An essayist on his website describes artist Tony Fitzpatrick wonderfully when he says, “His life as an artist and the addictive inquisitiveness that fuels it have taken him all over the world.” But Tony is distinctly one of Chicago's own. His roots and heart are anchored in the south side, though his fame, especially for his works entitled “Bum Town,” stretch internationally.

Tony's collections have appeared at The Art Institute, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami, The National Museum of American Art in Washington D.C., and now they can appear at your home or a home near you. Through the initiative of Foundation member, Martin Venit, Ross Deutsch and Tony Fitzpatrick met. As a result of this meeting, an inspired project has been born that can turn a contribution to the Foundation into fine art.

This very talented artist will be creating and donating an etching about childhood to The Rory David Deutsch Foundation. As Tony puts it, “Limited edition prints will be sold to help fund pediatric brain tumor research.”

Tony will begin creating his etching after the first of the year. “When we finish the plate,” he explains, “we'll pull an edition and print only 40 or 50 etchings, so it will be a small and hopefully valuable edition.”

Fitzpatrick has long expressed an interest in linking children and art. His creation called, “Max & Gaby's Alphabet” was a project that he did with his own children. “I wanted to make a body of work that was about them,” he says. Tony also runs a children's charity called Children's Art Initiative, which helps buy art supplies for public school teachers. “Art supplies are first things to get cut when there's a budget problem,” he states.

Now, his work with kids and the Foundation's work on behalf of kids are combining in a wonderful artful and heart-full fundraising endeavor.

For more information about Tony Fitzpatrick, please contact Big Cat Press at 773-342-5381 or visit his website at www.tonyfitzpatrick.com.

Tony kids around in his superb works to link children and art.
F is for fish and fabulous!