If you are an art and/or collectibles aficionado you should circle Saturday, August 17, 2002 on your calendar, because Annie Lee, the brilliant creator of Sass ‘n Class figurines, will be at Shirley Ann’s Black Arts & Kollectibles Showroom, 6130 Wheatley from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. As in all art one must see to appreciate, Sass ‘n Class is guaranteed to not only excite everyone’s imagination, but also reawaken pleasant memories from African-Americans’ childhood.

Shirley Ann’s Black Arts & Kollectibles Showroom, is inviting the public to its newly renovated and greatly enlarged facility, but be well-advised that regular clientele, already enamored with Sass ‘n Class collectibles, can’t wait to meet Annie Lee up close and personal. So, although the new showroom is over 5,000 sq. feet, they are likely to fill most of the space.

The ultra-modern and unique innovations incorporated into the showroom’s original design is nothing short of magnificent to behold. Annie Lee is just as likely to be impressed with the facility as guests are expected to be with the great artist. And great is the only way to describe Annie Lee’s artistic ability that is immediately recognizable because of her featureless figurines, designed to titillate one’s imagination. The unique concept alone assures one that the Sass ‘n Class signing is going to a memorable experience.

Annie Lee won her first competition when she began painting at the ripe old age of ten. Her accomplishments continued, culminating an offer of a four-year scholarship at Northwestern University. Though she declined the scholarship, Annie Lee did return to the study of art at Mundelein College. This was after producing two wonderful children, enduring the grief of being widowed twice and having celebrated 40 birthdays.

She also studied at the American Academy of Art and earned her Masters of Education degree from Loyola University. Her art reflects her remarkable ability to observe and draw life as she sees it, combining the elements of humor, satire and realism and to relay those observations to her viewers.  Her trademarks are the animated emotion of the personalities in the artwork and the faces, which are painted without features! As a result, her work has been internationally acclaimed and warmly received by art lovers everywhere. In 1997, Annie Lee signed Sandy USA to be the exclusive licensee of Sass ‘n Class by Annie Lee. The collection of resin figurines re-created from her canvas paintings, has been an outstanding success.

Each figurine has captured the essence of her artwork depicting life and events, which are all part of the human experience.  But you really have to so see her work to believe it. For more information, call 713/692-1195.