I heart PGH

Category: Arts & Culture

  • John A. Hermann Memorial Art Museum

    When we think of Pittsburgh museums, we think of the Carnegie, the Warhol, the Heinz History Center. But there are other small, neighborhood museums that have amazing art and historical collections. Take the John A. Hermann Memorial Art Museum in Bellevue. The museum holds over 1000 paintings, as well as ivory and bronze pieces. Hermann (1858-1942) was a millionaire who was also a painter; he never sold a painting, yet he desperately wanted to be recognized for his art. Today, according to art students and curators, his collection is one of the most complete collections of one folk artist in the country. There is also an interesting Post-Gazette article about the museum. (The painting to the left is entitled, “The Nervous Patient, 1890.”)

    The museum is located at 318 Lincoln Avenue in Bellevue, PA. Admission is FREE. It is open on Friday and Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m, on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and closed on holidays. You can also schedule an appointment by calling 412-761-8008.

  • WRCT

    wrct

    Ever since I posted about WYEP being a great public radio station, I felt guilty. Why? Because I listen to WRCT 88.3 probably just as much as I do WYEP. Why? Because where else can you hear Democracy Now, Japanese experimental music, the Saturday Light Brigade, yiddish hip hop, and excrutiatingly geeky analysis of R&B lyrics?

    WRCT is the radio station of Carnegie Mellon University. It is located in the basement of the CMU University Center and broadcasts from Warner Hall. The station run as free format radio which means that all programming decisions are left to the descretions of DJs and their programs. This means that I can actually drive to work listening to some pumping house music and leave listening to Nina Simone. But there is some convergence: wanna know what the kids are listenin’ to these days? Check out their Top 70 list. (Glad to see local band Modey Lemon sneak in there at #10!) Never heard any of these bands? Well then listen to WRTC! And if you … hate music, then just listen for the promos (which are pretty weird – and funny.)

    Like all good radio stations though, ‘RCT offers online streaming, has a handy dandy list of recently played songs and takes requests at 412-CMU-WRCT (268-9728). iTunes users can add it to their playlist as streaming radio. (Just look under Radio/Public/WRCT.)

    I remember when I was in high school in the hills of the the ‘Burgh, I had my uber cool band posters, my flannels and my Docs, and I tried to act like I listened to real, live college stations. But the only place I could get it was in one corner of my basement. Luckily for us, the station has come a long way since then! Apparently they’ve expanded (to 1750 “glorious watts”). And get this – the other day, I could hear it all the way out to the airport. So go and program WRCT on your car radio now. And turn it on when you’re stuck in traffic. You might even catch the Brazilian Radio Hour.

  • Those Asphalt Tiles Downtown

    You know those asphalt tiles along Smithfield Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh? These ones?

    tile

    Ever wonder who did that? And how they’re made?

    Well, we can’t answer the first question. But we can answer the second!

    Some DIY folks have posted a neat little article with their story of how they stumbled across the Pittsburgh tiles, how the artist made them, and how you can too. (Originally from Recipies for Disaster: the anarchists cookbook.)

    And it’s one of the most popular articles on the site.

  • Do some holiday holiday shopping at APARTMENT

    On the second floor of 1113 E. Carson Street is APARTMENT – an independent clothing store featuringZETO clothing and the artwork of Brian Holderman. Brian and Nami have set up a really great store – it is like shopping in your living room, but it is their living room. Be sure to sign up for their email list so that you get updates about art openings. If you can’t make it over to APARTMENT you can buy ZETO clothing from the website www.zeto-clothing.com.
    For more info on Brian Holderman’s art check out – http://www.cloud8.info
    apartment

  • Measure 4 Measure

    A Carnegie Mellon Arts Management student just sent me a rave review for the Pittsburgh production of Measure for Measure at the Public Theater:

    It’s the Globe Theatre’s production. It is, in no uncertain terms, exquisite. If you have any love for theatre go. Find some money, find some time – go. I don’t like Measure for Measure and I loved it. You will regret it if you miss it. Mark Rylance, the artistic director who plays the duke, is probably the best actor I’ve ever seen (I’ve worked in theatre for almost a decade – I’ve seen lots of shows in New York and a bunch of shows in London.) He’s leaving the company after this tour.

    They’re only in Pittsburgh through the 18th. Go go go. Ticket information can be found at www.ppt.org.

    You can read the full review here.