Works of Illustrator Michele Burke to Open at Salsita Studio in Philadelphia November 8th

    PHILADELPHIA, October 22, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The works of award-winning illustrator Michele Burke are the focus of the second showing in the Salsita Studio Series on Sunday, November 8 at 5:30 PM. The series, sponsored by artist and curator Niki Bombshell and advertising and marketing firm CrowdConnect Group, is a year-long showcase highlighting emerging artists at Salsita Studio in Philadelphia.

Burke, a 2005 graduate of the University of the Arts, will be on hand to answer questions about her work, which centers on highly personal portraits, each becoming a study of character. "Each person has a story," Burke explains, "and my art is a celebration of the many characters that inhabit my life - and yours."

Burke will also feature her custom-made holiday cards, with a portion of each purchase benefiting the Philadelphia chapter of Variety, the Children's Charity.

"We're delighted to sponsor this series and bring to light the wonderful illustrations of Michele Burke," said Patrick Diogenia, Founding Partner of CrowdConnect Group. "Art, in all its forms, is a vital component of the human experience, and it's especially important to encourage the development of new art during an economic downturn such as the one we're experiencing now."

Ms. Burke's showing is additionally made possible by a grant from Ameriprise Financial.

The event takes place Sunday, November 8 at Salsita Studio, 1624 South Street in Philadelphia, from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. Music will be provided by DJ Soil on Down and catering by Kebab House, Philadelphia.

Burke's work will remain on display at the studio until December 9 and will be available for private showings, by appointment only.

The next show in the series will feature the work of Don Hughes along with a live painting by Mikey Madnez and will open on Saturday, December 12.

For additional information, please call 609-945-2345 or email [email protected].

ABOUT MICHELE BURKE

Portrait artist and illustrator Michele Burke produces character-driven work that expands our perception of the world and the people around us. Ms. Burke's work has been featured in magazines such as Design NJ and in the advertising campaigns of prominent Philadelphia area businesses. Ms. Burke also creates custom greeting cards and personal portraits by appointment. She is a 2005 graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

To learn more about Michele's work, please contact the Office of Patrick Diogenia, CrowdConnect Group, 609-945-2345.

ABOUT SALSITA STUDIO

Salsita Studio is perhaps the only arts center to function as a dance studio by day and an art gallery by night. In addition to showcasing contemporary and emerging artists in the Salsita Studio Series, the studio, headed by University of Pennsylvania alumna Athena Aktipis, also offers both private and group instruction in yoga, hip hop, ballet, and, of course, salsa dancing.

Find more information at salsitastudio.com or by calling 267-687-6886.

ABOUT CROWDCONNECT GROUP

CrowdConnect Group, a marketing and advertising firm with its principal offices in Princeton, NJ, sets small-and-medium-sized retail, hospitality, media and entertainment businesses on a path to success through its innovative BrandWise program and by focusing senior talent on every client, not just the partners' favorites. At CrowdConnect, every client is a "favorite".

Their holistic approach, covering everything from marketing strategy and public relations to management consulting, operations, IT and corporate social responsibility, has achieved results for clients such as the City of Philadelphia, Knight Ridder (now McClatchy) and scores of independent businesses.

Visit crowdconnect.com and blog.crowdconnect.com for the latest marketing and advertising news and tips to help your business succeed in a stagnant economy.

Forward Thinking Statement

Portions of this press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and undertakings of the Salsita Studio Series, its affiliates and sponsors. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from any future performance suggested in such statements. The Salsita Studio Series does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Company urges you to consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating these forward-looking statements made in this release and not to place undue reliance on such statements. As a result of these and other matters, including changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other circumstances, our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update it to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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