January is Slavery & Trafficking Prevention Month. Ten percent of this week's sales will go to the organization Free the Slaves

The charity event that I had hosted at my studio a little over a week ago went well! I am proud to say that over $1000 was raised to go to Gilda's Club of Chicago and Imerman Angels through the sale of my art. Both are wonderful support organizations for those affected by cancer (whether you're a fighter, survivor, or affected family member). Go to www.gildasclubchicago.org and imermanangels.org to read more about them.

Because of this event, I have decided to continue giving 10% of my proceeds from art sales to a new charity each week until I pack up for LA (which will be soon). 

So from January 23rd-29th, 10% of all art sales (including CD sales) will go to Free The Slaves, an organization I had been following and giving to since my MUSE days (Musicians Unite for Social Equality, a not-for-profit organization that I started over a decade ago that raised a little money but unfortunately never properly got off the ground). 

Over 21 million people around the world are currently enslaved (I've heard estimates close to 30 million people worldwide, but I'll go with the latest numbers on their site). Twenty-six percent are children. You can read more about their important work here: http://www.freetheslaves.net  

January is Slavery & Trafficking Prevention Month. Please help this cause, whether you buy art or not.

If interested in setting up an appointment for viewing art this week, please email me. Online sales will count as well. If you have something specific in mind that you don't see, just ask... it's possible that I have something similar to what you may be looking for but it's not up on the website. www.randirusso.com

Thank you and please keep giving... in whatever way you can. This is the only way we can fight the powers that would like to see our humanity crumble.

xoRandi

ART & CHARITY EVENT - JANUARY 14th, 4:30-7pm

Please join me in my studio for this special art & charity event...

Saturday, January 14th, 4:30-7:00pm (public hours)
at the Cornelia Arts Building, Studio 209

As some of you may know, I will be moving to LA soon! I'd like to give people an opportunity to view my work before I leave, and of course I'd like to give many of my pieces new homes!

In addition to selling art, I would like to give back. I will be donating 10% of all of the profits to Gilda's Club of Chicago and another 10% to Imerman Angels. 
You can read about the organizations here: www.gildasclubchicago.org |www.imermanangels.org

Both organizations are Chicago-based and there will speakers from each one giving a short talk.

There will be some refreshments... not much because the art will literally be wall-to-wall! 

Feel free to invite friends and family who have an interest in art, and especially share with those who are looking for pieces to brighten up their homes or offices! 

Hope to see you! 
Xo! 
Randi

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hoping 2017 is much, much better than 2016, which was one of the worst years I've had personally in almost a decade. Onward and upwards... LA is around the corner! Looking forward to sunshine and warmth to bake out the chill that settled into my bones in my last year here in Chicago. Chicago is a great city and there are many wonderful, heartwarming, eye-opening people here... but some of what I thought was so wonderful & reassuring ended up breaking my heart, and the dreary gloom that sets over the city this winter has been with me since late last spring...

March cannot come soon enough...

May this truly be a HAPPY, NEW year for all.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Just wanted to wish you all Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year! We all deserve it after a rough 2016. ...so much heartbreaking loss this year.

Some news I'd like to share with you (in case you didn't read an earlier post!)... I'll be leaving Chicago for LA in early 2017! I've had a good run here with a solo art show, a bunch of group shows, a handful of performances in some great venues, and most importantly, met some wonderfully amazing people along the way (you know who you are!). And I had the opportunity to get to know my Chicago-based cousins better and get closer to my extended family, who are very dear to my heart. But, all that being said, I've had some very difficult trials here (such is life) and one needs to be attuned to when it's time to move on... and  that time is now.

I'm looking forward to more sunshine and warm weather. New art scene. New art friends. New music scene, new music friends. Closer to more family. Closer to many of my lifestyle preferences out there. It'll be a good thing, I hope/think/gather.

Wishing all much love and light for 2017 and beyond...

Done... and done!

Finally! I've been working on this website off and on for a couple of weeks, after years of having "build a new website" on my to-do list. No one knows why inanimate things move on their own time frame despite us trying to push them along. As I keep trying to tell myself that time is just an illusion...

Um, I realize that this is not really done... but 98% there is pretty good for now. ;)

Random pic of my kitty cat, Dora... Enjoy...

Dora, in her infamous role: "Camouflage Kitty in the Sink" 

SHOWS

In anticipation to my move to LA in a few months, there are no shows at this time for art or music. But check back here! I may try to get a Chicago music performance in before I go!