Play @Panza

I loved Tim Fabian's statement about his curatorial intentions for the Play exhibit:

"In one way or another each of the people in this show evidence play in their work. I think of this show as my loose group of playmates."

His caliber of playmates is extraordinary. There is a lot of good work in the Play exhibit, and some artists used this opportunity to step out and present work that is new and exploratory.

Bill Wade at Panza

Bill Wade had several abstract pieces, focused on vibrant color and pure shape. The works are created on photographic paper, using objects and light. Although Mr. Wade is best known for his documentary style of work, it is obvious that these works are something that he has been exploring for awhile.

Jean McClung

Oh now, this was just a wonderful piece. Ms. McClung has been blending transparencies and light into small sculptures for several years. This permutation of the idea is wonderfully freash, and does embody the concept of play quite well. FYI, Jean McClung is in an upcoming exhibit in April at ModernFormations.

David Grim

Okay, so this was like striptease meets art. David Grim's work usually draws a lot from distorted images and surreal concepts. For Play, Mr. Grim covered his work with small photos. The artist was selling each of these small photos for one thin sawbuck, gradually unveiling the work that was actually what he was presenting. When I was at the opening, the above was all that you could see of the collage underneath. Here's the final reveal.

George Kollar

The works presented by George Kollar were so very expressive. At first glance, I assumed that they were traditional drawing materials. But these works were created directly on photographic paper. The non-traditional format made the works even more compelling. Photographic paper, worked with the chemicals used in darkroom work lend the pieces some interesting qualities.

The exhibit is up through February 16 and is well worth the trip over to Millvale. While you're there, stop by Pamela's Diner, right around the corner from Panza. If it's good enough for our First Lady... Honestly, it's great diner food.

Play
Jan. 19, to Feb. 16, 2013.
Panza's image album
Panza Gallery
412.821.0959
panzagallery@mac.com
www.panzagallery.com

gallery hours:
wd.thur.fri 10-5
& sat 10-3

What I'm doing this weekend

It's so nice when the universe aligns and so many good things happen at one time. Granted, there are plenty of weekends, weekdays and holidays when good things happen. Universal alignment is when they are all happening in proximity to where I live.

Play promises to be a really great show, because I am pretty familiar with most of the artists. Since it's also curated by Tim Fabian, I am more than sure the exhibit will be a good one. The list of artists, in case you are curious:

Sue Abramson, Ruth Drescher, David Grim, Tom Gigliotti, George Kollar, Jean McClung, Mark Panza, Michael Sahaida, William D. Wade

Now, isn't your curiosity piqued?

Please please try to make it to Fe for Words for Poems. I am familiar with Laurie Trok's work and it is exceptional. But the show has a VERY short run and will be gone before you know it. If you happen to be in Larryville during Fe's extended hours for the show, venture down to Espresso A Mano. It's just a few blocks away from Fe, serves great coffee, and currently is hosting David Grim's work on it's walls.
David Grim: Looking @U
More information about this show
Espresso A Mano
3623 Butler St

Play, opening January 19, 2013
More information about this exhibit
Panza Gallery
115 Sedgwick Street
Millvale Pa 15209

Words for Poems, opening January 19 2013 at Fe Gallery
More info about this exhibit
FeGALLERY | 4012 Butler Street, Pittsburgh PA 15201 | 412-254-4038
Thu - Fri: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Sat: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
www.fegallery.org

Returns @Panza Gallery

David Grim

Millvale is just across the Allegheny River from my home. On a nice day, I can walk over there in less than twenty minutes. But with all of the construction on Route 28, I haven't ventured across on foot for awhile. It's a difficult proposition for us habitual pedestrians, and the new intersections have made it much more daunting.

It's completely my loss, though. There's a fabulous gallery over there that I hardly ever get to because I always seem to be able to come up with some excuse for not walking across the bridge. Lucky for me, a very good friend provided transportation to the opening of Returns at Panza Gallery this past weekend. I'm so glad she did, it was a strong show.

Pictured above is some recent work by David Grim. I love the color in these works, as well as the abstracted qualities. More of David Grim's work can be seen in this online portfolio.
 

 

Olga Brindar

One entire side of the gallery was installed with these large works on paper by artist Olga Brindar. The works had a nice vitality to them. Ms. Brindar has a very nice portfolio site, where you can view more of her work.

 

Mia Tarducci Henry

There were a scant handful of paintings by Mia Tarducci Henry, which were really beautiful. The works are very organic and heavily textured. You can get to know Ms. Henry better on her site.

Pittsburgh Art Events: 9/10-11/10.

c. David Grim (taken 8/6/10)

Friday

It's turnover time at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, and that means there are several new galleries worth of material to check out. The highlight of this cycle is a collection of work by Maxo Vanko, the internationally-famous Croatian muralist who created some amazing imagery in the first half of the Twentieth Century. Perhaps you've been to St. Nicholas Church in Millvale to see his stuff there? I recommend the trip. Also, while you are over at PCA... you can see five other exhibitions, including the latest Group A show, and Context Ingeminate- presented by the Philadelphia-based Center for Emerging Visual Artists. It all gets underway at 5:30, and costs $5.

Society for Contemporary Craft (2100 Smallman St., Strip District) is opening DIY: A Revolution in Handicrafts. English-speaking artists from three different countries weigh in on issues like politics, environmentalism, community and a redefining of a producer/consumer relationship. This runs from 5:30-8PM.

At the Spinning Plate Artist Lofts (5720 Friendship Ave.), you can find glass work by Jason Forck from 6-9PM... and something called Stevo's Studio in Squirrel Hill (corner of Forward and Murray) is listing an opening for "three artists from vastly different walks of life" (7-11PM).

Saturday

If you are interested in discovering the state of abstract photography in the modern age, head over to Silver Eye Center for Photography (1015 Carson Street) for "Spectra: New Abstract Photography". The show is guest curated by Lisa Kurzner, a photo historian based in Cleveland, Ohio. The reception runs from 6:30-8:30PM.

There's also an opening (6-9PM) for Michael Walter's "Man and Nature" at the Panza Gallery (115 Sedgwick St.). His paintings give the viewer much to ruminate on.

Crown of Appalachia/Book of Life @ Panza Gallery

The Crown of Appalachia/Book of Life exhibit opened at Panza Gallery a couple weeks ago. I was pleased to attend the opening reception on July 3; a great addition to the holiday weekend. The exhibit is a solo presentation of two bodies of work from David Grim. The work is beautifully installed, giving both paths of exploration sufficient space. The one consistency between both bodies is their reference to journaling.

David Grim has been working on his Book of Life for the last few years. He has been carrying the same phone book to various life drawing sessions, recording the human figure on its pages with his pen. For this exhibit, the works from the phone book were scanned and printed out and mounted in one large installation. Some of the original works from a related series were framed and another two were presented as light pieces. Mr. Grim worked on this series with a very stringent set of parameters, using only pen and drawing only in the phone book. All of the drawings in the book of life are line drawings, forcing an exploration of the various expressive qualities of line. It is a compelling journey.

Crown of Appalachia is Mr. Grim's alter, Merge Divide. The blog was begun in January 2010. Each post is accompanied by an image, reflective of events and places in the Pittsburgh region. The images range from narrative to abstract, but maintain a consistency of color and value.

Artist Statements:

David Grim-
Inspired by a childhood escape from religious conversion, The Book of Life presents the opportunity for me to reclaim the act of creation from an externalized “other”. Based on the concept of a holy tome containing the names of all those saved from eternal damnation, this project seeks to render humanity in its purest of form- defenseless and open. The intention of the displayed product is to raise questions regarding authority, transience, privacy, and the relationship between the artist and his subject.

Merge Divide-
Convinced that Pittsburgh is the figurative “Crown” of a vast tract of America marked by the Appalachians, I decided to commemorate my travels throughout the region with an online presence, including words and images. This marks my initial foray into the sense of a partially imaginary place that may indeed exist. I mean to convey the weird netherworld quality of this area in sociological and alchemical terms.

Crown of Appalachia/Book of Life
Through July 31, 2010
Saturday July 31- Closing Party (6-9PM)
Panza Gallery
115 Sedgwick Street in Millvale, PA.
412.821.0959
Hours: Wed.Thurs.Fri.10-5 Sat10-3

Image borrowed from Kamau

Opening July 3rd Saturday at Panza Gallery, Merge Divide and David Grim

Our own Merge Divide is having an exhibit at Panza Gallery.....Merge Divide "Images from Crown of Appalachia", along with David Grim, "Book of Life". 6-9p.m. for the opening reception. Having seen some of the work, I know this exhibit will be very, very good. For images and more details go to Pittsburgh Art Blog:
http://pittsburghgalleries.blogspot.com/2010/07/david-grims-book-of-life-art-exhibit.html

Paid Sick Days @ Panza Gallery

Only one week remains to find the treasure that you want to take home from Paid Sick Days. The installation is exuberant, with works not only covering every square inch of the gallery walls, but also mounted on the ceiling. LeRoy really out did himself on this one. Panza Gallery is a generous space, which the King of Art has transformed into a womb of Pop Culture.



Read Kurt Shaw's review

PANZA GALLERY
Millvale, 412-821-0959.
Opening Saturday May 10
"Paid Sick Days (the healing process),"
by Mister LeRoy, through May 31. Closed Sun.-Tues.

Paid Sick Days @ Panza Gallery

Paul LeRoy, variously known as Lucky and King of Art, will be opening at Panza Gallery on Saturday.

His quilts, which will appear in abundance for this exhibit, use needle sharp wit along with pop aesthetics and a few patches of irony. This show promises to have a little something for everyone, installation, quilts, drawings, humor and pathos.



PANZA GALLERY
Millvale, 412-821-0959.
Opening Saturday May 10
"Paid Sick Days (the healing process),"
by Mister LeRoy, through May 31. Closed Sun.-Tues.

The Blogger Show @Panza Gallery - Reception 12/15

@Panza Gallery - Reception: December 15, 6-9PM

---

In November, Digging Pitt (Pittsburgh PA) began a joint effort with Agni Gallery (New York, NY) and Panza Gallery (Millvale, PA) to present The Blogger Show. The exhibits showcase the work of over thirty artists whose common interest is in clarifying artistic discourse through their blogs. All of the exhibits will take place between November 3, 2007 and January 12, 2008. Preview the exhibits online at Fiji Island Mermaid Press, courtesy of Marc Snyder. Stay current with The Blogger Show artists on the blog or join us at MySpace.

The Blogger Show @Panza Gallery - November 10, 2007 - January 12, 2008
Public reception December 15
Panza Gallery - 115 Sedgwick Street - Millvale PA 15209
WE/Th/FR 10-5 SA 10-3 and by appointment - 412-821-0959

Panza Gallery will have a regional focus, showcasing Pittsburgh's local bloggers. There will also be a presentation of work created by artist journaling. Installation images from Panza
Gallery are available, so sneak a little peek. Read more

Appearing @Panza Gallery (Millvale PA)

Kevin Clancy (Boston MA and Pittsburgh PA) - soft soft pink pulls through the ivory void
Susan Constanse (Pittsburgh, PA) - Oranje
Christiane D (Pittsburgh PA) - Christiane D
David Grim (Pittsburgh, PA) - Serendipity
Sophie Klahr (Pittsburgh PA) - the story of how it is
John Morris (Pittsburgh, PA) - Digging Pittsburgh Arts
David Pohl (Pittsburgh, PA) - find the time to rhyme
Amy Wilson New York, NY) - working

The first tendril of The Blogger Show in physical space ended on November 30. If you missed the show you can still check out installation images here and reception images here and here. The installation images for Digging Pitt and Digging Pitt Too are available.

The artists in the exhibits at Agni, Digging Pitt and Panza Galleries represent a range of visual disciplines and aesthetics. The one commonality is active blogging. Some use blogging as a platform for discussing issues facing visual artists while others treat the blog as a public journal. Whatever approach or combination of approaches, all have brought a level of clarity to artistic discourse. These exhibits are a reflection, in physical space, of the ephemeral blogosphere. And by its very nature, an extension of the guiding philosophy behind Digging Pitt’s flat file archive. - Read more

Excerpt from Bill Gusky's article (Artblog Comments) Read more

This exhibition focuses on the work of artists who are active art blog writers. The work you see here emerged in the studio in near-simultaneity with the artist’s written expressions. These twin efforts – art making and blog writing -- sometimes appear to flow together and intertwine beautifully, and at other times almost seem to be in diametric opposition.

The Blogger Show - Artist reception Saturday 12/8 + 12/15

@Digging Pitt Gallery - Reception: December 8, 6-9PM

@Digging Pitt Too - Reception: December 8, 6-9PM

@Panza Gallery - Reception: December 15, 6-9PM

---

In November, Digging Pitt (Pittsburgh PA) began a joint effort with Agni Gallery (New York, NY) and Panza Gallery (Millvale, PA) to present The Blogger Show. The exhibits showcase the work of over thirty artists whose common interest is in clarifying artistic discourse through their blogs. All of the exhibits will take place between November 3, 2007 and January 12, 2008. Preview the exhibits online at Fiji Island Mermaid Press, courtesy of Marc Snyder. Stay current with The Blogger Show artists on the blog or join us at MySpace.

The Blogger Show @Agni Gallery - November 3-30, 2007
The first tendril of The Blogger Show in physical space ends on November 30. If you missed the show you can still check out installation images here and reception images here and here.

The artists in the exhibits at Agni, Digging Pitt and Panza Galleries represent a range of visual disciplines and aesthetics. The one commonality is active blogging. Some use blogging as a platform for discussing issues facing visual artists while others treat the blog as a public journal. Whatever approach or combination of approaches, all have brought a level of clarity to artistic discourse. These exhibits are a reflection, in physical space, of the ephemeral blogosphere. And by its very nature, an extension of the guiding philosophy behind Digging Pitt’s flat file archive. - Read more

Excerpt from Bill Gusky's article (Artblog Comments) Read more

This exhibition focuses on the work of artists who are active art blog writers. The work you see here emerged in the studio in near-simultaneity with the artist’s written expressions. These twin efforts – art making and blog writing -- sometimes appear to flow together and intertwine beautifully, and at other times almost seem to be in diametric opposition.

The Blogger Show @Digging Pitt Gallery - November 10, 2007 - January 12, 2008
Public reception December 8
Digging Pitt Gallery - 4417 Butler Street - Pittsburgh PA 15201
TH 12 - 8 FR 12 - 7 SA/SU 11 - 7 and by appointment 412-605-0450
Digging Pitt Gallery is exhibiting some of the artists in more depth, allowing a greater presentation of the artists' works. Read More

Installation images from Digging Pitt

Appearing @Digging Pitt Gallery (Pittsburgh PA)
Martin Bromirski – (Richmond VA) Anaba
Sharon Butler (Mystic, CT) – Two Coats of Paint
Lisa Call (Parker, CO) - New Work and Inspiration
F. Lennox Campello (Washington, DC) Mid Atlantic Art News"
Rose Clancy (Pittsburgh, PA) – paperWorks
Kevin Clancy (Boston MA and Pittsburgh PA) - soft soft pink pulls through the ivory void Warren Craghead - drawer
Roberta Fallon (Philadelphia PA) Fallon and Rosof's Artblog
Ann Gordon (Detroit MI) - Detroitarts
Cable Griffith (Seattle WA) - Cable Griffith
Tracy Helgeson - Works by Tracy Helgeson
Stephanie Lee Jackson (Brooklyn NY) - Pretty Lady
JT Kirkland (Washington, D.C.) - Thinking About Art
Mary Klein (Minneapolis, MN) - stillifes
Eva Lake (Portland, OR) -Eva Lake
Steven LaRose - (Ashland OR) Steven LaRose
Michael Lease (Richmond VA) - Annabelle's Aspirin
Jean McClung (Pittsburgh PA) Urban Bytes
John Morris (Pittsburgh, PA) - Digging Pittsburgh Arts
Elizabeth Perry (Pittsburgh, PA) - Woolgathering
Christopher Reiger (New York, NY) Hungry Hyaena
Libby Rosof (Philadelphia PA) Fallon and Rosof's Artblog
Marc Snyder (Pittsburgh, PA) - Fiji Island Mermaid Press

The Blogger Show @Digging Pitt Too - November 10, 2007 - January 12, 2008 - Public reception December 8
Digging Pitt Too - 45th & Plummer Streets - Pittsburgh PA 15201
SA 12 – 5 and by appointment - 412-605-0450
Susan Constanse and Bill Gusky will be sharing Digging Pitt Too. Read more

Installation images from Digging Pitt Too

Appearing @Digging Pitt Too (Pittsburgh PA)
Susan Constanse (Pittsburgh, PA) - Oranje
Bill Gusky (Canton, CT) - Artblog Comments

The Blogger Show @Panza Gallery - November 10, 2007 - January 12, 2008
Public reception December 15
Panza Gallery - 115 Sedgwick Street - Millvale PA 15209
WE/Th/FR 10-5 SA 10-3 and by appointment - 412-821-0959
Panza Gallery will have a regional focus, showcasing Pittsburgh's local bloggers. There will also be a presentation of work created by artist journaling. Read more

Appearing @Panza Gallery (Millvale PA)

Kevin Clancy (Boston MA and Pittsburgh PA) - soft soft pink pulls through the ivory void
Susan Constanse (Pittsburgh, PA) - Oranje
Christiane D (Pittsburgh PA) - Christiane D
David Grim (Pittsburgh, PA) - Serendipity
Sophie Klahr (Pittsburgh PA) - the story of how it is
John Morris (Pittsburgh, PA) - Digging Pittsburgh Arts
David Pohl (Pittsburgh, PA) - find the time to rhyme
Amy Wilson New York, NY) - working

Frank Sobieski @ Panza Gallery in Millvale opens Feb 24th

FACEValues
Paintings by Frank Sobieski

Panza Gallery in Millvale is pleased to offer FACEValues- a comprehensive retrospective of the paintings of Frank Sobieski. Sobieski (1926-1975) was born in Central City, PA, and spent the bulk of his life living in the Johnstown area. A veteran of the Merchant Marines and manager of his family’s furniture store, Sobieski maintained his love for the arts community through his close ties to painters and writers in and around NYC from the 1950’s and throughout his life. Although an occasional world traveler, he set down roots in a secluded cabin atop Allegheny Ridge in Bedford County. It was there that he pursued his passions- painting and poetry.

We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity, with the gracious assistance of Jean Crichton and Jim Varner, to present Sobieski’s vibrant and playful body of work. Within these paintings, Sobieski displays his manic intensity with broken line and an adventurous palette. The vibrancy of his touch displays irreverence for convention. In one vast portion of his work, his fantastic figures dance in a swirl of abandon. His commitment to his own idiosyncratic vision confronts the viewer through his bold articulation. In another group of paintings, muted faces become vaguely alien… and appear to recede slowly from the canvas, as in memory itself.

We invite you to join us in an appreciation of this seldom seen collection, representing a lifetime of love and artistry.

Things to do in Pittsburgh (this weekend)

I imagine that by the time you read this post, it will probably be too late for you to alter your evening plans. But if you are still casting about for something to do in Pittsburgh tonight, I recommend you take your butt to the Penn Avenue Corridor (from Main St. in Lawrenceville to Negley Avenue in East Liberty) for this month's First Friday (events run generally from 7PM-10PM).

You can stop by at Jason Sauer's sidewalk art sale, out front of his not-yet-open-but-anticipated gallery, Most Wanted Fine Art at 5015 Penn Avenue. The Pittsburgh Glass Center (5472 Penn) has a funky space-age glass display that I saw last month- it's worth a stop if you missed it. Unicorn Mountain contributor Joe Deferrari is at Modern Formations (4919 Penn), and there are a couple of promising group shows at Garfield Artworks (Lost and Found- art made with "materials and images that have been taken for granted") and 5151 Penn (Seeing Red- 34 graphic designers from all over the place). I'm certain that taking a trip to Unblurred will be worth your time. I'm just hoping I don't find anything that I feel compelled to buy this time around.

Whatever you do... do not expend all your money and energy on Friday night, because there is plenty to see and do on Saturday as well. In fact you'd be better off planning your itinerary ahead of time so you won't experience regret beacuse you missed something important. Stop by the East End Brewing Company in Homewood for a Charity Open House (2-5PM). For $20 you'll get to try eight of the lovingly-crafted beers that caress our fair city, and you'll be benefitting local children with disabilities. They also promise food, but that's not really the point, is it? But don't get too smashed... you've got plenty to do.

Panza Gallery in Millvale is premiering the work of two regional artists- Jim Rettinger and Joab Naylor. Rettinger is a long-time sculptor who incorporates metal, wood, alarm clocks, assorted rural implements, faucets, etc... to create fantastic dream-like assemblages that evoke nightmares of nostalgia. Naylor has spent the last five years, save one that he spent as a SEABEE in Iraq, putting together a rich collection of free-flowing figurative paintings and self-portraits. His recent exploration includes using ropes to add texture and flow to his work. The show begins at 6PM.

The Digging Pitt galleries in Lawrenceville are closing three shows- a Pittsburgh Alumni Show, a solo show by Kate Temple, and a group show including Tom Sarver, Jean McClung and David Gonzalez. By checking out their two closely-spaced locations (4417-19 Butler St. and the corner of 45th and Plummer Streets), you'll have the opportunity to see a wide variety of well-crafted art by an array of local and national artists. Take the opportunity to ask John Morris about his flat files... they offer a treasure trove of work. If you are really good, the staff may give you the lowdown on an art-party on the second floor of Digging Pitt Too. Let that be our little secret, mm'kay?

If you have a chance to stop in the uptown neighborhood, drop by 1029 Fifth Avenue to have one last look at the Sage Building. This has been a center for arts activities for years, but is sadly facing destruction to make way for a new hockey arena. They are having an event called "In Lieu of Condemnation" this Saturday from 5-10PM. For a mere $5 you can listen to DJs, check out art by Horsie, James Simon, and Mary Tremonte, etc... and benefit the Hill House Center. It sounds like a good time.

Perhaps none of these options appeal to you. Maybe you are more aurally inclined... Check out the Fiery Furnaces at Mr. Small's Theater in Millvale (Friday, 9PM) or Los Straitjackets at the Rex Theater in the Southside (Satuday, 8PM). Or if you need some family-oriented spectacle... you could pop up to the existing civic arena for the 135th season of the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus. They are in town until Sunday. And the Three Rivers Film Festival starts this weekend. Here's the website. Now go amuse yourself... and no more complaining that there is nothing to do.