, said "The African Game captures the spirit of multiple communities, regions and countries. Through the lens of fútbol, Brooklyn-based, Nigerian-born photograph Andrew Dosunmu exposes both the subtle yet enormous similarities and differences within individual and across national African identities and cultures. This dynamic exhibition reflects the international flavor of Brooklyn and the new direction of the gallery. It's about culture, art, ideas and issues. It will certainly energize our space and build a bridge between Brooklyn, contemporary art and global culture."

THE AFRICAN GAME exhibition has been made possible with the generous support of PUMA^®.

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME: Contemporary Art and Fútbol, curated by Trevor Schoonmaker and Franklin Sirmans, is the United States' first exhibition to celebrate the World Cup. The exhibition launches in New York June 9th and runs through July 22nd, 2006, coordinated to coincide with the World Cup in Germany. THE BEAUTIFUL GAME will celebrate the art form of soccer/fútbol and its global impact via works by more than 40 artists from all over the world. Embracing the world's favorite game that continues to grow here in the U.S., the exhibition brings together an international group of artists who explore the game and its metaphorical potential to represent human beings across the world with vibrant and poetic artworks. The artists use the sport to examine issues of identity construction, nationalism, culture and gender politics, mass spectacle, crowd behavior and the global economy in contemporary society.

The exhibition is being co-presented by the Brooklyn Institute of Contemporary Art (BICA) in cooperation with BRIC/Brooklyn Information & Culture and Roebling Hall Gallery. The multimedia exhibition can be experienced at Roebling Hall's Chelsea and Brooklyn gallery locations and an installation and film screening at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The exhibition will be the first of its kind in the US and will include original artwork in a wide variety of media, a music listening component of soccer-related anthems and songs (organized by Piotr Orlov and Judy Cantor-Navas) and live feeds of the World Cup matches in the gallery. The curators have also forged a strategic partnership with Major League Soccer that will help broaden the exhibition's audience and expose new people to contemporary art. Promotional materials have been made possible through the generous support of SDS/Procida.

THE ROTUNDA GALLERY is an award-winning not-for-profit exhibition space that has exhibited the work of over 2,000 artists. Each year, the Gallery's innovative arts education program provides services to over 9,000 New York City students. THE ROTUNDA GALLERY is the visual arts program of BRIC/BROOKLYN INFORMATION AND CULTURE, a multidisciplinary cultural organization that provides resources and a showcase for artists and strives to expand public appreciation for their work. BRIC presents media, education, performing and visual arts programs that are reflect Brooklyn's diverse communities and cultures.

PUMA® is the global athletic brand that successfully fuses influences from sport, lifestyle and fashion. PUMA's unique industry perspective delivers the unexpected in sportlifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories, through technical innovation and revolutionary design. Established in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 1948, PUMA distributes products in over 80 countries. For further information please visit www.puma.com.