in Jacmel, Haiti. The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is an international organization with chapters all over the world. The Chicago area SCBWI Illustrators Network put the call out asking their members to create a piece of art depicting "The Tree of Life," a popular motif in Haitian metal sculpture.

The art will be sold at silent auction during the Oak Park Arts District's annual "What's Blooming" art walk on Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22, at our gallery. The exhibit and auction hours are Friday, 6-10 pm, and Saturday, 12-8 pm. On Saturday there will be emerging artists selling their work on the street and lots of live music.

The Tree of Life exhibit and auction will feature the work of twenty children's illustrators, each interpreting the theme in her or his own unique, child-friendly style. This is a great opportunity to obtain a fine piece of art and donate to a great cause. An interesting convergence -- the ACFFC children in Haiti are making a tree of life mosaic for the city of Jacmel to commemorate those who died in the earthquake.

We just returned from Haiti a few weeks ago and brought back with us a nice selection of trees of life by the metal sculptors of Croix-des-Bouquets. Just in time for the auction.

In addition to the silent auction, on Saturday, 12-5 pm, illustrator Sam Throngrong will make available "TagTool," an interactive painting/illustration instrument, for children to use. The instrument allows children to draw on a computer tablet and then animate their "painting."