Artist Creates Print to Help Unborn Baby with Spina Bifida

Area artist Patrick Morrissey uses his paintings as responses to life’s relationships and experiences. But when close friends were put in a tight situation, Morrissey used his art not only to respond, but also to act.

His friends Jenny and Zach Korotko won't have health insurance come November when Jenny will lose her job as an art therapist.

In August, the family found out their unborn son Cyrus was diagnosed with spina bifida. The degree of the baby’s disease won’t be realized until he’s born, but doctors are predicting at least one corrective surgery after birth, Morrissey said.

“There’s a really serious question of whether they’re going to be able to give their son the life he needs,” he said.

That’s why Morrissey is selling a print series of the couple, titled “For Cyrus.” He’ll give all of the money earned from the sale to the family.

He hopes to sell the painting at a public showcase at the Fulton Street Collective, where Morrissey has been a resident artist for the last four years.

The biannual event is from 6 p.m. to midnight at 2000 West Fulton Street and will have music, beverages and performance art. 

A portion of every piece of Morrissey's artwork sold at the event will go to the family and hand-carved block prints can also be purchased for donations of $10 or more.

If he doesn’t sell the artwork on Saturday, Morrissey hopes to find a buyer through Etsy.com.

“I make art in response to trauma,” he said. “It’s very healing and fulfilling to use my art for the benefit of someone else in a very direct way.”

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