When I began as a graduate student in at the University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth, one of my Professors said to me, “Ah, it’s good to have some Midwestern blood around here”.   Another student (from Wisconsin) jumped in, “Pittsburgh?  That’s not Midwest, that’s east coast!”.  Usually, when “Pittsburgh” and “coast” are used in the same sentence, it is in this context- I am leaving Pittsburgh to go to the coast.  On the other hand, I have yet to come across the Midwestern amber waves of grain blanketing Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

So, just where and who are we here in this hilly no mans land? Midwest, East Coast, Mid Atlantic?  As a working class, historically industrial city, we have an ethic and outlook similar to that of Cincinnati, St. Louis, Detroit, or Chicago.  However, a trip east down I-70 puts you in Baltimore or DC well before any of those cities.  Even driving into Pittsburgh is atypical.  Hidden in a valley of rivers, Pittsburgh surprises you out of the Ft. Pitt Tunnels, or unveils itself from the Parkway-East like a curtain lifting as the hills part.

Maybe we could consider our region “the bridge”, that seems appropriate enough.  We straddle the working class Midwest, and the forward thinking metropolitan east coast.  We like our football teams tough, and our new construction green, embracing tradition, but accepting change.  Here is a link to a good article describing how Pittsburgh should be a model for other rust belt cities like Cleveland.   

This dichotomy of past and future makes Pittsburgh an interesting case when it comes to the fine arts.  You will find fantastic collections from places such as the Carnegie Museum and the Frick.  Throw in a world-class orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, There is a rich heritage in the arts, and the same time, Galleries such as the Mattress Factory show works by contemporary artists.  Anyone can take classes or workshops at places like the Society for Contemporary Craft in the Strip District.  Calls for artists provide a variety of possibilities.  For example, from www.changemakers.org The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Grable Foundation and Ashoka's Changemakers are looking for bold new ideas from artist(s) working with youth in the Pittsburgh area. They are looking for well-designed, sustainable public art that expresses the voices of youth. Winning ideas can receive up to $25,000 in funding to implement their "Art in Public" (deadline, May 20, 2009).

With all of this going on, one might think Pittsburgh would be swarming with artists.  As a matter of fact, the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh has over 450 artists listed.

Pittsburgh Artists are everywhere!  But please don’t be frightened.

Unlike some of the myths of artists, we do not work in a vacuum, and the hand of god does not divinely channel us.  We work very hard, often for very little.  We need to communicate with other artists and creative individuals, bouncing ideas back and forth to evolve (to see an online version of this: www.crafthaus.ning.com).  We need to be inspired.  That is why many artists congregate in cities, usually the more cosmopolitan ones, which can be tricky (as previously mentioned on the subject of income).  This is how the stories of artists living in warehouse studios come about.  I have known a few people who lived this lifestyle, but for the most part, artists find a cheap place to live, and renovate to have a nice living space.  Gentrification such as this occurs all the time.  It happened recently in the North Loop District in Minneapolis, Jamaica Plain in Boston in the 80’s, and of course Greenwich Village in New York in the 60’s.  Can it happen in Pittsburgh too?  Look no further than places like Lawrenceville, which in the past few years has become a haven for artists.  It even garnered the attention of the New York Times. 

My goal for this blog is to present the many facets of the of the Pittsburgh Arts scene.  I will provide reviews and recommendations, interviews with people who are contributing to the local arts scene, and links for readers like you to be aware, or possibly involved in the arts (whether you consider yourself an artist or not). I will share stories of local artists and entrepreneurs, and hope to offer ideas that might make you look at your surroundings differently.  In fact, you might walk past (or under) art every day.  Various websites list anywhere from 20-80 galleries and museums in the region, and that is just visual arts.  Combine that with music and theatre venues of all types and something is always happening. 

I look forward to sharing this information with you, and hearing your feedback so that we can find the inner groove of Pittsburgh.  

Brian Ferrell

www.brianferrelldesigns.com

The Inner Groove: Guide to Stepping out.

Now that we have established that there is much to do in the Pittsburgh arts scene (see previous posting), we need to get out to look at some art. 

I may be wrong, but I expect most visitors to this site are business professionals.  This is just a guess, but I would assume most of your art experience comes from the required college art class, which was always in a dark auditorium early in the morning.  Slide after slide of paintings… da Vinci (click), van Gogh (click), Renoir (click).  That type of format would even make a class called “the history of cool explosions” seem dull.  It is time for us to turn on the lights, and leave the auditorium. 

The following is a guide for inexperienced art goers.  Here are a few tips on the why, how, where, and who cares of gallery hopping.   

Stepping Out, Tip #1: Experience

One of the most important aspects of art is “the experience”.  Going to a Pittsburgh Steelers game is VERY different from just watching it on TV. Nothing is better than seeing the real thing.  Sometimes they win, and sometimes they lose, but the experience still makes the trip worthwhile.  The same can be said for seeing the actual work of art (whether you like the art or not).  Standing next to the 8 ft painting of Niagara Falls and for a split second; you might think you feel a cool mist.  On the other hand, the infamous Mona Lisa is displayed behind bulletproof glass, and she constantly   looks back at a crowd of squinting tourists from her climate controlled UV protected room.  Being consumed by a painting, or by a crowd of camera wielding tourists can elicit a reaction, and whether it is good or bad- it is the reaction that counts. Either way, you are still being affected by direct experience. This leads to the next tip.

Stepping out, Tip #2: I knows what I likes-

Nobody likes every work of art.  I am partial to minimal looking designs; I like painters such as Edward Hopper, whereas some find his work to be a bit stark.  Things such as Rococo interior design make me feel like I just ate a bag of icing, but it might seem like perfect opulence to someone else.

With this in mind, there is nothing wrong with disliking a piece of art (famous or not), and an art degree is not needed to determine how you feel about it.  Mostly, preference comes down to a gut feeling.  However, things start to get a little foggy with modern art because it relies so heavily on concept.  Much (not all) of what you will see in galleries today tends to be abstract or idea based, and can sometimes be conceptually grandiose. 

I know what you’re thinking, “I am not going out to a stuffy gallery opening to hear some art school snob telling me about how dumping a pile of garbage on the floor is art.”

A good rule of thumb when viewing this type of art is to think of it as the concrete result of an idea, or the final product of a thought process.  For example:  My idea is, “ I think there are too many people starving in the world”.  So my sculpture is dumping a pile of garbage on the floor from a restaurant trashcan. 

That is very direct and extreme, but I think it shows how the overall objective is to trigger a reaction.  The beauty of this is that the viewer (you) have the power to judge whether the pile of garbage is “a piece of art”.  The dilemma is that it kind of becomes art if you don’t think it is… Strange, I know.

Tip #3: What’s the point?  Why should I go to a gallery opening to look at garbage that might not be art? Now I am just confused.

We can go back and forth all day about the validity of conceptual installation art, but at the end of the day, going to an art opening is actually more festive than pretentious!  The attendees come from all backgrounds: artists, collectors, media, CEO’s, local business owners, and even city officials.  Some just happen to be walking past and see a group of people.  Beyond that, there are many Artists who work in many styles, so finding something you like should be easy.  The best part is that they are free, and light hors d’ oeuvres and wine are usually on the menu.

Tip #4- I don’t want to be pressured into buying something.

You should not feel obligated to purchase anything.  Think of it as window-shopping, where you are just browsing, but don’t actually expect to purchase anything. If you do get a chance, try to talk to the artist.  If you don’t know what to ask, here are two questions that should get good responses:  What are your influences? Why did you choose to use *fill in the blank* material?  Personally, I always enjoy the perspective of someone with a different background. 

Please feel free to share your gallery going experiences in the comments section. 

Here is the list of galleries have opening receptions this weekend!

Color of Light - Pastels by Diane Grguras. Opening reception May 15, 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. May 15 through June 30. Gallery on 43^rd St., 187 43rd Street, Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville), 412-683-6488, www.galleryon43rdstreet.com.

Fe Turns Five - Art auction & DJ Kelly Carter May 15, Off-the-Wall sale May 16. May 15-16.  Fe Gallery,  4102 Butler St., Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville), 412-860-6028.

Landscapes & Florals - New works by Dr. Leo Goode. Opening reception May 15, 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. May 15 through June 13. Bella Arte Gallery, 5880 Ellsworth Ave., Pittsburgh (Shadyside), 412-362-7200, www.bella-arte.com/.

Traces of Living Things - Works by Elise Rugolo & Adrienne Borkowski. Opening reception May 15, 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. May 15 through May 30. Framery, 4735 Butler Street, Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville), 412-687-2102, www.theframerypgh.com.

For the complete list of other shows, check out the Art gallery/exhibit list on the Pittsburgh City Paper.

Brian Ferrell

www.brianferrelldesigns.com

For my next posting I will be interviewing Brigitte Martin, she is the owner of the Luke and Eloy Gallery in Lawrenceville.  She also started the website www.crafthaus.ning.com, which is a social networking site for craft artists.  

In the meantime, here is a link to an article about the Pittsburgh Symphony, currently on tour in China.  Apparently, they brought down the house to a demanding crowd in Shanghai.

Crowd in Shanghai didn't wan PSO to Stop the Music

Brigitte Martin currently has her hands full with several projects.  Besides being a jewelry artist herself, she also is the owner of Luke and Eloy Gallery in Lawrenceville.  Plus, she is the director of two social networks through Ning (Ning is an online platform for people to create their own social networks, launched in October 2005). The Luke and Eloy ning site has information regarding the gallery, as well as information about participating artists. The crafthaus ning site can only be described as the facebook for craft artists.  With more than a thousand members, online exhibits, and the ability for artists to sell their work, www.crafthaus.ning.com has become a new online haven for craft artists. (Note: Craft artists are artists who have traditional training in craft media such as ceramics, metals/jewelry, woodworking, fibers/textiles, or printmaking.  Using these skills, they create works of art that utilize function, concept, metaphor, or even performance.)

I asked Mrs. Martin a few questions about her cornucopia of projects.

-Let’s start with your background, tell me about your training, the artwork that you make, how you ended up in Pittsburgh, and why you decided to open a gallery?

I am a classically trained goldsmith from Germany, meaning that I underwent an apprenticeship with a Master Goldsmith in my native country. Today, I work in a variety of materials, such as precious metals, gemstones and pearls, but also various resins, and natural fibers, such as sheep’s wool and recycled horse hair !

My husband is from Pittsburgh, and we decided to move here to be close to family.

I previously worked for years in the contemporary art world, I love all things art and craft, and cannot imagine my life without it. I tremendously enjoy gallery work, especially the interaction with artists, art collectors and buyers.

-Tell me about Luke and Eloy gallery. What do you show?

At Luke & Eloy, I show a variety of art media.  Naturally, with my background, the big focus is on artistic, handmade jewelry, however, I appreciate other art and craft media as well, such as glass, wood, ceramics, fibers, mixed media and the like, so I try to give it all a fair shot during my regular exhibitions.  At any given moment, I have a themed exhibition going on, as well as a great number of art jewelry on display. Of course, everything is available for purchase.  My upcoming shows include a retrospective of the last 10 years in the artistic life of a wonderful fiber artist (Michelle Pajak-Reynolds, June 20-July 25, 2009), followed by 2 simultaneous Solo Shows in Sep/Oct (Furniture and Tableware by Brian Ferrell paired with Fine Jewelry by Chihiro Makio from Massachusetts), afterwards (Nov 09-January 2010) I will have a group show called “Paper or Plastic?” paired with Margaux Lange’s fun jewelry made from various Barbie doll parts. I really try to bring a fresh look at art and craft to the Pittsburgh gallery scene, showing a diverse range of unusual and high quality work.

-As both an artist and gallery owner, what do you think it takes for an artist to “make it” today? Many of my students are surprised to learn that galleries take a 50% cut.  What are your thoughts on the Artist/Gallery relationship?

For an artist to make it today it takes a lot of determination, a lot of networking and a lot of plain old LUCK.  There are many absolutely tremendous artists out there, they by far outnumber the available gallery spots and exhibition opportunities.

My approach to working with artists is that of an equal partnership. The artist provides me with something unique and precious, and I try to market and sell it for the artist.  That is how we divide up the work.  On top of that, I am also interested in helping the artist succeed in their career overall, not just at my gallery, and I will do my most to support them when they need me, and in general be a fair and good friend.

-What was your initial idea for crafthaus, and did you expect it to grow this fast?

I started crafthaus a few months before I was ready to open the gallery, and I did it really out of frustration.  I was sitting alone in my studio in the basement of my house working away by myself day after day, and I felt very isolated from other creative people and the input and creative energy they can provide.  I was listening to Diane Rehm on NPR interviewing one of the ning.com platform founders who described what they were doing, and it literally hit me like a ton of bricks.  I quit working in the studio right then and there, and started crafthaus. I absolutely never envisioned this becoming big at all, it really was just meant to be a small way to connect better with people I already knew. All that growth came over time and the development was natural. I never paid a dime for advertising, it was all word of mouth.  I kept adding various features to the site, and had lots of ideas that I thought were interesting to the membership.  Lucky for me, the membership thought they were interesting too.

-What are your expectations of someone who visits Luke and Eloy Gallery?  And Crafthaus?

  In both cases, I would like the visitors to enjoy their experience and come away with a feeling that they had a good time.  I sincerely hope that   visitors find something that is meaningful to them personally and that they can connect with in either the brick and mortar gallery or the online   environment.  If they form that connection, of course, I would also hope they will consider buying that work of art or piece of jewelry to takehome and cherish, or give as a gift.

-How has being trained as an artist prepared you for starting your own online artist network, as well as run a gallery?

The art training alone has not prepared me at all for what I am doing now. I also have a background in Hotel Management, have worked for the auction house Sotheby’s, and spent many years as a Director’s assistant at a contemporary fine art gallery.  It is the combination of these diverse fields that makes this work for me.

-Finally, what is your advice for someone who does not often visit galleries?  What should they expect from visiting a gallery?

 Expect to be amazed.  Keep an open mind towards unusual sights, and absolutely ask questions if you would like, don’t be intimidated or think  that you will be viewed as ignorant.  Nowadays, galleries are no longer snobbish havens for the few high-brow sophisticates amongst us, but fun  and interesting places where new experiences can be had in a relaxed environment. I know that this is definitely true for what is going on at  Luke & Eloy.