Thursday February 17, 2011
6 pm to 9 pm

at the

Irish American Heritage Center

4626 N. Knox Ave
Chicago, IL 60630

Sponsored in part by
	Irish American Heritage Center
	Two Brothers Brewing Co.
	Red Rabbit Catering
	Abbott Party Rental

The Arts of Life Awards Show 2011 is taking place on Thursday, February 17th from 6-9pm at the Irish American Heritage Center. The studio will be closed that Thursday 2/17, Friday 2/18 and Monday 2/21(Presidents Day).

The Awards Show is an wonderful opportunity to celebrate each of our artists. Each artist receives an award for their accomplishments in 2010.  This year we’re offering families and community partners some fun and helpful ways they can show support for individual artists and/or the studio.

Sponsor An Easel – $100

This will help the studio purchase a new display easel with a permanent customized plaque bearing your choice of message (anything from Way to Go Matt! to Sponsored by Drake Interiors).

Buy a page in our program. $150 and up

You can highlight your business, send an artist a message, send The Arts of Life a message, use your own logo… We can do anything that would work for you.

- 1/2 page in the program is $150 and a full page is $275.

Please let us know if either of these sponsorship opportunities appeal to you or if you have any questions. And keep an eye out for the official Awards Show invite, coming soon! – contact info@artsoflife.org or 312.829.2787

VSA Celebrates President Kennedy’s Legacy of Supporting Civil Rights for People with Disabilities

Large-scale art installations by artists with disabilities featured in the Kennedy Center Hall of States

Washington, DC (Vocus/PRWEB) January 19, 2011

VSA, the international organization on arts and disability and an affiliate of the Kennedy Center, honors President Kennedy’s commitment to disability rights as part of The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration―a three week-long series of performances and events featuring music, theater, dance, exhibitions, and poetry―by presenting three large-scale visual arts installations by artists with disabilities Jan. 12–Feb. 13, 2011, in the Kennedy Center Hall of States.

In 1963, President Kennedy signed the first major legislation addressing mental illness and intellectual disabilities. As a result of this landmark legislation, people with disabilities are recognized as having the right to live with dignity and to be contributing members of society. VSA, founded by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, commissioned three large-scale visual arts installations by art studios inclusive of artists with mental illness and intellectual disabilities as part of the Kennedy Center’s celebration:

• Art Enables’ artists created Diverse Design, a larger-than-life installation that includes decorated benches, birdhouses, pottery, and paintings, as well as a backdrop by Charles Meissner that pays homage to the studio’s home city of Washington, D.C.
• From New York City the Fountain Gallery brings a three-part sculptural installation, Finding the Way to Balance, which addresses the extremes of bipolar disorder, conceptualized by lead artist Bernie Stote.
• The Arts of Life of Chicago presents an installation featuring human-scale handmade puppets and a parade of ten-foot tall paintings, inspired by the artists’ chosen theme, “Sticky Situations.”

“The civil rights legislation signed by President Kennedy set the stage for artists with disabilities to participate fully in today’s art world,” commented Jennifer Wexler, VSA director of visual arts. “The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration is an exciting and inclusive event for anyone who cares deeply about the roles of the arts and artists in this nation.”

About VSA

VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all. With 52 international affiliates and a network of nationwide affiliates, VSA is changing perceptions about people with disabilities around the world. Each year, 7 million people of all ages and abilities participate in VSA programs, which cover all artistic genres. VSA is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, visit http://www.vsarts.org.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/1/prweb8065903.htm