Beatles artist Shannon to unveil lead guitar for GuitarManiaŽ II, Encore in 2004, at ArtMetro Gallery, 530 Euclid Ave., on May 22

(Cleveland, Ohio) May 10, 2004
Shannon, the world's greatest Beatles artist, will highlight the exhibit of her art at ArtMetro Gallery, 530 Euclid Avenue, with the unveiling on May 22 of Shannon Strat II /Free as a Bird, the lead guitar of GuitarManiaŽ II, Encore in 2004. The 10-foot-tall fiberglass model of a Fender StratocasterŽ guitar, painted in the style that has established Shannon's international reputation as a celebrity artist, will be unveiled by Jacqueline Stallone, Sylvester's mom and Shannon's close friend, at a reception at the gallery, located in the ARTcade in the Colonial Marketplace.

One lucky person, to be selected by a contest drawing, will assist Ms. Stallone in the actual unveiling. The drawing winner also will enjoy a luxurious overnight stay at the Sheraton Cleveland City Centre, transportation in a limousine to the VIP reception and back to the hotel for a second VIP reception. To enter the contest, log on to www.cleveland.com/guitarmania and click on the link. The contest will be promoted on Clear Channel Radio's WTAM 1100, and the drawing will be aired on WTAM's Wills and Coleman Show on May 19.

Shannon - Up Close and Paintable exhibit at ArtMetro Gallery May 21 to June 5
Shannon's exhibit, Shannon - Up Close and Paintable, will be at ArtMetro Gallery from May 21 until June 5. A portion of the proceeds from sales will go to United Way Services of Greater Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's education fund.

Shannon at ArtMetro
The public is invited to a free preview reception and introduction to Shannon's work at the gallery from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday, May 21. Tickets for the VIP reception on May 22 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. are available for $40 per person or $75 for two from Joan Perch, of ArtMetro Gallery at (216) 696-1942 or artmetrogallery@yahoo.com.

Shannon
A Jersey girl, Shannon is a self-taught artist, who studied the masters on her own. She specializes in a wide-range of subjects, including celebrities and especially the Beatles. Her unique style of art often is indistinguishable from photographs, and her vivid, detailed work is characterized by grace, dignity, strength and intensity. Among her subjects are such celebrities as the Beatles, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Sylvester Stallone as Rocky and KISS and other topics such as the animal kingdom and sports heroes. Her five-part postage stamp series on Rocky was followed by postage stamps featuring James Dean, Jackie Kennedy, Muhammad Ali, Elvis, Princess Diana, JFK, Jr. and others. Shannon was commissioned to create more than 120 murals for the Beatles Hotel called Hard Days Night Hotel. The hotel will be in England, where Shannon was named "The World's Greatest Beatles Artist."

In addition to receiving many awards for fine art and illustration, Shannon has had her work featured on Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, The David Letterman Show, The Drew Carey Show, Oprah and others. To view Shannon's work, log on to www.TheShannonGallery.com.

GuitarManiaŽ II, Encore in 2004 Shannon and her work are appearing at the ArtMetro Gallery in conjunction with the launch of GuitarManiaŽ II, Encore in 2004, the public art project sponsored by United Way Services in conjunction with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The project consists of nearly 90 10-foot-tall guitars, sculpted, painted or otherwise

Shannon at ArtMetro Gallery decorated by a band of 16 celebrities and approximately 70 local artists. The guitars will be on display at Key Plaza, in front of the Rock Hall, from May 28 until June 1 when they will be moved to locations throughout Greater Cleveland.

The guitars will return to the Rock Hall Labor Day weekend and will be auctioned off on November 6. Proceeds benefit United Way Services and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's education fund. For complete information on GuitarManiaŽ II, log on to www.cleveland.com/guitarmania. Shannon will be creating the design for her second contribution to GuitarManiaŽ II, Encore in 2004, during the week of May 23 through 28 at GuitarMania Lane in Tower City Center in downtown Cleveland.