Laurie Paolicelli is a brave soul. The director of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau had never before created artwork, but recently she made her first painting and agreed to let it be exhibited in public.

What convinced her to take that leap? A good cause.

The Chapel Hill Museum and Kidzu Children's Museum have collaborated on "Art From the Heart," an art exhibit and auction designed to raise money for both museums' childrens' programs. Paolicelli is one of more than 80 local residents with pieces in the display, which is up at the Chapel Hill Museum.

The project grew out of a proposal by Stephen and Sandra Rich. Stephen is a board member of the Chapel Hill Museum, and Sandra is a board member of the Kidzu Children's Museum.

"I am a huge fan of Sandra and Stephen Rich," Paolicelli said. "It was a labor of support for them."

The couple proposed the idea of holding an art auction to raise funds for the museums' children's programs. The idea had its seed in an event the Riches attended in 2000, a fundraiser for the children's hospital in Sydney, Australia, called "Pinnies from Heaven," in which prominent artists and celebrities painted huge, canvas aprons ("pinnies" in Aussie) to be auctioned off.

The two museums put their heads together and came up with a local version, Art From the Heart.

"We didn't know what the response would be once we sent the invitations out," Sandra Rich said. "Then we got an overwhelming positive response so typical of this community. People want to help."

Among those who have artworks in the auction are coaches including UNC's men's and women's basketball coaches Roy Williams and Sylvia Hatchell, luminaries such as Alexander Julian and Bill Friday, established artists like Nerys Levy and Linda Carmel, and other generous and brave souls such as former Chapel Hill Town Council member and "Mama Dip," Mildred Council.

Traci Davenport, executive director of the Chapel Hill Museum, said that when the organizers were brainstorming, the idea of inviting non-artists to participate appealed to her.

"I thought it would be more interesting for the community to see people step out of their traditional roles and do something different," she said. "When I contacted Chapel Hill Fire Chief Dan Jones and Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran, they were like, 'Are you kidding me?'"

It took some persuasion, in the form of generating some friendly department rivalry, but both men have works are in the exhibit.

The Art from the Heart committee provided each participant with a 12 inch-by-12 inch canvas, paint, brushes and a deadline. Then the artists were free to go wild.

The art went on up Nov. 20, and will remain up through noon on Feb. 5. Until then, interested parties can bid by phone on pieces they want to acquire. A live auction gala will take place the evening of Feb. 5. Tickets are $30 per person, $50 per couple. The artwork can also be viewed online at www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org, www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org or wwwchapelhillmuseum.org.

Roland Giduz said he plans to bid on his own mixed-media self-portrait to give to his 10-year old granddaughter, Natalie Giduz.

"I said yes to creating a piece before I really thought about it," he said. "When I saw some of the other pieces in the show it made me even more worried."

Natalie's cheerleading eased what Giduz described as a torturous process.

"We are very close," Natalie said. "I was over there while he was working on the painting, and I helped out a bit. It was cool."

he hopes her grandfather wins the bidding on his piece. Natalie said it will be a forever reminder of him.

Davenport is as happy as a cat with a bowl of tuna seeing the exhibit every day.

"It is an arresting view," she said. "I can't articulate why. Since it went up on November 20, every time we have an event, everybody clusters around it. Everybody stands and stares at it."

Chapel Hill firefighter Pat Spencer, who installed the exhibit's hanging system at the Chapel Hill Museum, was so inspired by the work that he took scrap wood and screen left over from the project and made a piece for the show.

David Lindquist, owner of Whitehall at the Villa, said he hadn't done art since grade school and wasn't keen on starting now.

"I don't have the time, the patience, the sense of doing," Lindquist said. But his partner, noted artist Paul Hrusovsky, who had accepted the invitation, encouraged him. Lindquist rose to the occasion, making a collage for the project.

He thinks the fundraiser is a brilliant idea.

"We've passed it along to friends around the country who do fundraisers," Lindquist said.

The Chapel Hill Museum, 523 E. Franklin Street, and Kidzu Children's Museum, 105 E. Franklin Street, are non-profits and rely on private donations for their programming and operations. Cathy Maris, Kidzu's executive director, said that the museum's mission is to inspire young children and the adults in their lives to learn through play and offers over a dozen program series.

"Every experience at Kidzu is designed to help children experience the joy of learning," Maris said.

The Chapel Hill Museum's mission echoes this same philosophy, taking its programs to the children of Orange, Durham, and Chatham Counties.

Paolicellis said she estimates it took her about 80 hours to complete her painting of a guitar player. She said the process was a lot of fun, and she's pleased to be a part of a fundraiser for two of Chapel Hill's greatest assets, which she feels are sometimes overlooked.

"The Chapel Hill Museum is close to my heart because I think they do a phenomenal job of keeping this town's narrative alive," she said. "Preserving the town narrative is so crucial for us. Kidzu is just as critical. It is a safe place for kids to learn and grow. I can see it being a huge centerpiece of our future."

Deborah R. Meyer can be contacted at HYPERLINK "mailto:eloise@nando.com" eloise@nando.com or at 932-3252.