City Hearts Fresh Focus Photo Auction to Feature Rare Beatles Shots by Jim Marshall

Kids Say Yes to the Arts, the non-profit that has been reaching out to at-risk children for almost 30 years is pleased to announce that Jim Marshall’s estate has donated five images of The Beatles to this year’s Fresh Focus: The Story Behind the Shot fundraiser. These never-before-seen limited edition shots of the group will be the highlight of this year’s photo auction fundraiser which will begin online and culminate in an in-person event to be held at The Old Stagecoach Ranch in Topanga, CA on Sunday October 19th.
“Jim Marshall always supported young photographers by taking an interest in their work, offering advice to improve and support the creative process,” says Amelia Davis, Marshall’s former assistant and curator of his estate. “City Hearts encourages youth through the arts, something Jim would have been fully behind.” Marshall, it has been said, believed his passion for the camera and what it can record saved him from his other – possibly more destructive passions – cars and guns.
When Marshall shot these images, he didn’t know that this concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on August 29th 1966 was to be their last as a group. After the shoot, Marshall remarked that “they didn’t know this was their last time giving a live concert….they were just having fun!” The concert was a sellout, despite the 50-degree weather. The crowd was so loud that the group couldn’t hear themselves play. The reason for the end, he believed, was that they were just tired of touring. Included in the package, individual candid shots of The Beatles backstage as well as a group shot during the concert. Marshall was the only photographer at Candlestick Park that day.
Marshall is said to be the most prolific photographer of the 20th Century and is widely known for his music photography. He’s captured the diversity through some of the most iconic images in music history. As one of the first photographers to capture all styles of music without regard to race, gender or boundaries, he illustrated what music looked like to the world, at a time when music was transforming history.
“The Beatles were certainly a big part of transforming how the world looked at and listened to music,” says City Hearts founder Sherry Jason. “For the Jim Marshall estate to release these images to us on the Anniversary of the groups descent on the world in time for our Fresh Focus: The Story Behind the Shot event adds something special to this year’s fundraiser. Add to that Marshall’s personal story of his connection to the world of photography and the parallel is amazing.”
After 30 years of working tirelessly to bring the arts to at-risk children, Jason’s enthusiasm for her work is as fresh as the day, as a new lawyer, she heard a 13-year-old piano prodigy play Mozart by ear. The 13-year-old boy had been convicted of murder. It was then that she and her husband Bob formulated the desire to reach at-risk children – before the damage was done. Today, City Hearts: Kids Say Yes to the Arts continues to provide free classes in Photography, Shakespeare, Dance and Music to Skid Row, Inner City and at-greatest-risk children.

Preview a sample of the Exhibit: http://fresh-focus-2014.squarespace.com/index

Tickets: https://freshfocus2014.eventbrite.com
CITY HEARTS: For over 29 years, www.cityhearts.org programs have been that very special place for children to grow, experience the Arts, and learn skills that help motivate and enhance school involvement, community engagement, and a sense of caring and compassion for their local and the global communities while encouraging and inspiring children to reach their full potential. Founded in 1984 by Juvenile Court Public Defenders, Bob and Sherry Jason, City Hearts has provided unique training and experiences in the Arts to over 30,000 children since our inception. We believe that intervention and prevention are key elements to nurturing our children to become creative, compassionate and responsible young adults.

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