Flashes of Hope PR

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For Immediate Release

Marc 25th, 2010

For more information, please contact:

Miah Michaelsen, Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts, City of Bloomington, 349.3534

Jarrod Schlemmer, Assistant Deputy Mayor, City of Bloomington, 349.CITY, schlemmj@bloomington.in.gov

BEAD's April/May Exhibit at City Hall to feature "Flashes of Hope" photographed by American Society of Media Photographers.

Bloomington, IN - BEAD will showcase Flashes of Hope, a series of photographs of child patients at Riley Hospital. Each month, the Indianapolis chapter of Flashes of Hope transforms a walkway balcony at Riley Hospital into a photography studio. A makeup artist and hairstylist are brought in to help the children and moms look and feel their best, then each child is photographed individually and with their closest supporters - siblings, parents and often a favorite nurse.

Flashes of Hope strives to change the way children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses see themselves through the gift of photography and raises money for pediatric cancer research. The portraits, taken by award-winning photographers, help children feel better about their changing appearance by celebrating it. For families of terminally ill children, it's especially important to have a portrait that preserves forever the beauty, grace and dignity of their child.

Flashes of Hope (www.flashesofhope.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating powerful, uplifting portraits of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Since the inception of the Indianapolis branch of Flashes of Hope in 2007 they have photographed over 200 children for this project in conjunction with the American Society of Media Photographers (www.asmp.org). The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) is the leading trade association for photographers who photograph primarily for publication. ASMP promotes photographers' rights, educates photographers in better business practices, produces business publications for photographers and helps buyers find professional photographers.

The exhibit will run April 2 - May 28, M-F, in the City Hall Atrium, which is located in the main entrance of the Showers Building at 401 North Morton Street. The exhibition hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm, as well as additional evening or weekend hours when City Hall is open for meetings.

The City of Bloomington is committed to providing opportunities for Bloomington and area artists to exhibit artwork in the City Hall Atrium. For more information on the exhibition program, contact Miah Michaelsen, Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts, at michaelm@bloomington.in.gov or (812) 349-3534.