American icon Neiman to mark his ball for 'Tartan Art on the Avenue'

OAK BROOK, Ill. -- Renowned for his unique, progressive style, American icon and Official Ryder Cup artist LeRoy Neiman will once again contribute a historic piece of artwork to the Chicago community by completing the first golf ball sculpture in the "Tartan Art on the Avenue" public art exhibit, which celebrates the upcoming 39th Ryder Cup, Sept. 25-30, 2012, at historic Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. The Ryder Cup, a biennial, international golf competition, is one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

Tartan Art is an outdoor art exhibit and fundraiser that is part of Magnificent Moments, an official charitable fundraising campaign for the 2012 Ryder Cup benefitting Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC®-CNI) and the Illinois PGA Foundation. The installation will feature distinctively "marked" five-foot golf ball sculptures displayed along Chicago's Magnificent Mile® and throughout the Chicagoland area from Sept. 13-Oct. 10.

Neiman's brilliantly colored, stunningly energetic images of sporting events and leisure activities have depicted world-class sporting events for decades, and his upcoming contribution to Tartan Art takes his work to a new shape and medium, creating a truly one-of-a-kind piece. Neiman's art career has spanned the globe, but he spent many formative years in Chicago, attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and also teaching there for 10 years. He has been called the "American Impressionist" for his distinctive style that has made him a household name synonymous with contemporary art.

"We are so lucky to have a one-of-a-kind LeRoy Neiman piece of artwork to kick off Tartan Art," said Doug Porter, CEO of RMHC-CNI. "This installation will help raise awareness and important funds for the ongoing works of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana and the Illinois PGA Foundation, and we're looking forward to receiving additional designs from the Chicagoland art community."

Later this spring, local artists affiliated with Columbia College Chicago, the Chicago Artists' Coalition and the South Shore Arts will begin designing and painting at least 100 custom golf ball sculptures – marking their ball – in the spirit of professional golfers from around the world coming to Chicagoland for the Ryder Cup. Those interested in supporting Tartan Art and owning a piece of this historic exhibit can find out more at www.rmhccni.org/magnificentmoments/tartan-art.html.

About Magnificent Moments
Magnificent Moments is an officially sanctioned charitable fundraising campaign of the 39th Ryder Cup, which will be played Sept. 25-30, 2012, at historic Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. The campaign is raising money for two local charities – The Illinois PGA Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana – by hosting a series of "Magnificent Moments" in Chicago leading up to the Ryder Cup. The campaign launched with the Ryder Cup Captains' Charity Golf Shot on Sept. 26, 2011, and will continue with a "Tartan Art on The Avenue" public art exhibit and a "Bagpipes & Blues" event at the iconic Field Museum. For more information about Magnificent Moments, visit www.magnificentmoments.org.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC®-CNI) is to improve the health, well-being and education of children through its core programs. Four Houses provide a "home away from home" to keep families together. To continue serving families in crisis, RMHC®-CNI is building a new Ronald McDonald House® – the largest in the nation – in Chicago, due to open in 2012.

About the Illinois PGA Foundation
The Illinois PGA Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 organization that serves as the charitable arm of the Illinois Section PGA, one of the 41 geographical regions that comprise The Professional Golfers Association of America (The PGA of America). Established in 1991, the organization focuses its community efforts on promoting the goodwill and growth of the game with an emphasis on activities that benefit youth.

About the 2012 Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup, among the last great professional sporting events where winning, and not prize money, is its own reward, spans 38 competitions over 81 years. The competition was born in 1927, when enterprising English seed merchant Samuel Ryder commissioned the casting of a gold chalice that bears his name. The U.S. Team defeated Great Britain, 9 1/2 to 2 1/2, in the inaugural matches in Worcester, Mass.

Since 1979, the Ryder Cup has involved the finest players from Europe. The Ryder Cup is held biennially with the U.S. and Europe alternating as host. Europe currently has possession of the trophy, having won in dramatic fashion in Wales in 2010.

Website: rydercup.com
Facebook: facebook.com/RyderCupTeamUSA
Twitter: twitter.com/RyderCupTeamUSA

About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

About LeRoy Neiman
Millions of people have watched LeRoy Neiman at work on location at such diverse events as the Olympics, Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby, and all four of golf's major championships, sketchbook in hand, producing split-second records and highly developed images of what he is witnessing. The 2012 Ryder Cup is the second time Neiman has produced Official Ryder Cup artwork, which can be purchased at cobaltartworks.com or rydercup.com. Mr. Neiman and his wife Janet have recently donated $5 million to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to endow the LeRoy Neiman Student Center that will be located on the corner of Wabash and Monroe and will open in May of 2012 as the first student center in the long and storied history of SAIC.