Kim Shively is fundraising
RICKY WILLIS MEDICAL FUND
Ricky Willis is an amazing, Chicago-based visual artist who needs our help!
Ricky Willis (b. 1968) is an architectural historian and sculptor, depicting high-rise apartment buildings, Shell gas stations, CTA buses and trains, and water towers. Willis is a living Google Earth, able to pinpoint virtually any building in Chicago and tell you when it was built, what building existed in the same spot before it, and the best bus route to get there. Contact with real places and locality drive Willis’ work: with the use of appropriated materials, most often collected during his public transit or bicycle commutes around Chicago, Willis builds up objects of the city from the literal material of the city, taking items that are economically uninteresting and transforming them. Ricky is the younger brother of the legendary artist and musician Wesley Willis who passed away in 2003 due to complications from leukemia.
As with many people living on fixed incomes, the pandemic has not been kind to Ricky. When the pandemic struck, Ricky was mostly confined to his apartment. During normal times Ricky would spend his days riding his bike around the city and working on art at his studio at Project Onward. Project Onward is a studio and gallery dedicated to creative growth of adult artists whose lives are impacted by developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. Ricky does not have internet access at his apartment nor does he have a smartphone making his isolation even more difficult.
Ricky was diagnosed with diabetes this past spring. Recently Ricky was at risk of having a foot amputated due to an infection that was made worse by the diabetes. His foot is on the mend but Ricky is in desperate need of support to address his health needs. Not only does Ricky have to deal with the diabetes but he will need to have many of his teeth removed and be fitted for partial dentures.
The amazing staff at Project Onward have been helping Ricky manage his daily needs but they can't do it alone. Money raised by this campaign will go directly towards Ricky's medical needs including purchasing weekly meals tailor made to address Ricky's dietary needs.
More information about Project Onward: They support the professional development of artists with exceptional talents and challenges, ranging from autism to mental illness, and to provide these artists with workspace, materials, professional guidance, exhibition opportunities and access to markets to sell their work and advance their careers.
Ricky Willis (b. 1968) is an architectural historian and sculptor, depicting high-rise apartment buildings, Shell gas stations, CTA buses and trains, and water towers. Willis is a living Google Earth, able to pinpoint virtually any building in Chicago and tell you when it was built, what building existed in the same spot before it, and the best bus route to get there. Contact with real places and locality drive Willis’ work: with the use of appropriated materials, most often collected during his public transit or bicycle commutes around Chicago, Willis builds up objects of the city from the literal material of the city, taking items that are economically uninteresting and transforming them. Ricky is the younger brother of the legendary artist and musician Wesley Willis who passed away in 2003 due to complications from leukemia.
As with many people living on fixed incomes, the pandemic has not been kind to Ricky. When the pandemic struck, Ricky was mostly confined to his apartment. During normal times Ricky would spend his days riding his bike around the city and working on art at his studio at Project Onward. Project Onward is a studio and gallery dedicated to creative growth of adult artists whose lives are impacted by developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. Ricky does not have internet access at his apartment nor does he have a smartphone making his isolation even more difficult.
Ricky was diagnosed with diabetes this past spring. Recently Ricky was at risk of having a foot amputated due to an infection that was made worse by the diabetes. His foot is on the mend but Ricky is in desperate need of support to address his health needs. Not only does Ricky have to deal with the diabetes but he will need to have many of his teeth removed and be fitted for partial dentures.
The amazing staff at Project Onward have been helping Ricky manage his daily needs but they can't do it alone. Money raised by this campaign will go directly towards Ricky's medical needs including purchasing weekly meals tailor made to address Ricky's dietary needs.
More information about Project Onward: They support the professional development of artists with exceptional talents and challenges, ranging from autism to mental illness, and to provide these artists with workspace, materials, professional guidance, exhibition opportunities and access to markets to sell their work and advance their careers.
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