ArtD Honorees

Owen VandivierOwen Vandivier

Working as a stained and blown glass apprentice under Glenn Greene in Pittsburgh and John Beirs in Phliadelphia, Owen was exposed to projects diverse in both scale and complexity. Their cumulative mastery of design, fabrication and restoration gave Owen a broad insight into all facets of the trade. Owen has opened the medium of stained glass in terms of design, incorporating sculptural blown glass into the faces of stained glass panels.

As proprietor of Parsifal Art Glass Incorporated, he has taken on a wide range of work ranging from ecclesiastical restoration to modern architectural installation pieces.

Without Owen, ArtDimensions Pittsburgh would never have been able to reclaim 6000 Penn Avenue. Owen Vandivier, a teacher at Phase 4 in East Liberty, committed his own funds and expertise to reclaim the vacant building at the corner of Penn and Highland. ArtD was trying to find tenants for the property to help local nonprofit East Liberty Development, Inc. (ELDI) shoulder some of the costs of maintaining the property.  Prospective tenants discovered a mold issue there. After a few inspections and the ghastly estimates to abate the problem, it seemed ArtD would not be able to afford this blight reduction strategy. Owen came to our rescue. Using his own expertise, equipment and a good deal of store-bought foggers, Owen abated the problem. ELDI paid for a follow-up inspection, which proved Owen's efforts a success. Nakturnal, LLC, and MLK Community Mural Project were able to rent office space at 6000 Penn Ave. for less-than-market rates. Additionally, Owen's reclamation of 6000 Penn Ave. enabled Quantum Theatre to produce "Yerma" in East Liberty, bringing a "Cultural District" demographic to the East End, also generating additional revenue for ELDI.

Owen devoted himself to facilities management, event planning and live audio production. His family remains extraordinarily supportive of ArtD Pittsburgh.

Currently, with co-sponsorship from the Pittsburgh Foundation's Multicultural Arts Initiative (MCAI) and Phase 4 Learning Center, Owen is financing and spearheading athe Media Arts Kiosk (MAK) project. This initiative will provide an interactive, publicly displyaed platform designed to showcase Phase 4 student-prodeuced audio-visual programming and artwork.

Owen is consistent in surprising us with his brilliant artwork, philanthropic gestures and inspired guitar contributions. ArtDimensions Pittsburgh honors Owen Vandivier for these noteworthy deeds. Join us in thanking him.

Franco "Dok" Harris

While at Princeton, Dok’s Senior Thesis was a plan for building community based and owned corporations in Pittsburgh.  He brought that energy back home to Pittsburgh where he became an attorney and MBA.  As one of the first supporters of ArtDimensions Pittsburgh, Dok saw how artists could revitalize local economies with proper business and legal assistance.

Dok showed up with the tools, literally, when it came time to build the Euphony Lounge in the former bank vault at 6000 Penn Avenue.  He also served as sole curator and bouncer for the pilot-event at 6000 Penn Avenue when the CMU art students took the place over one October night.  The CMU chaperones went “MIA” on us, and Dok was essential in protecting the art and keeping ArtD volunteers sane.  Dok developed ArtD’s safety and crowd management procedures which we used at our first event. ArtDimensions first exhibit was in late January, 2009, called “On The Record.” Over 500 people, from as far as Indianapolis, Baltimore and St. Louis, attended this opening. Seventy percent of the show sold at the opening, with art prices ranging from $20 to $1,500.

A lot of Pittsburgher’s talk about change, but few people have the courage to risk what is necessary to lead this change.  Last year, Dok ran for Mayor.  He hired Nakturnal to release City of Yes with 25 videos of young movers and shakers during the campaign.  ArtD’s reclamation of 6000 Penn Avenue enabled Nakturnal to stay in business, so we support those who “buy local.”  Some of the videos included Pittsburgh artists who use ArtD’s business programs.  The future just isn’t what it used to be, and the artists seem to be the first to know.  Although he did not win the election, Dok realizes that one need not hold public office to serve the public.  He recently started The Harris Institute in Lawrenceville.

Reclaiming a formerly vacant art gallery on Hatfield Street, The Harris Institute is currently incubating ArtDimensions Pittsburgh as we pursue our capital campaign toward sustainability.  Dok generously donates and shares this space with us as he works to create new business development and economic justice initiatives locally.

ArtDimensions Pittsburgh honors Dok, not only as our generous landlord, but as a motivator and trusted friend.

Bill Peduto

Since his first day in office when he created Council’s first Committee on the Arts, Councilman Bill Peduto has been the leading government official on the arts.   He is the only elected official to serve on the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Alliance and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.  He led the fight in Harrisburg to reduce the Amusement Tax for non-profit arts groups from 5% to 2.5% in 2004.  Later that year, he joined State Senator Jane Orie to completely eliminate the Amusement Tax for arts organizations by increasing the Player Payroll Tax.

For six years, Councilman Peduto was the chair of the Arts Committee in Council.  He recomissioned and empowered the Pittsburgh Arts Commission.  As the Chair of the Facilities committee, he worked for new leases for the New Hazlett Theatre, Carnegie Libraries, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, and the Children’s Museum.  Along with Richard Parsakian, he helped create the Ellsworth Avenue Arts Festival and along with the Walnut Street merchants saved the Shadyside Arts Festival.  He was an early supporter and instrumental in the creation of Steeltown Entertainment Project, the Afro-American Music Institute expansion plan, and the Silkscreen Asian American Film Festival.  He has sponsored the implementation of Busk Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Mural Project, and numerous individual and organization performances.  He is the executive producer of “AO: The Movie,” a documentary about the Allegheny Observatory.

Bill Peduto is a proud believer that the arts revitalize neighborhoods and has worked closely with the Mattress Factory development plan, expansion of the Pittsburgh Glass Center, the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative, Hope Academy, and the Charm Bracelet Project to renew Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods.  He has volunteered his time by serving on several boards including GPAA and GPAC, Carnegie Museums, First Night, Dance Alloy Advisory Committee, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Advisory Committee, and the Pittsburgh Glass Center Advisory Committee, Silk Screen Board and the Carnegie Library Board .

In 2003, he created the first symposium strictly for artist to learn about City government.  “Civics 101 – City Services for Artists” attracted nearly 200 artists to a three hour seminar and thousands more have used the document to understand City government and how it can help them.  Later that year Councilman Peduto was recognized by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as one of the “50 Cultural Forces” in our region.  In 2009, he received the Art of Work Award from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.  The arts have no stronger ally, advocate, or friend.

Bill has given hope to ArtDimensions Pittsburgh, his leadership helped pave the way.  Join ArtDimensions Pittsburgh in supporting elected officials who are willing and able to fight for artists in ways that make money and sense.