Communion III - An Evening of Art, Booze, Music, and Lasers Saturday, June 19th

from Academy of the South Side

We hope you all are doing well and are ready for summer to begin. We're
thrilled to announce our upcoming *Communion III *fundraising party, which
will be next *Saturday, June 19th*! Thanks to everyone who has come out to
our past parties for making them so much fun - we hope to see lots of both
familiar and new faces for this next installment. The details are below,
and we've also attached the flyers for the party. Bring your friends and
come party for the arts!

Also please note, we are working on getting our summer planned and will send
out an update as soon as the schedule is finalized.
Just let us know if you have any questions, and as always, please feel free
to forward this along to anyone who might be interested.

-Tim, Shervin, and Dan
*The Academy of the South Side*
www.academyofthesouthside.com
(412)4982446


*THE DETAILS:*
*Date:* Saturday, June 19th
*Time:* Doors open at 8pm
*Cost*: No cover, small donation for food and drinks
*Laser Shows:* At 9 and 11pm
*Music and Art:* music by Tracksploitation and Gramsci Melodic, paintings by
Academy instructors and students
*Address:* 44 Pius St., Pittsburgh, PA 15203 - main ballroom floor of our
studio building, the old St. Michael's school building, currently Veronica's
Veil Community Arts Center

Detailed directions and parking information can be found at
http://www.academyofthesouthside.com/Map.html

We call the event "Communion", to play on our studio location in an old
Catholic school building, and also to highlight the community of artists and
supporters that call Pittsburgh home. We are hoping to make these parties a
regular event to showcase exciting art and music created by talented
Pittsburghers, so let's all come together to have some drinks, listen to
good tunes, see some beautiful paintings, and support the arts.

...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

pittsburgh galleries is reborn anew as The Pittsburgh Art Blog. the blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh art advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

The Artist Art Auction Fundraiser Catch 22

This has been brewing in my cranium for a few years so it's had time to settle, collect, and perhaps ferment. Art benefit fundraisers often ask artists themselves to donate their work for the purpose of auctioning off the work to patrons. Sounds great but the issue most overlooked is why are artists the ones asked to donate their work, especially in Pittsburgh where it's known that few artists make a living based on their "non-commercial" art? I've spoken with gallery owners and artists over the past year on this subject and there exists a lot of questions.

Why is the artist leaned on to donate their work free of charge? Sure a lot of artists donate without looking critically at the larger picture due to their good natures and possibly think it's good exposure down the line. My biggest issue is why lean on artists given the inherent financial disadvantage most Pittsburgh artists experience. One prominent gallery owner I spoke with simply suggested the organizations should stick to events like private dinners and events which do not require artists to donate their work for auctions. There are a finite amount of art purchases in the region and the reality is that the significant art auction fundraisers take away from purchases which benefit the artists financially. The one exception I've noticed was Fe Gallery which had an option for the artist to retain a percentage. It gives the artist the option to choose. One could argue they have the option of just not participating at all but i think that to be an overly simplistic argument given the factors.

The exposure factor, meaning artists may not receive money but the exposure they receive helps them down the line. Tough to argue given the sheer amount of art at these auctions and the lack of probability further contact will be made.

Artists are generically known for giving more than they can necessarily "afford". Perhaps it's time to think why they are so often leaned upon? I think most will agree artists do a tremendous amount for their communities in their personal and job related activities. Do they really have to give their art away too?

Something to think about...

Another issue I'd like to blog about down the road is the degree to which businesses and other entities hit up artists to display their work for free based on consignment (if they actually sell). This is a practice artists themselves need to resist contributing to given the reality of the art world.

Rick Byerly

If you're looking for more info on Pittsburgh artists and how to support them check here.

Cheers

...

The Pittsburgh Art Blog

pittsburgh galleries is reborn anew as The Pittsburgh Art Blog. the blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh art advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.

Table of Elements Benefit Reception at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild

Table of Elements Benefit Reception at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild

Friday, March 19 2010 from 5:30-8:30 p.m



Share in the vision: join us to celebrate and support the ways that art transforms our everyday lives. Indulge in over 170 pieces of ceramics, prints, and photos by more than 80 renowned artists, brought together to raise support for arts education at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild! The benefit reception features an exclusive opportunity to view and purchase from the grand showcase where the exhibition is expanded into MCG’s dining hall. Tickets* are $25 in advance, or $30 on the day of the event.



Table of Elements 2010 Exhibition at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild

(on view through April 8, 2010)

Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild is proud to present Table of Elements 2010, which brings together all of the components on which MCG’s model is founded into one commemorative occasion that reflects the contributions of artists in making ordinary experiences extraordinary.



On display will be ceramics by widely collected artists like Ed Eberle, Robert Briscoe, Suze Lindsay and Nick Joerling. The showcase will also include photographs, prints, and paintings—some of which have been provided through collections of Artists Image Resource and painter Glen Brunken.



61 of the contributing artists (~55%) are from the Pittsburgh area, which includes 6 of whom are from the western PA region (e.g. Indiana, West Virginia, Edinboro).



A few specific names: Ed Eberle, Valda Cox, Sue Abramson, Richard Wukich, Laura Jean McLaughlin, Glen Brunken, John Ritter, Mary Tremonte and more!



Direct link on our website:

http://manchesterguild.org/Va/Calendar.htm#ToE2010



For more information or to make reservations, visit www.manchesterguild.org

or call Brittany Colatrella, Communications Coordinator, at 412-322-1773 Ext. 378.



*Event ticket and exhibition art sales benefit MCG Youth & Arts programs. Works on view in MCG’s gallery will be available for purchase beginning February 24 through April 8 (or until sold). The expanded showcase will remain up for a public art sale on Saturday, March 20 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.



Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild Youth & Arts:

1815 Metropolitan Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15233

Open Mon-Fri. From 9 a.m.--5 p.m. and during special events.

412-322-1773 Ext. 378

www.manchesterguild.org

Unicorn Mountain Fundraiser Friday Sept 18 2009 7pm Remedy

U N I C O R N M O U N T A I N and P I C N I C !
Present
A Prelude to the October 2009 Release of
T H E B L A C K F O R E S T
Unicorn Mountain's Third Anthology of Art, Comics and Folktales
From Western Pennsylvania and Beyond

T H E E S O T E R I C O R D ER O F T H E I L L U S T R I O U S OWL_B E A R

Friday September 18, 2009 at Remedy (2nd floor), 5121 Butler St in Lawrenceville

Bavarian Supper Club 7pm
Art Auction 7pm-11pm
Music&Dance 10pm+ ($5 suggested donation)

Dinner reservations required for Bavarian Supper Club: 412-781-6771

More details soon to follow..

Facebook Event Link

Art above by the very talented Masha Vereshchenko!