The Lisa Show

The Program
The History
$15,000 In Scholarship Money
National Recognition
Prizes Awarded

The Program

Lisa Klitzky was an impassioned artist who loved to express herself through graphic design, paintings, and drawings. It is only fitting that upon her passing in 2003, her parents Marlowe and David, renamed the Creative Self-Expression Show, The Lisa Show, in her memory. As you'll see below, the definition of "LISA" embodies the essence of their philosophy. Life-Is-Simply-Art, or The Lisa Show, is designed for everyone from the artist and the instructor to the parent and the community. The Great Frame Up understands this artistic-chain, and wants to recognize all of the behind-the scenes efforts. From the hard-working young talent to the enthusiastic art departments, and the supportive family and community, the Lisa Show reaches out to everyone.

Click here to visit The Lisa Show official website: www.lifeissimplyart.com/lisashow.html

The History

The show was introduced to high school art classrooms in 1995, when The Great Frame Up founders, David and Marlowe Klitzky, realized funds for local art programs were diminishing. The solution was the Creative Self-Expression Show, where their seven Chicago-area Great Frame Up stores adopted community high school art departments, providing supplies such as: artist portfolios, matte-boards and custom framing for over 700 pieces of art. Each store sponsors as many as six juried art exhibits, open to their adopted high schools' art students with selected work showcased at an evening reception held at The Great Frame Up store. All participants receive a certificate of recognition and the five best-of-show winners receive cash awards. This gallery opening serves as a great opportunity for many young artists to earn recognition, see their artwork framed and in the light of a profession gallery.

$15,000 In Scholarship Money

Not only are the seven Great Frame Up stores sponsoring 28 high school shows — providing art supplies, portfolios, store gallery openings and best-of-show cash awards — again they are taking the show a step further. The Lisa Show will invite the five best-of-show winners from each high school to take their artwork to the Best-of-the-Best exhibition, where they will compete for higher-learning scholarships. Five first-place scholarships will be awarded for $2,000 each, and five second-place scholarships will be awarded for $1,000 each.

National Recognition

This show became recipient of the New Initiative Award from the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc., and Forbes Magazine. The Business Committee for the Arts, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization working with businesses to develop alliances within the arts. Forbes Magazine has sponsored this award for over two decades in its commitment to develop business-art relationships throughout the world. The New Initiative Award recognizes companies that have provided outstanding support in the arts for over five years. The Great Frame Up is proud to carry this award and continues developing art programs to enrich the community.

Prizes Awarded

This year, The Great Frame Up will be giving away over $100,000 in art supplies and scholarships. $5,000 will go toward artist portfolios, $6,000 for matte-board, over $75,000 for custom framing, and more than $20,000 for higher learning scholarships.