From Disney, Warner Brothers and Hanna-Barbera – to MGM, Universal and 20th Century Fox, star-studded names were all there when Barker Animation Fine Art and Sculptures hosted a networking reception for Aventura Marketing Council members at the famous animation and entertainment art gallery now open at The Village of Gulfstream Park.
The gallery opened last November with a gala ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by owners Herb and Gloria Barker, who graciously donated 300 Yankee Pinstripe Number 5 pins to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Over the past several years, the Barkers have bestowed over $1.3 million in art to hospitals in keeping with their commitment to “healing through art” – a concept they will be extending to seniors in cooperation with Aventura Hospital and Medical Center.
While partaking of fabulous food catered by the neighboring BRIO Tuscan Grille, AMC members greeted by gallery director Carey Marchand were impressed to learn the Barkers founded the largest animation and entertainment art gallery in the world in Cheshire, Connecticut – and Herb Barker was chosen by Animation Art Magazine as “One of the top ten most influential people in animation in America.”
The Barkers also own and operate a Fine Art & Sculpture Division; Barker Specialty for promotional products and premium merchandise; The Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum in Connecticut, exhibiting over 80,000 items; Comic Strip Art Publishers Co.; and Barker Publishing Co., the world’s largest publisher of advertising and entertainment art.
Fans of Mickey and Minnie especially enjoyed a special Barker exhibit featuring the artwork of celebrated artist Mike Kupka; and looked forward to meeting Disney fine artist Tim Rogerson who painted live at Barker March 4-6 to showcase his new collection of originals, limited editions and personal commissions.
Appreciating the beauty and wonder of animation art, a collage of colleagues from diverse businesses noted all applicable artwork comes with a studio certificate of authenticity directly from production studios. Barker is an authorized and preferred gallery for Disney, Warner Brothers, Hanna-Barbera, Museum Editions Limited, 20th Century Fox, Sunday Funnies, Linda Jones Enterprises, Clampett Studio Collections, Will Vinton Studios, MGM, Universal, Dic Entertainment, Lucasfilm Ltd., Oggetti, S2 Art Group, Chase Art Group, PAWS Inc., King Features, ACME Archives and Collector’s Editions.
Star associates also planned to join “The Star Club” – Barker’s special membership program offering great benefits including insider information on new releases; advance notice on all special events and guest appearances; exclusive Star Club member promotions; Star Club discounts; and the Barker family personal guarantee: “You will never pay more at a Barker Animation Art Gallery. We will match any other legitimate gallery’s price on any piece of art. The fact is, you will probably pay less because of our volume and Star Club discount.”
Before it was time to say, “That’s all folks!” Christina Sparling of EmbroidMe won a limited edition artwork titled “Working Out” from the academy award winning Will Vinton Studios, published by Barker Animation Art Gallery – and everyone planned to come back soon to see new art constantly being purchased by Barker, bringing customers the best selection possible from artists including Toby Bluth, Romero Britto, Tricia Buchanan-Benson, James Coleman, Tom Everhart, Charles Fazzino, Leonard Filgate, Chuck Jones, Bill Melendez, Markus Pierson, Dr. Seuss, Jim Shore, Iwao Takamoto, Myron Waldman, Todd Warner, David Willardson and many more.
For more information, visit barkeranimation.com featuring updates on events, specials, new releases and the “Collector’s Corner” with huge discounts from the art vault. The Barker gallery is in The Village at Gulfstream Park, directly across from The Container Store, conveniently located by the parking garage. Phone: 954-457-2280.
