TONIGHT in Pittsburgh's Literary Scene

Three events are competing for your ear tonight on Pittsburgh's literary landscape:

JAZZ POETRY Concert

sponsored by City of Asylum/Pittsburgh
Poet Sonia Sanchez

with many other City of Asylum poets from around the world
music by Oliver Lake and Tarbaby
7:30 pm, Saturday, Sept. 10
The New Hazlett Theater (this venue shift was recently announced due to the rainy forecast)

North Side
FREE

Creative Nonfiction release party, Issue 42, "The Night"
Readings, art display, and refreshments
7:30 pm, Saturday, Sept. 10
The Irma Freeman Center for the Imagination
5006 Penn Avenue

Garfield/Bloomfield

FREE

September Cool-Off open mic event
Cyberpunk Apocalypse Writer's House

7:00-9:00pm Saturday, Sept. 10
5431 Carnegie Street at 55th Street

Lawrenceville
$2-$4 donation

Call For Artists "Pittsburgh By Pittsburgh Artists" Exhibit @ Irma Freeman Center For The Imagination: Deadline Sept. 17

"Pittsburgh by Pittsburgh Artists”

We are Seeking Artwork Submissions

for Exhibition & a Published Book


The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination

5006 Penn Avenue, Garfield, Pittsburgh 15224


DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 17TH @ 5 PM

This is a group show where artists are invited to enter up to 3 pieces of found/collected or constructed/created art or artifacts related to Pittsburgh. All forms of media are acceptable, including audio, video, posters, prints, paintings, drawings, installations, state of the art technology, or artifacts. All art or artifacts must be accompanied by a biography of the artist/collector, and an Artist Statement of how the submission(s) relates to the above theme. All documents may be edited as deemed appropriate or necessary by the curator. PLEASE note we would like a unique perspective of Pittsburgh, with a limited number of the beautiful, but often seen, downtown skylines. WE would like to include pieces that contribute to the flavor of Pittsburgh’s diversity, including its history and neighborhoods. Also note Pittsburgh Artists may include relocated artists, either those who are no longer living in Pittsburgh, or people who have moved here from somewhere else. Artwork of by posthumous artists may also be submitted. Please NOTE this is a juried show. There is no guarantee that one or all of your works will be accepted, though emerging as well as established artists are encouraged to enter!

The deadline for this exhibition is Saturday September 17th at 5 pm. The gallery will be accepting proposals and artwork from 2 – 5 pm. For further inquiries please call 412-924-0634 or contact the curator, Sheila Ali, sheiladianeali@gmail.com. Please submit documents through email as well as hardcopies with your submission. The entry fee is $15 per piece. If sold, the IF Center will take a 25 % commission fee. Also see

See full submission and exhibit details here.

Joan Brindle @ The Irma Freeman Center For Imagination

See larger image and exhibition details here.

Sorry for a very half assed effort on this one. If you can make through the snow to Penn Ave's Unblurred, you will probably see a very beautiful show of mixed media works by Joan Brindle.

Joan throws pretty much any color, shape, material, decoration and memory into her work; a sure recipe for either spectacular failure or brilliant success.

I saw a few of her works at the center's opening group show of mixed media and salvage art and am very interested in seeing more.

Unlike many of the spaces on Penn, run by broke folks who have to keep regular jobs, The Freeman Center has regular hours.

This Exhibition will be up February 5 - March 13th


Gallery Hours are Saturdays 2 - 5 PM or by appointment.

Joan's Artist statement.

“My work juxtaposes my enchantment with the intricacy, structure, complexity, and beauty of the natural world with an always-present sense of being overwhelmed and threatened by the same world’s aggressive fecundity, constant disintegration, decay and inevitable death.

My work is particularly influenced by the landscape, character, craft and culture of Appalachian West Virginia and Pennsylvania where I have lived most of my life. As a child, I roamed freely in what seemed to be the magic forests surrounding my family’s Beckley, West Virginia home. Now as an adult and a gardener by obsession, I create landscape collage with flowers, plants, trees, topiaries and found objects. The environment I am creating is my largest piece, which after thirty years remains a work in progress.”


View My Saved Places in a larger map

Call For Artists : Irma Freeman Center For Imagination Grand Opening Exhibit

No doubt, you may have noticed the mirror mosaic covered storefront in Garfield. It's a new art and community center! And it opens with an open call show of Salvage art.

This is sort of a heads up since if you live in the Pittsburgh area, you will be able to drop off your work on October 3rd 11-3pm.

Call for Salvation Artists:


Invitation for All Media: 2-D, 3-D, Audio, Visual, Installation & Performance Art


for the Grand Gala Opening of


the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination


on Friday October 9th, 2009 from 6 – 10 pm

We will have food, music and merry making! We want to celebrate this grand show inviting Pittsburgh and National Artists who use or reuse, recycle or save things from the gutter. This theme will be loosely interpreted, and may be conceptual. All work should be first time exhibited in the Pittsburgh area, and accompanied with a short statement about the work and the artist. Best in show will be awarded.

Please submit your work to the front or back alley of the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination, 5006 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224. Mail-ins should have a deadline postmark of September 21st. Drop off date is October 3rd from 11 am – 3 pm. All work must be ready to hang or be free standing. Every type of media will be considered. For more information call 412-418-6208. You may download an entry form for at www.irmafreeman.org under “exhibition”. There is a maximum of 3 pieces per artist, and an entry fee of $10 dollars per piece.

This show is not just for Pittsburgh artists. If you can get your work there and follow the rules you can be in the show, no matter where you live.

Application forms and more info here.