Holiday Cards 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Brandon Hayes/Jenna Lo Castro
312.944.2418 ext. 236
bhayes@marwen.org
(Media inquiries only)

MARWEN ANNOUNCES 2009 HOLIDAY CARD LINE
DESIGNED BY TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

***Young Artists Exemplify a Fresh, Local, and Seasonal Perspective Through Art***

(Chicago, IL - October 9, 2009) Marwen announces its annual Holiday Card Line for the 2009 winter season. Every fall, Marwen chooses a select number of inventive high school students to design and create holiday cards showcasing Chicago scenes and festive imagery. All proceeds benefit Marwen's mission to educate and inspire Chicago's under-served youth through the visual arts.

Now in its fourteenth year, Marwen's Holiday Card Program is both an opportunity for the public to support Marwen and a critical part of the curriculum in Marwen's College and Career program. The students selected to design cards are among the most skilled of all Marwen students. Under the guidance of a teaching artist, the students take part in the entire design and production process-from preliminary sketches to finished oil paintings to color corrections in the proofs. The students, who are compensated for their work, gain valuable professional insight working within specific parameters for a client.

"While we usually prioritize students experienced in painting, this year's Holiday Card Program involved students from a variety of artistic backgrounds-we worked with painters, designers, illustrators, fashion designers, and photographers," said Manager of College and Career Programs Sarah Atlas. "It posed an interesting challenge. As the teaching artists and students worked to problem-solve designing images for a cohesive holiday card line with various skill sets, it was inspiring to see this group of students work together. Each student utilized his or her knowledge of various art practices to support one another in conceptual brainstorming, rendering mock-ups, composition, color theory, and painting technique. This program and these extraordinary students, truly exemplify the success a group of young artists can have and the quality of work that can be created on such a professional level."

"This year's Holiday Card collection once again exemplifies Marwen's dedication to honing the skills of its young students," said Anne Cox, Marwen Trustee and founder of Chicago Creative Partnership. "The cards boast the range of imagination and creativity of some of our most accomplished student artists-and they provide the public with a variety of options for the holiday season. There is no better time of year to support Marwen and give the gift of opportunity to Chicago's under-served students."

Marwen Holiday Cards are available for purchase at Marwen's River North location at 833 North Orleans Street. They are also available at retail shops around greater Chicago, and online at Marwen.org.

About Marwen

Founded in 1987, Marwen is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the development of Chicago's under-served youth in grades 6-12 through free visual arts, college planning, and career preparation programs. In a typical year, students from 54 of the city's 57 zip codes and from more than 220 schools travel to Marwen, where they work under the guidance of professional teaching artists to build high-level technical, creative, and communication skills. Marwen offers a regular roster of college preparation courses and workshops, an intensive pre-college summer program, study trips to college campuses across the country, and unlimited individualized counseling sessions. Other opportunities for Marwen students include art-based career planning courses and workshops, paid employment opportunities, an internship program that provides on-the-job training, and an annual career day during which students meet professionals from a broad spectrum of fields, including architecture, graphic design, arts education, and filmmaking. Marwen is located at 833 North Orleans Street, Chicago, Illinois 60610. The phone number for general inquiries is 312.944.2418. Marwen is on the Internet at www.marwen.org.

- 30 -