Thursday, go to a cool art party under the stars while helping to save an endangered medium — the art book.

“The Pink Iguana” has arrived!

The journal, Input, a not-for-profit platform for artists, releases its next issue Thursday. Input pokes a finger in the eye of the listless art publishing sector, inspiring curators, poets, artists and writers alike.

Art adviser, Renée Vara heads the Input journal initiative and serves as the executive editor. John Breiner, a nAscent artist, contributed as the guest artistic director for this issue and also directed the music. Find John’s artwork on the journal’s cover (above) and throughout the edition.

Art publishing struggles to survive in an environment of new and digital media. The “artist” or “art” book faces challenges as their “ecosystem” the book store dwindles and fades.

A team of biologists lead by Gabriele Gentile recently discovered the pink iguana, a species previously thought to exist only in Galapagos Island folklore; and it serves as a metaphor for the art book.

biologist Gabriele Gentile holding pink iguana

The twelve artists involved with the journal were asked to consider the pink iguana as they approached the evolving and adapting medium, the art book.

Input produced a limited edition of 100 of “The Pink Iguana”.

Here is a sneak peek:

This Thursday you can join in the fun! Share this article with friends and party under the stars with all of them!

-Jen Wallace

THIS THURSDAY – August 4th 2011, 8:00-10:00p
The Big Screen Plaza @ the Eventi Hotel
855 6th Avenue Plaza between 29th and 30th Streets