Jaroslav ‘Jerry’ Gebr, the legendary Scenic Artist behind some of Hollywood’s greatest films, will be honored by the Art Directors Guild's Gallery 800 (ADG, IATSE Local 800) in a special exhibit entitled “A Tribute to Jaroslav Gebr.” The exhibit opens with a hosted reception on Saturday, January 14, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and runs through March 4, 2017. Gebr’s paintings appeared in such films as My Fair Lady, Camelot and The Sound Of Music and he’s best known for his full-scale reproduction of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel for The Shoes Of The Fisherman. The exhibit will showcase numerous pieces of his original artwork.

A proud member of the Art Directors Guild since 1972, Gebr was head of the Scenic Arts Department at Universal Studios and worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Alfred Hitchcock and Vincente Minnelli.

Jaroslav was a prodigy from a small village outside of Prague. He escaped Communist-occupied Czechoslovakia in 1949 and despite the horrors of World War II, studied at art academies in Prague, Munich and Florence. His journey took him from painting portraits and frescoes in Bogota, Columbia to murals, portraits and visual effects in Hollywood. 

His paintings also appeared in films such as Xanadu, Scarface, Batman, Star Trek and The Princess Diaries, and he created the title cards for The Sting and Dune. His television work includes The Wild Wild West, Murder She Wrote, Amazing Stories, Columbo, 24 and most notably the pilot episode of Rod Serling’s Night Gallery.

Gallery 800 Future Exhibits Include (subject to change):
• Draw (Mar. 18, 2017 - June 3, 2017)
• The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop (June 17, 2017 – Aug. 5, 2017)
• Little Bonfires (Aug. 19, 2017 - Oct. 7, 2017)
• Art Unites 11 (Oct. 21, 2017 - Dec. 9, 2017)

Gallery 800, located in the heart of the Noho Arts District, showcases Guild members’ personal art in a series of shows throughout the year. These talented artists are leading art department professionals, who, through a combination of observation, passion and imagination, bring the writer's words and the director's vision to life in television and film. When not working as integral creative members of the entertainment community, they contribute to the fine art scene with their personal artwork. Since Gallery 800 opened its doors in March 2009, more than 600 ADG members have shown their artwork in the ongoing exhibitions.

Representing Gallery 800 are Curator Abra Brayman and ADG Awards and Events Manager Debbie Patton. Gallery 800 (located at 5108 Lankershim Blvd. at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center in the heart of North Hollywood) is open Thursday - Friday: 12:00 - 8:00 pm; Saturday 2:00 - 8:00 pm; Sundays 12:00 - 6:00pm.

About THE ART DIRECTORS GUILD
The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) represents 2,500 members who work throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world in film, television and theater as Production Designers, Art Directors, Assistant Art Directors; Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists; Illustrators and Matte Artists; Set Designers and Model Makers; and Previs Artists. Established in 1937, the ADG's ongoing activities include a Film Society, an annual Awards Banquet, a creative/technology community (5D: The Future of Immersive Design), a bimonthly craft magazine (Perspective); and extensive technology-training programs, figure drawing and other creative workshops and year-round Gallery 800 art exhibitions. The Guild's Online Directory/Website Resource is at www.adg.org. Connect with the Art Directors Guild and #Gallery800 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.