ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Lilliana DiDovic

Lilliana's art is a reflection of her own compelling journey in life. Born in the former Yugoslavia, she escaped the war in her homeland of Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1992 and was granted political asylum in the United States for her and her family. En route to their exile in America, they stopped in Philadelphia - where Lilliana and her family found their new "place in the sun." But while here, things took the turn for the worse for Lilliana's son, Gordan, who was only five years old and blind. After countless seizures, hours in emergency rooms, pneumonias, a liver transplant, trachea transplant, and life-threatening situations, it was discovered that Gordan suffered from FOP - an extremely rare disease where muscles and soft tissue turns into bones. Gordan's life was saved numerous times while at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - and she became forever grateful.

And then, five years ago when Gordan was "born yet again" while in the intensive care unit at CHOP, Lilliana was inspired to paint at her son's bedside - to thank the city that saved her son's life so many times. It was the first time she painted since living in Bosnia.

Today, her work continues to show her bright spirit and optimism about her son and his constant fight for his life - as well as pay tribute to Philadelphia. Her life, which has been full of surprises and sometimes very difficult, is visible in the colors she uses for her art: brave, dynamic and unpredictable. Done in acrylic, on canvas or black drawing paper, her paintings show a celebration of life and existence. Her art is on display all over the world, including private collections in Europe, Australia, South America, Israel, and Hong-Kong, China and throughout United States. Locally, Lilliana's art can be found on display in Mayor Nutter's Office, where she painted Betsy Ross's House, and at the Smile Gallery, which is currently showcasing "The Big 5" exhibit.

To view more of her work, please visit www.lillianadidovic.us.

Ronnie Norpel

Philadelphian Ronnie Norpel was honored to create PHILANATIC for the Phanatic Around Town project with painter Lilliana Didovic, a fellow member of DaVinci Art Alliance. Ronnie is a dynamic storyteller, who uses various media to tell her tales: live performance, photography, journalism - and now a novel. Her book BASEBALL KARMA AND THE CONSTITUTION BLUES will be released in April on Three Rooms Press. Once upon a time, Norpel played ballgirl and season ticket sales champ for the Phillies and established their Fan Accommodations office. But after earning her Wharton degree, she went into poetry for the money.

While at Penn, Ronnie picked up a camera and has been shooting ever since. In New York, she was muse and collaborator of Warhol Factory superstar Gerard Malanga. Her graduate education further included acting with Aaron Speiser and stage time with Bruce Springsteen and Top Jimmy in Hollywood. A one-time trouper with Al's National Theatre in LA, Ronnie has recently performed in the cutting edge plays of Dr. Larry Myers of St. John's University. She lives in New York, but will always bleed Phillies red!