Freshman Student & Philanthropist at Van Nuys' Charter High School of the Arts Curates and Presents Music to My Ears Arts Show.

Opening reception Saturday, August 24, 2013 at the Toy Art Gallery on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Live DJ & Refreshments 7:00PM - 10:00PM

Cooper Berella, freshman at Charter High School of the Arts – Multimedia and Performing (CHAMPS), celebrates his 14th birthday today. Instead of asking his parents to throw a lavish birthday party in his honor, he asked instead to curate an art show, as he had also done for his past four birthdays.

Known as a staple in the Los Angeles art scene, “Super Cooper Berella,” continues his artful birthday tradition with a live DJ and refreshments at the opening of ‘Music to My Ears’ on Saturday, August 24th from 7-10pm at the Toy Art Gallery on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. 

His fifth-straight curated birthday group show, this one focuses on music as an inspiration for art.  As with his past exhibitions, proceeds from the show will benefit organizations that are making a difference -- CHAMPS Charter High School of the Arts, Cooper's school in Van Nuys, which is dedicated to embracing diversity to form community through infusing performing arts, media arts and sciences in education, empowering all kids to succeed in school – and in life, and Book Bridge, a charity that donates books and other necessities to impoverished children in the Philippines. 

"Music to My Ears” features over 70 notable artists from around the world, each one personally asked by Cooper to consider music and how it affects their lives and their art, “As an artist and curator myself, I love music because it helps me power my creative circle. In other words, it helps me think of ideas and controls my art. Music can soothe me through trance, or pump me up with dubstep. This can cause effect on my characters and ideas by giving me expression. The expression leads to many ideas that transfer into my art. I hope that this show, “Music to My Ears,” will take you through that same journey and through a trip of music wonderland.” 

Artist Misha, whose paintings are a fusion of anime and tattoo design, said she, like many others, signed on simply because Cooper asked them! "How can you tell him `no'?" she asked. "This kid is awesome - he's like a superfan." "You have kids who go nuts for the Packers or something; Cooper is the superfan of art."

The show includes pieces from cutting-edge artists like Kii Arens, designer of posters for the shows at The Hollywood Bowl, creator of images for mega-stars including; Radiohead, Lady Gaga, Liza Minnelli, Devo, and Dave Pressler whose paintings and sculptures evoke images of toys transported to a nightmare world. Dave has participated in the show for the past 3 years and simply states, “It’s a blast!” The show also features some of Cooper's own work.

The "Music to My Ears" art show opens at 7p.m. tonight at the Toy Art Gallery, 7571 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles CA 90046 Call 323-653-8297 or go to www.toyartgallery.com  

ABOUT COOPER BERELLA: “Super Cooper Berella” is a 14 year-old artist and curator of five art shows in California. He started curating shows when he was only 10 years old and has helped raise money for many charities and organizations like Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Army of Snipers, CHIME Inclusive Education, and GLIDE (Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialog for Equality). He is also a Finalist in the Best Collection category in the Designer Toy Awards 2013. 

CONTACT: www.supercooperberella.com(For more information about Cooper Berella's previous charitable art shows, please review Daily News front page article at http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18866928).

ABOUT CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS - MULTIMEDIA AND PERFORMING (CHAMPS): www.champscharter.org