Happy Halloween

Ah! Fall,; crisp leaves, acrid smoke and...
HALLOWEEN!
It seems like all of Larryville is decorating for this oh-so-important holiday. I love this pirate ship -
And the houses festooned with cobwebs-
Even the "Painted Ladies" are getting into the act -

But Halloween is not complete without ghosts. Watch as a group of urban spelunkers scare themselves silly at Dixmont State Hospital for the Insane -

Charlie Finch and Google Alerts

Yanno, this article by Charlie Finch was published on Friday in Artnet. I know that there have already been several responses from art bloggers everywhere about this article. But what I want to know is whether or not Charlie Finch has this set up on Google Alerts? Do you think he has an rss feed on technorati for this article?

The Blogger Show @Agni Gallery

Agni Gallery
170 East 2nd Street, Storefront #3
New York, NY 10009
November 3- 30, 2007 - Public Reception: November 3, 6 - 9pm

The Blogger Show is a multi-venue, cross platform exhibit. To date, the exhibit will include the work of thirty-four artists at four galleries in two cities. In addition, there is an online exhibit where you can view the works from this poly-talented group of artists.

The Blogger Show, in all of its many facets, was conceived by John Morris at Digging Pitt. John, who is an extraordinary artist, began talking about this exhibit over a year ago. The exhibits have taken on momentum, growing to encompass all of the many facets of the internet. There are online projects and a gallery of the artists' works. And everywhere, there are links to the community of artist bloggers.

The art bloggers at Agni -

Nancy Baker (Raleigh, NC) - Tire Shop
Martin Bromirski – (Richmond VA) Anaba
Sharon Butler (Mystic, CT) – Two Coats of Paint
Lisa Call (Parker, CO) - New Work and Inspiration
F. Lennox Campello (Washington DC) Mid Atlantic Art News
Rose Clancy (Pittsburgh, PA) – paperWorks
Kevin Clancy (Boston MA and Pittsburgh PA) - soft soft pink pulls through the ivory void
Susan Constanse (Pittsburgh, PA) - Oranje
Warren Craghead - drawer
Mark Creegan (Jacksonville Florida) - JaxCal.org
Christiane D (Pittsburgh PA) - Christiane D
Roberta Fallon (Philadelphia PA) Fallon and Rosof’s Artblog
Ann Gordon (Detroit MI) - Detroitarts
Cable Griffith (Seattle WA) - Cable Griffith
David Grim (Pittsburgh, PA) - Serendipity
Bill Gusky (Canton, CT) - Artblog Comments
Tracy Helgeson - Works by Tracy Helgeson
Stephanie Lee Jackson (Brooklyn NY) - Pretty Lady
JT Kirkland (Washington, D.C.) - Thinking About Art
Mary Klein (Minneapolis, MN) - stillifes
Eva Lake (Portland, OR) -Eva Lake
Steven LaRose - (Ashland OR) Steven LaRose
Michael Lease (Richmond VA) - Annabelle’s Aspirin
Joanne Mattera (New York NY) Joanne Mattera Art Blog
Rob Matthews (Philadelphia PA) - Matthews The Younger
Jean McClung (Pittsburgh PA) Urban Bytes
John Morris (Pittsburgh, PA) - Digging Pittsburgh Arts
Loren Munk (Brooklyn NY) - James Kalm
Elizabeth Perry (Pittsburgh, PA) - Woolgathering
David Pohl (Pittsburgh, PA) - find the time to rhyme
Libby Rosof (Philadelphia PA) Fallon and Rosof’s Artblog
Chris Rywalt - (Wood Ridge NJ) NYC Art
Marc Snyder (Pittsburgh, PA) - Fiji Island Mermaid Press

The future of the Three Rivers Arts Festival

Last year, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservatism and Natural Resources began work on renovating Point Park, which is at the tip of downtown's Golden Triangle, sitting at the confluence of the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers. Three Rivers Arts Festival, as well as the Regatta and several other annual events, were negatively impacted by the renovation. Three Rivers Arts Festival had a much smaller footprint and various parts of the festival, like the Best of Pittsburgh show, were spread over downtown. But since this was only temporary, the coordinators found the spaces and worked around the renovation. But now, there appears to be some glitches in the renovation plan. From the Post Gazette -

New guidelines are being developed for the use of the state-owned park and unless those guidelines are revised, the festival "will most likely not be able to operate in Point State Park," said Elizabeth Reiss, the arts festival's executive director. Read the article

The article goes on to explain that the regulations have not yet been finalized and that a meeting is scheduled with the organizers of these several events to discuss their concerns. Hopefully, the meeting will bring a greater understanding of the needs of event organizers and the concerns of PA -DCNR.

There is very little diversity in the visual arts in downtown Pittsburgh, with most venues operating as non-profits or as co-op galleries. Although the festival emphasizes the performance components more so than the visual arts, at least it does present a wider range of visual arts than what is usually found in downtown. The artist market houses fine crafts and arts and most of the vendors are marketing their work to individual purchases. It brings a more diverse mix of art appreciators to downtown and that is a good thing. Frankly, I am tired of ugly, shock and derivative art that appeals to a very small group of the public. Downtown really needs this festival.

Closing Party @Metamorphose

Metamorphose
Closing reception - 7-?
Music - Art
4922 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15222
724-538-5268
412-277-1238


Matt Dearboff


Susan Constanse

Welcome

Well, we have a new studio mate at 4073. Welcome to Christine Bethea, who is gradually moving into the second floor.

Christine is a salvage/collage/textile artist. I've known her for several years and have worked with her on a bunch of projects here in the 'burgh. She'll be sharing the front of the second floor with me.

Anyway, welcome Christine.

The Blogger Show

The Blogger Show is a multi-venue, cross platform exhibit. To date, the exhibit will include the work of thirty-four artists at four galleries in two cities. In addition, there is an online exhibit where you can view the works from this poly-talented group of artists.

The Blogger Show, in all of its many facets, was conceived by John Morris at Digging Pitt. John, who is an extraordinary artist, began talking about this exhibit over a year ago. The exhibits have taken on momentum, growing to encompass all of the many facets of the internet. There are online projects and a gallery of the artists' works. And everywhere, there are links to the community of artist bloggers.

I count myself fortunate to be involved in this project. My work will be seen in all of the venues that the exhibits encompass. The exhibit at Agni Gallery opens on November 3 and runs through the end of the month. Following is Untitled (Stream series), which is included in the exhibit -

The shows in Pittsburgh open on November 10. I will be sharing Digging Pitt Too with Bill Gusky. I am looking forward to finally meeting Bill. I have been reading his blog longer than I have had my own. I find his discourse to be well-reasoned and honest. Did I mention that I like his work? I do, very much.

Following are some of the works that will be appearing at Digging Pitt Too. breathe/sing (48" x 60") is the single image. The slide show is smaller works on canvas and panel. Most of these works are from the Unreal Spaces series, which seems to be evolving in some unexpected ways.

Panza Gallery is also opening on November 10. I will be presenting a selection of journal drawings from the Stream series at Panza. All of these works are small format, works on paper. Following is an excerpt from the artist statement for the series -

The works comprising the Stream series are a non-verbal journal, recording the evolution of a visual language. Each piece is produced over several days and is completed in succession. This process presents a time portrait that is a combination of the process and mark-making. Movement is a key component in the process of creating these works, depicting rhythms that range from staccato to adagissimo. The progression from all ink, with marks reminiscent of stitching, to the recent drawings that use hard graphite pencils to create subtle shades indicates an evolution of a visual vocabulary.

I'll be making announcements about receptions and other events at Digging Pitt, Agni and Panza as the exhibits and online presence expands. I do have a MySpace page if you would like to join me there. Join the artists at The Blogger Show or on MySpace.

Matt @drink and draw - 10/16/07

Great session last night! Matt was a phenomenal model. He brought several costumes and came up with some great poses.

What have we been up to? find out on the drink and draw blog
Here is a calendar of the upcoming sessions --
10/16 – Matt O’Riley, 10/30 - Christine Allen: gesture intensive
11/13 – Seaman Sara, 11/27 - TBA
12/11 - Moira Meadows

Drink and Draw
is an open studio live model drawing session that meets every other Tuesday on the second floor of brillobox, located at 4104 penn ave, pittsburgh, pa. This session is relaxed, surprising, and inspiring. amazing models dressed in various themes, old timey music, great company, and decor. All mediums, except oils, welcome.

drink and draw
MySpace
brillobox
4104 penn ave
412.621.4900

Wet canvas 10/9 and 10/16

breathe/sing
48" x 60"
In progress.

I took a camera with no power to the studio last week. So, for continuity, I shot this before I started working on it.

This is where I left it yesterday -

Light drawing

Tom pointed this out to me this morning, while we were having coffee, side by side in front of our respective computers. That's why I love him.

For more, got to the Web Urbanist

The only good artist is a dead one

THE ONLY GOOD ARTIST IS A DEAD ONE
at the Pittsburgh Playwrights Black White Festival
Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company,
542 Penn Ave., Downtown.
www.pghplaywrights.com
Mark Clayton Southers
Founder/Artistic Director
412-394-3353.

"The Only Good Artist is a Dead One", written by Rage Stevenson. Directed by James Wong and produced by Mark Southers. Festival coordinator, John Gresh.
Starring the one and only, phenomenal and fabulous Phat Man Dee!



Take a wild and insane ride through the frustrated mind of a mad artist!
The piece is a funny, black humoured, beautifully poetic rant about the seeming futility of creating art in America. Imagine if you will, a fashionably dressed dead best friend, a raging and ranting artist trying to get paid, birds flying, pink nooses, an asshole art buyer and vomit.

Dates and Times:
Preview: Thursday Oct 18th at 8pm
Opening: Saturday Oct 20th at 8pm
Sunday Oct 21st at 2pm
Thursday Oct 25th at 8pm
Saturday Oct 27th at 2pm
Sunday Oct 28th at 6pm


Rage Stevenson Bio

A graduate of UCLA and member of the LA underground art scene, Rage Stevenson, is ready to show Pittsburgh what he's got. Rage has run the gamut as a model turned actor turned writer and painter.

After being on the scene in LA for 10 years, Pittsburgh provides just the right amount of chill space that he needs to rejuvenate, because as he puts it, "those incessant sunny days can be really non-inspiring".

After trying to make his mark in the LA art world and tiring of the chase, he decided to take a look at what it takes to make art and how that thankless lifestyle can make you crazy. He spent several years interviewing countless artists of all genres across the nation, foundation heads, venue owners, producers and non-profit directors to concoct an insanely frustrating look at the inner machinations of a struggling American artist.

tick tock

Recreational reading, no apologies. My other book is a classic, I promise! But I ran into this little gem in --

Tick Tock by Dean Koontz, pg295

"Quy," said Mother Phan, "not from Saigon like our family, not born city person. She from sticks, nowhere village on Xan River near borders Laos and Cambodia. All jungle out there on Xan River. Some people there strange, have strange knowledge."

"Sort of like Pittsburgh," Del said.

ROTFLMAO

Renee Ruth Ickes

Good art in good places.

The brillobox is a terrific little bar on Penn Ave. They host a lot of great music, odd events and a drop-in model session. The owners of the bar, Eric Stern and Renee Ickes, are both artists. Eric's work was recently featured at LaVie and at Digging Pitt. Renee is currently in an exhibit at Future Tenant.

I was delighted to walk into the main bar last week to see this entire wall of Renee's work --



I know, the images are crappy. But hey, you try shooting in a dark bar without a flash! Think of this as an incentive to get yer butt over there before she takes them down. Following are two detail shots of the wall --

Metamorphose

It was great to so many people out for Unblurred. And really terrific that so many stopped by at Metamorphose. It was a terrific and varied evening. My henna tattoo is still very vivid! It was great to see Diva Dale with her lovely glass works and Judy Dickson had a small table set up.

Thanks to everyone that helped out with the event. I really appreciate it! Especially Louise, purveyor of books, whose support over the years has been invaluable. And to Serendipity for the nice shout-out.

Stay tuned for more developments. There are whispers about a closing party.



Fashioned by Monica Phillips


Marci Gehring


Marci Gehring


Marci Gehring


Matt Dearboff


Matt Dearboff


Matt Dearboff


Susan Constanse


Susan Constanse


Susan Constanse


Susan Constanse

Metamorphose
4922 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15222
724-538-5268
412-277-1238

Andres Serrano

There is an article about this in NYT.

I am so undecided about this issue. I couldn't see anything in the pieces that were destroyed that I would go out of my way to view, let alone support. The subject matter was really the only challenge to the work. It seemed fairly straightforward and formal. Maybe that's part of Serrano's aesthetic, I don't know. This kind of work just doesn't do anything for me. All it did was raise a lot of questions --

1 Who does validate this work?

2 Does one group have the right to decide what can be shown at a venue?

3 Why would someone choose to view this work?

Theo Jansen

Thanks, Larry, for the links.

Olga @Drink and Draw

If you listen closely to the background music, you'll know that we were listening to one of my favorite musicians - Blossom Dearie!

So what are you doing on Tuesday nights? Get in here!

Everybody --

What have we been up to? find out on the drink and draw blog
Here is a calendar of the upcoming sessions --
10/2 – Olga Brindar, 10/16 – Matt O’Riley, 10/30 - Christine Allen: gesture intensive
11/13 – Seaman Sara, 11/27 - TBA
12/11 - Moira Meadows

Drink and Draw
is an open studio live model drawing session that meets every other Tuesday on the second floor of brillobox, located at 4104 penn ave, pittsburgh, pa. This session is relaxed, surprising, and inspiring. amazing models dressed in various themes, old timey music, great company, and decor. All mediums, except oils, welcome.

drink and draw
MySpace
brillobox
4104 penn ave
412.621.4900

Wet canvas 10/3

breathe (Unreal Spaces) 60" x 48"

Wet canvas 10/2

breathe (Unreal Spaces) 48" x 60"

various in-progress 9" x 12"

Open Studio - the aftermath

We had a wonderful time visiting with all of you during the tour. Special thanks to my Mum, who took charge of pulling out paintings and setting them up around the room!It was good to see all of you.

Following are some set-up shots from my studio --

Read Kurt Shaw's preview at the Tribune Review --

This Saturday, from noon-6 p.m., more than a dozen artists and two galleries will be part of the Creative Tour, an open studio event in Bloomfield in which the public is invited to tour the studios and learn the creative processes of some of Pittsburgh's favorite artists. read more

I like the part where he says "some of Pittsburgh's favorite artists"!

POWERful opening

Friday was monumental. The opening was packed! The weather was beautiful, which is great because all of us would not have fit in Future Tenant's new space. If you missed the opening reception, make sure to put the following dates on your calendar. See you there.

POWER - The Definition of Feminine Power
Curated by Christiane D.
September 28 - October 20
SPECIAL POWER EVENTS
Future Tenant
819 Penn Avenue, Cultural District

ALL LIT UP - A POWER-ful evening of Words and Women October 12 - 7:00 pm
Featuring the literary and poetic works of Ellen Smith, Jan Beatty, Lori Jakiela, Carrie Smith, Megan Tutulo, and Stephanie Brea
Tickets are $3.00 at the door

Downtown Gallery Crawl
October 19, 2007 - 6-9PM

Following are a few images from the exhibit. I was lucky enough to get there early, so I could, with some patience, get some pretty clear shots --


Susan Constanse

Suz Pisano

Vanessa German

Staycee Pearl

Pamela Jennings

Maritza Mosquera

POWER
September 28 - October 20
Future Tenant
Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

POWER will present the work of the following artists: Susan Constanse, Suz Pisano, Veronica Corpuz, Rise Nagin, Alexis S. Covato, Patricia Villalobos Echeverría, Cara Erskine, Carolina Loyola-Garcia, Vanessa German, Stacy Rae Gross, Pamela Jennings, Monique Luck, Maritza Mosquera, Renee Ruth Ickes, Staycee Pearl, Rebecca Rose, Sam Thorp, and Two Girls Working (Renee Piechocki and Tiffany Ludwig)



Amy Kerlin -- I just love her dress!