call for artists: Frackin' Art: The Fine Art Of Hydraulic Fracturing

Frackin' Art: The Fine Art Of Hydraulic Fracturing
A Juried Exhibition

Exploiting the Earth’s resources for energy is part of what humans do. Recently, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies have demonstrated great promise in extracting natural gas from deep underground. These technologies rupture deep rock formations with the high-pressure injection of a mixture of water, sand and chemical additives, liberating the gas within. Fracturing these layers of rock is commonly called Hydrofracking or Fracking.

As with most energy extraction methods, controversy flourishes with hydrofracking. We need the energy… people need jobs & money… there are dangers… humans take shortcuts… tycoons abandon played out sites… etc. Fracking is no different, and has plenty of arguments coming from many perspectives.

Oil City, PA is in the middle of a large shale field being fracked called Marcellus. Because of our geography the local art community felt it was appropriate to invite artists to display their ideas on Fracking. We want art to facilitate a public discourse, and we call the show Frackin’ Art. We invite work from artists reflecting their view on hydrofracking – the benefits, the dangers, the future, the fears, or any other inspiration. There are many national and international sites where hydrofracking isan issue and artists from any locale are invited.

All entries must be submitted by September 9th, 2011.

Please visit http://www.georgecooley.com/call.htm for more information and complete submission guidelines.

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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.

Clay: Open Workshop - Eastern Algonquin Pottery

Clay: Open Workshop - Eastern Algonquin Pottery**This Workshop has a limit
of 15 people and RSVP's will be taken on a first-come, first served basis.
Please email steelvalleyarts@gmail.com to RSVP by July 25, 2011. *


*Part of the Steel Valley Arts Council's Storytelling Series.* This series
includes workshops that explore ways that artists tell stories.

Sponsored by the Steel Valley Arts Council

For those with experience working in clay or to those who are new, make use
of this workshop time to develop a piece of your own using a variety of hand
building techniques and methods of surface decoration. The class caters to
individual skill levels and interests. Courtney Leonard is an artist from
the Shinnecock Nation of Long Island, New York and received an MFA from the
Rhode Island School of Design. Her own cultural landscape is strongly
influential in her work, which has been exhibited nationally and
internationally. She has taught ceramics for the past five years and works
locally at her studio in Pittsburgh.

Cost: $7 per person
Saturday, July 30, 2011 from 9:30am-12:30pm

artspace105
105 E. Eighth Avenue
Homestead, PA 15120

Materials and Firing Included

(Work made on 7/30 will be fired and available for pickup at workshop
location - Pick up Date TBA)


*Eastern Algonquin Pottery*
Courtney M. Leonard is a ceramic artist from the Shinnecock Nation of Long
Island New York. Her work is influenced from her cultural landscape and
community. She will present a brief history on Eastern Algonquin traditional
pottery as each student creates their own unique pot in clay.

*About the Artist:*
Courtney M. Leonard is a member of the Shinnecock Nation of Long Island, New
York. She earned her M.F.A. degree from Rhode Island School of Design where
her thesis work explored cross cultural connections including that of
Algonquin Pottery and that of traditional and contemporary Dutch Delftware.
In 2007 Leonard traveled to the Netherlands connecting with curators at both
the Rijkes Museum in Amsterdam and the Princesshoff Museum in Leuwarden, and
toured one of the oldest Royal Delftware factories in Makkum. She has
exhibited both nationally and internationally.

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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.

ModernFormations' 10th-anniversary show is a vivid cross-section of local artists.

In case people wonder how much the two main newspapers "miss" covering visual arts in Pittsburgh they have never reviewed or covered ModernFormations in Garfield. It has been active for 10 years...

Review by Bill O'Driscoll, Pittsburgh City Paper

Per square foot, arguably no venue has promoted Pittsburgh-based artists in the past decade more energetically than ModernFormations Gallery. The Garfield storefront's 10^th-anniversary show, ret-ro-spec-tive, is a vivid cross-section.

The Exhibit has been extended until August 19, 2011.

Modernformations Gallery and Performance Space

4919 Penn Avenue, Pgh, Pa 15224

Call for gallery hours 412.362.0274

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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.

The BrokenDayton Art Machine presents I AM IMMORTAL

The BrokenDayton Art Machine presents I AM IMMORTAL, an exhibition exploring the idea of immortality through art, opening Friday, July 15^th from 6pm – 10pm at UnSmoke Artspace. Admission is free.

Ohio-based artists Nicholaus Arnold, Ian Briedenbach, Ren Cummings, Phillip Evans, Ashley Jonas, and Frank Travers will present works in different mediums exploring the resurgence of art and culture in Braddock, PA. The exhibition includes a time capsule designed for public participation; guests are invited to bring items for inclusion in the piece. A closing reception on Friday, July 22^nd, beginning at 6pm, will include the on-site burial of the time capsule. The artists will be available for conversation at both events.

I AM IMMORTAL

OPENING RECEPTION:

Friday, July 15th, 6pm - 10pm

CLOSING RECEPTION:

Friday, July 22nd, 6pm

FREE!

FOOD AND DRINKS!

BRING SOMETHING FOR THE TIME CAPSULE!

The BrokenDayton Art Machine is a nationally-showing artist collective based in Dayton, OH. The collective utilizes non-traditional/public art spaces and a variety of mediums and disciplines in an effort to create “art happenings” or events open to the public. For more information, visit http://brokendayton.com.

For more information, visit www.unsmokeartspace.com or email unsmoke@gmail.com.

UnSmoke Systems Artspace

1137 Braddock Avenue

Braddock, PA 15104

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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.

Dick For Sale: A bathroom installation by Ty Marshal Future Tenant: a space for art

*“Dick For Sale”
A bathroom installation by Ty Marshal
Future Tenant: a space for art
819 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
July 17th - September 4th *
Info@futuretenant.org

Craigslist first started as an email list for events in San Francisco in 1995 by Craig Newmark. Every month, Craigslist gets more than 20 billion page views from over 50 million users in the United States alone.

Although sex is solicited in many places both online and off, the “Personals” section on Craigslist is a major U.S. hub that has grown by leaps and bounds in the 15 years of the websites existence - offering to do for casual sex what the rest of the site does for apartment searches, jobs or free items. Like bathhouses or sex clubs, the personal section on Craigslist caters to the erotic underbelly of society, the lonely, and those seeking anonymous sexual encounters. Oftentimes, males post pictures of their penises in the personal ads resulting in a venerable jungle of penis
that covers all 50 states, and outlying U.S. territories.

Prior to the Internet and Craigslist, individuals would post personal ads in newspapers, apply for a dating service, visit sex parlors or scratch their phone number in bathroom stalls to achieve their desired effect. Today, one simply has to post a personal ad on Craigslist to achieve the desired effect.

*In “Dick For Sale” Ty Marshal explores the phenomenon of individuals posting “dick pics” on Craigslist as an attempt to attract a “date”, “casual encounter”, or “anonymous rendezvous”, despite the websites supposed claim that pornographic pictures are not allowed. In more relevant terms, the free advertisement and marketing of one’s penis on craigslist is utilized as a means to an end. With the recent resignation of New York's Republican Congressman Christopher Lee, for posting a shirtless picture of himself via Craigslist - this phenomenon begs to come out of the nation's closet.

Exploring the use of the penis as a commodity (a good for which there is a demand, but which is supplied without qualitative differentiation across a market), “Dick for Sale” also looks at the fungibility of the craigslist penis – that is the commodity whose individual units are capable of mutual substitution. The word “Fungibility” comes from the Latin fungibilis from
fungi, meaning, “to perform”. **

The installation includes posts from the “casual encounters” section of Craigslist from each of the 50 states (including U.S. territories) posted on the walls of Future Tenant's bathroom, displayed alongside 50 moulds of the artist’s penis, installed to reflect mounds of growing mushrooms. “Dick for Sale” will be on display from July 17th – September 4th in the bathroom of
Future Tenant, 819 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222*


Ty Marshal is an inter-disciplinarian concerned with social activism, public space, semiotics and theater. His artwork takes a critical view of social, political, historical and cultural issues through visual commentary on human nature.

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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.

Eye & Hand, Heart & Mind: Images of Labor in Southwestern Pennsylvania

Eye & Hand, Heart & Mind: Images of Labor in Southwestern PennsylvaniaSaturday,
July 16, 2011
2pm-3:30pm
Admission $7
Refreshments Provided
Proceeds benefit the Steel Valley Arts Council

artspace105
105 E. Eighth Avenue
Homestead, PA 15120

Sponsored by the Steel Valley Arts Council and Advanced Labor & Cultural
Studies

-Did your ancestor work as a domestic servant in Shadyside?
-Did your uncle work in a steel mill in Homestead?
-Did your cousin work as a manager at Westinghouse?
-Did your family talk about what they did for a living around the kitchen
table?

Local writer and presenter Chuck Lanigan uses images, stories and the
results of his research and interviews to spark a discussion on the evolving
nature of work and what it means to our identity and value as individuals
and communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The questions to be explored include:
-How we value and reward certain kinds of work as individuals and as a
society
-The competence and skill involved in work done with the head versus work
done with the hands
-How we educate and train workers and students for a global knowledge
economy
-The future of the trades and manual labor
-How work defines us as families and individuals

Adults and families with older children 12 and older are invited to attend
and participate. Come share your story.

Chuck Lanigan earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Communication from
the University of Pittsburgh. He served on the executive board of the
Pittsburgh Regional Knowledge Management Consortium (PRKMC) the IT Workforce
Education board at Catalyst Connection of Western Pennsylvania, and as board
president of STC WorkQuest.

He has taught at the University of Pittsburgh College of Business
Administration (CBA), Katz Business School Center for Executive Education
(CEE), Penn State University Outreach and Carnegie Mellon University.

He has written for CIO Magazine, done art reviews for the Pittsburgh City
Paper, and presented at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh on the changing
face of Pittsburgh's labor force.

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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.

Strange Attractors: Investigations in Non-Humanoid Extraterrestrial Sexualities

Strange Attractors: Investigations in Non-Humanoid Extraterrestrial Sexualities

A 300 page, full color book and DVD of art, writing and film.

Encyclopedia Destructica and the The Institute of Extraterrestrial Sexuality has launched a Kickstarter campaign to complete funding for the printing of a new joint publication!
...
Kickstarter is all or nothing: If we cannot secure at least $10,000 in support and pre-orders by Friday, August 26th, printing will be stalled you will not be charged.

THE BOOK

This project will publish the work of 69 artists, writers and filmmakers who have created an amazing range of expressions that expand our conception of the possibilities of alien life forms and the nature of sexual desire. Strange Attractors straddles the line between a speculative scientific exploration and a work of artistic imagination and creativity.

A publishing first for Encyclopedia Destructica, Strange Attractors will be a professionally printed 4-color offset book with a print-run of 1,500 copies. We have been collaborating and raising funds with artist and filmmaker Suzie Silver, who founded The Institute of Extraterrestrial Sexuality, for the past two years to make this dream become a reality!

Read more about this project and secure your copy of the limited run here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1669097961/strange-attractors-nonhumanoid-extraterrestrial-se.
By pre-ordering on this Kickstarter page you are giving us invaluable support to continue pushing forward on this project.

YOUR PART

By contributing, you will not only receive unique rewards, such as the book/DVD!, but you will be taking an active part in the independent publishing process and supporting the distribution of imaginative and experimental, visual art, writing and film.


Thank you in advance for your support.

Christopher Kardambikis
Jasdeep Khaira
Suzie Silver

Encyclopedia Destructica is a community-based artist book publisher based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania founded in 2005.
(www.encyclopediadestructica.com)

The Institute of Extraterrestrial Sexuality uses art and speculative science to creatively explore and imagine alien sexualities. It was founded in 2009 by Suzie Silver.
(www.extraterrestrialsexuality.org)

image info: Video Still from Love Puddles by Michael Mallis and Mikey McParlane

...

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.

Stephanie Armbruster's solo show, In Search of Something More

Stephanie Armbruster's solo show, In Search of Something More, opening on July 15th and running through September 11th at 709 Penn Gallery.

The opening party will take place during the Pittsburgh downtown gallery crawl on Friday July 15th from 5:30-9:00 p.m. with drinks and awesome music by DJ's Paul Fleetwood and Aaron Clark.

The show will be on view through September 11th and the gallery is open daily Wednesda...y through Sunday - you are welcome to stop by any time and I am happy to meet for gallery visits.

ABOUT THE ART
Visually influenced by street art, design and documentary photography, this new series of encaustic and mixed medium paintings is a reckless commentary inspired by the absurdities of urban life, random encounters and the tension of the city in a state of flux. Recollections of cheap rent, budget glam, underground music and demolition come together in a stream of consciousness rant of overbearing typography and architectural elements. For work images, please visit www.stephaniearmbruster.com.

OPENING RECEPTION
709 Penn Gallery
5:30-9:00 p.m.

GALLERY DETAILS
709 Penn Gallery is located on 709 Penn Ave.
Downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District
Hours: Wed. & Thurs. 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun.11 a.m.–5 p.m.

709 Penn Gallery is a Project of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Education & Community Engagement department. Special thanks to the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council for providing partial funding through the Artist Opportunity Grant.

** Please email me at sa@stephaniearmbruster.com to receive a detailed works list and official press release.

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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.

RESTROSPECTIVE: LOVE LETTERS: BY ARTIST JASON SAUER

929 LIBERTY AVENUE, PITTSBURGH PA

Friday, July 15 · 5:30pm - 9:00pm

ONE NIGHT ONLY! NEW WORKS BY ARTIST, JASON SAUER; PRODUCED BY MOXIE DADA. Jason Sauer uses metal and print making as his materials for creating three dimensional artworks. The metal comes from junked cars or old demolition derby cars, an “artistic” hobby that the artist participates in annually. He considers building and destroying his “art” car as part of his artistic process. This solo exhibition explores the bicycle as the “twisted metal” materials used.

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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.

Wildcard presents the Premiere of Insert Coin to Play: Pinball Life Pittsburgh, PA

Wildcard presents the Premiere of Insert Coin to Play: Pinball Life
Pittsburgh, PA

July 15 2011

Announcing their presence with an explosion of sound, lights, and design, pinball machines are a unique part of pop culture that combine gaming, skill, and art into one colorful package. To celebrate the machine’s presence as both art and an inspiration to artists, Wildcard is proud to present Insert Coin to Play: Pinball Life from July 15 to August 21. Pinball Life is timed to coincide with the Professional & Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA) World Championships (August 11-14), held each year in Scott Township. This group show includes original work from local and national artists and also features vintage backplates of old games (on loan from PAPA).

In addition to the vintage pinball machines at Wildcard and a third on loan, Pinball Life includes the debut of the new Lawrenceville-themed pinball machine, featuring art by local artist Andy Scott. In addition, Wildcard will be hosting its annual Wildcard Pinball Classic on Friday, July 22. The competition will feature four tournaments on four separate machines, as well as a playoff for a grand prize. Free to enter. In addition, 50% of the proceeds from the show and tournament will go to local bicycle advocacy group Bike Pittsburgh (www.bike-pgh.org/).

A complete list of artists follows:

- Dan Burfield works with sculptural and metal elements (www.notionpotion.com)

- Andy Scott draws and paints on different mediums (www.aplace-forall.blogspot.com)

- Cryss Stephens photographs pinball machines in extreme close-ups
(www.csstriker.deviantart.com)

- Elizabeth Klevens creates pieces out of metal and glass (www.elizabethklevens.com)

- Doug Cooper uses charcoal and other paints to create murals and video pieces
(www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/dcooper/)

- Brian Holderman is an illustrator/artist whose custom pinball machine appeared in the
Funland exhibit at the Warhol (www.bholderman.com)

- Rafael Colon uses sneakers and skateboards as his artistic medium (www.brolicdesigns.com)

- Mike Budai’s illustrations appeared on a custom pinball machine in the Funland exhibit at the
Warhol (www.crayondracula.blogspot.com)

Insert Coin to Play: Pinball Life runs from Friday, July 15 through Sunday, August 21. An Opening Night reception with the artists will be held on Friday, July 15, from 6-9PM with free drinks and refreshments.

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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.