Mille Grazie Tutti!

Here we are pictured at Italian Style 2009 with the beautiful Roasnna Capriati, Miss Italia Nord America, who stopped by our gallery. We are so proud to tell you that we raised almost $900.00 from the sales of our photographs. This money will be donated to help reconstruct the beautiful Teatro Comunale in L'Aquila which was severely destroyed in the devastating earthquake which took place on April 6, 2009. Mille grazie to all of you who helped raise funds for this worthy cause by purchasing from us at the expo. We're so grateful to you all. Please keep in mind that beside the irreplaceable art treasures lost, there are 65,000 inhabitants of L'Aquilia and the surrounding area that are still homeless from this tragedy. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

We're getting ready for our next two weekends of shows. You'll find us this weekend, July 31, August 1 and 2, at the Gold Coast Art Fair in Chicago. Our booth, #446, is located on the corner of Huron at Wells Street.

Next weekend, August 8 and 9, is Art at The Glen in Glenview and our booth is #152. The art show takes place along Tower Drive in The Glen shopping center. Our booth is located on the east side of Tower Drive south of the movie theater.

We've added a new 16" x 20" size to our gallery wrapped photographs on canvas. These are a wonderful size, large enough to enjoy from a distance but small enough to fit any tiny space. I hope you have an opportunity to come to one or both of these fine art shows. See you at the Fair!

Mag Mile Art Show Update

Sonia Grineva, an artist friend of ours from New York, just happened to be in town yesterday, and stopped by our booth at the Magnificant Mile Art Show. We met Sonia in Ravello, Italy on the Amalfi coast, two years ago. We were introduced to each other by the small hotel's owner. We had no idea she was going to be in town yesterday, so it was a great surprise that really made our day!

In the Studio on another 4th of July Weekend!

Here we are working in the studio over another 4th of July. No time to participate in all the activities surrounding this holiday weekend when we have two big art shows over the next two weekends. Our Chicago weather has been more like late September this past week. Unfortunately, for those celebrating the holiday with parades and picnics, it rained this afternoon. Luckily, it looks like the evening will be rain free for fireworks!

July 10, 11 and 12 we return to the Magnificent Mile Art Festival on Michigan Ave just north of the Chicago River. It's a beautiful location for a 3-day art show. Last year we arrived in France on the 4th of July and missed the Mag Mile show while we were singing and photographing Provence.

The following weekend, July 17, 18 and 19, we have been asked to participate in Italian Style 2009 on Chicago's Navy Pier, Festival Hall A. Italian Style is the largest "Made in Italy" expo in America showcasing all things Italian: Food & Wine, Design, Tourism and Fashion.

Craig and I were honored to be asked to participate in the L'Arte per L'Arte: Project Abruzzo section of the expo. We will be joined by painters and photographers from all over Italy who will be displaying and selling their collections with us. We, the artists, are donating a portion of the proceeds from our sales at the expo to support the reconstruction of one of the many historical sites that were destroyed in the April 6th earthquake which took place in and surrounding the city of L'Aquila [see my Blog 6/6/09]. We are honored to be given the opportunity to "give back" to this great country and to help restore the beautiful province of L'Aquila. Won't you please help us in this worthy cause.

For more information, please go to: http://www.italianexpo.us/