FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   contact: Carol OŐSullivan

March 30, 2008                                                                                                        412-681-5449

 

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Announces

Seven New Exhibits for Spring/Summer

 

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Pittsburgh Center for the Arts announces seven new exhibits opening May 1, 2009. The shows for these artists – Tina Williams Brewer, Sun-Young Kang, Christopher Kardambikis, and Aasta Deth – run through June 21.  Two more artists – Henry Bursztynowicz and W. Glen Davis – will be featured through August 30. In addition, a group show presented by Pittsburgh Society of Artists will be on view through August 30.  An opening reception will be held on Friday evening, May 1, from 5:30 to 8:00pm. The reception is open to the public; a $5 donation is requested; free to members.

 

Artist talks and/or Artist events:

 

May 28: Panel discussion with Tina Williams Brewer @ 6:00 pm.

June 4:   Artist talk with Aasta Deth @ 7:00 pm.

June 12: Lifetime Achievement Award for Tina Williams Brewer @  6:00 pm.

June 18: Artist talk with Christopher Kardambikis @ 7:00 pm.

 

Exhibits through June 21:

 

Guided by the Ancestors, Tina Williams Brewer

An internationally honored story quilter, Brewer is best known for her artistic exploration of African American history and the personal experiences associated with it. Using symbolism to create colorful and ornate quilts, she draws inspiration from spiritual and family focused issues. Her show, Tina Williams Brewer: Guided by the Ancestors is a retrospective of her fiber works along with new quilts not previously shown. This latest series is based on The Pittsburgh CourierŐs 100th anniversary, using images and stories from each decade as source material for these powerful works, and celebrating the impact of African American leaders in Pittsburgh and our nationŐs rich history.

In addition, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts presents Brewer with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday, June 12. It is only the second time PCA has honored an artist with this prestigious award.  

 

Domestic Landscapes, Aasta Deth

The artist uses carpet as a metaphor for landscape. While this material is utilized for its domestic associations, it also encourages interaction – her art is meant to be traversed, climbed on, rolled down and laid upon. A topography of carpet wraps around PCAŐs campus in a one-mile radius. Deth is a sculptor and installation artist who earned her MFA in Sculpture and Media at Indiana University of PA. She has exhibited throughout the country and abroad, including Hallwalls in Buffalo; the Contemporary Art Collective in Las Vegas; and University of Zagreb, Croatia.

 In Between Presence and Absence, Sun-Young Kang

The artist enjoys using paper in a variety of meditative and sensual ways. Here she creates an installation of hand-made paper castings. Each cast is essentially a shell of forms such as vases, cups, glasses, bottles, and bowls. Her techniques reflect a meditative culture and represent the symbols of Buddhism. A native of Korea, Sun-Young Kang received a BFA in Korean Painting from Ewha WomanŐs University. After working briefly as a childrenŐs book illustrator and designer, she moved to the US and earned an MFA in Book Arts/Printmaking at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

 

From Out of This Planet Earth, Chris Kardambikis

With lush, ornamental drawings, digital collages, and hand-bound books, the artist uses the gallery space to create a narrative structure that explores myth. Kardambikis, who earned his BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, is the co-director of Encyclopedia Destructica, an artist collective that self publishes hand-made books. He has exhibited his drawings, paintings, and books in Pittsburgh, nationally, and in Otterndorf, Germany and Cortona, Italy.

 

In the Video Room through June 21:

Animated short films by artists Drew Pavelchak, Martyna Matusiak, Diane Christiansen.

 

Exhibits through August 30:

 

SALIGIA: A Seven Deadly Sins, presented by Pittsburgh Society of Artists

Superbia, Avaritia, Luxuria, Invisia, Gula, Ira and Accidia – the first letter of these Medieval Latin words form SALIGIA.Translation: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. The seven deadly sins have been a source of inspiration to art and artists since the beginning of time. We see evidence of their presence daily. Some of these sins are even "celebrated" as virtues in modern society. This exhibit challenged the artists to interpret one, several, or all of the sins. Juror: Steven Mendelson

 

Revisiting the Work of Henry B, Henry Bursztynowicz

Bursztynowicz was Artist of the Year in 1960 at PCA. Primarily a sculptor at the height of the abstract expressionist and pop art movements, he exhibited widely, and had several one-man shows throughout the region. Bursztynowicz (1922-2001) was a graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University). His advanced study was at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan and Instituto dŐArte, Florence, Italy. He was on the faculty at University of Missouri and taught at Pittsburgh Arts and Crafts Center (now Pittsburgh Center for the Arts). This retrospective showcases his career, with many of the works presented at his Artist of the Year show in 1960.

 

Now From Then, W. Glen Davis

Coinciding with the Henry B exhibit is a selection of works by W. Glenn Davis. A student of Bursztynowicz, he explored a variety of different mediums, concepts and styles for 70 years. Davis was an influential mid-century Pittsburgh artist and one of the founders of Group A.

 

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts is located at 6300 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh Filmmakers is located at 477 Melwood Ave. For more information, call 412-361-0873, or visit www.pittsburgharts.org.

 

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