Past Events
Cattivo in Lawrenceville
146 44th St
Pittsburgh, PA
Local author Daniel Parme has decided to adapt his compelling novel, "Hungry" into a film....and plans on doing it all here in Pittsburgh. We are holding a Fundraising Event to help...well, raise funds. We want to help a local oy make his dreams come true.
More info at www.raggedclaw.com
Cattivo & Sotto, 146 44th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201. Please join us as we help kick off October as Breast cancer Awareness Month with Cattivo. We will be celebrating with artwork & poetry in hues of pink, femininity, hope,strength and life! FREE ADMISSION!
Kelly Strayhorn Theater
5941 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
ArtDimensions Pittsburgh, in partnership with 48-Hour Film Project, is calling for artists to contribute to its next exhibit, Hollywood N'at. The exhibit, on Thursday, August 26, will be in the lobby of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in conjunction with the Best-of-Screening/Awards ceremony for the 48-Hour Film Project. We invite artists to creatively give their take on Hollywood for this excellent opportunity. Besides regular exhi...bit traffic, the art will be seen by the scores of 48-Hour Film Project attendees. If interested, please send an e-mail to info@ArtDimensionsPittsburgh.com.
PITTSBURGH — Lust, greed, chastity, mercy: Pittsburgh artists will explore those and the 10 other deadly vices and godly virtues Friday, April 30, 2010. As Pittsburgh warms up with spring, ArtDimensions Pittsburgh heats up with its "Vices & Virtues" exhibit at Cattivo (146 44th Street, Lawrenceville). The exhibit begins at 6:30 p.m. Among artwork set to appear in the exhibit are a sculpture by Pittsburgh sculptor and painter Susan Wagner and work by David Calfo made from salvaged materials. The event is for ages 21 and older and will last until 9 that night. Artwork at the exhibit will further be available for purchase online at www.ArtDimensionsPittsburgh.com.
On a side street in one of Pittsburgh's most varied neighborhoods dozens of people gathered on an April Friday night. They went down 44th Street away from the bustle of Butler Street, cool as the spring breeze at their backs. They walked up a short ramp and opened a blue door, stepping into Cattivo, an alternative bar.
They went down the stairs into the lower level, where the room's chill reds, blacks and greys belied the plain concrete exterior. Patrons and artists mingled and meandered among the 25 or so new artworks displayed. Each work depicted one of the seven deadly vices or the seven godly virtues. As music softly played, food and drinks were shared and indulged, networks broadened and spirits ran high.
A lone piece upon a table in the center of the dance floor stood aloof, cloaked in cloth and shrouded in suspense. ArtDimensions founder Dan Friedson later revealed the showcase work by ArtD member David Calfo, "Solo Man," as friends and family applauded, awed.
As the night wore on, raffles were raffled and art was bought. The vices and virtues so creatively compiled by Pittsburgh artists went home to a few, new, proud owners.
Help us celebrate our first year in Pittsburgh! We created jobs, reclaimed vacant property, produced art shows and business seminars, sold a ton Pittsburgh artwork, had a lot of fun and kept moving forward. Join us for dinner as we honor the civic leaders and artists who made it happen. All proceeds will benefit Teaching Sponsorships, Exhibits, and Seminars.
Bronze sculptures of Earth, Air and Water stood majestically among the pierogies. Artwork rendered from steel mill remnants complemented sauerkraut and kielbasa. Gene Stovall's guitar and voice soared to the many-colored dome in the Renaissance Hotel lobby downtown. The artists, supporters and honorees of ArtDimensions Pittsburgh wove around the art and hors d'oeuvres, sipping whiskey and wine flights, commencing the celebration of ArtD's successful first year.
As the cocktail hour drew to an end, guests made their way to Braddock's American Brasserie's mezzanine, where more artwork and fine food awaited them. The mezzanine was made a secluded enclave of Pittsburgh artwork among the dining tables. The guests, both close-friends and new supporters, filled the seats.
As everyone enjoyed the exquisite edibles, Artist of the Roundtable Dan Friedson welcomed the group, introducing honorees Bill Peduto, Franco "Dok" Harris and Owen Vandivier. Friedson shared the accomplishments ArtDimensions Pittsburgh had made in one short year, setting a high bar for the organization's ambitious second year. Not long after honoring some of those who helped ArtDimensions and local artists achieve so much, Friedson himself was honored. Kahmeela Adams, Susan Wagner and Seán O'Donnell presented Friedson with sincere gratitude, embodied by a glistening service award.
As petite deserts were enjoyed, the highest bidders on some of the artwork were announced and presented with their new art. And that is how the evening ended, as the previous year had been conducted: full of friends and laughter, sustained by vision and aspiration, and topped off with local artists selling their art.
6000 Penn Avenue
Autism Speaks: is a non-profit organization dedicated to funding critical research projects focusing on early identification, prevention, interventions and a cure for autism. Additionally, Autism Speaks provides family-friendly and community resources to assist in educating the public about autism and promoting awareness. Autism Speaks has raised more funds than any other non-profit organization in the world for these endeavors. This organization is respected by researchers and families alike for their commitment to continue raising funds until a cure is found. For more information on Autism Speaks, visit: www.autismspeaks.org
Walk Now for Autism: is the leading fundraising effort of Autism Speaks. It is North America’s largest autism walk and takes place in every city in the United States at various times each year. The Pittsburgh walk takes place on June 13th and Johanna and Kylan have registered as a team (“Team Spectrum”) and have put forth a goal of raising $3,000 for this year’s walk. In an effort to raise a portion of these funds, we have decided to organize this event. For more information on the Pittsburgh Walk event visit: http://www.walknowforautism.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=288998
Date of event: June 6th (set-up June 5th)
Time of event: 4pm – 7pm (family-friendly time: no music, no wine, kids may be there); 7pm – onward (music and wine)
Admission: $10 at the door (indicated as paid via a hand-stamp)
Activities:
-Exhibition of art created by children with autism
-Exhibition of art created by local artists
-Art activities for children who come with their families (between 4-7pm)
-Silent auction on all art (emcee announcements beginning at 7:30pm)
-Raffle for prizes donated by local businesses (emcee announcements)
-Bids for all silent auction items will close at 9:30pm
Tentative time-table for activities:
-4pm-7pm:
-families and children visit gallery and see their art
-families will be encouraged to make bids on art/buy raffle tickets, but will be notified that the auction will not end until 9:30 that evening
-a table will be set up with no-mess art activities, puzzles, other toys to occupy children if necessary
-juice and desserts will be available, but no hot food
-7pm:
-any lingering families will be notified that music will begin and that wine will be made available – it will be their decision whether to stick around with their children at that point
-wine will be made available
-hot food will be put out
-welcome announcement by emcees
1) Thank people for coming
2) Encourage them to eat/drink
3) Briefly talk about Autism Speaks – then refer them to info posters placed around gallery space
4) Introduce Dan (he can talk about ArtD and ELDI??)
5) Tell them about silent auction (tell them to refer to their programs/ask a volunteer if unclear about protocol)
6) Introduce musicians throughout night
-9:25 pm
-emcees announce that silent auction will close at 9:30pm
-9:30 pm
-volunteers collect all bid sheets – determine winners
-9:45 pm
-emcees call out names of silent auction winners, give them their winnings
-Rest of night:
-Wine, music and any leftover food will be enjoyed
Emcees: Robert Isenberg & Bernadette Ulsamer
Silent auction payment: will be overseen by Jo and Kylan at a designated “bank” table
Musicians performing (in order of appearance, starting around 7pm):
1) Alex Pfundt (1 hour)
2) Truth in Advertising (1 hour)
3) Joy Ike (45 mins)
4) Bluegrass Band
5) Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
*Musicians will have a table where they can place their merchandise (CDs, t-shirts, info) for sale and a volunteer will be available to watch over/sell their goods while musicians are performing
Food Donations:
-Taza 21
-Istanbul Grille
-Smallman Street Deli
-Panera
-Gluuteny
By Dan Friedson
Pittsburgh has amazing resources and people committed to understanding Autism. Team Spectrum, participating in Autism Speaks' Walk Now For Austism took a creative twist to its fundraising efforts the summer of '09. In addition to the traditional walk-for-dollars, Kylan Tur
ner and Johanna Taylor spear-headed an art auction at ArtDimensions. All proceeds from art sales were donated by ArtD and the participating artists. Austism Peaks at ArtD produced $3,000 for the cause.
Featuring music from Alex Pfundt, Truth in Advertising, The Mon River Ramblers (who also have an STL-PGH connection) Whiskey Tango Foxtrot & the awesome . . . Joy Ike. I like Ike and she likes you too, so help her make her next album.
Artwork included the creations from "the children on the spectrum," a promising group of young artists who commanded prices exceeding $100 for one of their works. Jessica Scott volunteered her talents to creating the flyer (see below), the original sold at the show.
Ava Lounge, Highland Avenue
By Lani Reding
Equinox was held on March 21, 2009 at Ava Lounge from 8 pm to 2 am. ArtDimensions sponosored this event.
The event featured artwork from Kahmeela Adams, Jennifer Crawford, Laura Petrilla, Lani Redinger, Kristen Tolbert, and Susan Wagner, as well as a slide show of work by Kahmeela Adams and Laura Petrilla.
Performances included DJ Gem and DJ Kelly Carter throughout the evening, as well as a jam session led by E-May, spoken word by Christiane D., Angel Eye on the mic, a scene from Vanessa German’s “Rise” featuring Kellee Maize and Becca Cooper, a live performance by Kellee Maize on the mic, and belly dancing by 3rd Street Belly Dance.
The event kicked off with a meet and greet at 8 pm with food donated by Coca Café. Event organizers wore fashion by local designers throughout the evening as part of a roaming fashion show. Performances began at 10pm. Attendees were a mix of males and females, 21 to 55 equaling a total of approximately 150 guests throughout the evening.
6000 Penn Avenue
On the Record - an exhibit of art that has been created on or with actual vinyl records. The visual art in the exhibit will be juried from the work submitted by Pittsburgh area artists. Award winners will be in the final exhibit. There will be 2 first place prizes: One for the best painting on a vinyl record. One for the best 3D or multi-dimensional artwork incorporating vinyl.
On the Record… at ArtDimensions’ 6000 Penn Avenue Gallery. An exhibit of art that incorporates actual vinyl records. Records are available for artists to use at the 6000 Penn Avenue Gallery – or you may use your own. Thank you Jerry’s Records on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill. ArtDimensions Pittsburgh gallery opening will be Friday January 23rd from3pm to 8pm with a diverse line up of comedy and music featuring: Between Liberties, Gene Stovall, Truth In Advertising, People In The Red Balloon and The Hodge Podge Society. The On The Record exhibit will be juried from the work submitted by Pittsburgh area artists. The Saturday evening awards show will feature the Old E All Stars, Sonji, DJ JMalls, The Harlan Twins, Kellee Maize and the debut of New Musical Enemies, and other musical, performing, and spoken word artists as well, including the comedy of Gab Bonesso. The evening exhibit will take place Saturday January 24th from 7pm to 2am (Come celebrate T-Funk’s Birthday with us!!!!) Artists can pick up vinyl 33"s and 45" while they last starting December 27th, then every Saturday from Noon to 4pm at the ArtDimensions Pittsburgh gallery at 6000 Penn Avenue. Last day to sign up will be Saturday, January 10th, from Noon to 4pm. Winners will be announced at the awards show Saturday evening January 24th. Chosen artists may exhibit works for sale after the show and may attend the Visual Artist’s Briefcase Business Seminar for free. The exhibit will be on display until mid-March. Contest Submittal Fee for up to 2 pieces: $5 ArtD Member $10 Non-Member You will be notified by Friday, January 16th if your work was selected for the exhibit. **Please make checks or money orders payable to East Liberty Development, Inc. It’s cold we have to keep the heat on! SALES/INSURANCE Artists are responsible for insuring their own work. ArtDimensions may not be held liable for any theft or damages incurred before, during or after exhibit. ***IMPORTANT!! LIST YOUR PIECES SUBMITTED FOR THIS EXHIBIT on the back with your name, the title of the piece, medium, dimensions and price. Membership information is available at the gallery Saturdays Noon to 4pm. Membership information will also be available at the Jan 23 & 24th (Fri- day and Sat- night) events.
Exhibiting artists agree to donate 20% of any sales made during or as a result of the On the Record exhibit. ArtDimensions will complete all sales. Cash, checks or money orders are accepted.
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 fr
om $20 to $1,500. Taking only a 20% commission from works sold, thousands of dollars have been realized by local artists.
First place for best painting on a vinyl record went to Michael Cocco's "Sinatra."
First place for best work that incorporates vinyl went to Carrie Hagan's "Wash That Man Right Outts My Hair." Runners up, respectively were Sean Reeve's "They Don't Listen" and Joanna Abel's "Unititled Mobile."
Jerry's Records donated enough vinyl so guests at the event could paint their own records during the festivities.
In the words of ArtD screenwriter/novelist Dan Parme, "Vinyl. In all its glory. Artists, both local and not so local, used these primitive black discs to create paintings, sculptures, mobiles, and a sense of community in our little corner of East Lib. And what is a weekend of vinyl with no music? More than a handful of local musicians tickled our ears. A beautiful and gifted comedienne (call me, Gab) tickled our funny bones. And not-so traditional belly dancers tickled, well, the rest of us. There was the smashing of records, and the consumption of ouzo. It was a celebration of art, those who create it, and those who appreciate it. It was a heck of a party. You really should have been there."
6000 Penn Avenue, former bank vault of East Liberty PNC Bank.
Davide Weaver and his then pregnant wife, Gina flew to Pittsburgh from St. Louis to create a Euphony Lounge in the former bank vault of the East Liberty PNC Bank on the conrer of Penn Avenue and Highland. With only one week to gather supplies, tools, plan and build, the task seemed improbable. The vault itself was made of concrete; ceiling-to-floor, wall-to-wall. The completion of the Euphony Lounge inspired local Pittsburgh artists to start ArtDimensions Pittsburgh, history repeated itself . . .
By Dan Friedson
The story of the Euphony Lounge starts with Davide Weaver crashing through a glass-paned window into the night escaping the sure grip of death as his home burned to the ground. 
At the time, Davide was a pioneer for the resurrection of micro-brews in St. Louis. His micro-brew, "Bacchus," was slated to open in Union Station. Davide studied classic arts at Kansas University, was an amateur boxing champ, canvas painting, party-hosting, Star Wars loving young man.
After the fire, he was a prisoner of circumstance, with Burroughs-esque dreams keeping his active brain engaged in fictional conversations while enveloped in a comma.
Upon awaking and receiving the pessimistic news of his medical team, Davide's resolve surprised doctor, after doctor. Part of his healing process was a self-prescribed installation piece he named, "The Euphony Lounge." He recalls, "They told me I'd never walk again . . . so it was nice to see the surprise on my PT's face when I was standing on a ladder gluing the Millennium Flacon to the ceiling."
Davide built a small room surrounded, ceiling-to-floor, wall-to-wall with the things he loved, organized, in a fashion, by theme but allowing for the illusion of chaos. The Euphony Lounge is a wonderful place to let your mind wander until it clears.
The first time I met Davide Weaver was inside the Eup
hony Lounge in St. Louis. The Lounge was housed in a walk-in closet of a 3,000 square-foot loft on Washington Avenue in 2001--- when downtown was a ghost-town. There was comfortable seating for a dozen people, I took a seat on the red-velvet couch. One corner of the room --- a collage of religious images; the ceiling --- full-scenes from the Empire Strikes Back; on the floor --- a few televisions with a variety of static storms glowing in a fireplace frame.
There were three-different lighting styles which Davide magically controlled from his chair by the chess table -- my favorite one surrounded the inhabitants of the Euphony Lounge in the night's stars.
Davide lived in one of the first lofts in downtown St. Louis with his soon-to-be wife, Gina. They were moving to a home, but they didn't want to give up the Euphony Lounge. Davide was enthusiastic about starting an artist group that would throw art-exhibit openings and shows every 2 months in the loft. Mike Landau, of Phat Buddha Productions, would promote, Davide and Gina would get the artists together. They needed someone they could trust to be the artist-in-residence at the loft. A lawyer, a poet, would be good. That was me.
In May, 2001, running my own law practice out of my section 8 apartment overlooking the Mississippi River, I had little experience with art-law. My practice was focused on affordable and fair housing. My "street-cred" in South St. Louis was hard-won as a lawyer-turned-pizza-delivery guy at the Brick Oven on Cherokee Street. A lawyer trying to sign people up for financial literacy classes for homeownership and entrepreneurship, not ok. A pizza-guy with a law license on the other hand . . . that was ok.
I got lucky when a local paper covered the neighborhood I was working, while at the same time, one of my clients, Pookie, got a song on the radio --- "We Make It Hot." I was broke, relying on my friends to pay my gas bills in the winter and feed me daily. Davide and Mike made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
For $400/month I lived at ArtDimensions St. Louis, the giant loft overlooking the clubs on Wash Ave. with a hot tub. All I had to do was protect the art and write a book within the year of my residency. With this, ArtD St. Louis was born and the Euphony Lounge was the hook that inspired us to be more than we were ... to be artists for and about one another.
The story of ArtDimensions Pittsburgh started from a community conversation between Friendship Development Associates, Inc., East Liberty Development, Inc. and local artist Susan Wagner in February, 2008. I moved to Pittsburgh a few years before to start a Community Economic Development Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Asked to come to this meeting by Friendship Arts District Manager, Matt Galluzzo, the question was, "How do we support the 400 artists living in the East End of Pittsburgh?"
I told them about my experiences with ArtDimensions St. Louis. A few months later, East Liberty Development, Inc. offered me a former bank building on Penn and Highland to reclaim for arts entrepreneurship programming.
October, 2008, I sponsored Davide Weaver and his then pregnant wife, Gina to fly to Pittsburgh from St. Louis to create a Euphony Lounge in the former bank vault of the East Liberty PNC Bank on the corner of Penn Avenue and Highland. With only one week to gather su
pplies, tools, plan and build, the task seemed unattainable.
The vault itself was made of concrete; ceiling-to-floor, wall-to-wall. Davide built a wooden frame as an exoskeleton and began planning themes for the room the night of arrival.
Spray-painting the vault-walls with words, "Law, Politics, Technology, Music, Sex, Death, Love, Religion" we sat, scratching our heads . . . where were we going to get enough material to transform the vault with these themes, and oh yeah ... we absolutely needed some retro-furniture. As Davide's squire, I called upon every artist I knew and didn't know in Pittsburgh. Susan Wagner heeded our call and came through like our very own Fairy-God-Mother.
A week later, the Euphony Lounge was built, it's creators high on hot glue and paint fumes, but mostly on pride of a job-well-done. The Pittsburgh artists were drawn to the installation much the same way I was 8 years before, in a 
different town, with the same dream.
A name for the new artists' group seemed stuck on "The Vault." After explaining that we couldn't always be in 6000 Penn Avenue, the local artists were affronted by the efforts Davide, Gina, Susan and myself had put into transforming the vault. Guerilla-art-galleries just hadn't hit in Pittsburgh yet. In St. Louis, experience taught us that the core group is what mattered, not the bricks-and-mortar. Enter Sean O'Donnell and Kahmeela Adams.
Sean O'Donnell is a Pittsburgh singer-songwriter, literary publisher, bag-pipe playing soldier-of-the-arts. From Day-1, Sean was at 6000 Penn Avenue to clean, paint, re-p
aint, and then recruit someone else to paint. His volunteerism, unsurpassable . . . without Sean, ArtD Pittsburgh would have been impossible. He recruited most of the talent for our first roof raiser in October of 2008. His band, Truth In Advertising fills us with laughter, his publishing company, Ophelia Street keeps us thinking, his dedication keeps us going.
Kahmeela Adams happened upon the Euphony Loounge in Pittsburgh while we were looking for material to complete the "Love Room" in the Euphony Lounge. Lucky for us, she recently completed a series of modern pin-up photography. About a month later she showed up with a wall-full of photos and has since provided much needed level-headed leadership. Without Kahmeela, ArtD Pittsburgh would have been improbable. Organizing artists is like herding cats, and Kahmeela has just the right magic. 
Inspired by GLUE to be multi-metropolitian, Sean, Kahmeela and I decided to reach out to Davide and ArtDimensions St. Louis . . . instead of re-creating the wheel, we duplicated it and ArtDimensions Pittsburgh was born.
