Artist David Russo, moved by the work of Children Uniting Nations, a nonprofit that helps at risk and foster youth, painted a five-part, 8-foot by 20-foot mural depicting the maze of challenges that must be accomplished to help these youth.
Russo, who currently has an exhibit at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, the fifth major American museum to have exhibitions of his work, had set up the five-part canvas at the Santa Monica Pier for CUN’s Day of the Child event in November. There, assisted by his daughters, Russo had each of the 1,500 children visiting the pier through CUN dip their hands in paint and place their handprints of a dozen colors on the canvas. Russo then worked for four months painting the mural in the richly symbolized mazes for which he is well known.
The mural will be displayed Sunday evening during the Academy Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel during the 10th annual Oscars screening party hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard Magazine, 95.3 The Beat and CUN, and will be silent auctioned, either in part or as a whole, to benefit CUN.
Noted art curator Gisele Guttman said Russo’s mural is “a powerful tribal work, very moving in its concern for children and in its astounding color vibrancy.” Guttman said she hopes a single buyer will purchase it and donate it as a great centerpiece for Children’s Hospital or some other such structure dedicated to children, but she said it could also be a “dynamic central art statement for one of the great estates in our community.”
CUN is a proactive organization created to bring attention to the plight of at-risk and foster youth. The goal is to reach as many children in out-of-home care by offering role model support, guidance, a sense of community and promoting the importance of an education. Inspired by the annual program “Day of the Child,” CUN wanted mentoring to be more accessible to children living in foster care and therefore created a mentoring program to be administered in every city nationwide.
Daphna Ziman, founder of Children Uniting Nations, is currently in the last phase of securing the creation and construction of sister villages for young girls in China as well as a Foster Children’s Village in Los Angeles. China is acknowledging the need for a permanent service that will provide assistance to abandoned girls.
“This is an historical ‘front page’ event,” Ziman said. “It has taken us five years of working diligently with the Chinese government, ending in a final commitment from the president of China, who has agreed to be the volunteer chair of CUN Asia.”
Sunday’s event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel where Russo’s mural will be auctioned, will feature talents DJ AM, Doug E. Fresh, and Colby O’Donis, Akon, Sirak Baloyan (of Salsa Sensation), Sophie B. Hawkins and The Jabbawockeez. The dinner and viewing party begins at 5 p.m.; the after party begins at 9 p.m. Tickets to the event can be obtained by calling 310.271.8421. More information about CUN can be obtained online at www.childrenunitingnations.org
-Laura Tate