GRAMMY® Winning Record Producer and Coveted Art Curator Breaks Down Boundaries with Undiscovered Artist Work Projected on New York City Museums and Documented with Canon EOS Rebel T6i DSLR Cameras
MELVILLE, N.Y. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — March 3, 2016 — In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the first EOS Rebel SLR camera, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, partnered with GRAMMY® Award winning record producer Swizz Beatz to give a voice to undiscovered artists. In keeping with Canon’s new “Rebel with a Cause” initiative which profiles modern day rebels who challenge convention in their own unique way while capturing causes near and dear to their hearts through the eye of a Canon Rebel DSLR camera, Swizz chose to showcase artistic talent that may have otherwise fallen under the radar of the art community through #TheUnknowns. With a focus on breaking down the boundaries that the art world has built up, Swizz and Canon curated the work of unknown artists and brought their work to the masses, projecting them on the facades of the Brooklyn Museum and Bronx Museum of the Arts.
For his “Rebel With A Cause” moment, Swizz Beatz aimed to help give artists an advantage in their own artistic endeavors. Fresh off of his No Commission Art Fair at Art Basel, Swizz worked with Canon to curate an art show for the world to see on the facades of museums in New York City. Select works were then featured in a gallery event at Sotheby’s Auction House, where Swizz announced an online auction to increase awareness of #TheUnknowns project and give fans from around the globe the opportunity to participate and help raise funds for the artists by bidding on and buying the art. The online auction will remain open through March 6, 2016 at 6:30 PM EST and can be viewed at theunknownsauction.com.
“My mission is to bring to light creative minds that have dedicated themselves to pushing the boundaries of culture and expression,” said Swizz Beatz. “It can be a struggle for any artist to break through the walls of esteemed institutions. I feel honored that Canon has provided an opportunity for #TheUnknowns to break through those walls in a very unique way.”
“Canon has always made it a priority to make what was once thought to be impossible possible, and it’s one of the reasons we created the EOS Rebel cameras,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Watching Swizz bring his cause to life to the streets of New York City epitomizes what the ‘Rebel With a Cause’ campaign stands for. Swizz’s passion for the art world and compassion for others is truly inspiring.”
The campaign, shot entirely on Canon EOS Rebel T6i DSLR cameras, can be viewed here: http://canon.us/bsCZ2.
In late 2015, Canon launched “Rebel With A Cause” with American daredevil Nik Wallenda, the first and only person to walk a tightrope across Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon, encouraging an unexpected group of people to check items off of their personal bucket lists. After visiting a senior center in Sarasota, FL, the man who’s conquered every feat he’s ever dreamed of, inspired one senior citizen go into the sky and one to go to the racetrack. The campaign video, shot entirely on Canon EOS Rebel T6i DSLR cameras, can now be viewed here: http://canon.us/bkQln.
ABOUT CANON U.S.A., INC.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean (excluding Mexico) markets. With approximately $31 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2014�nbsp; and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2015. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED® Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. For media inquiries, please contact pr@cusa.canon.com.
ABOUT SWIZZ BEATZ
Kasseem Dean (Swizz Beatz) is an internationally acclaimed music producer and global entrepreneur and currently a student in the Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program. In the business world since he was 16, Dean has conceived a myriad of ventures, always starting at the bottom and building them to remarkable success. While still in high school, Dean began deejaying and working at his uncle’s company, Ruff Ryder Records. Within a short time, Dean produced the company’s first hit, by DMX. More success followed—as a producer and artist. At 23, Dean founded his own record label, Full Surface Records, with Clive Davis and earned a GRAMMY® Award at the age of 33. As a producer, Dean has worked with a diverse range of artists and some of the biggest names in the world including Madonna, Beyoncé, Lil Wayne, Britney Spears, and Metallica, creating numerous gold, platinum, and diamond hits.
Dean’s talents and success extend well beyond the music world. A natural observer and strategic thinker, Dean is an innovative fashion designer, collaborating with Reebok, Christian Louboutin, Aston Martin, Lotus, and Audemar Piguet.
Believing that art embodies culture and is an expression of life, as a child Dean saw graffiti on the walls in the Bronx and wondered about its meaning. He began collecting art in his twenties, and in 2014 launched The Dean Collection, which is not only a collection of his own artwork but also a discovery zone for art enthusiasts who appreciate art not just from the greats but also from aspiring and new artists alike. Most recently, in October 2015, Dean was appointment to the Board of Trustees for The Brooklyn Museum.
Dean is also involved in many charities, with a particular focus on children: he works closely with his wife’s organization Keep A Child Alive to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa, he adopted the Bronx Charter School for the Arts; is the Global Ambassador for HHC; co-chair of the 2014 Gordon Parks Foundation Gala and continues to work with Children’s Rights Organization which lends legal services to foster children to protect their rights.
While highly accomplished, Dean remains grounded, authentic, and humble. A role model to many, he is devoted to his family and to the welfare of others— both locally and around the world. According to Dean, “The sky is not the limit; it’s just the view.” With a true passion for business, no matter the industry, Dean hopes that his success will continue to inspire others.
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