Pittsburgh, PA

Unblurred is an East End sponsored showcase that features art from a variety of mediums, live music, performances and more on Penn Avenue, between 4800-5500 Penn and also as far down as Highland Park. This showcase of local talent happens on the first Friday of every month and I am glad that I finally made it to one. This month’s event also purposely coincided with Lawrenceville’s Artist’s Studio Tour, but unfortunately I was only able to make it to the Unblurred event this time.

Let me just start out by saying that it was a really hot and humid night to be walking around and for being in un-air conditioned buildings, but it was certainly worth it. The art was amazing and I got to talk to a lot of new people I probably never would have met otherwise.

The first place I checked out was Modern Formations, which featured the art of David Bernabo, who produced some really nice works of art. The majority of his work was mixed media, with sound and light displays as well. So actually I guess his work could be considered multimedia art if I’m using the correct term. Regardless, I’m a huge fan of mixed media, so I really enjoyed his work. His show runs through August 31st, so I suggest you check it out.

The next gallery I went into was Imagebox, which featured the work of Rick Byerly, who is an excellent photographer. The photography he had on display featured ice and water images that he took while on Lake Superior’s North Shore earlier this year. The photos really captured the essence of the moving ice shelves and the frigid temperatures of that region. His exhibit runs through August as well and is viewable by appointment only. You can check out more of his work at Uniquetake.com.

I spent most of my time at Garfield Artworks, which featured the work of Jodi Perigo, Kate Hansen, and Stefanie Maas. The exhibit was called “Skin Tone” and showcased the artist’s skills at portraying the human body in various poses and in displaying many emotions. Most of the work involved paintings, but Stefanie’s work featured a nice display of clay on wood, so there was variety to this show. All of the work was excellent and it’s nice to see an all-female exhibit. Sometimes I think women lack the confidence to do things like this and I really wish they didn’t. The only music of the night that I got to see was Buddy Nutt, who plays various instruments, including a saw, a ukulele, a kazoo and anything else he comes up with. He really puts on a great show and you can check out his music at www.myspace.com/buddynutt.

The exhibit at Garfield Artworks runs until August 30th and you can find out more information on their website here. Stefanie Maas also has a website where you can check out her work at www.stefwithaft.com. I couldn’t find any websites/Myspaces for the other two artists, so if anyone knows them, let me know.

The last place I visited was Metamorphose, a gallery and studio boutique that is right across the street from Garfield Artworks on the corner of Penn and Gross. The gallery was full of handmade clothing and artwork that was really something. It featured art from Marci Ghering, Padma, Adam Cannon, Patrice Lehockey, and Judy Dickson to name a few. The house itself was interesting in its decor, with its brightly painted pink walls that normally would have annoyed me, but really complemented the old Garfield home. Outside of the gallery, Liz Berlin from Rusted Root was playing and it seemed like everyone was having a really good time despite the humidity. You can check out the gallery’s website here.

All in all I would say the event was a success. I think the weather might have stopped a few from coming out, but there was still a great crowd. I definitely plan on coming back out for the next Unblurred since it was such a great time.

I didn’t get a chance to check out c SPACE, the Clay Penn, or the Union Project, but I definitely will next time. I’ve been meaning to make it out to the Union Project ever since I heard of it. You can find out more information about the place here and what they are trying to achieve. I love the efforts the Union Project, as well as the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative and other organizations, are making to improve Pittsburgh neighborhoods and to bolster the arts scene; it is truly something everyone should make an effort to support.

Check out Unblurred/Penn Avenue Art’s website for details on the exhibits talked about and how to visit them throughout the month of August, as well as upcoming events.

art, Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Garfield, Bloomfield, Friendship, East Liberty, Highland Park, Garfield Artworks, Modern Formations, Imagebox, gallery, David Bernabo, Rick Byerly, Stefanie Maas, Jody Perigo, Kate Hansen, Union Project, Unblurred, c SPACE, Clay Penn, Metamorphose