GRUCCI TO AGAIN ILLUMINATE HUDSON RIVER FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR

BELLPORT, NY (Jan. 21, 2016) – The New York City Lunar New Year 2016 “Year of the Monkey Celebration,” a five-day-long festival marking the lunar new year holiday presented by the China Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), will be held Feb. 6-10 at iconic locations across the city and headlined by the Fantastic Art China: International Creative Festival exhibition at Javits Center North (11 Avenue between 39th and 40th Streets). The festival programs, events and activities – all free and open to the public – will not only highlight Chinese arts and culture but also environmental conservation for monkeys in China. Partner organizations include the US-China Cultural Institute, Committee of 100, New York Philharmonic, National Dance Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Columbia University Teachers College, New York School of Interior Design, Museum of Chinese in America, and the China Institute.

Kicking off the Chinese Lunar New Year, year of the monkey celebration will be an unprecedented fireworks spectacular over the Hudson River, executed by Guinness World Record-breaking Fireworks by Grucci. Titled “The Voice of Fantasy”, the show has been designed and prepared in collaboration between CAFA and Fireworks by Grucci. It epitomizes the festival’s broader theme of exploring the intricate relationship between sound and image. Says CEO Phil Grucci, “Working with the artists of CAFA has been an incredible experience – we can guarantee that this show will be wholly unique in design and remarkable in display. Chinese New Year celebrates a wealth of exquisite customs, traditions, and values, and we are delighted to present this to New York City through the art of pyrotechnics.”

Launching from multiple barges on the Hudson, the state-of-art fireworks program will be electronically fired from a computer generated script, offering unparalleled precision in choreography. The groundbreaking firework designs will be complemented by a live simulcast of music by Tan Dun to tell a New Year’s story of celebration and conservation.

For those who cannot make it down to the pier can listen to the music in real time on the Fireworks by Grucci App. Simply download the “Fireworks by Grucci” app for iPhone from the app store or Android from Google Play to listen in from any location.

What: “The Voice of Fantasy” Hudson River Firework Performance

When: February 06, 2016 8:30 pm

Where: Hudson River; west of 44th Street, New York

Fun Facts

Fireworks show Producer: Phil Grucci

Chief Pyrotechnician: Ian Mackenzie

Number of days to install: 3

Show choreography: A collaboration of CAFA with Fireworks by Grucci of New York and Intently Fireworks of China

Number of Pyrotechnicians: 24

Number of man hours to set up: 864

Featured Fireworks: A variety of Chinese produced fireworks & special effects

Music

Original Music by: Tan Dun

“The entire fireworks display will be choreographed to original music by Chinese contemporary classical composer and conductor Tan Dun”

About Fireworks by Grucci: Holders of the Guinness World Record for the “Largest Fireworks Display” ever recorded, Fireworks by Grucci is a sixth-generation, family-owned and operated company. Known as “America’s First Family of Fireworks,” the Gruccis have transformed the night skies to the delight of millions across the globe since 1850. They are world-renowned for pyrotechnic artistry, scientific innovation and old-fashioned values. Their signature performances include the recent official celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the National Anthem “Star Spangled Spectacular,” in Baltimore, countless performances in and around Las Vegas, NV., seven consecutive U.S. Presidential Inaugurations; the Olympic Games in Beijing, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Lake Placid; commemorations such as the Centennial of the Statue of Liberty and star-studded extravaganzas including the grand opening of the Atlantis Dubai and the Palm Jumeirah Island in the United Arab Emirates. On New Year’s Eve 2013, a stunning performance displaying 479,651 fireworks made its debut above Dubai’s iconic skyline. The Gruccis achieved their “Largest Fireworks Display” title with this performance and smashed the Guinness Book of World Record’s preceding mark. Phil Grucci currently serves as President/CEO of Fireworks by Grucci, Inc. and Pyrotechnique by Grucci, Inc., the manufacturing entity of the Grucci group of companies.

About the China Central Academy of Fine Arts

The Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), located in Beijing, the capital of China, is an academy where culture, history and art are flourishing, As a leading institution for modern art education in China, CAFA provides a rich environment for those who wish to learn, experience and engage in creativities. Founded in 1950, CAFA, which is the only art academy of higher learning directly under the Ministry of Education, has nurtured many preeminent artists over the years including Pan Gongkai, Su Xinping, Jiang Jie, Duan Haikang, Wu Hung, Xu Bing, Hou Hanru, Fang Lijun and Fei Dawei, among others. Under CAFA, there are eight schools: School of Fine Art, School of Chines Painting, School of Design, School of Architecture, School of Humanities, School of Experimental Arts, School of Urban Design, and the newly opened Institute of Arts Administration and Education. For more information about CAFA, please visit www.cafa.edu.cn.