Local Artist With Asperger's Raises Money For Plymouth Sports Charity

Some of the most unique artistic talent in the region was recently on display at the Manayunk-Roxborough Art Center.

It’s all a part of an exhibit titled ”Art on the Spectrum,” which features the work of a talented young girl who was diagnosed with Asperger’s when she was just in first-grade.

Emily Burke, now 11, were the highlight of the exhibit, which raised over $200 for Civic Green Special Athletes, a nonprofit that promotes sports participation for young people with disabilities.

Burke has been drawing “prolifically” ever since she was able to hold a crayon, according to a profile on the Arts Center page.

She points to drawings of her six pets, including a dog, a cockatiel, two parakeets, and two guinea pigs, as her favorite work. Overall, her artwork focuses on the animal experience, and shows tremendous promise and depth.

“Burke’s ink drawing, “Warrior Cats”, demonstrates her strong sense of composition and perspective,” the exhibit’s summary concludes. “ Ink and colored pencil drawings such as “KSDGMS”,which shows the artist’s pets playing, and “tha katz” that depicts a group of felines frolicking in a tree are full of action and humor.”

In addition to Civic Green, Burke’s work will also support TOPSoccer,a national organization to promote the sport among players with disabilities. The local branch, in Plymouth Meeting, was started by Joe Hunter.

More Emily Burke’s artwork can be found on her Facebook page here.

Image courtesy Manayunk-Roxborough Arts Center.