A brush with fame as children with autism create art for auction

Billy Pagoni concentrates on his painting of a goat and pig on a farm. He seems a little wary of soap opera actor Michael O’Leary, who is sitting next to him.

The 14-year-old likes to work alone.

“He likes to sit there and do what he wants,” said his mother, Edie Pagoni. He is a prolific artist, producing up to 10 drawings an hour, she said.

Billy eventually concedes and lets O’Leary paint a yellow sun in a corner of his rural scene.

Billy’s farmscape and painting of a rainbow and a house are two of several paintings produced by students of Eden-Florida and Collier County schools and soap opera stars in the “Art 4 Autism” event. The artwork will be auctioned off at this year’s Southwest Florida Soap Fest events.

This is the first year for the hands-on arts project in the festival’s seven-year existence.

The idea for the art project came from O’Leary, who plays Dr. Frederick Bauer on “The Guiding Light.” He said he participated in a similar art project with terminally ill children at a Ronald McDonald House charity event.

“I’ve seen this done before and see the work go up for a lot money, and a lot of them are quite good,” he said.

Along with the artwork, other items up for bid include Daytime Emmy Awards tickets and outfits and props from soap operas. The weekend festival gives an opportunity for fans to mingle with soap opera stars in events such as the “Celebrity Bartender Bash” and the “Cruisin’ Boozin’ & Schmoozin’¤” cruise.

Auction proceeds will be donated to the Ricky King Children’s Fund, Hospice of Marco, and Eden-Florida, a school for autistic children and adults. In past years, the festival benefited the Marco Island Film Festival and the Young Filmmakers Program.

Pat Berry, Soap Fest’s head organizer, said she hopes to raise $20,000 from the artwork.

For some of the actors, autism hits close to home.

Actor John Driscoll’s girlfriend has an autistic brother. Driscoll, who plays Coop Bradshaw on “The Guiding Light,” said his interactions with his girlfriend’s brother has helped him understand and better interact with autistic children.

“It was so much fun to be laughing with them, when sometimes it’s frustrating for them to convey something,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll collaborated with Eden student Jennifer on a piece which showed their hand prints.

“I was just following Jennifer’s lead,” he said. “Honestly, Jennifer is a better artist than I am.”

Bidders have a range of artwork to choose from.

Actress Marcy Rylan and Barbara, a 23-year-old student at Eden, produced one abstract piece called “The Letter B,” for Barbara. The colorful piece has the letter B swirled all over it. Half of their second piece is painted with Bs and the other half with M’s, for Marcy.

“Even though they may not be able to draw the perfect house or the perfect scenery, they still get to be creative,” said Vicki Isler, director of Eden-Florida, who was helping Rylan and Barbara with their art.

Caitlin Van Zandt, who plays Ashlee Wolf in “The Guiding Light,” showed her New York roots in “Upper Westside Dog with iPod,” which is painted with Gisella Drego, who is the 12-year-old niece of “Guiding Light” star George Alvarez.

In the first session, about eight students from Eden collaborated on art pieces along with the daughters and friends of some of the actors. Some of the students at the project did not recognize the stars, much less ever having seen a soap opera. But the anonymity is a good break, some of the stars said.

“It makes us forget we’re soap stars, but makes us feel like kids again,” said Stephanie Gatschet, a “Guiding Light” actress.

But the Collier County students in the second session were soap opera fans and recognized some of the actors.

“My grandma thinks you’re very cute,” Ashley Todd told “One Life to Live” actor John-Paul Lavoisier.

Her friend, Robyn Noel, nodded vigorously in agreement.

Kaleigh Cecil paired up with Trevor St. John, of whom she once drew a portrait in an art class.

“I was expecting more, like, business-y,” Kaleigh said. “When I saw him here, he was totally different.”

She said she chose St. John as her favorite actor when her art teacher showed an episode of “One Life to Live” and had students draw portraits of their favorite actors in the episode.

The pair produced an abstract piece called “Lady Bug,” which has the word “Lady Bug” swirled and scraped all over the canvas in a riot of khaki green, red, yellow and royal blue. St. John declared his 12-year-old artistic partner the “next Jackson Pollock.”