Category Archives: Visual

12 hours of A.I.R.

I have a special place in my heart for A.I.R.  Before IheartPGH.com was a .com, IheartPGH was a t-shirt that my friend and I printed on a very basic screenprinting set-up in my basement.  This screenprinting set-up was far from easy or professional.  Screens were burned with a lightbulb under a pie pan.  In 2005, a friend introduced me to A.I.R and my understanding of screen printing changed for the better.

A.I.R. = Artist Images Resource and is one of the hidden gems of Pittsburgh.

AIR is an artist-run organization that integrates the production of fine art printwork with innovative educational programs that explore the creative process. AIR provides print and imaging services to professional artists and educators. Our goal is to maintain an active and vital imaging laboratory that supports artists and facilitates
creative activity.

Even better, A.I.R. hosts open studio nights so that beginning screenprinters like me can print with ease and move far beyond the world of dark basements and lightblubs with lightbulbs hanging from pie pans.

This saturday is A.I.R’s 6th annual Benefit. I have included the details below but here are my top reasons to attend this event:

  • AIR is an awesome building, filled with great prints and interesting equipment that you can use
  • Beer from East End Brewery
  • Jazzercise Troop Radical Pittsburgh – I met these guys at the I Made It craft fair, I am happy to support anyone that is bringing Jazzercise back
  • The Mobile Museum  – is a little museum of art that travels around on the back of a bike

Saturday, October 13, Noon-Midnight
AIR – 518 Foreland Street, Northside
$10 – admission, food and drinks

Artists Image Resource’s 6th Annual Benefit

Trekable

I made sure to hop on the stairmaster at the gym last weekend so that I will be ready for the annual South Side Slopes StepTrek. If you are an urban hiker or a hiker in gerneral this is an event for you. This is the annual fundraiser for the South Side Sloped neighborhood association.

The StepTrek is a well organized, self-guided tour (trek) up the city steps in the Southside Slopes neighborhood. I did the trek in 2005 and I would rank this as one of the best events I have attended.

Sunday October 14, Noon-4pm
Trek begins at the UMPC Lot at 21st and Josephine Streets.
More info and Online Registration: www.southsideslopes.org/steptrek/

Step Facts:

So, just how many steps are there?  Well, the city of Pittsburgh has 712 public stairways with a total of 44,645 steps.*  When tallied in full, they number 24,108 vertical feet, or over four miles in height.  To put it into perspective, that’s higher than Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina, the tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere.
* Source Bob Regan Steps of Pittsburgh, 2004

Steps in Art:

The last few years the StepTrek has been fortunate in sharing the wonderful work of artists who have depicted the steps in their art.  This year we recognize painter Cynthia F. Cooley, as our Honorary Chair. www.cynthiacooley.com

Here is a picture I took on the last StepTrek, which is one of my favorite pictures of Pittburgh…

Free lectures by three Brooklyn-based painters

American Jewish Museum
Jewish Community Center – 5738 Darlington Avenue
October 24, 7:00 pm

Lectures by Miriam Cabessa, Seth Cohen, Peter Rostovsky

In conjunction with the American Jewish Museum’s current exhibition “Of the Painted Image”, please join us for an evening of lectures with three young leading New York City based painters- Miriam Cabessa, Seth Cohen, Peter Rostovsky. A wine and cheese reception with the artists will immediately follow the lectures.

Space is limited – Please RSVP by calling 412-5221-8011, ext 105

For more information about the artists and exhibition, please visit www.jccpgh.org/museum.asp

Going the Creative Distance

My friend and co-worker Jesse runs this neat little place in Bellvue called The Creative Treehouse.   This weekend the Creative Treehouse is hosting their second 24 hour Creative Marathon this weekend.  Beginning Friday, September 28th at 8pm artists have 24 hours to create a piece of art.  This years theme is “lost and found.”  On Saturday at 8pm the Creative Treehouse will open for a gallery show of the art work, some tasty food and live music.  From amateurs to professionals, all artists are invited to participate, registration is free.

24 Hour Creative Marathon
Friday September 28-Saturday September 29
Creative Tree House
517 Lincoln Ave, Second Floor, Bellevue
More Info: 24hourcreativemarathon.com

I Made It! Market, Sat., Sept. 29, 12 – 5 pm, Brewhouse, 2100 Mary St., South Side

Visit…the Brewhouse
Support….Local Arts
SHOP…the next I MADE IT! Market Who: 50 vendors and YOU!
Where: the Brewhouse, 2100 Mary Street, Southside
When: Saturday September 29th, 12-5pm
Free Admission
(Look for info. soon on the upcoming I Made It! Scary, October 27, 12 – 5 pm, Braddock)

Handmade offerings include…dress-up pillows, plastic dinosaur jewelry, t-shirts, mix CDs, vintage inspired handbags, mosaics, hand-knit accessories, upcycled paper goods, ceramics, books, blown glass sculpture, lamps, kitchenware, dollhouse furniture, screen printed clothing, digital photographs, vegan baked goods, reusable coffee clutches, natural bath products, kimono wrist cuffs, custom sewn children’s goods, magnets, stickers, pendants, zines, holiday items, finecrafted woodcuts and etchings, babyslings, greeting cards, wheel thrown porcelain, repurposed clothing, tote bags, and MORE…

Learn what happens in the Brewhouse, take a tour, and get involved.

A Chance Auction will be held featuring exclusive wares from our vendors.

For more information about the I Made It! Market, visit www.myspace.com/imadeitpgh or e-mail imadeitpgh@gmail.com. To learn more about this Market’s Sponsor, the Brewhouse Association, visit www.brew-house.org.

What exactly is I Made It!?
I Made It! is a regularly occurring, nomadic Market that provides the opportunity for young entrepreneurs to establish their businesses and to enjoy low barriers to bringing their wares to market in order to create successful businesses built on arts and crafts. The Market is an inclusive happening that welcomes artists or other “makers” in the Pittsburgh region to meet like-minded individuals, create new opportunities, and find a receptive environment in which to interact with and learn from each other.