The circus is coming! (Well, the posters anyway)

Big Zinky Gallery, located in the Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave., will host the largest circus poster show the west coast has ever seen. Curated by Mac Productions and Sally Key (who is weeks away from earning a bachelor’s degree in art from Cal State Long Beach), and covering a period from 1895 through the early 1970s, the show features posters from Barnum & Bailey, Cole Brothers, Ringling Bros., A.G. Kelly, Clyde Beatty, Hanneford, Pollack Bros. and Lewis Bros. as well as many featured individual artists from the Golden & Silver Ages of circus history.
Filled with vivid colors and iconic images, many of the posters still have the city and date tags attached.
Lithographic and silk-screening mediums are included with many from publishing companies across the United States, including Erie Litho, Enquirer Printing, Globe Poster and Neal Walters to name a few. Advance circus posters large and small were put up days ahead of actual arrival dates to create interest and excitement and are truly a piece of Americana.

“There really is something for everyone in this very unusual, unique circus poster show… young and old, a varied price range, this is one of the more interesting shows that I have curated,” Key said.
Opening night will be Saturday, Dec. 8 from 7pm to 11pm and is open to the general public. The exhibit will be available for viewing until Saturday, Dec. 22. For more information, visit bigzinky.com or call (310) 895-9945.