Swoon Junk Boat City Floating Into Venice

Here are images of The latest mad, free form floating Junk boat city led by the artist, Swoon as it floats into Venice--to gate crash the Venice Biennale!!

"This week, Swoon, a 31-year-old Brooklyn artist whose name is Caledonia “Callie” Curry, is leading a waterborne invasion of the Venice Biennale (she didn’t bother to try to get in officially) with a crew of 30 artists, musicians, and miscreants in tow. Though they have raised some $150,000 for this crash party, the money won’t show in the boats they’ll travel in, because the boats are made of trash—a symbol of the freedom that comes with radical self-reliance, and one that is meant to effect change. “Throughout history, pranksters have been looking at fences and then pushing them aside,” Swoon has said (the name came to an ex-boyfriend in a dream, in which he imagined her future as a graffiti artist long before her career began). “Through action, you can move the perception. It’s almost like a magic trick.”"



Oh yes they are "Art Stars Now", but I think most of the root energy remains.



I think I always latched on to the anarchist,utopian nature of their projects, which are designed to push the border between what's possible,allowable, safe and unsafe. This line is where IMO, all true art lies as well as all real human progress and fun.

Will-it work?
Will it float?
Can we work together?
Will we kill each other?
Is it worth it?
Will we die?
Is it art?
Is it Ugly?
What is Ugly?
Who says's so?
Is it Beautiful?
Who says's so?
Is it finished?
Is it ever finished?
Is it about the journey?
Is it about the destination?
Is it just about us?
Is it important?
To me?
To others?
Who decides?


EMBED-BURNcast.TV #44 - A Conversation with Chicken John (Part 2) - Watch more free videos

Chicken John, talks about stuff like that here.

Obviously, in a world in which too many think the freedom to make these choices and decisions shouldn't be allowed- Swoon's gentle transgressions have become more and more special.

Small Interruption

We interrupt this Depression for a moment.

Connie Cantor Exhibit "Scribbling for Dummies" at Moxie Dada through 6/20. DO NOT MISS

Connie Cantor has an outstanding, compelling and RICH series of new abstract works at Moxie Dada. For a quick preview go here:

http://www.conniecantor.com/Image.asp?ImageID=603346&AKey=JK235NVB

Bear in mind that the photos, while quite good, cannot convey the subtle texture, color and layering in these pieces.

I have already seen the exhibit twice.

If you love painting, do not miss this!

Hours are: moxie DaDA 1416 Arch Street / Fri 4-7 / Sat 12-6 PM / Sun 12-5

The gallery will also be open next Saturday for an event:

Championship Scribbling
When: Saturday, June 20, 7 pm
Where: Moxie Dada Gallery 1416 Arch St. (near Mattress Factory)
What: PITTSBURGH'S NEWEST TEAM SPORT! (a.k.a. "people doing weird things with pens")
Think you can scribble? Come play or watch.
Its the Olympics of mark-making where anything can happen: Bring a team of 4 scribblers or join a team when you get here: Jerks on Paper, The Wet Doodles, Jackson Pollock 4, The Grateful Lead...(you get it)
---Make art by walking (and running) around.
---No talent is needed! (trust me)
---Win prizes, star in the YouTube video, take home the SUPER ScribBOWL TROPHY!
---Players: age 15+ (no kids)
---Prizes courtesy of Artist and Craftsmen Supply.
EASY SIGN-UP: email your name(s) to connie@conniecantor.com Indicate if you're bringing a team of 4, or wish to be put on a team.
FREE! (munchies and beer by donation)
The event marks the closing of the show "Scribbling for Dummies: new works by Connie Cantor"

SCRIBBLE FEST @ moxie DaDa

Guest post by Christine Whispell


Have you HEARD of EXTREME SCRIBBLING? HAVE YOU? I mean what is it? Who does it and what do they do it on? Connie Cantor has truly lost her marbles with this idea... she intends to challenge you to make your mark, marks and remarks at her mark making event of the year! The first-ever (well, for Pittsburgh at least) SCRIBBLE FEST is being held SATURDAY, JUNE 20 @ 7 PM.

Connie plans on creating teams of scribblers who will rise to the challenge of good, clean?, just for the hell of it, FUN. or well, for the TROPHY... or some prizes donated by Artist and Craftsmen Supply or a chance to be on YouTUBE. There are 6 games planned:
"HANDS OFF!", "DOODLE COUTURE", "TEAM BONDAGE", "ERASER WARS", "BUDDY BATTLES", & the "GREAT SCRIBBLEFEST RELAY"
SO FAR there are 13 scribblers registered and she is looking for more... REGISTER by emailing: moxie@moxiedada.com or CALL 412.682.0348 & leave your name, email & phone number.

WHY IS SHE DOING IT? Connie's exhibit at moxie DaDA gallery, northside, explores her unconscious thought put to paper... her squiggles, scrapes and countless marks come together to produce large scale abstract works. Those familiar with her previous work will find it difficult to recognize her new works... her ability to create fearlessly and without fore planning has enabled Cantor to produce a unique, compelling body of work for her exhibit "scribbling for dummies".

TO PARTICIPATE OR MAKE REMARKS:
moxie DaDA / 1416 arch street / 412.682.0348 / moxiedada.com
7 PM, Saturday, JUNE 20.

Pittsburgh Weekend Events: 6/12-13/09.

I realize that most prideful 'Burghers are likely to focus on the fortunes of their beloved Pens this weekend, and believe me... as far as vicarious pleasures of the sporting nature, I can think of few better than NHL hockey. Having said that, don't forget that you have many opportunities to engage in much more direct amusements, and on a much more intimate scale. For instance...

Friday

Local arts collective Unicorn Mountain is having the reception for a group show of participating artists, featuring many stellar works including those of rising star Elina Malkin. It all goes down at the Steve Mendelson Gallery (5874 Ellsworth Avenue, Shadyside) between 5:30-8:30. Participants include Jon Carling, Bill Wehmann, Jeff Schreckengost, Masha Vereshchenko, Ian Finch, David Grim, Christopher Kardambikis, Jenifer Cooney, Ben Kehoe, Beano, Christopher Cornwell, Tom Hall, Katherine Young, Amy Conroy, Brian Holderman, Laura Jean McLaughlin,
Paul Roden, and Valerie Lueth.

Continue the swank by making a hop to the North Side for the Urban Garden Party fundraiser at the Mattress Factory. Gourmet food, drinks, entertainment, artwork, and this year's "rock theme" should justify the exorbitant admission price. Besides you'll just feel cooler if you are there, rather than sitting at your local neighborhood bar doing whiskey shooters and talking about how great it feels to piss in a public sink (not that I know anyone who has ever done such a thing).

If you feel some pressing need to head downtown, stop by the SPACE gallery for "Smoke and Mirrors". Check out this roster- Cory Arcangel, Matt Barton, Chris Bearegard, Robin Brasington, Jacob Ciocci, Olivia Ciumo, Thad Kellstadt, Ladyboy, Guthrie Lonergain, Spencer Longo, Eileen Maxson, Jesse Jamaica McLean, Alex Miller, Jae Ruberto, Mike Smith, Scotty Vera, Jeffrey Vulture, John Daniel Walsh and David Wightman. Too bad I'm gonna miss this one. Also see ArtUp's "Homeland Insecurity" (937 Liberty, 8PM, $10).

And in the South Side (for the real masochists), Sam Thorp will be showing her latest work under the title "Adjournment" (7:30-11PM) @ The Rex (1602 East Carson). I've always enjoyed the clean lines and bright pallette of her portraits.

Saturday

If you want a window into the vast diversity of celebratory options in Pittsburgh, consider visiting the Cultural District on Liberty Avenue in glorious downtown for "Pride in the Streets"- a block party featuring DJs, food, and fierce fun. That gets underway at 7Pm, and costs a mere $20. Jennifer Holliday headlines, and while I don't know who that is, I am assured that she is famous, and honey... that's all that matters.

Or for a completely different scene, check out the free opening for Warhol Live at the Andy Warhol Museum (competing at the 7PM slot). This show focuses on the themes of music and dance in the great one's work. Also, you get a chance to see Dean and Britta (of the band Luna) for a very reasonable $10.

2009 Three Rivers Arts Festival

Three Rivers Arts Festival began on Friday June 3. The last day is Sunday June 14. Yes, it is a much shorter festival. In some ways, it is also smaller than the festivals in the past. This year, the festival guide includes a number of venues outside of the festival grounds and in the Cultural District. Missing is the juried exhibit, which was held last year in a series of shipping containers. New for this year was Three Rivers Arts Festival Gallery Co-Op, located at 901 Penn Ave. I think this a smashing idea. The venue houses a sampler of twelve Pittsburgh galleries with each gallery representing a few of their gallery artists. A full listing of the galleries is available on the festival website. There is a lot of good work hung in that one small space.

Morgan Conetemporary Glass had a piece by Paul Nelson (Teapot, right) that I thought was nice. Also, it photographed really well. I know, that's a bit of a cop out. But really, I'd rather show you a good image of a good work than a really bad image of better work. Glass is difficuklt to photograph. There were several pieces that were utterly amazing. You will jst have to go down to the venue or, better yet, actually go to Morgan Contemporary Glass.



You can see more of Jason Schorr's work at moxie DaDa. This was actually a pretty large work. I don't know as it really translates well here.



This next pairing of V. Mann's is from Boxheart.



Modern Formations brought this work by Taya Hanauer. This work reminded me so much of my good friend's, Pat Barefoot.



Okay, I am very excited about this venue idea. I think that Pittsburgh galleries are a really important part of the scene here and are the best suporters of local artists. Here's the thing that I thought was questionable. The galleries involved in this space are not allowed to make sales from this space. Let me repeat that; the. galleries. are. not. permitted. to. make. sales. I don't know who came up with this idea, BUT here it is. If a patron wishes to purchase a work, he must put his name on a list. At the end of the festival, the galleries are permitted to contact the individuals that have expressed an interest in purchasing a work and the gallery closes the sale off site. Really? Really? The chances of a gallery closing a sale after the fact like this is slim to none. That actually happened to me at one of the downtown, Cultural District, galleries. The gallery attendant collected the interested party's contact info and handed it over to me. I couldn't get past the guy's secretary. Lost the sale. Okay, excuse the mini-rant. Getting back to this venue, it is definitely a great way to showcase the city's galleries. Hopefully, with one little change, the Three Rivers Arts Festival will continue with this concept in 2010.

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The Three Rivers Arts Festival woldn't be complete without the Artist Market. There have been more booths in past festivals. That doesn't mean the quality was less; to the contrary, works on display were really good. Photography, jewelry, ceramics and leather were all well represented. And really, who doesn't like sock monkeys, penguins and Frankenstein's monster? Greg Stones (image above) feels the same way. Sweet little watercolors; his booth was just fun!

The festival continued with its Emerging Artist booths, another great idea that gives artists who might otherwise not have participated a chance to present.

First up, Kat Cole. Kat has shown her work in several exhibits in Pittsburgh and had some work in Luke & Eloy's Double Vision exhibit. It is too late to see Kate's work at the festival since June 9 was her last day. But if you get a chance, see some of her work before she leaves for graduate school. She does have work at Eastside Gallery.



Another newcomer to the festival is Crystala Armagost, an amazing artist. Check out her nearly-bare booth (below). She had a good week and sold quite a few of her framed works during the five days that she was at the festival. Unfortunately, June 9 was her last day at the festival, too. But you can catch Crystala's work out and about town, too.



I am absolutely positive that I missed some favorite artists while I was at the festival yesterday. Since it IS the Three Rivers Arts Festival, OF COURSE it rained; it comes with the territory. Some artists closed their booths during the downpour and I can't blame them. Kyle Fischer had a booth, as well as Amber Coppings. But have no fear! There is a whole new slate of artists scheduled for June 10-14. The line up looks pretty amazing. You can see representative images on the Artist Market page on the festival site. Although they provide listings by date and medium, they don't provide an alphabetized list. They do, however, have a printable booth map which will be very helpful in tracking down a favorite artist.

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Sarver's Bait and Tackle is in a category of its own. Part installation, part performance space, it is an enjoyable stop in the Cultural District.



A friend and I watched a short video piece playing in the back of the space, located at 905 Penn Ave. If you stop in to see the installation or check out a fish puppet show, make sure that you take friend into this little two-seat theater to see the video. We giggled like mad women. You can find out more about the activities scheduled at Sarver''s Bait and Tackle on the festival site.

For a full schedule of festival events, check out their website.

June Unblurred on Penn Ave

You better get yourself a cup of coffee. This is going to be a long one. First stop - Spak Brothers





Spak Brothers is a Pizza place on Penn Ave. Great pizza. I stopped in to see if they had a schedule for Unblurred. I really liked these smal enameled pieces, kinda old school tag. Actually, I was on my way to Artica, which is directly across the street. The show LESS IS MORE: AN EXHIBITION OF ART UNDER 12"X12", included some of my miniature works, like the ones below --



Also included at Artica was the work of Michelle Gregio, pictured below. Really, you kinda have to go in and see this. It was just such a great piece of fantastical work. ARTica, ART GALLERY & ANTIQUES - 5110 PENN AVE. 412-596-6521 Artica is open most Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to 6 pm or by appointment.



Most Wanted Fine Art had a really great pairing for June. JR Holt and Frank Knezevich present entirely different works. Mr. Holtz paints these really luscious works on glass while My Knezevich creates string instruments from cigar boxes. Most Wanted is located at 5015 Penn Ave. I believe the gallery is by appointment only. 570-971-1584.





The last time I was on Penn Ave, work was still being done on this building. It didn't appear to be open for Unblurred, but maybe sometime soon. I found this description --

To create The Irma Freeman Art Center, as a community center for the arts in the district of Garfield. Our plan is to renovate an existing building as an art center using green resources and recycled materials as much as possible. The Irma Freeman Art Center will be an art educational center and gallery (and performance venue) with a resident artist studio apartment. Read more

David Grim's new works of the Eastern Penitentiary were very moving. The works were soft, indicating the gritty decay and fading appearance of the facility. My camera didn't really capture his images. From what I understand of David's process, the effects are produced with the camera settings; he does not "shop" these images on the computer. In all, a departure and evolution for the artist. Vanishings at IMAGEBOX - 4933 PENN AVE.



Benedict Oddi has a solo exhibit at Modern Formations. I liked his work the first time I saw it at Luke & Eloy. He had several new and larger works for this exhibit. If you can, make it up to the gallery for a viewing. Well worth the trip.

THE TRUTH IS MADE: ARTWORK OF BENEDICT ODDI
MODERNFORMATIONS GALLERY & PERFORMANCE SPACE - 4919 PENN AVE.

Pittsburgh Art Events: Weekend of 6/5-6/2009.

This weekend arts summary is going to be a rush job, as I still have too much to do to prepare for my own obligations. Speaking of which- there is some unavoidable self-promotion about to happen, so bear with me...

Friday

Go to Unblurred (of course). For some reason, the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative schedule page is down and has been all day... so I suggest you juat show up somewhere along Penn (between Garfield and Friendship) and grab yourself a schedule. Make sure to stop at the Sprout Fund headquarters (5423 Penn, 5:30PM) for their annual social, visit ARTica (5110 Penn, where my friend Susan Constance is displaying some of her fine work). and come say "Hi!" to me at Imagebox (4933 Penn). Other highlights include Benedict Oddi at Modern Formations and Joey Kennedy at 5427 Penn.

Or alternatively, go on down to the opening of the Three Rivers Arts Festival. It will be jam-packed with sweaty cornballs eating fried foods and screaming kids with ice cream dripping down their chins. Seriously though- The Black Keys are playing for free, and (believe me) you'll have plenty of fun finding a place to park. If you do venture forth, you must see Tom Sarver's new installation, entitled "Bait & Tackle". It's great to have him back in the 'Burgh for the summer, while he's got a break from his fancy NY MFA program. Also, pop in at 937 Liberty for an AAP group show, and dig some pieces by my buddies Rick Byerly and Mia Tarducci Henry.

Saturday

Moxie Dada (1416 Arch Street, the North Side) has an opening reception for artist Connie Cantor's "Scribbling for Dummies", starting at 6PM. I don't know what crazy stuff she has planned, but Cantor has been laboring on the local arts scene for decades, and I'm certain that whatever she puts up will be worth looking at.

You should also plan on spending some time at the Zombo Gallery to see Eric Luden's latest batch of illustrative gems. Personally, I haven't missed one of his shows at the gallery yet, and I don't intend to start now. Busty chicks, gritty lizard-like con men, etc... who wouldn't want to take a gaze at that sort of thing? It's called "Chicks and Beer", and the opening runs from 6-10PM. There's also photography by Laura Petrilla, which I find fascinatingly odd, since our good ol' Michael D. insists that shutter-buggery isn't "real art". Perhaps he's had an epiphany?

If you need something to do during the day, check out the new thrift stores along Butler in Lawrenceville. Don't let the new crop of would-be hipsters get all the good stuff.

Unblurred previews

I know I keep beating this drum, BUT... about the only time you can be sure of seeing the exhibits on Penn Ave is if you go to the first Friday Unblurred event. The full schedule for the event is posted; following are the shows I have every intention of visiting. Check back for an update next week.



Back in January, Benjamin Oddi had a solo exhibit at the incomparable Luke & Eloy Gallery. Opening this Friday is his solo exhibit at Modern Formation. Definitely worth checking out.

Friday, June 5 | 7PM-10PM | MODERNFORMATIONS GALLERY & PERFORMANCE SPACE - 4919 PENN AVE.
THE TRUTH IS MADE: ARTWORK OF BENEDICT ODDI The desire for freedom, escape, and exploration influence the narrative of these oil paintings. Figures are placed in situations of anxiety and peril, intervened with traces of otherworldliness. The artist approaches his work through escapism related to utopian and dystopian philosophy but does not align with one thought or the other; he chooses to respond to both by using the nature of free will. Exhibit runs to July 24th. 412.362.0274



I am not sure that this photo is representative of David Grim's series on the Eastern Penitentiary in Philadelphia, But it is a really good photograph. I'm sure the solo at Image Box will be wonderful.

Friday, June 5 | 7PM-10PM | IMAGEBOX - 4933 PENN AVE.
VANISHINGS Features previously unseen photography by David Grim. In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville came to the United States to study the newest advancements in prison technology. One of his stops was Eastern Penitentiary in Philadelphia. Please join us for a reception and images taken from that very location 178 years after his trip. 412.441.0930.



Full disclosure: I have some work in this exhibit at ARTica. Swing by, okay?

Friday, June 5 | 7PM-10PM | ARTica, ART GALLERY & ANTIQUES - 5110 PENN AVE.
LESS IS MORE: AN EXHIBITION OF ART UNDER 12"X12" This exhibition will leave you in awe of what can be made when someone has a small view of the world. Come see tiny fabric pastries, little landscapes and other diminutive works of art. Also make a dinky doodle for our Gallery-on-Demand. Enjoy food, music, and all the usual fun that comes from mingling with friends old and new. Need more? www.passportsart.blogspot.com

Pittsburgh Art Events: 5/29-30/09.

My apologies for not posting a weekend round-up here last week… I needed to get out of town, and I focused on preparing for that instead. But this weekend holds some surprises for you and yours, so grab a cup of coffee and peruse your options.

Friday/Saturday

While it’s true that I simply don’t go out to movies anymore, I feel compelled to mention a documentary film playing at the Melwood Screening Room in Oakland (8PM, both Friday and Saturday). “New Muslim Cool” concerns a former drug dealer named Jason Perez, who formed a community of Muslims, and moved to Pittsburgh’s own North Side. I won’t belabor you with the details, but I do encourage you to read more about the film over on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s website. There is a reception at 7PM on Saturday night.

Friday

At first I didn’t think anything art-related was going on this weekend, but my internet meanderings brought light to a number of events that I believe would be worth checking out.

If you are so inclined, you might want to check out “Comin at Ya ... Another 15 Minutes of Photos by Eric Holmes” at La Fond Gallery in the South Side (1711 East Carson St) sometime between 6 and 8PM. There are so few galleries left in this neighborhood that it’s pretty much off my radar anymore- but I know Holmes from back in the day, and I’d like to see him get a good turnout. He’s been a local supporter of Pittsburgh arts for years, and so y'all should return the favor.

On the Larryville tip, Fe Gallery (4102 butler St.) will host a reception for new works by local art school undergrads. It’s great to see this non-profit so active in the scene, and it’d be a shame if its productions weren’t well-attended. Go see “Grade A” some time between 7 and 9PM.

Fortunately for you and your tired dogs, your next destination is only a few yards from Fe. Your Inner Vagabond (4130 Butler St.) is having a “Granada Arts Education Project Benefit” featuring an art and poster exhibit, as well as bands (starting at 7P). The idea behind this thing is that teachers can integrate the arts into any subject area they teach. That’s good stuff I can get behind. Plus I do enjoy the venue AND Machete is one of the bands performing. If I wasn’t already committed to seeing another musical performance tomorrow night, this is where I would be.

Instead, starting at 10PM I’ll be over in the North Side at the New Hazlett Theater (6 Allegheny Square East). My buddy Slim Cessna is performing with his son George and local bass guitar hero Rob Loveclutch. Cessna’s been on a European tour with the Auto Club for the last couple of months, and it’s just a good feeling to know he’s back in town. If you haven’t seen his local combo (and you haven’t unless you were at the Zombo Galley in December), then you need to make an appearance. It’s an all ages show, but I implore you not to let that put you off- it’s only $3 stinkin’ bucks and there’s a bar area too.


Saturday

Occasionally the gall of local organizers, planners, and city functionaries is so prominent that I have to remember to breathe. Such is the case with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. They have planned a “Children’s Carousel Tea” to be held at Schenley Park at 11AM. Now, that’s all well and good until you consider the price tag- $25 per kid and $50 per adult. For that nominal fee, attendees are promised lunch, treats and rides on the Merry-Go-Round. Awesome. Global recession, anybody?!

Believe it or not, cheaper entertainment is to be had on Saturday evening. Panza Gallery (115 Sedgwick Street, Millvale) offers an opening reception for the works of three artists-
Mark McLaughlin, Gloria Dufresne, and Pat Lee. The hours for this event are 6-9PM.

Afterwards pay Gooski’s (3117 Brereton Street) in Polish Hill a visit, and support the “Art What You Got Benefit Show” (starting at 9PM). This annual arts festival is only in its second year, so get on board while it’s still hip. UkuLizzy, DJ Mary Mack, and folk-pop band Horse Or Cycle will be providing you entertainment for the mere price of $5.

Deconstruction Workers

I had mentioned last week that I was going to swing by for the opening of Penumbrae. I had a great conversation with Andre and Laurie about language, iconography and logographics with a smattering of journaling. Penumbrae is a continuing collaboration which will hopefully reach its next edition at another venue. Deconstruction Workers have mounted their own blog about the project. Their most recent post has some great installation shots of Construct 1.0. Following is a brief description from the artists about this collaborative effort --

PENUMBRAE

Deconstruction Workers (Andres Ortiz Ferrari and Laurie Trok) are opening their first collaborative installation this Saturday night at Monk’s (3634 Penn Avenue) from 7-11 PM.

Penumbrae :: Construct 1.0 explores the relationships between shadows and form by creating an environment filled with paper cutouts and stencils that ebb and flow through the space. Inspired by cave drawings, petroglyphs, and street art, the Deconstruction Workers weave iconic glyphic imagery through an endless web of contrast, evoking a primordial yet modern sacred space that changes and moves as the viewer finds their way through this other world. Filled with a parallel entanglement of lyriform sound, chaos finds its order.

Head over to Monk’s on Saturday and experience a space of partial illumination, as shadow covers, surrounds and obscures a dreamlike cosmos.

( $20 gets you a stencil of the artists’ choice when the show comes down next month! ) email ferrari.trok@gmail.com for details.

100 Bowling Pins by 100 Artists! @Arsenal Lanes

Hee! Okay, this was fun...



I swung by Arsenal Lanes last night to check out Art Goes Bowling. It was a lot of fun; re-purposed bowling pins were everywhere. One of the artists told me about the making of bowling pins and how, sometimes when they are deemed worn out, the inner core is basically pulverized. Little bit of trivia, there.

Anyway, the crowd and the show were a blast. It sounds like this is a yearly event, so when it rolls around next year, make sure you head over. Following is a blurb from Zombo about the exhibit --

"100 Bowling Pins by 100 Artist!" Yes, the second time we get 100 bowling pins out to ANY and ALL artist and have an Art Goes Bowling show at Arsenal Lanes in Lawrenceville. Come by Zombo Gallery or drop me an email to get your bowling pin to paint/sculpt/mosaic/etc. and sell it and pay no commission when it sells. The last show with pins was HUGE..don't miss it. The show is at Arsenal Lanes and features live entertainment, bowling and best of all your artwork!

Zombo Gallery
4900 Hatfield St.
Pgh, PA 15201
www.zomboworld.com
412-904-3703

And here's my favorites --



Laurenty Josep (This was really cool. The colored tubes were neon. Use your imagination, 'kay?)



Pete Moon



Masha Vereshchenko



Zombo



Gary Weiss



Jason Boone

pen-um-brae construct 1.0 @Monk's

You know, I think I'll swing by Monk's this Saturday. This looks like it could be pretty awesome. The artists, Andres Ortiz-Ferrari and Laurie Trok, have put together an album of installation shots that are intriguing. The work is loosely defined, but it seems to be for only one night. I'll bring back a report sometime next week. But in the meantime, see if the slideshow is enough to convince you to go. It convinced me.

Saturday, May 23, 2009
7:00pm - 11:00pm
MONK's
3634 penn avenue
Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh Art Events: 5/15-16/09

Friday

The place to be tomorrow night is definitely Lawrenceville. Regular readers of my events updates probably shouldn’t be surprised by this. The L-Ville is firmly establishing itself as the most culturally diverse and stimulating neighborhood in the ‘Burgh.

Both The Framery (4735 Butler Street) and the Gallery on 43rd Street are having opening receptions. Elise Rugolo and Adrienne Borkowski are presenting their work at the former space, under the title “Traces of Light”. Rugolo makes mixed –media paintings and Borkowski is another among a large group of regionally-based assemblage artists. Meanwhile Diane Grguras is over on 43rd with a collection of pastel pieces.

After you’ve seen what you wanted at those locations, stop by the Fe Gallery @ 4102 Butler Street for their 5th Anniversary Celebration. Various artists (including yours truly) have donated their work to benefit this non-profit arts space. Reportedly, local luminaries like George Davis, Brian Holderman, and Rick Byerly have also chipped in to help. There will be a DJ (Kelly Carter of Milk Records), as well as refreshments at this party, so don’t whine about the $5 admissions fee. It jumps off at 8PM.

Saturday

There are a lot of yard and garage sales happening this weekend, so head on over to the Pittsburgh Craigslist and peep the listings. I’m not going to hip you to my intended destinations (don’t want the treasure-hunting competition, after all), but I am putting you on alert anyway.

Also, the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival will be held at the South Side Riverfront Park starting at 11AM on the 16th. They’ve got displays, music, dance, martial arts, food, art and textiles. And can you guess the common thread? Asian culture, of course. It’s free and you have no excuse to miss it.

Legacy: Kim Curinga @Box Heart

Erased 20" X 24", Digital Collage on Canvas

Kim Curinga's Legacy exhibit at Box Heart should go on your list of exhibits to see in May. I've seen Ms. Curinga's work before; this time, she is printing her large-scale digital works on canvas. On canvas, the works are even richer than on paper. The deeps appear deeper and there is a surprising amount of subtle undertones to the color.

I am partial to the figures in Legacy. From Box Heart's description --

... Curinga's work is a journey. It tells a story, has a history. It has to come from a personal place for her to create a piece. It will always be changing. It has to for her to keep creating. It may change from week to week. After a series is finished in her head, she is ready to move on. Curinga will stay on a series until she is tired of it, only to switch to another as her mood changes. But all series and styles are ultimately ongoing. Read more here

Yes, there is a sense of narrative to the work. But overwhelming the narrative is some pretty strong emotional content. The works presented from Curnga's Nude series are raw, unabashed and stark. Erased, pictured above, is one of the strongest from this series, providing a vector for self examination that most women might find uncomfortable to travel.

The exhibit is up through My 23.

Legacy
April 28 - May 23
Digital Paintings by: Kim Curinga
Box Heart Gallery
4523 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
P. 412 687 8858
Gallery Hours:
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Arts funding in Pennsylvania

The Citizen's for the Arts in Pennsylvania recently mounted a campaign to recover funding for the arts in the state budget. From their email --

Late yesterday afternoon (May 6), the Pennsylvania Senate passed SB 850, which included zero funding for arts grants through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), by a 30-20 vote. ...

... We may have lost this battle but we haven't lost the war. On Monday, House Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans introduced the House budget bill (HB 1416) which includes $14 million for arts grants. The House will act on this piece of legislation later this month.

You can find out how your representative voted here. At the same time that the state budget was under discussion, President Obama approved a 4% increase in the National Endowment for the Arts in the federal budget. The Pennsylvania Council for the Arts and the the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation are both partners of the NEA and receive at least partial funding from the federal budget. These budgets will affect the 2010 fiscal year.

These funding streams affect larger projects, museums and cultural attractions. It also affects social and educational programs that are artist-driven. Although the funding that actually makes it into the pockets of art makers is a fairly small percentage of these budgets, the affect on the economy is far-flung. From the recommended letter to your state representative, offered by Citizen's for the Arts --

State support of nonprofit arts organizations is vital to preserving our rich cultural heritage but also important in creating a healthy economy in Pennsylvania. In a recent economic study done by Americans for the Arts, nonprofit arts organizations pump approximately $1 billion into the annual economy. That's an impressive return on an investment of only $14 million.

So, if you haven't already done so, contact your state representative. Make sure they know how important this issue is to you and your community.

Pittsburgh Weekend "Art" Events: 5/7-8/09.

If you were considering taking a roadtrip out of Pittsburgh, the upcoming weekend would be a nice time to do it. Not surprisingly (given the onslaught of diverse options last weekend) there isn’t a whole lot going on over the next couple of days. I suppose this will give you a convenient excuse to hang out with your mother. Just don’t mention the great abyss in the schedule to her, and it will be a pleasant surprise.

Anyway, I suppose it’s all for the good. I had a hell of a time narrowing the highlights a week ago. So here we go…

Thursday, Friday, Saturday

I don’t know much about dance, but I’m assuming the NewMOVES Contemporary Dance Festival at the Kelly-Strayhorn Performing Arts Center is worth a look-see over the next three days. From the little I’ve read about it, it seems to be an opportune chance to see a diverse selection of newer works by local choreographers. Dance Alloy, Attack Theater, Point Park and independents will all be represented. Check out the program HERE.

Friday

Every year the Mattress Factory calls in a guest curator to put together “Gestures: An Exhibition of Small Site-Specific Works”. This year is the 12th installment, and the pivotal figure behind it is Katherine Talcott. Previously Talcott was responsible for the Three Rivers Arts Festival visual arts program, and she has also selected work to show at the 937 Liberty Avenue Gallery downtown. There are 19 participating regional artists, including Kenny Marshall, Atticus Adams and Rise Nagin. It all happens at the annex (1414 Monterrey St.) from 7-9PM. It costs ten bucks (which seems a little steeper than usual) for the rabble, and free for Pitt and CMU students with ID.

If fundraisers are more your speed, you can check out two of them in the L-Ville Friday night. Both support the Lawrenceville Resource Fair and Community Celebration- an event to occur in the Allegheny Cemetery on the last Saturday of this month. The fun starts at the New Amsterdam (6-8PM), and continues at Remedy (10-2PM). These will cost you a few bucks for admission, but you’ll get the benefit of the sounds spun by local DJ superstars. No one’s asking for any super-sized sacrifices- do something for someone else for a change, and drink cocktails while you are at it.

Saturday

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wanted to see the inside of a modern-day operating room without a bunch of bloody victims lying around. You can get a chance at Allegheny General Hospital this Saturday at 8AM. This is presented in part by the Association Of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the national association committed to improving patient safety in the surgical setting. For more information, call (412) 359-3808 or (412) 782-5439. They are even going to let you ask questions!!

After that, you might as well take in some sun (and good luck with that, my friend… I DID suggest a road trip, didn’t I?). The 12th Annual all-day Friendship Flower and Folk Festival is happening Saturday starting at 11AM. There will be lots of plants for sale, demonstrations, music, food, and raffles (why does anyone think those are a major draw?). It all goes down at Baum Grove (400 Roup Avenue). Come and find a healthy way to brown your thumb.

In the evening (6-9PM), make sure to visit Shawn Farester’s exhibition opening of sculptural pieces at Moxie Dada in the North Side (1416 Arch Street). The stuff’s made from metal and inspired by nature and “his interest in medieval times.” And Matt will likely be behind the bar, which in and of itself should be a major draw

New director for the Carnegie Museum announced

Via Tyler Green, via the NYT --

The Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh has named Lynn Zelevansky, who leads the contemporary art department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, as its new director. Read the NYT announcement

Ms. Zelevansky has a really great list of publication credits to her name, as evidenced in this list on BestBookBuys. It should be interesting to watch what develops from this new appointment. Richard Armstrong was at the helm of the Carnegie Museum for a very long time.

Pittsburgh Art Events: 5/1-2/09

This weekend the art is jammed-packed into the evening hours of Friday. Apparently May 1st is such an auspicious date for openings that the galleries around town all seized the same moment to unveil their offerings. My advice to you? Pick-and-choose carefully, because you are bound to (once again) miss a lot of what there is to see.

Friday

I’ll get the vanity out of the way with the announcement that I will have a piece in a group show at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. It’s part of “SALIGLIA: A Seven Deadly Sins Exhibition”- which is juried and curated by Steven R. Mendelson, and presented by Pittsburgh Society of Artists. This is the first work that I’ve ever shown at this institution, so suffice it to say I am rather excited. Maybe I’ll even be nervous. Who knows? Meanwhile, there are seven additional exhibitions opening on Friday at PCA, including those featuring Christopher Kardambikis (of Encyclopedia Destructica fame) and Aasta Deth. This is an opportunity to see lots of diverse artwork while making just one stop. Come by 6300 Fifth Avenue, between 5:30 and 8PM.

While you’re in that part of town (from 6-8PM), you can jump into the Miller Gallery at CMU (5000 Forbes Avenue) for “From the Vault”- a selection of pieces by the 2009 BFA class, including Olga Brindar. These students are billing themselves as “panpsychists, selcouthists, paralogists, and strikhedonists.” Crack that code how and when you so choose.

Of course… since this happens to be First Friday, we have a full bill over in the Penn Avenue Corridor for the May Unblurred, Here’s the schedule. The presence of several unfamiliar venues is particularly conspicuous this month. There’s a new clothing store called Tweek (4913 Penn), tree photography at the storefront office of Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest (5427 Penn), and three shutterbugs (including my friend Allison Pochapin) at 5131 Penn. There’s also a display of post-apocalyptic architecture down at EDGE studio (5411 Penn, drive there if you have the option) and shots from Route 66 by Scott Roller at Imagebox (4933 Penn). Be sure to visit the anchors as well- Garfield Artworks, Modern Formations, and Most Wanted Fine Art. Most of the stuff happens between the hours of 6 and 10PM. Can you handle all that?

And we’re not done yet, boys and girls. Because some local film industry people have collected some stuff for display at Mendelson Gallery (5874 Ellsworth Avenue) in Shadyside. Jolene Elyse Drylie, Mark L. Gualtieri, Smith Harper Hutchings, Shawn Watrous & Kevin Wenner are included in “The Scenics”, opening 6-9PM. Good stuff indeed.

At the risk of sounding like Ron Popeil, I feel some obligation to mention the fact that there’s EVEN MORE to see. Because the Society for Contemporary Craft is hosting their first reception (5:30-8PM) in more than half a year- “Beyond Shared Language: Contemporary Art & the Latin American Experience”. Don’t let the swanky atmosphere of this Strip District location (2100 Smallman Street) put you off- you are welcome to browse, and I have enjoyed my previous visits there. If they let a scumbag like me in… well…

Finally, Zombo Gallery (4900 Hatfield St.) is once again rolling out the art. This go ‘round they have works by Kill Taupe. The show is called “Imaginary Friends Club”. I have no idea what that’s all about. But the reception lasts from 6-11PM, making this a possible last stop for your meanderings on what should be a very busy night.


Saturday

We’ve got slim pickings after the whirlwind of activity on Friday. But Boxheart (on Liberty Ave. in Blooomfield) has the opening for Kim Curinga’s “Legacy: Digital Paintings Reception”. Check it after 5PM. Have fun.

Fibers Expanded @ Luke & Eloy

What are you doing this Saturday afternoon? Why, you're going to Luke & Eloy for the Fibers Expanded exhibit. Seriously, that is where you are going. Me, I'll be at the day job.

I stopped in Luke & Eloy today, as Brigitte Martin was putting some touches on the installation. Even knowing that I didn't see the whole show in its entirety didn't mar an enjoyable visit. Ms. Martin is very knowledgeable about the artists seected for the exhibit. It is obvious that she has taken great care in selecting works of high quality.

Carol Milne (Seattle, Washington)
"Wake"
Knitted Wax Strands Kiln-cast in Lead Crystal
5.5 (H) x 13 (W) x 13 inches

The above work by Carol Milne is something that you really have to see. The process sounds amazing and involves knitting wax and using it for casting glass. Rellay, I am stunned by this artist's process. It is a beautiful work.


Alison Gates (Appleton, WI)
"Things from Home"
Stitched Silk and die cut Braille paper
Each house 6x6x6 inches
"Spirituality" (Wing), "Labor" (Hand), "Materialsm" (Tag)

Remember, now, I picked these works as representative of the quality of the exhibit. I would strongly recommend a visit to the gallery to pick the works that you respond to. I found Things From Home to be really beautiful, if somewhat ambiguos. The houses have die-cut icons, cut from pages of braile, suspended in them. Very mysterious, very ambiguous.



Islay Taylor (Providence, RI)
"Lace Collar Necklace"
Vinyl Tablecloth, pearls, silver, monofilament
14 x 12 x 5 inches
Islay Taylor's piece was just so lovely. Sometimes, that is enough, you know what I mean?



Norman Sherfield (Eureka, California)
"Sticks and Stones", "Beacon"
Knotted Waxed Lines Sculptures
13 x 4 inches (Sticks and Stones)
11.5 x 5 inches (Beacon)

These pieces by Norman Sherfield were so appealing. The structure of the dolls is reinforced with stones and twigs. Obviously, a lot of thought were put into these works. The coiled basket technique is a simple one, but so well executed in this work. An amazing integration of technique and concept.

Fibers Expanded is opening this Saturday and will run through June 6. Luke & Eloy is a terrific gallery, fast becoming one of my favorite places to view new works in Pittsburgh.

Fibers Expanded
Expanding the possibilities of fiber as an expressive, artistic medium using a wide range of traditional and modern techniques.
May 2, 2009 - June 6, 2009
Opening reception | May 2
LUKE & ELOY GALLERY
5169 Butler Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
412.784.1919

Participating Artists:
- Cheryl Eve Acosta
- Atticus Adams
- Alissa Alfonso
- Eileen Doughty
- Ashley Ernest
- Alison Gates
- Beverly Hertler
- Sarah Holden
- Suki Kwon
- Amy Long
- Sharon McCartney
- Carol Milne
- Jennifer Moss
- Matt Nelson
- Masako Onodera
- Ceres Rangos
- Norman Sherfield
- Islay Taylor

Cinderella : Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre bids Maribel Modrono adieu

There is a decidedly American suspicion of any private labor involved in mastery of a skill, unless it's for athletics, or a lot of money or fame (or best, both). I hate the backward compliment men will pay ballet, when they comment on how this or that football player learned ballet before putting on the pads.

I braved the acres of mothers and daughters to see the Prokofiev-scored Cinderella at the Benedum last night. Little did I know this was Maribel Modrono's farewell performance. Unmentioned in the program, I figured it out listening to the buzz of the audience around me.

They praised her roles over the last 15 years dancing in Pittsburgh. One matron in black and white sequins told her friend how she would make sure she got tickets to see the Maribel-danced stagings of any production, haranguing the ticket office for Maribel nights.

The house at 90+ percent capacity, we got a confection of glitter and tulle that barely bested the ribbons and curls on the girls of every age in the audience. A scrim of forest invited us into the fairy tale.

Ballet presents narrative as a series of gestures. It predates film in ways that theater does not. Plot is presented as a series of images. Broad strokes of costume mark out characters territory quickly. The audience 'gets' the drag queen stepsisters immediately, the weak father, Cinderella's delicate beauty, in the opening scene.

The audience knows the backstory. Minimal set pieces and costuming allow each dancer to quickly enter the narrative's archetypal spaces. Then the audience can focus on the dancing, wonder at the the complicated series of gestures presented by each dancer's particular architecture.

The set describes narrative turning points. Cinderella's chair at the foot of the hearth, the announcement of the supernatural with dried ice, the clock motif. This allows the audience to bask in Maribel's grace and emotive power, at the Jester's endurance of the Stepsisters' haranguing, at the amazing Corps du Ballet's dancing in all that blue and white lace. Oh, and those unfortunate firefly costumes.

Gestures between dancers articulate their relationships. Cinderella's courtship of the Prince presented with a particular order of gestured language between the pair at every meeting, underlined by Prokofiev's motifs.

Ballet implies. It operates in a particular vocabulary of nonverbal communication, like the best film.

The plot serves only to provide a framework for extraordinary presentations of embodied language, allowing the dancers their moments of rest, their necessary clothing changes.

Aside - How did Maribel switch out to her Cinderella frock, so quickly, once she fled the ball? I don't know. But the love she shared with her audience at her extended curtain - and the flowers flung at her from the foot of the stage - told me an audience lost their beloved last night.

Best wishes for her on her journey.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theater

My "Right Wing Blog" Is Up

I actually started another blog for my personal,political and economic opinions a long time ago but never kept up with it.

It's called John Morris: Unmedicated, and in the last few days. I've been trying to organise many of the posts I put on other blogs and forums into a more coherent form in one place. This is still a work in progress.

I will try to add it to the blog role here. I will still add some political posts on here once in a while, mostly related to issues related to free speech, religious liberty and the press.

Pittsburgh Art Events: 4/24-27/09.

This weekend there’s a time management workshop on offer down at Duquesne. I’m not going to offer you the details, but I will have you know that this talk would have been useful for fitting in all of the great events happening over the next several days. There’s so much to do that you probably won’t have time to listen to a lecture about scheduling. But if you find yourself amenable to the suggestion, have a quick scan over my picks…

Friday

To be honest, I have no idea whether or not the seasonal Downtown Gallery Crawl has morphed into this thing called “One Night Stand”… but it sure seems like the Cultural Trust is in the mood for a makeover. Several galleries in the Golden Triangle are hosting receptions with live entertainment on Friday, and it might be an efficient use of your time to drive around for 45 minutes or so and look for a proper parking spot. Mary Mack will be spinning to a backdrop of Czech photos at SPACE, Netherlands-based Telcosystems will appear to support the “at times visually violent, sonically extreme and physically intimidating” art displayed at Wood Street, and there will be spoken word by Brian Francis at Future Tenant. Apparently there’s an after party at Remedy in Larryville. It all (and more) gets underway at 7:30PM.

Perhaps you missed Tim Kerr’s opening at Zombo Gallery (4900 Hatfield Street) a few weeks ago? The closing is Friday from 6PM to around 10PM (or so). Take your time and read the words on his paintings. It seems like a bit of a risky choice to write directly on your visual work. But in this case, I found it rather inspiring.

The Brew House Distillery program annually offers emerging artists six-month residencies at their facility on 2100 Mary Street in the South Side. Stop by at Space 101 (from 7-11PM) for the opening reception starring the latest batch of home-grown creators. Just get out of that hood before the suburban tools start to flood in with their cheap beer piss and whiskey-muscles.

Friday/Saturday

My buddy Tom Henry is performing his wryly wacky form of comedy at the Improv in Homestead for a three night stretch (starting Thursday @ 8PM, with shows @ 8PM and 10PM on Fri and 7PM and 9PM on Sat), opening for national comic T.J. Miller. It’s $15 per show, plus money enough for the two drink minimum. Drop in and show support for the local jokester. If you don’t laugh at least once, then… well, um… then you’re a douchebag?!

Saturday

Ok, I haven’t really ridden a bike in years. But I do appreciate it when I see others doing so. That’s why I’m mentioning the pancake breakfast at the East Liberty Whole Foods on Saturday morning (8 AM). It’s $7, sponsored by the Community Design Center, and offers guests a chance to register for Pedal Pittsburgh. I can only speculate, but I imagine there’s nothing more pleasant than having a stomach full of griddle cakes expanding in your belly as you two-wheel up-and-down the hills of the ‘Burgh.

If you need to sit after your ride, stop by (11AM) at Fe Gallery in the L-Ville and find out “how art stuff happens” @ the Workshop for the Working Artist. It’s $5 (which should give you an essential clue in solving the thematic problem posed herein), and features local scenesters including Jennifer Baron, Susan Blackman, Eric Shiner, and T Foley. Then at 2PM you can check out the Ralph Munn Creative Writing Workshop, led by photo-essayist and memoirist Sandra Gould Ford, @ the Carnegie Library in Oakland. That one’s free.

Permit me to say that one of the major highlights this weekend should be the reception for the one-week run of CMU –grad Olga Brindar’s “Sketchbook Release: Moments and Minutiae” at the Panza gallery in Millvale (115 Sedgwick Street). I’ve been checking out her drawings for a few years now, and I’m excited for her first solo exhibition. Olga is a young artist who’s not afraid to put herself on display, and we are all the better off for it. It is imperative that you fit this into your Saturday agenda (6-9PM).

The aforementioned Remedy (5121 Butler St) is hosting an opening/reception (from 11PM-1AM) for their in-house muralist Emmeric Konrad. The theme is “Drawings Done in Bars & the Paintings They've Inspired”. Make sure to visit the dining room and learn what his art does for your appetite(s). Have their fine cooks make you somethin’ good while you are at it. I recommend most everything.

Saturday/Sunday

Art all Night, Pittsburgh’s premiere non-juried visual and auditory extravaganza starts at 6PM on Saturday night and runs until Sunday @ 2PM. It’s a Lawrenceville annual tradition, and takes place at the Red Warehouse (3510 Smallman Street) this year. According to the “official” numbers, last year saw 810 participating artists and attracted over 10,000 guests. Get there early for parking and refreshments. And if you want to display your work, drop off is Saturday afternoon (Noon-4PM). See the website for all the details you need. And yes… it’s all free.

Pittsburgh Weekend Events: 4/17-18

Now that the unseasonably cold weather and grey skies have passed, it’s time to get outside and enjoy April. ‘He” has risen indeed and you Christians need not abstain from vice anymore (after all, didn’t he die for your sins?!) - take lots of showers and you know what will happen in a couple of weeks…

There are a lot of options this weekend… many of which are not specifically “art-related”, so what the hell- check ‘em out.

Friday

Did you know that The CMU activities board annually brings to Pittsburgh some of the best indie rock bands on the national scene? Did you know that you can show up on the CFA lawn and see super-group The New Pornographers and Ted Leo’s band for FREE? You can if you get there several hours before the 8PM scheduled show time. Bring plenty of liquids and whatever else you might require for the wait.

If happiness isn’t your bag, you can stop at the Warhol for a Depression double feature (including John Ford’s Grapes of Wrath and a Busby Berkely film). That’ll cost you $10. Check the listings for the times.

You could also consider taking an evening walk through Pittsburgh’s best neighborhood- the Lawrenceville Blossom Tour is here once again. There are 25 establishments giving out free seeds in honor of Earth Day. Get in touch with Maya Haptas of the Lawrenceville Corporation at (412) 782-5100 ext 103 for more details.

Maybe you want to continue spending time in the great outdoors? Consider checking out the Public Star Party at Mingo Creek Park Observatory. The Amateur Astronomers Association Of Pittsburgh supplies the telescopes. It gets underway just before sunset. I’ve never tried it, but I’m pretty sure I’d see a UFO.

There are also a couple of openings downtown at 707/709 Penn Gallery. Apparently Joe DeFerrari’s keeping tabs on Isabella Rossellini. He’s put together an exhibit (Ritual Decadence) examining animal mating rituals at Future Tenant, and the opening starts at 6PM. Over at 707/709 you can see Michael Ninehouser’s meditations (On This, The Land) on early man, familiar fables and gospel myths. That reception runs from 5-7PM.

Saturday

If you don’t stay out too late partying, you can take advantage of several events this morning. There are flea markets at St. Louise DeMarillac's LeGras Parish Center (320 McMurray Road, Pittsburgh), St Aloysius (3614 Mount Troy Road, Reserve Township), and Saint Gabriel Of The Sorrowful Virgin (5200 Greenridge Drive). Do a bit of hunting for the details if you are interested. If you can’t prepare yourself, then there’s no way you are going anywhere early enough to make the trip worthwhile.

Alternatively, you could nerd out with two other destinations. Grab your caped crusader costume and head out to North Park for the Superhero 5K Run/Walk. No, I am not kidding. It starts at 9AM and fittingly benefits the Parental Stress Center. The Superhero Foundation (which operates a similar event in Austin, TX) seeks to raise awareness about child abuse prevention. If you move quickly (like you should in a leotard) you can meet the regional "Star Wars" fan group Garrison Carida at the Warhol. They will be hanging out (apparently dressed as stormtroopers and such) to support the museum’s “Vader Project” exhibit). Show up at 1PM and they won’t sic the Death Star on you.

So yeah… geek out. But make sure you don’t beat yourself up over it. If you have that tendency (and you are a writer), you should take a minute (10AM) with psychotherapist Don Laird at the Greentree Public Library. Presented by the Pittsburgh Writers Project, Laird is hosting a discussion about the anxiety-ridden prospect of facing down your “inner critic”. That may be a debilitating thought, but what’s your alternative? (loser)

Once you get through with your daytime activities, ya might want to think about seeing the Squonk Opera at the Hillman Center for Performing Arts (7:20PM, $17-20). The expense might give you pause, but I assure you that this group is well worth seeing. I’ve done so myself on occasion.

Or if you’re feeling frisky… splurge on a ticket ($50 general, $100 Velvet Lounge, $250 Dirty Donor) for the Attack Theater’s Dirty Ball (8 pm - midnight 135 51st Street, Lawrenceville). You’ll be contributing to the dance troupe’s cause, and you might even get (un)lucky with a partner of your own choosing. Who says you gotta settle for free internet porn? The organizers promise that it will be luscious, flirty and salacious. And I believe that drinks and food are covered in the admission price. Damn, that’s tempting.

At the end of the night, I understand if you want to dance. You have a choice at 10PM. The Shadow Lounge has Classic Material #24-"These Are The Breaks" Edition, with the “Breakbeats that have shaped many classic hip-hop tracks.” And the New Amsterdam is offering the ultimate after-party with the production teams of Hijack and Humanaut, “teaming up for night of solid house and minimal”. Dress in layers, yo.

Quilts, Art and Other Women's Work: An Exhibition and Artonomic Stimulus Sale @ Unblurred on Penn Avenue, May 1, 2009 @ ARTica

As a nod to mothers, and working women everywhere, Passports: the Art of Diversity will be showcasing a collection of beautiful handmade quilts, and also the work of three of Pittsburgh's best-known "Graces," Susan Constanse, Christiane D and Amy Kerlin, who will be selling selections from their cache of original work. Their art will be priced "to go," an attempt by the ladies to spur their own "artonomics" stimulus plan, so plan to be there to buy ( before they get too famous)! PLUS... come out and learn how to submit work for the "ART OF CAN" competition sponsored by Red Bull Energy Drinks, see one of last year's art pieces from the exhibition in Philadelphia, and enjoy snacks and FREE samples of Red Bull products. It's all happening Friday, May 1st @ ARTica Gallery and Antiques 5110 Penn Avenue from 7-10 p.m. Questions? Passports.art@gmail.com

Kyle Ethan Fischer @ Box Heart

Kyle Ethan Fischer, Get Rhythm, 24" X 24" X 3", Mixed Media on Wood

One really good reason for following Kyle Ethan Fischer's work: it evolves. I will say that I was surprised when I walked in the gallery to see that Mr. Fischer had moved his work even further to the non-narrative. His work has always had some references to the figurative. It was a good surprise.

The works on display include paintings and works on paper. The paintings are highly textured, in some cases embellished with gold leaf. The works seem to explore multiple techniques without becoming muddied. There is a decided focus to the works, even while they maintain their painterly, loose qualities.

meta consciousness is open through April 25. Please make a point in stopping in Box eart to see this fine exhibit.

Kyle Ethan Fischer
meta-consciousness
March 31 - April 25, 2009
Box Heart Gallery
4523 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
P. 412 687 8858
boxheartexpress@earthlink.net

Gallery Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM
Sunday: 1 PM - 5 PM

The Distillery Program @ The Brew House

The Distillery Program has reached its third year. There is definitely a need for this type of program in Pittsburgh; a mentoring program that assists artists, through an immersive program, to reach progressive levels in their career development. Unfortunately, the Brew House site is under construction, so I pulled the following statement from their MySpace page. Yes, I did edit it a little. It hasn't been updated since its inception three years ago --

The Distillery Program at the Brew House Association, in its third year, is a program that acts as a stepping-stone for participants as they move towards new phases of artistic production and career development. The program addresses the current need for relevant career/professional development opportunities related to the arts as well as exhibition opportunities, and support for working artists by providing individuals with a supportive and dynamic arena in which to pursue studio practice, career development, and an exhibition opportunity in the SPACE 101 gallery.

The artists in this edition of the Distillery program have been very dynamic, seeking out and procuring additional exhibit opportunities. Last fall, the group put together an exhibit at 937 Liberty that was really consistent. It was a prelude to what could be an excellent culminating exhibit at Space 101. From the Facebook event page --

QUESTION / What happens when five artists at different ages and stages in their art making processes come together for a six month residency that provides shared affordable studio space, guest speakers from different domains of the art world and mentoring support?

ANSWER / Wiser artists emerge with new works of art that are ready to be unveiled and shared with the community at large.

The exhibit should be worth seeing. However, gallery hours are a little limited so plan accordingly.

The Distillery Program Season 3 Exhibition
2008-2009 Resident Artists
· Stephanie Armbruster
· Rose Clancy
· Matthew Liam Conboy
· Anna E. Mikolay
· Aubrie Sell

Space 101
The Brew House
2100 Mary St.
Pittsburgh PA 15203
EXHIBIT DURATION / April 24th through May 22.
GALLERY HOURS / Wed. & Thurs. 6-9pm, Sat. 12-6 pm
ARTIST TALK /Saturday, May 16, 5-7 PM
412-381-7767

First Annual Art What You Got

Remember the Art What You Got festival last year? It was a blast, even with the rain and wind. Well, this year, Art What You Got is having its Frist Annual on July 19th! The applications for this year's Art What You Got are now available! This year, we will be accepting applications from performers, too. I have included a brief description of the event at the end of this email. You can also follow us on Facebook and MySpace.

Please go to --

http://www.phcapgh.org/awyg.html

for details and to download applications. Applications must be received by the Polish Hill Civic Association by April 30, 2009 (this is an actual, not a postmark deadline) So get them sent in soon!

Art What You Got is Polish Hill’s art festival, the second summer street fair in this small neighborhood. The main intersection of Polish Hill, Brereton and Dobson streets, is closed for an entire weekend each July when the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church holds a church community festival. The church event is on Saturday only, but tents, tables, chairs and lighting would stay in place until Monday morning. The Polish Hill Civic Association saw an opportunity to create a new tradition for the neighborhood and utilize the second day of the street closing. With the assistance and cooperation of the church, the West Penn Recreation Center, and a squad of volunteers, the PHCA presented the first Art What You Got in July of 2008. Despite a fierce storm that blew through in the afternoon, the bands kept playing, people kept eating pierogis and kielbasa, the sun eventually came out again, and the festival was counted as a rousing success.

Pittsburgh Art Events: 4/3-4/09

So what’s it going to be like this weekend? Will this Thursday foretaste of the weekend reflect its flavors? Hell if I know. But I do know this… there are plenty of options tomorrow and Saturday. Take a minute or two to scan this post and you just might find something to make your mouth moist.

Friday

I could almost be forgiven for believing the Pittsburgh Arts scene was in hibernation for virtually the entire winter (with a few notable exceptions, of course). So this First Friday represents a wake-up call for those of you who stayed tucked in through the long, cold season.

Unblurred features the return of the Modern Formations Spring Salon Annual Juried Exhibition. This is often a highlight on Penn Avenue (4919 PENN AVE), and through the years I’ve been exposed to more than a few exciting young artists there- Andy and Ben Kehoe, Katherine Young, Gabe Felice, and Jairan Sadeghi among them. Naturally there are no guarantees, but you could certainly find more futile ways to spend your time. Have at it.

Elsewhere you might run into some throat singers from the steppes of Central Asia (Garfield Artworks- 10 PM, $10 @ 4931 PENN AVE), or be offered an opportunity to take a free hour-long Argentine Tango crash course (5020 PENN AVE 3RD FLOOR,7-8PM, Free). If that ain’t your bag, you can check out the MOXBOX Fine Art Party (5014 PENN AVE) or see an opening for a mosaic down the street at the Pittsburgh Glass Center (5472 PENN AVE, 6-9PM). Carol Speranza has her hand-cut paintings at the International Children’s Art Gallery (5020 PENN AVE) and Dawn Hartman is displaying photos from Ghana at ImageBox (4933 PENN AVE).

After you’ve rambled along the Penn Avenue Corridor, make at least a quick digression to the Zombo Gallery for a look at the Folk Art of Tim Kerr. Apparently dude plays in a band… which wouldn’t ordinarily impress me, but I saw the image on the hot card, and it does look good. I sure do like to look at drawings. See ‘em here.

Likewise there is at least one opening downtown (@SPACE), and of course the competing first Friday over on Ellsworth in Shadyside. Maybe that’s where you belong instead?

Saturday

Moxie Dada (1416 Arch Street on the North Side) returns this month with a show of sculptures curated by Shannon Kuhns. Participating artists include the aforementioned Kuhns, Thomas Brunger, and Elizabeth Ashe Douglas. I find it hard to believe that despite the longstanding efforts of the proprietors, there are still a lot of otherwise savvy scenesters that have yet to visit the old firehouse that the gallery now inhabits. Perhaps you ought to do something about that…

Ok, so I guess I can quit scolding you. I’ll just drop one more suggestion before I leave off. The David Lawrence Convention Center (downtown PGH) is hosting Tekkoshocon- a celebration of Anime and Japanese Culture. It runs from Friday until Sunday, and they seem to have a full schedule planned. I don’t know if I can slip in for a couple of hours or not, but I sure do feel like trying. Cosplay, vendors, fan art… who wouldn’t want to go?

Big Urban Photography Project @ Rust Wire

Hopefully more printed and online projects will develop to fill the emerging gaps in news coverage, and community linkages opening up as traditional newspapers struggle and fold. One new blog with ambitions to connect the Rust Belt is called Rust Wire which seems to be cooking up some kind of online photography project.

"Rustwire is recruiting photographers across the Midwest to take part in a photo project attempting to capture the unique essence of individual Rust Belt cities.

We want shots of Cleveland, when the fog rolls in from the lake and blankets downtown. We want the vacant storefront in the old Polish neighborhood in Buffalo. We want children playing in the streets in St. Louis. We want street construction projects, old warehouses, snowstorms and street festivals.

We need photographers with an interest in urban landscapes and knowledge and love for their cities. Email us at rustbeltnews@gmail.com to participate."

Pittsburgh Art Events: 3/27-28/09.

Years ago, when Pavement was still together playing vital music, frontman Stephen Malkmus used to wear a shirt that said, "Fuck Art. Let's Dance!". While I certainly understand the sentiment (and there are plenty of options to dance now that Spring is upon us), I'd rather not see y'all get zombified by the pollen clouds. Remember that there's nothing better to get you moving later in the night than looking at original art live in person. And there are some opportunities this weekend. Take advantage of them.

Friday

You could go downtown. Really, you could if you were of such a mind. No, it's not a crawl per se, but there are a couple of openings that seem like they might be worth checking out. With Potato/Tomato: The Cover Project, Future Tenant has organized a show around a potentially interesting concept- they've asked artists to riff on other creators' work. Those folks are always so adorably post-modern, and this presentation might just cause me to venture downtown early Friday evening (6-9PM). Or then again, it might not. If you do think you might be interested, check out their page here...

But perhaps you don't want to do too much driving. Maybe the idea of fighting the Friday Rush Hour snarl is too daunting to penetrate the Golden Triangle. If so, then I got sumptin' for ya. Go to the Zombo Gallery. It's your last chance to see Breitkreutz and Copeland in March- two up-and-comers worth keeping an eye on. Did you go to the opening? Was there too much going on that night (at 6-freakin' PM?!)? Don't just do a drive-by this time. Put your poison on hold and have a look at some paintings. There will be lots of time to go out later.


Saturday

This might just be some sort of freakin' typo... but is LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Exotic Cocktails) really hosting their Annual Women's History Month Closing Party at 7-ever lovin'-AM on Saturday morning? That's hardcore. I wonder what kind of strange rituals they will be perpetrating Friday night. Regardless of when it really happens, it's reported that they will be talking about cosmetics. That's even more appropriate at such an ungodly hour.

If you do get drunk that early in the morning, you might as well schlep your wares over to the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts' Simmons Hall for the New Member Screening of the Pittsburgh Society of Artists. Bring three gallery-ready pieces and $35. Meet some ah-tists. Buck the trends.

As far as the night is concerned, I didn't find any gallery openings on Saturday. Of course there's the possibility that some swell space somewhere is having their special people over for drinks and show-and-tell, but I'm not privy to such rarefied society. So I'm considering taking my sass over to Pittsburgh Filmmakers for the Black Maria Film Festival (7:30PM- $7). For years I've made it a habit not to see films in theaters, and I've rarely challenged that resolve. But with this event there should be lots of breaks, which are essential to my viewing pleasure. I don't know what you'll see if you go, but the press release explains:

"Since 1981, the annual Black Maria Film & Video Festival, an international juried competition & award tour, has been fulfilling its mission to advocate, exhibit and reward cutting edge works from independent film and videomakers. The festival is known for its national public exhibition program, which features a variety of bold contemporary works drawn from the annual collection of 50 award winning films & videos."

Then again, maybe your tastes run more toward the lowbrow. In that case, I don't think you can afford to miss Tromatic Movie Night at the Obey House (1337 Steuben St.). That's in Crafton Heights. Where the f'n hell is Crafton Heights? It just might be real cannibals and toxic freaks that you encounter out that way. Sound like an adventure? It's $5, it starts at 6PM, and it features "Magic Hat Beer Specials And Troma Vendor". Alrite then...

for closed #1, 2, 3

The odd synchronicity about this house, that I considered while I was photographing it -- on Law & Order, if the criminal goes to a hotel, he ends up it room 213. Every time.


There is something oddly criminal, or connected to the criminal, about the fallout of the financial misbehaviors of those rotten banks. It makes it easier to look away from the actual loss being suffered by people if one chooses to argue over the semantics of "how this is going to be solved" (or not). That argument becomes a rabbit trail to a garbage dump of language and legality that stops us from paying attention to the length of lines at soup kitchens, the risks of personal losses, the threat to our own financial lives.

There are a few reasons why I ignore the current merry-go-round of finger-pointing and blame. First, I don't think money, or economic systems, or systems of government, answer to the problem of suffering.


Second, the act of blaming is its own curse. The arguments about the past help us ignore the present. Our "news" media and its chronic search for "answers" fuel arguments about "how 'we' could have allowed ________ to violate our ______ " with something about the public trust thrown in. That long argument, the attention paid to a few people being held responsible for a system's failure (a system we all participate in on one level or another) helps us ignore the fact that actual people are losing their homes.

What are we doing to help them?

These photos were shot in Bloomfield, near the Crazy Mocha on Liberty.