*No name of work is printed on work.

This digitally enhanced photo was one within a series of fanciful portraits by Cristy Corso. She created this piece, after returning to Chicago from NYC, and was a featured artist during a collective event with fellow up & coming artists during Chicago Artist Month, October 2011. The event & exhibit of series was organized by Art Depth, which is owned by Cristy’s fellow contemporary, artist, & creative producer Cheryl Postrozny. During that time other artists focused on mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpting, and film -- putting their interpretation of the models into their own form.

Cristy took the liberty that Fall in the Windy City to set up her studio equipment outside. This included lighting, studio equipment, and an array of backdrops held steady by cinder blocks found in a near by dumpster by Chicago's Maurine Court. Adjacent to the court was the mod sponsoring Italian restaurant, Tocco, near a reknowned art area of Chicago.

Ironically, some subject’s themes seemed to coincide with Cristy’s own history. This particular subject & theme of the nine-teen twenty's had similar rendtions to her "bridesmaids" during her weddingat the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago in August 2010.

The unconvential wedding spictaular explored decades within the 20th century American History with movie madden appeal, which owner of Art Depth, Cheryl Postronzy attended. The similarities of Cheryl's selection, had a striking similarity of Cristy's planning of one bridesmaid transformed into Hollywood’s Carla Bow from the 1920’s. This stirred much inspiration for the artist.

The content has a shadowy puzzle within its symbolism – such as the sea urchin looking to devourer the tiny crabs within a juxtaposing playful pink heart. The heart, whether rendered as sacred, literal, or playful in context is a consistent theme throughout Cristy’s work for over a decade.

In this case, the “pop heart” also seems to add a symbolic theme that was at her wedding decor. One example was a piece shown at the wedding "spectacular" given to her personally by Peter Max with a similar looking graphic heart with the the word "Love" layered over over it.

After over a year of her & her partner being together there had been even public movements of life lessons & learning discord. Within the work there is an essence of natural laws of survival held within the heart observation of protection.

Critics implied her birthdate, July 2nd, and the western zodiac to be a metaphor for her at the time. The water sign of Cancer, being the symbol of the Crab may have introduced the use of sea life like other imagery found in artists such as Picasso, Dali, and many other Modern works. Having a Venetian Background, and her trip to Venice prior to wedding, had her fixated on the St. Mark's architecture including the clock with the symbols of the zodiac. Regardless, the crab is known for its hard outer shell and protective pinchers, however in its scale, is no match for the devouring sea urchin. In this piece the crabs are in a way showing acceptance to the urchin & their flip side of a soft, vulnerable underbelly in the environment of a pop pink heart.

Cristy enjoys finding objects, including garments, that are memorable to her throughout her numerous & almost maze like times and places - where an interesting story always seem to be cusped with any experience or travels she finds her self poised for exploring. The hat is a vintage swim cap Cristy bought at the art deco museum shop off of the famous Ocean Drive in Miami South Beach - Art Deco capital. “The time I bought the cap I remember going through a moment of clarity. That seems to be a pattern for me, looking back. The influential items I find that wind up in work are usually when I am elated with the all that is naturally around me & hyper observant. Then it fades, I wake up, and find myself wearing a nineteen twenties swim cap, or an 18th century garb, or a military uniform and I don't know why. Thank God for friends," she states, "I had no clue what Cheryl was surprising us with that day or that I would have to shoot outside when we loaded up the car with random stuff. That is what made the process so enchanting."

Several people now own this print that has been reproduced, within a limited edition of now (30). It's 24” x 36” on UV protective canvases had the intent to be be layered with oil paint by the artist, however, after the well received feedback and immediate purchases of the limited edition she decided to value the work as it was – a print. A reflection of magazines & media in a way which Cristy's history confirms.

Her work come complete with painted signature & formal certificates of authenticity.