Wings in the City ~ 504Fly by Rob Corley ~ Sponsored by Cooper Bussmann

	Art Takes Flight Auction Gala Presented by Anheuser-Busch and Centene Time: Saturday, May 21- 6:00 pm Location: Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch 315 Chestnut St Saint Louis, MO 63102 Buy Tickets: www.bjchospice.org/Art.aspx See all of the butterflies...Bid on a select few. Ladies wear your best cocktail attire and gentlemen shine your shoes for an amazing night of entertainment, auction bidding, a raffle and much more... Contact Alicia Allen at aca2296@bjc.org or 314-273-0862
	504fly Sponsor: Cooper Bussmann Artist: Rob Corley When I lived in New Orleans, I was always fascinated with the vibrant shimmering beads that were so prized during Mardis Gras, but lay discarded when the festivities were over. It seemed to me that there was no reason for the fun to stop, so I started developing my own art with these beads – a perfect reflection of the folk art soul of the New Orleans I loved. For my butterfly, the brilliantly colored beads became my medium. The colors and details began to follow wherever my mind led them. Each day I’d add new colors and styles into the mix, and I was excited to see the design unfold on a large, three-dimensional scale. It was even more rewarding to roll it out at the end of the day to allow it to sparkle in the sun. The name “504fly” is a nod to New Orleans using its area code…504.
	Azalia Sponsor: Clayco Artist: Ann Fink A butterfly can only stay "real" in one’s heart. Our best hope to hold on to any real beauty is to be present with it and let its light merge with our own. This is the essential nature I was trying to capture in my butterfly. I painted her wing tips with greenery so that life's energy might always be present, using color and pattern to reflect the intricacies we all endure and learn from in life. I added roses because they speak so much to the idea of love. I also included little painted magnetic stones to allow interaction and remembrance. My hope is that the visitor might move a stone around "Azalia” as a way to bear witness to their own very human struggle with loss. And finally, there is the faintest coat of glowing reflective paint. I wanted this to symbolize enduring life and the love from the creator that surrounds us all.
	Bits of Imagination Sponsor: Lissa & Craig Hildreth Artist: Nicole Lemkemeier I was inspired by a child's imagination and their remarkable ability turn to their imagination for comfort during times of overwhelming challenges. I enjoyed creating imagery that, though based in reality, was generally fanciful in nature and therefore representative of what a child might actually dream about. I enjoyed the challenge of molding my ceramic work to a three dimensional form. My butterfly was painted with acrylic paint and then covered in thousands of pieces of tempered glass, hand-painted and crafted ceramic tile, and bits of ceramic tile. I finished the project by grouting the entire piece in several different shades of grout.
	Born in the USA Sponsor: AHM Financial Artist: Barbara J. Sharp I designed my butterfly, "Born in the U.S.A.," to display elements of our American heritage that represent the pride and graciousness of freedom. Paintings, glass beads and mosaic pieces create the Statue of Liberty, American flag, an eagle, the four presidents at Mt. Rushmore with skyrocketing fireworks, seals of the Armed Services and more. I hope to remind viewers of the price of freedom, the perpetual danger to it and the determination required to protect it. I got a little emotional the day I completed my butterfly........that day was 9/11/2010!
	Cardinals Experience Sponsor: St. Louis Cardinals Care Artist: Daniel McCarthy This butterfly, “Cardinals Experience,” creates a visual interpretation of a Cardinals game. On the base of the butterfly, four different scenes reflect the experience of going to a game at Busch Stadium. As the viewer walks past the sculpture, the front of the butterfly conveys the excitement of Cardinals baseball. This creation is one of a kind because it has also been signed by players on the 2010 Cardinals major league roster.
	Children Dream Sponsor: Red Card Systems Artist: Barbara J. DiMartini Nature and a child’s imagination have given us some of our most charming and fanciful stories. What could be more exciting than taking flight on a friendly butterfly that protects us with its sharp beak and talons? My little model, Sophia, conveys joy, freedom, confidence and exhilaration with her uplifted hands and enchanting face. As “Children Dream” unfolded, I felt as if this little figure was speaking to those of us left behind: “Do not worry. I am happy. I am fine.”
	Buried Treasure Sponsor: Jennifer & Jim Koman Artist: Diane Katzman As a jewelry and accessory designer, most of my artwork can rest in my hands. “Buried Treasure” is my first larger-than-life creation and enabled me to “spread my wings.” My companion poem, written at the base in glass letters to resemble caterpillars, extols the virtues of letting go and looking within to find buried treasure. You are encouraged to search for objects that begin with each letter of the alphabet. My own creative angel, artist Sara Linquist, collected many of the jewels I used for this project. Sarah passed away when I first began adhering her treasures to the butterfly. Completing this piece helped me deal with the loss of my dear friend. I’ve included a sterling silver communion pin from the 1800s, a Limoges flower pendant, my favorite Cardinals souvenir pin, St. Louis charms and my winning jack from summer camp that I tucked away in 1969. My hope is that each time you look at my butterfly you will find a new buried treasure that will make you smile.
	Houska Doodle Wings Sponsor: BJC Home HealthCare Artist: Charles Houska I have done a lot of work in the past for St. Louis Children’s Hospital and nothing to me is more amazing than to see the bright smiles of children around art. I decided to fill every possible space on the butterfly with a collage of my characters painted in bright happy colors. My hope is to bring instant attention, fun and happy thoughts, if even briefly, to an uncertain world.
	Paradise Playmates Sponsor: Joan & Bill Koman Artist: Ruth Ann H. Holt As a child, I often fantasized about being able to fly – jumping off things with umbrella in hand. With this in mind I sculpted the child upon the butterfly. This is my artistic expression to represent children with progressive or life threatening illnesses flying away, free from sickness, smiling again, and enjoying their childhood.
	Le Preppy Papillon de Thatchers’ Sponsor: Husch Blackwell Artist: Becky Smith “Le Preppy Papillon” was a collaboration of love and generosity. Washington University students of all disciplines came together throughout the dreaming, drawing, painting, embellishing and naming stages. Our inspirations were drawn from the lovely designs of Leigh Martin Hooten, original artist for Lilly Pulitzer and Thatchers' Fine Timeless Fabrics. We thank everyone who helped with “Papillon”! Thanks to Leigh Martin Hooten, Dean Buzz Spector, Lindsey Stouffer, Gene Malson, Becky Dale, Victor Thomas, Julia Wu, Miriam Keller, Alex Heil-Chapdelaine, Naronk Hompluem, Lana Hompluem, The Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, and Washington University. Many hearts gave freely for our butterfly to emerge!
	Butterfly of Butterflies Sponsor: Rhodey Construction Artist: Melissa Bales I was inspired to create something beautiful for this great cause. My plan was to incorporate my love of nature photography. I cut out hundreds of butterflies from photos and made a template to try out different designs. After creating several looks, I finally found “the one.” I temporarily attached the photos with masking tape to make sure the design would work with the size and contours of the wings, then permanently attached them. In this way, my “Butterfly of Butterflies” came to life. This was truly a labor of love for the children.
	Puck Sponsor: St. Louis Blues 14 Fund Artist: Sheldon Johnson “Puck” is painted vivid blue and yellow, the colors of St. Louis Blues. The butterfly's black spots were created with autographed hockey pucks from the 2010 Blues team players. The base was transformed from flower petals to the rink at the Scottrade Center to capture the spirit and excitement of the game. The butterfly also acknowledges the Blues 14 Fund, created with the mission to help the health and wellness of youth in the St. Louis area.
	Soaring Sponsor: The St. Louis Rams Artist: Margie Baldwin “Soaring,” came from thinking of how butterflies, through metamorphosis, are reborn. The changes which transform them are difficult, but in the end they soar. The same is true for people as they encounter life. Sometimes there is joy and other times there is great hardship. It is through faith and love that people rise above crisis and in the end soar like the butterfly.
	Tree of Life Sponsor: Brinkmann Constructors Artist: Victoria Whiting Trees have always been some of my favorite things in life and in artwork. I have always enjoyed seeing light filtered through the leaves of a tree during the day and especially at sunsets. I remember the feeling as a child of running home as the sun went down while the trees turned to silhouettes. The transformation of the trees at twilight and the colors of the sky made the experience almost mystical. That feeling inspired the colors of my butterfly. As an adult studying art, I learned the symbolic meaning of the Tree of Life, an important symbol in many cultures. These trees often have images of fruit, flowers and winged creatures and symbolize protection, growth and strength. It seemed natural to fill the butterfly with this Tree of Life, full of offerings, hope and strength.
	ArchAngel Sponsor: Friends of Wings Artist: Robin Young Zarzecki ArchAngel ~ In loving memory of Caleb Zarzecki For my family, Wings was our lifeline as my son Caleb fought cancer and ultimately lost his battle at age 15. Art therapy was a part of our healing. All of the artwork in the bubbles on my angel is beautifully done by children that have been touched by the Wings expressive therapy program and includes my son’s angel. The striking similarity and peace of the smiling angels drawn by each child left an imprint on my heart as I know it will for others as well. The tree symbolizes the cycle of life. The vines and angel wings represent the new peace we all must find after someone we love leaves us too soon. Through friendships, support, and caring programs like Wings, we are able to grow, to be who we are supposed to be, to love those we are supposed to love, and hold our memories and the gift of their lives close to our heart.

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