Saturday, October 30, 2010

Alternate Histories announces Christmas Cards, new Great American Cities series in time for Holiday Guides, Wildcard Pittsburgh PA





Alternate Histories announces Christmas Cards, new Great American Cities
series in time for Holiday Guides

Pittsburgh, PA

After a wildly successful show at WildCard store and gallery in Lawrenceville, local artist Matthew Buchholz is expanding his “Alternate Histories” line of monsters crossed with vintage images just in time for the holidays.

The Friendship-based artists is debuting a new set of four Christmas Cards, each featuring a homespun, holiday scene with a monster or alien wreaking havoc amidst it. Perfect for the sci-fi lover or someone who enjoys not taking the holidays so seriously!

And after great demand for the Alternate Histories prints of Pittsburgh, Buchholz is introducing a new series “Great American Cities.” Featuring historic cities like New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, and more, this series brings the vision of sea monsters, robots, and skyscraper-sized monsters to a new set of towns.

Holiday cards sell in packs of eight for $16 each. Prints are $20 each.

All work is available in Pittsburgh at WildCard, 4209 Butler St, 15201 (www.wildcardpgh.com)

All work is available online at www.alternatehistories.etsy.com

For images or questions, please contact Matthew Buchholz at 347-451-9805 or
matthewbuchholz76(AT)gmail.com

...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Christine Frechard Gallery Nov 5 Exhibit 2010




Christine Frechard Gallery on Forbes Ave. in Squirrel Hill on Saturday night, November 6, 2010. Jane Haskell and Jeff Schwarz will be exhibiting there and reception is from 5 – 8 PM.
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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Stephen Hankin’s exhibit Friday Nov 5 2010 Point Breeze


Stephen Hankin’s exhibit of his artwork at his gallery at 408 Lloyd Street in Point Breeze (it starts at Friday 6 PM Nov 5, 2010).


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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Gallery Chiz Clay Exhibit Nov 5 2010


GalleriE CHIZ will host an exhibit by four clay artists. The reception will be on Friday, Nov. 5 from 5:30 until 8:30. Ellen Neuberg has recently received many new pieces of artwork in her gallery. Stop by anytime during the gallery hours (if you can’t make the opening) to see her selection of new work.

JANE FREUND (AAP member)…fanciful
LAURA JEAN McLAUGHLIN…surreal
MARCIA WINOGRAD…translucent
JORDANN SIRI WOOD…organic

5831 Ellsworth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232


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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Specter Studios presents Flesh and Bone Oct 29, 2010 at modernformations


this looks like a one day event (maybe)...

Specter Studios presents Flesh and Bone, mask art on Friday October 29, 2010 from 7-10:30 pm at modernformations

4919 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224-1608
(412) 362-0274

Get directions

...

Specter Studios, in its present form, began in March of 2004. It was born of the desire to embrace the creative aspects of the Horror and Halloween industries and the desire to build a business enterprise that would allow artists in these fields to practice their craft while staying in the Pittsburgh region. Since its inception, the Studio has also opened itself to other artistic pursuits and has completed projects for independent films, music videos, regional theater, corporate branding efforts and product invention.


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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Artist Richard Claraval @ Spinning Plate Gallery





THIS SUN OF ROBERT by Richard Claraval, Spinning Plate Gallery, 5720 Friendship Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206, November 1, December 31, 2010. Opening Reception: Saturday, November, 13, 2010, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

An unusual feature of this show is that the artist will actually work on new pieces in one portion of the gallery throughout the run of the exhibition.

THIS SUN OF ROBERT

Being the child of a verbally abusive father is a terrible thing, but like all disasters it has the potential to be used for good. Artist Richard Claraval likes to think of the profound anger left over from his painful childhood as a small sun inside him. Like the real sun one cannot get too close or it will consume him, but, also like the real sun, it contains tremendous energy which Mr. Claraval taps into to give greater intensity to his art. In his new solo exhibition titled, “THIS SUN OF ROBERT”, opening on November 1, at The Spinning Plate Gallery in Pittsburgh, Pa., he uses one sculpture which directly addresses his childhood as a touch stone to all the other work in the show.

“The Prison of My Youth”, consists of a ripped, jagged, black and red, life-sized self portrait suspended in a rough wire cage. Gnarled ropes, twisted into some of the cruel things Mr. Claraval’s father said to him when he was a child, pierce through the body from one side of the prison to the other, holding it in place. This piece will be situated at the point of the triangularly shaped gallery, with the rest of the work radiating outward from it, shifting from darker more intense, to brighter more optimistic. These will consist of seemingly massive sculptures that project more than nine feet directly from the walls from tiny cross-sections, along with drawings that fuse the human figure with gestural abstraction. All of the sculptures, along with the figure in “The Prison of My Youth” are made of Styrafoam, and coated with a hard polyurethane polyurea skin.

The title of the exhibition, THIS SUN OF ROBERT, refers to the first two lines of Shakespeare’s Richard III,

“Now is the winter of our discontent

Made glorious summer by this sun of York;”.

Mr. Claraval’s internal “sun”, so painful when it was created by his father, Robert, is now helping him to overcome his troubled past, to forge a happier life for himself, and perhaps even a “glorious summer” before the end.

...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Brewhouse Distillery Art Program at C-SPACE






“Round 5: An Exhibition of the Brewhouse Distillery Art Program”

When: Friday, November 5th, 2010 from 7pm – 10pm
Opening reception includes snacks and refreshments

Where: C-SPACE: Collective

Artists: Aimee Manion, Kara Skylling, Meghan Olson, Jaci Rice and Ryan Woodring

What: Five emerging artists from the Pittsburgh area have come together for this exciting group exhibition. The participating artists are members of the Brewhouse Distillery Art Program, a six-month career development program designed for local artists aiming to build their careers, develop their portfolios, and discover and create new opportunities in the Pittsburgh art scene.
These five artists will display their latest work at C-SPACE: Collective, an intimate gallery that is part of the Penn Avenue arts district. There will be a variety of artwork to explore including painting, drawing, printmaking, and mixed media art. The “Round 5” gallery opening is part of the Unblurred 1st Friday gallery crawl on Penn Avenue.

Participating artists are available for contact:

Aimee Manion
724.816.4401
contact(AT)aimeemanion.com
www.aimeemanion.com

Ryan Woodring
215.262.2144
ryanwwoodring(AT)gmail.com
www.ryanwoodring.com

Meghan Olson
503.703.2364
meghan(AT)clothespegpress.com
www.meghanolson.com

Kara Skylling
814.279.2261
kskylling(AT)gmail.com

Jaci Rice
412.999.3462
jacirice(AT)gmail.com
www.jacirice.com

*After the opening reception C-SPACE gallery is open only by appointment.
For more information on The Brewhouse Distillery Program, call Tirzah DeCaria 505.449.7108

...

2nd image listed: Aimee Manion
3rd image: Ryan Woodring
...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Arbor Aid 2010, Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest


Arbor Aid 2010 - Reveal (Pittsburgh PA), Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest

Buy tickets here.

Fri. Oct 29, 2010 at 7:00pm

Guardian Storage Solutions - Strip District
2839 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 View map

Ages: All ages

Price Range: $ 20.00 - $ 25.00


To support their mission of planting, protecting and maintaining Pittsburgh's trees, the Friends will be hosting their annual Arbor Aid fundraiser Oct. 29 on the top floor of Guardian Storage Solutions in the Strip District. This event showcases the creativity of more than 50 local artists and skilled artisans, working with salvaged wood.


...

To support their mission of planting, protecting and maintaining Pittsburgh's trees, the Friends will be hosting their annual Arbor Aid fundraiser Oct. 29 on the top floor of Guardian Storage Solutions in the Strip District. This event showcases the creativity of more than 50 local artists and skilled artisans, working with salvaged wood.

Aside from their natural beauty, trees have a host of lesser-known benefits, some particularly beneficial to Pittsburgh.

"They also take in water during rain events," Lenahan says. "Pittsburgh has a serious combined sewer overflow problem. When there's too much stormwater going into the sewer system, it goes right into the river with all our sewage and garbage. Trees can take up a lot of stormwater when it rains, and slow that down.

Trib article.

...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

closing of Harvest 2 show this coming Saturday, October 23rd! 2010


just got this yesterday:

Hi everyone,

We are having the closing of our recent Harvest 2 show this coming Saturday, October 23rd! It will be at the ICA gallery at 5020 Penn Ave., starting at 8pm, and will be another evening full of art, music, food, and drinks. The full details are below, and we hope you all can join us on Saturday.

-Tim, Shervin, and Dan
The Academy of the South Side
www.academyofthesouthside.com


Facebook event link.


Come celebrate Halloween with us as we close our 2nd Annual Group Exhibition “Harvest 2” at the ICA Gallery.

FREE beer, wine and delicious goodies

NO COVER if you wear a costume... otherwise $5 suggested donation to The Academy of the South Side

Music by:
TRACKSPLOITATION

Paintings by:
Tim Meehan
Shervin Iranshahr
Dan Vogel
Yvonne Kozlina
Phillip Seth
Pat Lee
JohnPaul Altamirano
Farron Kerzner
Sean Cheetham

Video by:
Jordan Taylor
Nate McCartney

Screenprinting by:
Forbidden Ink


...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Modern Formations Gallery Exhibit November 2010



Opening (Unblurred) Friday, November 5 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm

This exhibit will feature a two-person split exhibition, with each artist having a separate opening reception on the same night, while sharing the same gallery space:

In the front room: “it'sjoy” New work by Jason Rosemeyer with writing by Tessa Barber

In the back room: "The Ghost Machine, Part 2: The Day The Devil Came to Town” New work by Christian Breitkreutz

Modern Formations Gallery
4919 Penn Avenue.
Pittsburgh, PA


Visit http://www.modernformations.com/ for more info.

...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Vanishing Point at Unsmoke Gallery, Braddock PA October 30, 2010


VANISHING POINT

UnSmoke Systems
1137 Braddock Avenue
Braddock, PA

October 1st - October 31st, 2010

Closing Reception: Saturday October 30th, 2010 6-10pm (w/ LIVE Performances)
Hours: Free - by appointment

Vanishing Point aims to present work that confronts the notion of a "new abstract". Inclusive to all medium, the exhibition presents abstraction as a means of reconciliation to the dislocation of self in modern life.

Engaging concepts of science, personal histories, politics and beyond, these artists build upon the histories of abstract art to fashion a sense of stability in an environment ever changing, ever updating - an environment built upon a constant feed for more information, with its reference point focused evermore on the self in synthetic environments.

Through this visual "storm" these artists have honed their use of abstraction not only as a means to understand their world, but as a mechanism to locate themselves as an individual in a sea of turbulent messages and meaning. Our understanding of our self becomes more abstract each day - these artists represent a direction where abstraction is no longer universal, but an intrinsically personal understanding.


Jenna Hannum / Katie Hinton / Simona Josan / Michael Kalmbach / Adam Lister / Caroline Santa / Phillip Scarpone / Cullen Stephenson / Matthew West / Drew + the Medicinal Pen

Curated by Brookes Britcher and Alexander Conner

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Public Record book launch, Justin Hopper, Pittsburgh PA Project


Public Record book launch happy hour (facebook event link here.)

Thursday, October 28, 2010 · 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Shadow Lounge
5972 Baum Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA

PUBLIC RECORD is a new book of poetry written by Justin Hopper based on text sampled from 19th-century Pittsburgh crime reports, and published by Encyclopedia Destructica.

The book also includes original artwork based on the poems, which debuted at the Public Record show at 937 Liberty Ave. this past summer. Contributing artists include Erin Brubaker, Jennifer Howison, Christopher Kardambikis, David Pohl, Jeffrey Schreckengost, Lisa Toboz, and Wayno.

Come join us to celebrate the book's launch with a laid-back, no-stress, pre-Halloween happy hour at The Shadow Lounge! Have a beer while Ben Hartlage (singin, strummin) and Stu Braun (harmonica, talk) play some pre-war blues and honkytonk-ish music, and - OBVIOUSLY - pick up a copy of the book!

Public Record was created as Old and New Media Artist-in-Residence with Deeplocal and Encyclopedia Destructica. This project is supported in part by a Seed Award from The Sprout Fund.

(Check out the audio files of the project at the website here, really cool)

...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Michael Wurster: The City Books Session, a film by Ruth E. Hendricks Simmons Hall Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

Premier Screening Nov 15th, 2010 Pittsburgh Center for the Arts:

Michael Wurster: The City Books Session- a film by Ruth E. Hendricks Simmons Hall Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

Doors open @7PM Screening @ 7:30(1 Hr Length) Light Refreshments

6300 5th Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15232-2922
(412) 361-0873

Michael Wurster was born in Moline, Illinois and is a founding member of the Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange (http://pghpoetryexchange.pghfree.net/). He taught Poetry at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts for eighteen years and promotes local poets and the Pittsburgh poetry scene. He received the Schwalb Award in recognition of his dramatic contribution to the life and history of Pittsburgh’s literary scene by Pittsburgh Magazine in 1996. He is the author of several poetry books, the most recent The British Detective - Main Street Rag Publishing.

A one hour video portrait/interview was filmed and edited by Ruth Ella Hendricks and will be screened at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in Simmons Hall (basement) on Monday evening November 15th at 7:30 P.M. the doors open @ 7 PM and light refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.
For more information contact Ruth E Hendricks rutheh(AT)gmail.com


--
Ruth E Hendricks
rutheh.wordpress.com
www.ruthiehendricks.com

...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Flight School, For Pittsburgh Area Artists


Flight School

A Career Development Fellowship for Pittsburgh Artists

Guidelines (Website here.)

Flight School is an eight-week professional development program for artists of all disciplines that is an opportunity for each participant to focus intensely on developing his or her artistic career. The fellowship acts as professional springboard, launching artists that are at a pivotal moment in their careers into the next phase.

Flight School includes an intensive retreat in February followed by a series of weekly workshops in March and April. During the workshops, artists will have access to a broad range of professional artists and arts professionals who will help participants build business skill sets. By the end of the retreat, artists will have developed a plan for the next phase of their careers.

This isn’t a fellowship to sit back, take in some information, and leave. The program has been designed to be a life changing experience, one that participants will someday look at as a point of departure in their artistic careers. If you are interested in becoming a self-sustaining artist and believe Pittsburgh is a place where you can make a living as an artist, Flight School can help.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

Creative Capital is a prestigious, national organization based in NYC that pioneered the approach to combine funding, counsel and career development services to enable an artist’s success and foster sustainable practices. A team of arts consultants who are trained in the Creative Capital curriculum lead their retreats. Creative Capital is a national model and a benchmark for artists and their careers. For more information, please visit Creative Capital.

Creative Capital will kick off the Flight School Fellowship in February 2011 with an intensive and inspirational weekend retreat. The retreat will dive into marketing and public relations, fundraising and strategic planning for artists.

Retreat Timeframe: February 25-27, 2011 @ Pittsburgh Filmmakers

Friday 5:30-9pm

Saturday 8:30am-6:30pm

Sunday 8:30am-5pm.

A series of local workshops, led by Pittsburgh artists, will follow the Creative Capital retreat. The workshops will dial down into more specific areas of expertise and will allow you to integrate all the information over the course of 8 weeks. Topics covered will include: goal setting, marketing, budgeting, and raising capital, legal issues, business planning, technology, presenting and small group mentoring.

Local Workshop Timeframes:

March 7 – April 25, 2011 @ Pittsburgh Filmmakers

Mondays 6-9pm

ELIGIBILITY

Flight School is open to artists working in all discipines, such as writers, composers, choreographers, visual artists, multi-media artists, filmmakers, and theatremakers. Applicants must be generative artists (i.e., artists who create original works of art) Applicants should be practicing / professional artists who have been working professionally for at least 5 years.

For this application process, a practicing/professional artist is defined as a person who creates, on an ongoing basis, original works of art within an artistic discipline, and is pursuing this work as a means of livelihood, or a way to achieve the highest level of professional recognition.

All applicants must reside in the Pennsylvania counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, or Westmoreland counties.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Artists currently enrolled in a degree-granting program (through September 2011), have commercial gallery representation, have a literary agent, or are signed to a label are not eligible.

SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA

Up to 20 applicants will be invited to attend the weekend retreat. A peer panel according to the criteria outlined below will make selections. PF/PCA staff determines eligibility. Diversity will be cultivated to strengthen the program.

Emphasis will be placed on selecting artists who:

  • Are highly motivated
  • Are actively participating in their artistic career
  • Are in need of career and professional development skills
  • Appear poised to transition to a new phase of professionalism in his/her artistic career
  • Would benefit from setting professional goals and building upon marketing, fundraising, and financial management skills
  • Would benefit from a new network of professional contacts.

There are more worthy artists than there are spaces in the program. Not being invited to participate should not be viewed as a verdict on your work or your suitability.

Artists invited to participate in the fellowship will be required to attend all and fully engage in the Fellowship at Pittsburgh Filmmakers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

STIPEND

There is no cost to artists to participate in the program. Artists will receive a stipend of $350 upon completion of the Flight School Fellowship. Actual cost of attendance, including meals, and stipend is estimated to total more than $1,500 per participant and is supported by The Fine Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Creative Capital.

INFORMATION SESSION

An information session will be held Tuesday, November 16th, 2010 @ 6pm at Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

APPLICATION
All applications must be completed online. The online application will be available starting October 19, 2010.

Application questions will include:

1. Describe your work and how you are actively participating in your artistic career. (maximum of 2,500 characters)

2. What do you want your artistic career to look like in 5 years? (maximum of 2,000 characters)

3. What do you see as the central challenges to your career and how do you think this opportunity will help you to advance as a professional artist? (maximum 2,000 characters)

4. How do you hope to have the Flight School Fellowship impact your artistic career? Please be as specific as possible.

5. Attach a resume that highlights your artistic training and accomplishments over the past two years. (2 pages maximum)

WORK SAMPLES

Samples of work should be completed in the last 2 years.

A work sample list will be included in the online application. See below for details. All work samples have to be mailed in or delivered in hard copy by December 20th, 2010 @ 5pm to Flight School, c/o Pittsburgh Filmmakers, 477 Melwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

For visual artists:
Please select five digital images that best represent your work. The quality of the work samples is very important. Number them with your last name and the numbers 1 through 5 and save as jpeg files (sized between approximately 500 KB and 2 MB).

The work sample list should contain the following information on each work: your name, title, date, medium, and size. You can add one sentence describing each work if you choose.

For literary artists:
Please send up to a chapter of a book or selections from your work.

The work sample list should contain the following about your work: your name, the title of the work, the length of the work, whether or not it has been published, and date of completion.

For performing, sound, and film/video artists:
Please send up to three pieces of your work cued for review. Please understand that the panel may only review 10 minutes.

The work sample list should include your name, title, date of completion, and two sentences describing the works and any specific instructions about cuing up the selections to be reviewed.



...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

WICKED BITCHES TAKE SOUTH SIDE BY STORM


WICKED BITCHES TAKE SOUTH SIDE BY STORM:

Local artists contribute their creativity for an all-female collaborative Halloween Art Show, “WICKED BITCHES.” The event takes place Friday, October 15th, at 7PM at the Elixir Ultra Lounge (www.elixirpgh.com) in the South Side. Admission is $5 and all proceeds from the event will be donated to the ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF W. PA!


Friday, October 15 · 7:00pm - 10:30pm

Elixir Ultra Lounge - 1500 Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

FEATURED ARTISTS INCLUDE:
AMY MATZ, DEA CELANI, JANICE RICE, JENN WERTZ, KATIE DONEGAN, KELLY CLOUSER, KRISTY STRICKLER, LINDA KING, LINNEA THOMAS, LISSA BRENNAN, MARA RAGO, MARY BETH GUZZETTA, MELINDA ESMOND, MELISSA BABYAK, MICHELLE WILLIAMS, STACIE MEADE AND STEPH SCUILLO

LIVE MUSIC BY: MORGAN ERINA

...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Artist Fumino Hora at PGC, Nov 5 to Jan 17, 2010/2011



Don't Miss This!

Hodge Gallery: Upcoming Exhibition

The Way of Saṃsāra

Fumino Hora's website.

November 5, 2010 - January 17, 2011

Opening Reception: Nov 5 Friday 6-9 pm

From the PGC Website:

Have you ever felt that you have lived another life before this one?

Saṃsāra is the Sanskrit word for the perpetual cycle of birth, death and rebirth in which human souls are inescapably caught. The ultimate Buddhist goal is to achieve Nirvana: the final release from this endless earthly cycle. Traditional Buddhism teaches that Nirvana can only be attained through the practice of strict bodily discipline. Japanese Zen, however, does not urge the complete abandonment of all sensory pleasures in one’s quest for awakening. Artist Fumino Hora’s The Way of Saṃsāra explores and advocates the Zen art of striking a delicate balance between appreciating the transient beauties of the physical world, and turning away from those same beauties in pursuit of the elusive state of Nirvana. Human beings are inherently both physically and spiritually imperfect. However, despite these flaws and errors, Zen Buddhism upholds human beings and life itself as being transiently beautiful, and worthy of being cherished and celebrated.

This semi-site-specific installation will envelop the viewer into a sense of greater serenity and state of self-reflection. The human body is used as a metaphor to invoke an appreciation of the beauty in all things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. Glass, paper, photography and video work together to create a meditative space. All of the materials used are symbolic in that they, by their nature, are also transient and ephemeral.

Fumino Hora is a native of Tokyo, Japan. She gained a BFA and MFA from RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. Currently she is a candidate for the DFA with RMIT University. She came to Pittsburgh in 2006 after living in Hong Kong for 14 years. She has studied photography at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and has been a resident artist at Pittsburgh Glass Center this year.

This installation is in collaboration with Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

Regular Hours:

Fri., Sat. & Sun.
10 am – 4 pm

Tues., Wed. & Thurs.
10 am – 7 pm

(Closed Monday)

Pittsburgh Glass Center | 5472 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 | 412-365-2145

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Public Art 101 Series for Artists Workshop, Office of Public Art,Pittsburgh, PA

Please join the Office of Public Art for the second installment of the Public Art Network's Public Art 101 Series for Artists - Getting Started

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
810 Penn Avenue Suite 200
Pittsburgh PA 15222

10/13/10 2:00 PM


Register here.

Questions? Contact Lea Donatelli at opa(AT)pittsburghartscouncil.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 412.391.2060 x 233.

Working in the studio allows an artist to create his/her own schedule, budget, and system for creation. Once an artist moves into the highly collaborative field of public art, huge changes are introduced. In this workshop we will cover how to work with other professionals, where to find help when needed, and the roles of each professional/ stakeholder as a project moves forward.

1. Slide show highlighting 10-15 different types of public art projects including full descriptions.

2. Getting started -learning from stakeholders including community members, architects/designers, and reviewing bodies; the roles of team members and lines of communication (project manager, contracting officer, architects, engineers and other consultants).

3. How to present your ideas—what is expected during concept development stage.

4. Leveraging opportunities and resources (e.g. architecture/building elements and/or community involvement)

5. Artist experiences - how and what we learned from community members and stakeholders, and content/resources; how we leveraged architecture -the development steps of a project.

6. Collateral benefits - how the artwork can live on in the community in other forms (books, events, webpages, etc.)

Presenters:

Barbara Goldstein is the Public Art Director for the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs and the editor of Public Art by the Book, a primer published in 2005 by Americans for the Arts and the University of Washington Press. Prior to her work in San José, Goldstein was Public Art Director for the City of Seattle. Goldstein has worked as a cultural planner, architectural and art critic, editor, and publisher. From 1989 to 1993, she was Director of Design Review and Cultural Planning for the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. From 1980 10 1985, she edited and published Arts + Architecture magazine. She has written for art and architecture magazines both nationally and internationally, and has lectured on public art throughout the United States, and in Canada, Japan, China, and Taipei. In her capacity as PAN Councilmember she is leading the committee developing webinars for artists and arts administrators. San Jose's Public Art Program has been recognized numerous times through AFTA's Year in Review program.

Lynn Rogers is a Sr. Project Manager in the City of San Jose Public Art Program where she oversees civic engagement for the program, manages public art projects, and launched the monthly San Jose Public Art e-news which, now in its 3rd year. As Special Projects Manager for the OCA since 1995 she managed development of 2021, The Regional Cultural Plan and its recent update Cultural Connection: the City of San Jose's Cultural Vision Plan and has managed OCA's Arts Grants Programs and special OCA initiatives. From 1988 to 1995 she was Executive Director of the Alameda County Arts Commission where she leveraged the creation of that public art policy and program. She has extensive experience in working with the public and with widely diverse communities.

Amy Trachtenberg is a painter and theatrical set designer. Her first public art commission was to create atrium fabric sculptures at Children's Hospital in Oakland. She subsequently collaborated with architects to design the rotunda area, columns and frieze at Hillview Branch Library in San Jose as well as a book describing the architectural design and community involvement process. She is currently developing designs for site integrated art at a new BART (rail) station in Milpitas.

Sam Rodriquez is a young artist who started his career with "artist-initiated" aerosol art, both sanctioned and unsanctioned, and creating custom bikes. He is an art school graduate with a master's degree from California College of Art and has worked as a successful graphic designer in pop-culture/clothing and has his own custom bike business. He and his business partners Matt Rodriguez (no relation) collaborated with Mel Chin on a 'low-rider' bike/library table at MLK Jr. Library in San Jose. He is currently developing a sculpture screen project for Seven Trees Branch Library in San Jose and a series of benches and wall mosaics for Metro in Los Angeles.


The Office of Public Art (OPA) is a public private partnership between the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and the City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning.

Founded in 2005, the purpose of OPA is to provide technical assistance and educational programs about public art in the Pittsburgh Region. We work with organizations and individuals in the public and private sector to facilitate the development of and information about public art.


source link

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Paintings and Works on Paper by Maxo Vanka, Pgh Center For The Arts

PF/PCA Announces September Exhibit:
Paintings and Works on Paper by Maxo Vanka

(Pittsburgh, PA ) - Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (PF/PCA) announces Paintings and Works on Paper, Maxo Vanka.

Paintings and Works on Paper, by Maxo Vanka curated by Laura Domencic presents a selection of works that have not been previously exhibited, some of which pertain to the artist’s famous Millvale murals. In association with the Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka, this exhibit reveals Vanka’s observations of the human condition in New York’s Bowery during the depression era as well as cityscapes of Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh during his travels. By special arrangement these works are on loan from the Brasko family collection. Paintings by Marissa Halderman, who received her BA from Lafayette College and is Vanka’s great-granddaughter, are presented as responses to his work.

It will be on view from September 10 through November 7, 2010.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 10 from 5:30 to 8:00pm. It is open to the public; a $5 donation is requested; free to members.

For more information about Marissa Halderman - marissahalderman.com

About Vanka
Born in Croatia, Vanka (1889 - 1963) is best known for his murals located inside Millvale's St. Nicholas Church – the first Croatian Catholic parish in the country. Painted in two sessions, one in 1937 and another in 1941, the murals offer a social commentary on immigration, labor, war, and incorporate religious figures such as the Virgin Mary and Christ. The spectacular images, covering 11,000 square feet, are part of the Social Realist movement.

Visit the St. Nicholas Church murals website for an in-depth look at these art treasures.

Upcoming Discussion
"Political Expression through Art," is presented as part of the ongoing Dialogue series. It will be held on Thursday, October 14. Dialogue is a series of talks and events to encourage discourse about art. Cash bar opens at 5:00pm, discussion begins at 6:00pm; free. For more information about the Dialogue series visit our Dialogue webpage.

Vanka-inspired classes at the school this semester
PCA is also offering three adult classes related to the Vanka exhibit: Egg Tempera Painting, Basic Fresco Painting, and Mural Painting. These all involve a tour of Vanka’s murals at St. Nicholas Church. For more information about these classes call 412-361-0455.

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Jamie's Dream Team and Local Artists Give Zach Mulvey Bedroom Mural Art Gift








Thanks to Jamie's Dream Team, Artists Amanda Lee and Kelly Wood, and the Pittsburgh Art Blog (Rick Byerly), the mural art for Zach Mulvey's bedroom have been completed and look great. Zach, age 9, has already had 2 heart transplants and is fighting heart rejection currently. His facebook prayer page can be found here.

The artists spent around a week working on the murals and Zach and family are grateful for what the artists created. The Pittsburgh Art Blog appreciates all the replies from artists as well and to Amanda Lee for making the effort to bring this gift full circle.

(Artist fee and supplies covered by Rick Byerly)

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Gallerycycle; a uniquely-Lawrenceville, bike-related gallery crawl


In conjunction with Bike PGH's ongoing Car Free Friday's initiative, which has been occurring in neighborhoods across Pittsburgh every month since May, Lawrenceville will host Car Free Fridays for the month of October. The main events will take place on October 15th, with breakfast and discount vouchers available to bike commuters, and in the evening, Gallerycycle; a uniquely-Lawrenceville, bike-related gallery crawl that will connect all three wards by encouraging participants to ride their bikes from one location to the next.

Download the Gallerycycle map here.

Date and Time

Friday, October 15, 2010 - 7:00pm

Lawrenceville, PA 15201


Source link.

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Friday, October 1, 2010

DAY of GIVING: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 is an important day for 400 Pittsburgh non-profits.


Wednesday, October 13, 2010 is an important day for 400 Pittsburgh non-profits:

The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Day of Giving is Wednesday, October 13, 2010. This year the matching period will run for 24 hours and each nonprofit will receive a portion of the $500,000 pool of matching dollars! This year over 400 local nonprofits are participating.

RULES FOR DAY OF GIVING 2010

The matching period is October 13, 2010 at 12:00 a.m. Midnight to October 13, 2010 at 11:59:59 p.m.

  • 24 Hours to give! All contributions during this period will receive a portion of the matching dollars.
  • Credit card gifts only. No gifts from checks, cash, gift card redemptions, or donor-advised fund grants will be eligible for matching funds.
  • $500,000 in matching dollars; every organization that receives funds during the match period will receive a portion of the match. The matching dollars will be pro-rated.
head to the website to see which non-profits are participating:

pittsburghgives.org

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Artists Image Resource (AIR) Ninth Annual October Benefit, Saturday, October 9 2010


Artists Image Resource
Ninth Annual

October Benefit
Saturday, October 9
4:00 pm to midnight

$10.00 for all-day access and activities

silent auction of works from the AIR archive by national and regional artists;
hands-on activities, mono-printing, letterpress printing and screenprinting;
demonstrations of print-making processes;
original print editions for sale;
A screening of videos and animations by local artists
food + drink from area restaurants and food vendors;
Live bands and DJ’s
Music, dance and drag performances.


October 9 Artists and Performers ----- Jerstin Crosby is a Pittsburgh-based multi-media artist who combines free association, environmental extremism, animal rights, advertising and humor to unexpected ends. Much of Jerstin's work is formatted around mainstream and marginalized means of information dissemination like television, billboards, bulletin boards, and the web. For this project, in association with Artists Image Resource, he is screen printing a new series of editioned larger-than-life 'bulletin board' flyers, some real....most imagined, as part of an ongoing series, plainly titled "Community News and Events". His work has been exhibited internationally, and has been published in Artforum, Art Papers, and Time Out London. For more information visit Jerstin Crosby's website, www.elvesarewatching.com

--Nina Sarnelle & Craig Fahner Nina Sarnelle and Craig Fahner present a installation dance performance for your enjoyment the evening of October 9th.

--Craig Fahner is a new arrival to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania by way of Calgary and Montreal. A recent graduate of Concordia University's Intermedia/Cyberarts program and co-founder of the Sensorium Lab at the University of Calgary, Craig is interested in reconstituting technology to create work that engages physical space, enabling kinesthesis and exploration as modes of critical interpretation

--The Wrong Airport Pittsburgh indie-rock duo The Wrong Airport celebrates with AIR following the release of their first album, Arrivals & Departures.

--Joy Toujours Joy Toujours an up-beat inventive band influenced by , “Pittsburgh winters, and the innocent intelligence of youth”. They sound like, “ukulele, violin, dulcimer, saxophone, accordion, guitar, bass guitar, percussion, megaphone, telephone, tattoo machines, and pretty much anything else we show up with, sometimes a bouncy castle or a sailboat”

--Sleep Experiments A Pittsburgh based ambient “dreampop” trio, Sleep Experiments traps audiences in a trance-like somnambulistic state with electric loops, angelic voices, electric and acoustic guitar.

--Therm & Soul United in lyrics, beats, friendship, and a darned good show, DJ Thermos and SoulDivide. Their raps sound like soul opened up and put on a roll, grease frying chicken, real talk and then some, wisdom in a lady ear, and the sound you make putting your head on the cool side of the pillow.

--Dean Cercone, Ethereal and transcendent Dean Cercone has performed in Pittsburgh with such luminaries as Black Dice and Gangwish. Ambedextrious, he plays all of the sounds he creates at once, layer upon layer.

--DJ James Wong --Veronica Bleaus --VJ Fagnelly and the peacockcocks --Powerpoint Presentation by Laura Miller

--Obscure Games Obscure Games Pittsburgh finds, invents, and plays strange, new, and obscure sports. We play our games, we play other people’s games, we play games pulled from antiquity, change rules as we see fit, and usually forget to keep score. Visit our website to learn more about upcoming games and other events, and come play with us! www.obscuregamespgh.com

--Some Kind of Circus Some Kind of Circus entertains because they love performance. This group wows crowds by juggling orbs, and performing seemingly impossible feats across a loose rope. Friendly and knowledgeable this group makes anyone dream of running away with the circus. ---------------

Artists Image Resource
518 Foreland Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Phone: 412/321-8664
Email: info@artistsimageresource.org
Web: www.artistsimageresource.org

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

October 1,2 2010 Art Events Pittsburgh PA Friday Saturday Gallery Crawls

There are a lot of art events happening this weekend so be sure to check back in the September listings for more information.

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Wood-Fired Words, Saturday, October 2, 2010, Braddock's Unsmoke Systems

WOOD-FIRED WORDS
--READINGS, ART, PIZZA, AND MUSIC IN BRADDOCK, PA
1137 Braddock Avenue, Braddock, PA 15104

A collaboration between the Gist Street Reading Series and UnSmoke Systems,

Wood-Fired Words: Saturday, October 2, 2010, starting at 7:30 pm.

$5 suggested donation
BYOB

Doors open at 7:30. Readings begin at 8pm, followed by Flamenco!

Ongoing: Art exhibition, community pizza oven.

--Authors:
Joseph Bathanti is Professor of Creative Writing at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grew up in the East Liberty neighborhood during the 1950s and 1960s and is an inductee of Pittsburgh’s Kelly-Strayhorn Theater Gallery of Stars. He attended Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, and attended University of Pittsburgh. His experiences growing up in a working class Pittsburgh Italian neighborhood provide the subject matter for much of his writing. His father was a steelworker who worked for 47 years at the Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock.

Bathanti is the author of six books of poetry: Communion Partners; Anson County; The Feast of All Saints; This Metal, which was nominated for The National Book Award, and won the 1997 Oscar Arnold Young Award from The North Carolina Poetry Council for best book of poems by a North Carolina writer; Land of Amnesia, from Press 53 in 2009; and his new collection, Restoring Scared Art, from Star Cloud Press in 2010. His collection of short stories, The High Heart, winner of the 2006 Spokane Prize, was published by Eastern Washington University Press in Fall 2007.

J.C. Hallman’s mother grew up in Pittsburgh, which explains why he attended the University of Pittsburgh after a pretty sheltered youth on a street called Utopia Road in a master-planned community in Southern California. Hallman's introduction to both city life and, well, regular life, came in Western Pennsylvania. After literary forays into chess and William James, Hallman returned to his utopian heritage to produce a book about the history of paradise: In Utopia: Six Kinds of Eden and the Search for a Better Paradise. More about his career can be found at JCHallman.com.

--Art: Vanishing Point, opening reception at UnSmoke Artspace

Vanishing Point aims to present work that confronts the notion of a “new abstract.” Inclusive to all medium, the exhibition presents abstraction as a means of reconciliation to the dislocation of self in modern life.

--Video station talk by Curator Alexander Conner: “When Looking at the Art of Your Contemporaries

Curator:
Philadelphia-based artist Alexander Conner received a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies and a B.A. in Sociology from Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ). Mr. Conner is an inter-disciplinary artist exploring people and their environments through drawing, photography, printmaking, technology, sound works, video and installation. His work was recently the subject of a New York Times story investigating contemporary artistic studio practices during extreme economic climates. (“The Recession Proof Artist” – May 2009). Mr. Conner is an avid cook, bread baker, an educator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, PA) and a contributor to the international arts journal LAND MAGAZINE.

Selected exhibitions of his work include, the Aferro Gallery (Newark, NJ), Apex Art (New York, NY), Reference (Richmond, VA), Wien (Vienna, Austria, EU). Mr. Conner’s projects are featured in Rhizome’s ArtBase Collection (Global) and the Newark Public Library’s Artist’s Books Department (Newark, NJ).

--Pizza Oven Guru: Jessica Dale

--Flamenco by Carolina Loyola-Garcia

Carolina Loyola-Garcia is a multidisciplinary artist, performer, and flamenco lover. She has been dancing for over a decade, and was co-founder of Centro Flamenco de Pittsburgh. She has performed in numerous events throughout Western Pennsylvania and was co-creator and performer for Quantum Theatre's production of the Red Shoes. Her love for flamenco has been contagious in the city of Pittsburgh, where she has been teaching and nurturing a community of flamenco aficionados since 2001. http://www.mir-ali.com/Mir_Ali/HOME.html ; http://jonbanuelos.com/

Guitars:
Mir Ali
Since winning his first competition at the age of 13, Pakistani-born guitar virtuoso and composer Mir Ali has been described by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as “an exceptional nylon string guitarist," as "mesmerizing and hypnotic" by National Public Radio, and as “innovative and eclectic” by Soundboard magazine.

Ali has written music for movies, theater, radio, television commercials, and most recently for the documentary "Roots and Branches," which won the “Award of Excellence” from the prestigious Film Advisory Board in Hollywood. His recent tours include performances and master classes in India, Romania, Spain, Italy, and Canada. www.mir-ali.com

Jon Banuelos:
Jon Banuelos is a flamenco guitarist who has just recently moved to the Pittsburgh area from Tucson Arizona, where he performed with the Flamenco Groups Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo and Flamenco y mas under the Direction of Jason and Mele Martinez. He has studied in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain under Guitar masters such as Parilla de Jerez, Jose Luis Balao, Manuel "El Carbonero" Lozano, and Juan Diego Mateos. Now in Pittsburgh, he is bringing the same aire from jerez to the Steel City and beyond so all can experience the true duende that is flamenco. jonbanuelos.com.

This project was supported by Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PA Partners), the regional arts funding partnership of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts , a state agency. State government funding comes through an annual appropriation by Pennsylvania’s General Assembly and from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. PA Partners is administered in Allegheny County by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.