THE LOOP — Art shows often travel from gallery to gallery, but the latest showcase coming from Bridgeport-based Project Onward will instead move through the Loop at roughly 6 mph.
That's because nine "canvases" with sleeves will be displayed on the torsos of runners participating in Sunday's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, which starts and finishes in Grant Park.
Andres Torres, Project Onward's director of communications, said the goal was to increase visibility for the year-old nonprofit, which supports artists with disabilities in developing their professional careers.
"The first shirt premiered in the marathon last October," he said.
Lizzie Schiffman explains how one nonprofit is promoting its work during an upcoming race:
Expanding the concept for this weekend's half-marathon grew from "the success of that relationship [between Project Onward artist Adam Hines and runner George Melichar], and also from looking at this marriage of art and movement and design, and trying to really take advantage of new venues to highlight the issues that are very near and dear to Project Onward: promoting the idea that people with disabilities can have a professional career in the arts."
A Hines-designed shirt will be included in the race, as will pieces from Project Onward artists Bill Douglas, David Holt, John Behnke, Michael Bryant, Michael Hopkins and Ricky Willis.
Originally created in 2004 as a postgraduate support system for artists that had completed Gallery 37's studio art program, Project Onward became an independent nonprofit last year, moving into a 13,000-square-foot facility in Bridgeport that includes a 1,200-square-foot gallery.
The operation is funded entirely by donations, but Torres says the goal of Sunday's "Moving Art Museum" is just to raise awareness.
"One in six children has some form of a mental disability," Torres said. "Considering the size of the crowd expected to be at Sunday's race, chances are someone who sees that running artwork is someone who would benefit from learning more about us."
The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon kicks off at 6:30 a.m. July 20. To learn more about Project Onward or make a donation, visit their website.
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