NEW YORK, NY (May 25th, 2013) –When most of us hear the mention of the word “zombie”, it brings up images from George Romero’s “NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD” movies, the AMC television series, “THE WALKING DEAD”, and both Max Brooks’, “Zombie Survival Guide” and “World War Z”. Contemporary society has become obsessed with this dead, cannibalistic phenomenon. Yet the earliest appearances of zombies date back to African and Caribbean religious mythologies. Some argue even earlier manifestations can be found in the “Epic of Gilgamesh” and “New Testament Book of Daniel”. It wasn’t until the early 20th century, that zombies first made their debut in American popular culture. From then onward, the horror paradigm evolved from bewitched, voodooed creatures, to the decaying undead with a taste for human flesh.

In the past few years, the images of the walking dead have appeared in numerous ad campaigns, countless video games, and organized “zombie walks” across the USA. It seems everywhere we look, people have “zombie” on the brain. With this art show, we asked 50 artists to interpret the word “zombie”. What is it about living dead that intrigues us? Is it the idea that they were once like us? Are the masses really consumer “zombies” programmed to receive and carry out the demands of commerce, by going out and shopping for the latest things they’ve been convinced that they need? Or is the zombie sensation just another popular culture craze? Get your zombie on with us this summer.

Artists include: Stefano Alcantara, mia araujo, William Basso, Michael Canavan, John Cebollero, Peter Chan, Bobby Chiu, David Chung, Steven J Daily, Matt Dangler, Brendan Danielsson, Kato Destefan, Dave DeVries, Dienzo, Bob Dob, zoetica ebb,Bob Eggleton, Steve Ellis, Katelan Foisy, alex garant,Mark Garro, Eliza Gauger, Lisa Gloria, Gothic Hangman, Stan Grograou, Fred Harper, Kelley Hensing, Stephen Hickman, Joshua Hoffine, Martin Hsu, Sarah Joncas, J Anthony Kosar, Aimee Kuester, Edith Lebeau, Steven “Kid” Lew, Robert Mackenzie, Angie Mason, Vince Natale, Vincent Di Nguyen, Kathie Olivas, Brandt peters, Lou Pimentel, Stephen Price, Carlos Ramos, Brandi Read,
Chris Seaman, Allison Sommers, Tatiana Suarez, L’amour Supreme, Mark Texeira, eric wilkerson, David C Wong, Jasmine Worth, Jane Ann Wynn, Chet Zar, Zombienose
*Artists are subject to change

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An opening reception will be held on Saturday, May 25th from 7pm – 11pm. Last Rites Gallery is located at 511 West 33rd Street, 3rd floor, between 10th and 11th avenues, New York. For more information, please contact: Erica Berkowitz, (212) 560-0666, erica@lastritesgallery.com