Little City Artists Display Award-Winning Talents at National and International Gallery Exhibitions

Various artistic genres to debut in Little City exhibitions include three new videos that headline “The Big Communication Talk” show at the Elmhurst Art Museum; Other exhibits occurring in Northbrook, Northwestern University and Baltimore

PALATINE, IL, Nov. 5, 2009 – Taking part in current and upcoming esteemed exhibits, artists of Little City Foundation will spotlight several of their masterpieces both locally and nationally, illustrating their remarkable talents in outsider art and various other artistic genres.

The latest exhibition of Little City artwork opened Oct. 25 at the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild Gallery in the Elmhurst Art Museum. The official opening of the exhibit, called “The Big Communication Talk,” takes place this Friday, Nov. 6, from 7-9 p.m.

The Elmhurst exhibit runs through Dec. 4 and features various pieces by eight Little City artists, from paintings to sculptures to a video display that will debut three new videos written and produced by Little City residents. The art pieces displayed in The Big Communication Talk provides insight into how some of the Little City artists use art to communicate, and what they choose to communicate about.

The videos include the animated science fiction adventure Harvest of Doomand the live action The Land of Milk and Money,both of which use an allegorical approach to address some of the artists’ environmental and social concerns. Also making its public debut is Luke Tauber's A Symphony About a River, which combines autobiographical nuggets with music and facts from the life of Robert Schumann in a wryly humorous way.

Other featured Little City artists at other exhibitions include:

John King, whose “Rosa and Martin” piece on Martin Luther King Jr. is currently on display at the international “Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness” exhibit at the prominent American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. Drawing 2,000 people to its opening on Oct. 3, the exhibit runs through Sept. 5, 2010.
Amanda Kallas, whose painting “Home II” was selected for a national juried exhibit at the Northbrook Public Library. Entitled “What’s the Big Idea,” the exhibit will run from Nov. 6 through Dec. 3.
Luke Tauber, who will be featured in an individual exhibition at Northwestern University’s Dittmar Memorial Gallery in January. The exhibit will display Tauber’s view of the lives of several past composers, including Beethoven, Bach, Mozart and Schubert. Paintings, ink drawings, cardboard sculptures and a video created and produced by Tauber, entitled “A Symphony About A River,” all comprise his art work in the solo exhibit.

“These are all prestigious shows and selection for these various exhibits serves as a testament to the inspiring abilities and talents of our artists,” said Frank Tumino, Studio Arts Manager at Little City, who also has a piece featured in the Northbrook exhibit. “Our art is world class, and we are thrilled to have our artists showcased on their own merit among the work of artists without disabilities.”

For more information on Little City’s Center for the Arts program, you can visit www.littlecityarts.org.

For complete information on Little City, celebrating its 50th year of service to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or to donate, visit: www.littlecity.org.

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About Little City Center for the Arts

The programs offered at Little City's Center for the Arts are innovative and groundbreaking, driven by the creativity, ingenuity and talent of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Widely recognized among the elite in the Outsider Art genre, artwork created in the Little City Center for the Arts, is funded in part by The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, Schneider Electric/Square D Foundation, the Gerber Endowment Fund and United Parcel Service. For more information please call (847) 221-7761 or visit http://www.littlecityarts.org.

About Little City Foundation

For nearly 50 years, Little City Foundation has developed innovative and personalized programs to fully assist and empower children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Little City offers a variety of residential options for children and adults, as well as vocational and employment opportunities. Programs and services include a special needs foster care and adoption program; in-home support to families raising a child with developmental disabilities; a full complement of recreational activities, including Special Olympics competition; a Resale Shop that provides employment for people with disabilities; and an award-winning Center for the Arts program that features visual, performance, media and fabric arts. The organization has a 56-acre campus in Palatine and offices in Chicago. Visit www.littlecity.org.