Pittsburgh, PA

It’s already the final weekend of the Arts Festival, so I thought I’d highlight some of the events being held today and tomorrow.

Saturday, June 21
-Pittsburgh Playworks: Professionally staged readings of plays by Pittsburgh playwrights; 1pm at 937 Liberty Avenue
-panPittsburgh: Steel drums @ the Community Stage, 2-4pm
-Opek, Good Brother Earl and the Avett Brothers will be performing at 6, 6:30, 7:30 respectively

Sunday, June 22
-Pittsburgh Rocks! Battle of the Bands @ the Market Square stage from 2-5pm
-Dreams of Hope: a gay/straight performing arts group @ the Community Stage, 5:15
-Mystic Knights and Alejandro Escovedo closing out the night at the Main Stage, 5pm and 6pm

Come check out all of the amazing artwork and goods for sale in the artists market, as well as the exhibits located around downtown. I recommend visiting the Contained exhibit on Forbes Avenue by Market Square, especially the Zen Room, which was a peaceful way to spend my day volunteering at the Festival.

For more informations, visit their website here.

I also wanted to mention the Barack Obama bake sale at Zombo Gallery in Lawrenceville that’s taking place tomorrow from noon-4pm. Zombo will be djing and the proceeds will go to moveon.org’s Obama presidential fund.

While you’re there, you can also check out their Attack of the Pittsburgh Tattoo Artists exhibit, where Pittsburgh’s finest tattoo artists have displayed their wildest works of art. Objects include skateboards, paintings, sculptures and more. The show closes on June 29th, so hurry this is the perfect opportunity to see it while it lasts!

Zombo Gallery is located at 4900 Hatfield Street in Lawrenceville.

Check out my previous post for other going-ons at the Arts Festival I left out in this post.

Pittsburgh, art, Arts Festival, music, Zombo Gallery, Lawrenceville, Obama

Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild Youth and Arts is presenting an interesting exhibit, titled “From Violence to Vision.” The exhibit features the work of the guild’s first group of Arts Leadership and Public Service interns (more about the guild below).

The exhibit focuses on an important social issue and according to their press release, one of eight ALPS interns with work in the exhibition, Adriane Hairston, a rising senior at CAPA high school, is excited to participate in activism through art for her first time: “As a group, we [ALPS interns] decided to address violence through this exhibition because it is an issue that has affected all of us, despite our various backgrounds and experiences.

The press release also described the work done by the MCG Youth and Arts:

In collaboration with the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) and with support from various grants, foundations and individual donations, MCG Youth & Arts is a center for arts and learning that serves approximately 2,000 unique students in grades K–12 annually. Students may participate in courses in various media including ceramics, photography, design and digital arts; career and college exposure activities; and workshops with internationally renowned artists who also exhibit work at MCG’s galleries. Additionally, MCG Youth & Arts hosts a number of educational opportunities for principals, teachers and the community, and offers public access to its two galleries at no cost. All programs are implemented by professional working artists, and maintain an 8:1 student:teacher ratio in order to provide students the attention they need to succeed. MCG is a subsidiary of Manchester Bidwell Corporation.

“From Violence to Vision” is on view through July 6th at MCG’s satellite gallery at 800 Penn Avenue. There is also a silent auction of exhibition pieces and the sale of student-designed advocacy pins. There is a free reception this Friday the 20th, from 5:30-8pm at the gallery.

A portion of all proceeds made during the exhibition will go to the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime (CVVC). Supported by a grant from the New York-based Surdna Foundation, the ALPS internship is part of MCG’s Apprenticeship Training Program after-school arts courses.

Through nationally recognized and acclaimed year-round programs, MCG Youth & Arts strives to educate, inspire and promote continuance to higher education by engaging students in learning through the arts.

For more information on the Manchester Guild visit their website here or contact Brittany Colatrella, Communications Coordinator, MCG Youth & Arts, 412-322-1773 Ext. 378.

Don’t forget the Arts Festival is still going on until this Sunday. Visit my previous post to see what you’ve been missing!

Pittsburgh, Manchester Craftsmen Guild, Penn Avenue, art, exhibit

It’s already the second week of the festival, so I figured now is as good as time as any to talk about this great event. The festival is still being held downtown around the Gateway Plaza/PPG Plaza/Market Square area and runs until June 22nd. Here’s just some of the highlights of this weekend’s events:

Friday, June 13th
-Maceo Parker! The legendary jazz singer is presenting on the Main Stage at 7:30pm
-Take Me Out, Richard Greenberg’s Tony-winning play @ Navarra, 131 7th Street, 8pm, $10
-The Unintended, a play exposing the present situation of Afghani refugees in Pakistan @ 937 Liberty Avenue, 8pm, $5
-Omega Love is playing at Market Square @ 9:30pm

Saturday, June 14th
-Magarac Attack opening and artist party in Market Square; a folk-themed celebration with participating artists, 4-6 pm
-The Curve Ball @ Navarra, 6pm, $35; exclusive cocktail reception and admission to the 8pm performance of Take Me Out for Pittsburgh’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community
-Phoebe Snow and special guest Gemini @ the Main Stage, 6:30pm

Sunday, June 15th
-Celtic Spirit Highland Dancers of Pittsburgh @ Community Stage, 12:30pm
-Attack Theatre’s The Heist @ the Contained Exhibition (Forbes Avenue), 5:30pm
-NY Dolls! with special guest the Takeover UK @ the Main Stage, 6:30pm

I’ve been volunteering at the festival since last week and I can say that so far, there’s been a really good turnout, great artists and some amazing music, so come on out!

For more information on performances, scheduling and more, check out their website here.

And if you can’t make it out to the festival this weekend, maybe you can catch the Life on Mars exhibit I previously talked about that’s happening at the Carnegie Museum.

Pittsburgh, Three Rivers Arts Festival, downtown, art, music, Maceo Parker, NY Dolls