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

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.

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

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!

Metamorphose

Metamorphose is operated by two very lovely ladies - Marci Gehring and Monica Phillips. The venue, which opens its doors to artists for the Unblurred event every first Friday, always features live entertainment and the delightful creations of the proprietors. On October 5, Metamorphose has MUNCHES, MUSIC, ART, FUN

Start the night off with light munchies and an art exhibit at 7:00 with our October feature artist, painter Susan Constanse. Matt Dearboff will display his his artful interpretations of Frank Loyd Wright's architecture. Marci Ghering and Monica Phillips will have their cozy new fall looks ready to wrap yourself in! The band, Hail and Farewell, featuring Barrett Black and David Harris, will rock out in our courtyard around 8:00pm. Plus, henna tattoos by Kate.

October Unblurred @ Metamorphose
10/5/2007 - 7-11PM
4922 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15222
724-538-5268
412-277-1238

Creative Tour in Bloomfield

Kurt Shaw at the Tribune Review gave the Creative Tour a nice mention in today's edition --

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"!

What: Creative Tour
Where: Bloomfield
When: Saturday, September 29: 12PM – 6PM

You can download a map here

BLESSING OF THE ARTISTS

Thank you, Chris, for the heads up. I think I'll go. I'm bringing brushes, pencils, needles and an embroidery hoop.

ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE ARTISTS
Trinity Cathedral, downtown Pittsburgh
328 Sixth Avenue
Tuesday, September 25th
5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Questions? Call 412-232-6404

BLESSING OF THE ARTISTS

Trinity Cathedral offers the Blessing of the Artists on Tuesday, September 25, at 5:00 p.m. The profound 45- to 50-minute liturgy is based upon the Cathedral’s Anglican heritage while being sensitive to the diversity in the arts community. After the Blessing proper, there will be an opportunity to remain for healing prayers and anointing.

Artists, you are encouraged to bring tools or symbols of your professions—an instrument, mouthpiece, reeds, drumsticks, ballet slippers, paintbrushes, camera or lens (in its case), theatrical mask, laptop computer, etc.

This is open to performers, visual artists in commercial and fine art, literary artists, students, educators, arts administrators and promoters, and those in the culinary arts.

Read more

Creative Tour in Bloomfield

What: Creative Tour
Where: Bloomfield
When: Saturday, September 29: 12PM – 6PM

You can download a map here

Mark your calendar for the sixth annual “Little Italy Days” Festival on September 28, 29 and 30. This year you can visit some of the artists working in Bloomfield. Expect lots of music, food, games, more food and other fun activities amidst Bloomfield’s unique shops and dozen or so fine restaurants.

As a part of the festival, Creative Tour in Bloomfield will focus on artists, crafters and creative businesses in Bloomfield. Several studios, that are generally not open to the public, will welcome visitors during the festival, on Saturday, September 29. Painters, woodworkers, photographers and sculptors are among the artists presenting work during the open studio event. Some studios will host artists from other parts of Pittsburgh. This is a rare opportunity to view new work by local artists and sample the works on display at some of the venues in Bloomfield where creative work is always on display.

Maps will be available on the site and at each of the venues and studios that are on the tour. You can visit the Creative Tour blog (susin15224.wordpress.com) for additional information about the artists and an up-to-date roster of participating creative workers.

4071 Liberty Ave
Iron Eden

4073 Liberty Ave – 2nd floor
CJB Photography – Photography
Susan Constanse – Painting and Drawing
SB Image - Photography

Guests
Christine Bethea – Salvage sculpture
Digging Pitt Gallery – Flat Out in Bloomfield
Steve Dines - Drawing
Noir LeBlanc - Photography
Meredith Laura Lynn - Painting

4073 Liberty Ave – 3rd floor
Ben Bigelow - Crater Eraser (work in progress)

4523 Liberty Ave
BoxHeart Gallery

307 Taylor Street
Solidio Wood & Metal Craft - Julie Graf & Mitch Richardson

4730 Liberty Ave
Allure
Ellen Levick – sculptor

4765 Liberty Ave
Botanical Designs by Leon
Leon Sheffey - Painting

… and others

Art & 'Tique on Hatfield

Hatfield Street Fair
At least 20 local businesses and artists from the Lawrenceville area will come together on one block for one day to showcase all that Lawrenceville has to offer in a block party setting. "Art & 'Tique on Hatfield" will be held on August 18, from 11AM to 5PM, rain or shine, and is free to the public. The location of the "festival" is between the 4700 and 4800 block of Hatfield Street(one block off of Butler). There will be fine art, antiques, clothing, food, music, and live performances.

"Art & 'Tique on Hatfield" is a collaboration between the Hatfield Street Galleries which is comprised of 4 galleries located on Hatfield Street: DNA Blue Collar, Society for Cultural Exchange, Trinity Gallery, and Zombo Gallery. It is a grass roots effort to unite community, commerce, and art.

For more information, contact Dan Gaser at 412-687-2458 or email at imdan@verizon.net

Delicate Situations

I found this site a few days ago. Delicate Situations - From the blog:

Delicate Situations is a year-long exhibition from 15th January 2007 to 15th January 2008 bringing together work that will be placed in any space anywhere. The one common factor is that all the works in the exhibition are left in a place (for as long as they last).

The works that are exhibited are small, almost incidental. The documentation is as much the art as the installations. One of the ones that I found most notable was King of Cards. (Pictured below) The work was installed and documented by Joe Schneider who is the driving force behind the online exhibit.


Most of the works are ephemeral, lasting only as long as the wind will let them. And some don't seem to have a sense of deliberation. Definitely worth checking out.

Gallery Guide released

I was dowtown for the gallery crawl on Friday. Mostly to check out what Art-iculate is doing with the gallery guide. from their website --

Pittsburgh Creative Network releases the premier edition of the Pittsburgh Gallery Guide at the Gallery Crawl. Thirty-five galleries & art organizations will be featured in the first catalog published, spotlighting the best of Pittsburgh's art. An exhibit will include galleries that have participated in the Gallery Guide.

We now have a gallery guide for Pittsburgh, which is great. The website will, hopefully, serve as a gateway to the city's visual arts. The exhibit, which was packed, had some familiar faces represented. See below for the images from the exhibit.

Since this was the gallery crawl, all of the venues were packed. There was a line for the elevator for Wood Street, SPACE was so packed and, well, LOUD, that I just backed off. Future Tenant and all of the usual suspects were open...

Anyway, I have to go downtown for a meeting on Friday. I'll be sure to take my camera and get some shots while I'm in the neighborhood.

Artist Talk on Saturday - SPACE 101

SPACE 101 Gallery
The Brew House Association
2100 Mary Street
Pittsburgh PA 15203
412-381-7767

BARE III


SPACE 101 Gallery will host an artist talk on Saturday, June 23 @1:00 PM. Join some of the artists exhibiting in the show to discuss life, drawing and life-drawing.

Saturday, June 23 @1PM
Pat Barefoot
Rich Brown
Steve Dines
... and others

Pat Barefoot

Rich Brown

Women in the arts

The New Hazlett Theater is beginning a year-long festival, celebrating the contributions of women to the arts in Pittsburgh. You can read the entire Pittsburgh Post Gazette article, announcing the inaugural fundraising event, but here is an excerpt that I found interesting --

The city lags behind the national average of women in executive roles at public companies -- holding 10.9 percent of the jobs, to the nation's 15.6 percent -- but makes a much better showing in the arts. Almost 60 percent of executive roles at Pittsburgh's cultural organizations are filled by women, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette study last year.

The festival, Women in the Arts: Founders, Pioneers, Instigators, continues with a multi-day symposium in September and performances in September, November, January and February.

This is a continuing theme this year in Pittsburgh. In March, 709 Gallery mounted the Women's Work exhibit. Just a month ago, an anonymous artist posted signs around the Carnegie Museum asking --

Where are the names of notable women on the facade of the Carnegie Museum? Some suggestions for inclusion are written on Easter eggs and hidden in and around the museum. How many can you find?

More information about this project, as well as a statement from the artist, were posted in the Digging Pittsburgh Arts blog. Coming up this October, Future Tenant will mount Power, another exhibit that is working to expose the contributions of women artists in Pittsburgh.

There's something in the air, isn't there?

Celebrate Life, Celebrate Art

If you haven't gotten your ticket yet, Persad has an online ticket service. Get on out there and support the cause.

Celebrate Life, Celebrate Art 2007
an auction to benefit Persad Center

The Auction
Monday, May 14, 2007
Carnegie Museum of Art, Oakland
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

5:30 - 6:00 p.m. Private Preview & Cocktails for Patron Ticket Holders
6:00 – 11:00 p.m. General Admission

You can even get a sneak preview of some of the work included in the verbal auction.

Swoon

Thanks to my good friend Jean McClung for the head's up --

7-11 pm SWOON collaboration!!!!!!

Fri., April 27

"There are so many spaces that don't really need to be brown," renowned street artist Swoon told the New York Times in 2004. Inspired by sources including German expressionist wood-block prints, her life-sized, realistic and often stunning paper cutouts were wheat-pasted in Manhattan streets and alleys, where their decay furthered the art. Gallery shows in Europe and the U.S. followed, as did write-ups in big art mags. This week, Swoon is in Pittsburgh, collaborating with Leslie Stem and Chris Stain on a new installation at Dorothy 6 gallery, You Can Never Hold Back Spring. The opening reception is tonight. BO 7-11 p.m. 416 Library St., Braddock. Free.

Man, this weekend is going to be packed

Okay, granted, these are all projects that I'm involved in on some level, to a greater or lesser degree. The stage reading, all I did was read the first draft and encorages the writer, but still... Damn, I can't stand it when I hear someone say there's nothing to do here in da 'burgh.


Saturday, March 31, 1:00-3:00pm.
Community Gallery Project Presentation
Hill House Association Lobby
1835 Centre Avenue
(412) 392-4400

A showcase of the Hill House Community Gallery Project.

The kids have worked with Biko, Deanna Mance, Tim Fabian and Christine Bethea over the last month. zyou're all invited! As a bonus, Deanna has been working with several groups on decorating kites, and so is born --

The Hill District Soars! Community Kite Flying Day
Saturday, April 7, 1:00pm.
A celebration of the completion of the kite project with more than 100 kites in flight from several vantage points in the Hill District! I'm goin'. I love flying kites.

Gilding Demonstration with Katherine Young
Save the Date! April 1, 2PM

Katherine will be demonstrating gilding, a technique that she uses to great advantage in her work. This ancient technique has been used to decorate temples and sculpture, imbuing the wooden support with the luster of fine metals. Free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Digging Pitt Gallery by email or at 412-605-0450. -- more information

THE ONLY GOOD ARTIST IS A DEAD ONE

by Rage Stevenson, new Pittsburgh artist via LA.
Stage reading at the Pittsburgh Playwrights
Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company,
542 Penn Ave., Downtown.
6pm, Sunday, April 1st
featuring the talents of the delectable and divine, Phat Man Dee and straight out of Mother Courage's Bamberg, Germany Vince Ventura.
Take a wild and frustrating ride through the mind of a artist teetering on insanity!


Rage Stevenson Bio

Rage Stevenson, a LA artist of the underground scene who has recently located to Pittsburgh will be presenting a scene from his new play. Mark Southers has graciously opened his theater to this new comer. You might think, why come to Pittsburgh, and he'll answer with a smirk, "those sunny days can be really non-inspiring". At 6', with swashbuckling surfer boy good looks, this model turned actor turned writer and painter is deeper than one would think at first.

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 and he has concocted an insanely frustrating look at the inner machinations of a struggling American artist.

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. If your head isn't spinning with a beat down after this stage reading, are you truly living?

Craft Congress

It's not too late -- you too can come to lovely Pittsburgh for the first ever Craft Congress. The Craft Congress has been organized by Handmade Arcade and will take place March 31 - April 1 at Spinning Plates. Information here.

The Pop City article mentions that some crafters have had their ideas lifted by national manufacturers, without acknowledgement or compensation. The congress invites organizers of craft fairs and artists' websites to Pittsburgh to discuss such issues.

The Craft fair has been getting some press locally and nationally in Bust magazine. A number of crafter blogs have been talking about the congress for a few months. Craft revolution has a recent post that lists some of the attendees, who are coming from all over the United States to Pittsburgh. In the article, they quote organizer Gloria Forouzan--

“The goal of Craft Congress is to build connections between the movement's organizers, who have been working to expand the craft culture primarily in their own communities. Craft Congress is an original concept; attendees will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience, creating a network that will foster sustainability.”

This is a wonderful idea and I am glad that this event is taking place in Pittsburgh.

Flat Out @ Unblurred on March 2

Flat Out @Unblurred was a lot of fun last night. Trinity Gallery joined us in bringing work to the Community Activity Center on North Pacific. It's a beautiful space that will hopefully be used for more events like this.

Digging Pitt brought several portfolios of artists works to the venue. Many of the artists included in the flat file archive were represented. It gave us an opportunity to talk about how important an archive is for exposing emerging artists to the general public. And really, there aren't that many galleries that can readily mount an exhibit of this nature on short notice.

We'll be back, so however you're following gallery events, keep an eye open for more of these flat out table top exhibits. If you want to receive gallery updates, you can always get on our update list or become one of our friends on MySpace. And if you would like to host such an event at your venue, please contact us at Digging Pitt.

The Flat Out @Unblurred

The event ended up with a few surprises. Tom Fallon stopped by with some friends to see what we were up to. Tom Fallon and Christine Bethea
Tom and Marie Fallon and Christine Bethea

Pittsburgh Community Gallery Project Kick-Off Reception

Celebrate Kids Art, Performances and Fun Hands-on Activities
March 2007 in Pittsburgh Neighborhoods

Saturday, March 3, 12:00 noon-1:00pm.
Pittsburgh Community Gallery Project Kick-Off Reception
Join community leaders and neighborhood kids and families as we kick-off the Pittsburgh Community Gallery Project. (Media is invited.)

Northside, South Side, Hill District, East End and all around the town, navigate your way through youth arts programs with the Pittsburgh Community Gallery Project!

From March 1 – 31, 2007, Pittsburgh children and families will experience and explore dynamic after school and youth programs that engage kids grades K-12 in Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

Visual, performing and written artwork of Pittsburgh youth will be presented through neighborhood community gallery sites. Pittsburgh Community Gallery Project locations will collaborate with numerous after school programs and businesses in their respective neighborhoods.

The neighborhood sites will showcase the impact that each program makes by presenting exhibitions that include special weekend performances and fun hands-on activities by and for kids K-12 and their families. In addition, each branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will have special Community Gallery Project programming.

Together, We All Form a Community of Neighbors! In addition to the programs and activities at each Community Gallery Project site (East Side, Hill District, Northside and South Side,) be sure to visit your neighborhood Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh during the month of March for family stories and group activities that celebrate individuals and families. For more details, check out the events listings on Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh website at www.carnegielibrary.org.

Each neighborhood exhibit and related programming will be free and open to the public.

The Pittsburgh Community Gallery Project began through the collaborative spirit of Pittsburgh Roars and will culminate with a catalog that showcases the creativity from each neighborhood and serve as a resource guide of the innovative after school art programs available to K-12 students in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Community Gallery Project is made possible through the generous support of The Grable Foundation. Special thanks to Southside Works for donating space for the South Side community gallery site and to Whole Foods Market for supporting East End activities.

Schedule of Activities
by Neighborhood

• EAST END
  
  
• HILL DISTRICT
  
  
• NORTH SIDE
  
  
• SOUTH SIDE
  
  
• CARNEGIE LIBRARIES O