PASADENA, CA.- A suite of five sculptures, entitled The Frostig Collection 2005, comprised of works by California artists Charles Arnoldi, Michael C. McMillen, Gwynn Murrill, Sarah Perry and Ken Price has been created to benefit children with learning disabilities in Pasadena’s Frostig School. The bronzes are cast by local sculptor Chris Piazza who owns The Pour House Foundry in Vernon, CA and is the parent of a Frostig student. The Collection is limited to an edition of 200 and each suite sells for $5,000.

Each artist contributed a small maquette representative of his or her current work for this creative collection. McMillen’s sculpture of a suitcase is in keeping with his enigmatic use of simple objects. Murrill, who is well known for her large-scale public sculptures of wild animals, is currently working on a series of domestic dogs and has included a dog posed in a luxurious stretch. Price specially created a small version of his highly sought after ceramic “biomorphs.” Perry’s sculpture, like the images in her widely acclaimed children’s book “IF…” combines a dead bird with a female face—disparate images with an unsettling, yet serene result. Arnoldi, who has been making large-scale bronze potato sculptures, admitted he has been mulling over the idea of casting smaller scale potatoes and has added such to the Collection.

The Frostig Center, located in Pasadena, is dedicated to helping children with learning disabilities, including dyslexia, non-verbal learning disabilities and ADHD. Marianne Frostig, a pioneer in the field of special education, founded Frostig over 50 years ago. “These sculptors recognize that art is important to our children. Children who struggle with learning use the arts to express themselves, especially when things that we take for granted, like academics and social skills, often present significant challenges for them,” says Bennett Ross, Executive Director of the Frostig Center. “Proceeds from The Frostig Collection 2005 will go directly into the Frostig School, our day program for students ages 6 to 18. Our goal is to integrate an innovative social skills program into the existing curriculum. With our community outreach and teacher training, this program will help children all over Los Angeles County,” he adds.

When The Pour House approached me with the idea for this project, I enthusiastically accepted,” says Arnoldi. “This is a really amazing collection of sculptures and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. These artists are all well respected and generous with their time. And helping kids with learning disabilities is such a great cause.”

Piazza, owner of The Pour House, says, “This is a unique chance to marry my two passions in life: bronze-casting and helping my son, Milo.” Milo is a student at the Frostig School. Milo and the other students at Frostig work very hard for their accomplishments within the classroom. The social skills program will help them succeed outside the classroom as well. It is designed to give children a better understanding of social situations and of daily inter-personal interactions.

Among the first to purchase a suite of bronzes, Aldis Browne, a well-known collector and art dealer in Venice, CA, describes their appeal: “Among the visual arts, for millennia, only the art of sculpture has required ‘interactivity’… sculpture requires participation. It is in this context that small sculpture, like the maquettes in The Frostig Collection 2005 contributes to another dimension: intimacy. Not only can such small works be viewed and touched, but also held -- thus they become capable of assaulting the senses on every level possible, and in so doing, establish what is perhaps the strongest of all bonds possible between creator and audience.”

The Frostig Center is hosting two exclusive events to introduce this extraordinary suite of bronze sculptures by five of today’s most compelling artists. The public is invited to attend either event and admission is free. Proceeds will benefit the Frostig Center’s program for children with learning disabilities.

The bronze suites will be available for viewing and purchase on Friday, March 11, 2005, from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Santa Monica Museum of Art at Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave G1, Santa Monica, CA 90404.

A second public viewing event will be held on Sunday, March 13, 2005 from 2 to 5 p.m. at The Pasadena Museum of California Art, 490 East Union Street, Pasadena, CA 91101.

For questions regarding the events or the Collection contact the Frostig Center at (626) 791-9163 or email collection2005@frostig.org.