For immediate release contact: Carol O’Sullivan

August 27, 2009 412-681-5449

PCA Announces Dialogue, a New Series of Discussions

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First Screening of Artists on Film

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (PCA) launches a new series of weekly discussions to coincide with gallery exhibitions this fall. The Dialogue series was created to engage the Pittsburgh community in critical discussions of contemporary art and culture. Each week a different panel of artists, curators and/or arts advocates and appreciators will take part, along with artist Eve Heidekat, who will serve as moderator. The series begins Sunday, October 4 at 1:00pm at PCA’s Shadyside campus. Attendees are invited to explore the galleries before the discussion begin. Tickets are $5 for one/$7 for two (members); and $10 for one/$15 for two (non-members). For more information call: 412-361-0873 or visit: www.pittsburgharts.org.

The series gets underway on Sunday, October 4 at 1:00pm. Co-sponsored by Pittsburgh’s Office of Public Art, the panelists are PCA’s Artist of the Year, Tim Kaulen; Sheila Klein, artist, East Liberty pedestrian footbridge; Tracey Myers, curator, Heinz Architectural Center, Carnegie Museum of Art; and Heather McElwee, assistant director, Pittsburgh Glass Center. Subsequent discussions are scheduled to take place on Wednesday evenings in October. They are:

Oct. 14, 6:30-8:00pm – with 2009 Emerging Artist, Dylan Vitone

Oct. 21, 6:30-8:00pm – with the Pittsburgh Print Group

Oct. 28, 6:30-8:00pm – with artist Katie Murken, part of The Exchange, an annual exchange of exhibits taking place between Center for Emerging Visual Artists in Philadelphia (CFEVA) and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

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In celebration of the 2009 Artist of the Year exhibit, Artists on Film, five short documentaries by local filmmakers will premiere in PCA's Video Room on opening night Friday, September 25, 5:30 pm-8:00 pm. They are portraits of the current Artist of the Year, three past recipients, plus a short history of PCA. The plan is to create a film about each Artist of the Year to further document the importance of this 60-year-old tradition.

1957 Artist of the Year, Virgil Cantini, by Will Zavala

1959 Artist of the Year, Jim Frape, by Matthew R. Day

1998 Artist of the Year, Tony Buba, by Josh Tonies

2009 Artist of the Year, Tim Kaulen, by Elizabeth Seamans

In addition, Executive Director Charlie Humphrey has filmed a short history of Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Mellon Park.

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