The Arts of Life Band makes danceable party music with a rock edge. This Band is an ongoing collaborative project between artists with and without disabilities in the Chicago area, based out of the Arts of Life community of artists. The Arts of Life Band performs at local events and fundraisers, and does rock concerts at venues such as the Empty Bottle and the HideOut Inn. Local musicians also join in the fun, including area favorites Mucca Pazz, Lamajamal and Detholz.

Chris Burke with Joe and John DeMasi have been delighting audiences throughout the U.S. and Canada with their inspiring, uplifting and entertaining music for over a decade. The trio brings a message of love, inclusion and celebration to ReelAbilities Chicago Disabilities Film Festival.

Chris is best known for the four years he spent playing Charles “Corky” Thatcher on the hit ABC-TV show “Life Goes On” and his reoccurring role as Taylor, the angel of faith on the hit CBS-TV show “Touched By An Angel.”

Artists from the four hosting agencies met weekly to produce a series of self-portraits for the gallery show. The artists were assisted by Adler School of Psychology art therapy intern, Katrina Kurtz. The specific color palettes were selected following a group discussion of how various hues suggest moods and feelings. Artists painted portraits of their favorite pair of shoes to express life “walking in their shoes.”