Astoria Artist's Work Featured In Beatles Book
Local Astoria artist Rik Sansone's illustration "Pepper" is featured in the new compilation Beatles Art:

Artist Rik Sansone's work figures prominently in Beatles Art: Fantastic New Artwork of the Fab Four, published by Boxigami Books.

Fantastic New Artwork of the Fab

Four, published by Boxigami Books. Beatles Art showcases works from artists and illustrators around the world. Sansone's "Pepper" is a pen and ink illustration that depicts the Beatles at their psychedelic, colorful peak, and the work is among a select group that has been chosen to be a foldout, glossy reproduction in the book.

To celebrate, there will be a Beatlesthemed gathering on Thursday October 5 from 8 to 10 p.m. at Waltz-Astoria, 23-14 Ditmars Blvd. The evening will feature Beatles movies and music. Poster-sized reproductions of "Pepper" will be available for purchase. Admission is free and open to the public. Posters of "Pepper", updates and more of Sansone's work can be seen at http://www.riksgraphiks.com.

In November, Sansone will be featured on Joe Johnson's syndicated radio show "Beatle Brunch", which reaches morethan 1.2 million listeners. Beatle Brunch can be heard locally on WBZO 103.1 FM (Long Island), WLGZ 990AM (Rochester) and WCLX 102.9 FM (Westport).

Interest in The Beatles after 40 years is stronger than ever, with the release of "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" and the smash success of Cirque du Soleil's "The Beatles: Love" and its highly anticipated soundtrack album, featuring all-new mashups of Beatles songs. John Lennon would have been 66 years old on October 9 and his son, Sean, is slated to release his second album this fall. Paul McCartney will release "The Space Within Us", a live concert video, in October.

Originally from Massachusetts, Sansone received his bachelor of arts degree from Framingham State College, where he also illustrated a weekly comic entitled "Route Nine High". He is also a professional actor who has appeared on Off-Broadway, Off- Off-Broadway and in regional productions, including Summer 69: The Musical Happening and Eric Bogosian's SubUrbia (American regional premiere). Sansone's many art and design clients include the USQ Wine Group, Health Care Anywhere, Planet Records, Coup de Grace music, DJ Rob Swift and the Imaginary All-True Leni Riefenstahl Show.

Beatles Art: Fantastic New Artwork of the Fab Four is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com, or at http://www.riksgraphiks. com.

BQUACK (http://www.bquack.com) launched in Astoria in March 2006 with a lively gathering of musicians, painters, actors, directors, sculptors, playwrights, photographers and comedians at Waltz- Astoria. BQUACK was founded by five Queens residents with careers in the arts with the goal of uniting the tremendous variety of creative people in Queens.

Waltz-Astoria is located at 23-14 Ditmars Blvd. between 23rd and 24th Streets in Astoria. Take the N or W train to Ditmars Boulevard and walk six blocks west towards Astoria Park.

In November, Sansone will be featured on Joe Johnson's syndicated radio show "Beatle Brunch", which reaches more than 1.2 million listeners. Beatle Brunch can be heard locally on WBZO 103.1 FM (Long Island), WLGZ 990AM (Rochester) and WCLX 102.9 FM (Westport).