Catholicism, the Body, and the Art of Paul Thek: A Conversation @ Carnegie Museum

I am still trying to wrap my head around the Carnegie's Paul Thek show. His work is much more beautiful and visceral than I expected and left me asking all kinds of questions.

Tonight at 6:30 there will be a free panel talk about the show.

Start:March 31, 2011 6:30 pm
End:March 31, 2011 8:00 pm
Cost:Free

"The human body, both in representation and symbol, is ever-present in Paul Thek’s art, which could be simultaneously intensely spiritual and insistently profane, lyrical and base. Join Dr. Paula Kane of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Pittsburgh, and Dr. Katharina Winnekes of Kolumba, Art Museum of the Archdiocese of Cologne, Germany, in examining paradoxes embedded in Thek’s spirituality and artistic practice."

FYI, this talk is literally free since there is no charge for admission after 3:30 PM on Thursdays during the month of March, thanks to a grant by The Buncher Family Foundation.

Girl Power: Women Take leading Roles In Many Pittsburgh Arts Organizations

The Trib had a nice piece highlighting the leading role women play in the city's art establishment. Included are some nice quotes and interviews.

For whatever reasons, women were important players in this field long before they were in many others. Cross Peggy Guggenheim, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, Grace Borgenicht, Betty Parsons, Holly Solomon, Ilena Sonnabend, Paula Cooper, Mary Boone, Gracie Mansion, Annina Nosei, Pat Hearn, Andrea Rosen, Dominique De Menil, Lisa Spellman, Barbara Gladstone and the like out of 20th century art history and you get a very grey picture.In light of these powerful roles, it's surprising women artists were so ignored.

As you can see from the list below, The Mattress Factory, Quantum Theatre, Dance Alloy and Attack Theater would not exist without the women who founded them.

List from The Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Barbara Baker: president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium since 1990

Karla Boos: artistic director of Quantum Theatre, which she founded in 1990

Tracy Brigden: artistic director of City Theatre Company since 2001

Betsy Burleigh: music director for the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh since 2006

Rene Conrad: executive director of the New Hazlett Theater since January.

Michelle de la Reza: founded Attack Theatre with Peter Kope in 1994. They serve as artistic directors.

Jackie Dempsey: founded Squonk Opera in 1992 with Steve O'Hearn. She and O'Hearn serve as artistic directors.

Ellen Fleurov: executive director of Silver Eye Center for Photography since 2009

Dawn Keezer: director of the Pittsburgh Film Office since 1994

Barbara Luderowski: founding director and board president of The Mattress Factory, North Side, which she founded in 1977. Since 2008, she and Michael Olijnyk have served as directors.

Barbara K. Mistick: outgoing president and director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; a position she's held since 2005.

Ann Metzger: Henry J. Buhl Jr. co-director with Ronald J. Baillie of the Carnegie Science Center since 2009.

Judith O'Toole: director and CEO of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art since 1993.

Greer Reed-Jones and Susan Sparks: artistic director and executive director, respectively, of Dance Alloy, since 2009.

Janera Solomon: executive director of the Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre since 2008

Jane Werner: executive director of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh since 1999.

Lynn Zelevansky: Henry J. Heinz II Director of Carnegie Museum of Art since 2009.