The National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association (NEMRA) based in Tarrytown, New York commissioned a painting by Peekskill artist Edward Burke. This painting is to be auctioned off at the association's annual meeting in New Orleans on March 9th 2007. The NEMRA Disaster Recovery Foundation will donate the proceeds from the auction to the Habitat for Humanity/New Orleans to assist with the construction of the "Musician's Village".

The "Musician's Village" project encompasses a 300-home community in the city's Upper Ninth Ward, that will provide housing for musicians of modest means, and other New Orleanians who were displaced by Katrina. Due to the significance of music to the life of the city, "Musician's Village" has become a symbol of hope for local residents during the rebuilding process.

"The title and inspiration for the painting was the term, "Play Ignorant" said Mr. Burke. "This term comes from the very beginnings of jazz. During music sessions when musicians would experiment with new sounds; they would say, "play ignorant" to indicate that they would not be playing standard musical notations but would improvise and feel their way through the music. This ability to "play ignorant" or what some might call "thinking outside the box" is what advances all human endeavors and is the genesis of creativity".

Mr. Burke feels that "This commission is a great privilege for me as it creates a life for the work that is an ideal for me as an artist." Using the commissioned work as the principal theme for all of the event's promotional material and then auctioning the original painting as a way to raise funds to help the victims of a disaster is a perfect marriage of art, utility and charity. Finally, the painting ends up as the possession of a person who has shared their good fortune with others."

"The life and use of this painting is more than an artist can hope for," concluded Ed Burke.

For information contact:
Jennifer Prunty
303 east 57th Street
New York, NY
212-421-2359
pruntys@hotmail.com

Edward Burke
25 North Division St.
Peekskill, NY 10566
914-293-0811
eburke@studio25N.com
www.EdwardABurke.com