JERSEY BOYS' Jeff Leibow Organizes Inaugural Art4NF Art Show, 5/19

Jeff Leibow of JERSEY BOYS announced the Inaugural Art4NF Art Show set to take place on Sunday, May 19 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at The District at Green Valley. Proceeds from the art show will be donated to NF Network, a non-profit organization that serves families and individuals with neurofibromatosis, more commonly known as NF. The Art4NF Art Show will feature local Las Vegas artists and galleries and will include an art auction featuring pieces by each artist as well as additional pieces donated by members of the Las Vegas art community. Admission is free.

The art show will feature established and up and coming local artists Julie Bergonz (The Sin City Shooter), Erica Reynolds, Priscilla Daniels and Irena Tatevosyan (Irena Inks). It will also feature original glasswork, photography and art created by cast member fromJERSEY BOYS and CHIPPENDALES. Jerry Polis, former gallery owner and benefactor of The Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art has agreed to donate the highlight of the event's auction, an original Neal Doty painting. In addition, there will be activities for children including face painting by one the CHIPPENDALES and an art station. There will also be a special performance by cast members fromROCK OF AGES and other local bands.

The art show is inspired by Leibow's daughter, Emma, who was diagnosed with NF at the age of nine months. NF is a genetic disorder of the nervous system that results in a mutation on a gene that normally suppresses tumor growth. This allows for tumors to grow on any nerve in the body without warning. Leibow and his wife Melody conceived the idea for the art show upon the realization that they had an obligation to their family and the 100,000 people living with NF to educate more people about the disorder.

"Earlier this year we discovered a small NF-related tumor in Emma's brain. It is a scary thing to hear as a parent. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be slowing her down, but it does mean that she will now need to get three MRIs every year for the rest of her life. It is one more reminder why we need to do as much as we can to raise awareness of NF," says Leibow.

NF is one of the most common genetic disorders and affects more than 100,000 Americans, making it more common than cystic fibrosis, hereditary Muscular Dystrophy, Huntington's Disease and Tay Sachs combined. Despite its commonality, the disorder struggles to get federal support every year.

"To follow up on the tremendous success of our premiere annual event, the NF Hope Concert, which will be presented for the 3rd time later this year, we are continuing to create events that include Las Vegas businesses and residents while raising awareness of NF. Our organization, NF Hope, has raised $40,000 for NF Network in the past couple of years. It is our dream to see NF Hope become a national organization producing events all over the US. Until then, we will do everything we can with the hope that Emma and the more than 100,000 people living with NF may see a cure for neurofibromatosis in their lifetime," says Leibow.

The Inaugural Art4NF Art Show will take place on Sunday, May 19 at The District at Green Valley in Henderson. The show begins at 11 a.m. Admission is free.Jeff Leibow of JERSEY BOYS announced the Inaugural Art4NF Art Show set to take place on Sunday, May 19 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at The District at Green Valley. Proceeds from the art show will be donated to NF Network, a non-profit organization that serves families and individuals with neurofibromatosis, more commonly known as NF. The Art4NF Art Show will feature local Las Vegas artists and galleries and will include an art auction featuring pieces by each artist as well as additional pieces donated by members of the Las Vegas art community. Admission is free.

The art show will feature established and up and coming local artists Julie Bergonz (The Sin City Shooter), Erica Reynolds, Priscilla Daniels and Irena Tatevosyan (Irena Inks). It will also feature original glasswork, photography and art created by cast member fromJERSEY BOYS and CHIPPENDALES. Jerry Polis, former gallery owner and benefactor of The Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art has agreed to donate the highlight of the event's auction, an original Neal Doty painting. In addition, there will be activities for children including face painting by one the CHIPPENDALES and an art station. There will also be a special performance by cast members fromROCK OF AGES and other local bands.

The art show is inspired by Leibow's daughter, Emma, who was diagnosed with NF at the age of nine months. NF is a genetic disorder of the nervous system that results in a mutation on a gene that normally suppresses tumor growth. This allows for tumors to grow on any nerve in the body without warning. Leibow and his wife Melody conceived the idea for the art show upon the realization that they had an obligation to their family and the 100,000 people living with NF to educate more people about the disorder.

"Earlier this year we discovered a small NF-related tumor in Emma's brain. It is a scary thing to hear as a parent. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be slowing her down, but it does mean that she will now need to get three MRIs every year for the rest of her life. It is one more reminder why we need to do as much as we can to raise awareness of NF," says Leibow.

NF is one of the most common genetic disorders and affects more than 100,000 Americans, making it more common than cystic fibrosis, hereditary Muscular Dystrophy, Huntington's Disease and Tay Sachs combined. Despite its commonality, the disorder struggles to get federal support every year.

"To follow up on the tremendous success of our premiere annual event, the NF Hope Concert, which will be presented for the 3rd time later this year, we are continuing to create events that include Las Vegas businesses and residents while raising awareness of NF. Our organization, NF Hope, has raised $40,000 for NF Network in the past couple of years. It is our dream to see NF Hope become a national organization producing events all over the US. Until then, we will do everything we can with the hope that Emma and the more than 100,000 people living with NF may see a cure for neurofibromatosis in their lifetime," says Leibow.

The Inaugural Art4NF Art Show will take place on Sunday, May 19 at The District at Green Valley in Henderson. The show begins at 11 a.m. Admission is free.

To post a comment, you must register and login.