RECAP // Factory 500: Night Out in Lawrenceville

On March 28th, 2014, the Factory 500 members visited Lawrenceville to check out some of the the people and places that are contributing to the neighborhood's growing arts and foodie culture.

The first stop was Revision Space, with Director Cindy Lisica, which opened in February 2014. Cindy discussed her move back to Pittsburgh and the history of this unique space on Butler Street. The gallery's inaugural show opened on February 21, 2014 and featured new, never before seen work by artist Cy Gavin. 

Revision Space in Lawrenceville

Cy explained some of the inspiration and thought behind this collection of of works, which reflects on the untimely passing of a close friend. Many of the paintings had been folded and sat untouched in his New York apartment. When the canvas was stretched for Fugue States at Revision Space, it was the first time Cy had seen the pieces since painting them.

Cy Gavin talks to the group at Revision Space with Director Cindy Lisica

Revision Space's upcoming show, Art is Violent, opens to the public on April 4th, 2014.

The second stop was Radiant Hall Studios, an artist-run studio building in the heart of Lawrenceville that provides space and connections for emerging artists in the Pittsburgh region. Director Ryan Lammie oversees nearly 20 artists on three floors.

Ryan Lammie talks to the group about Radiant Hall's mission

Tom Patterson from Wild Purveyors, Steve Sloan from Roundabout Brewery, and Paul Roden from Tugboat Print Shop also joined in the evening.


Tom Patterson is co-owner of Wild Purveyors, a store on Butler Street that  provides locally grown food to the public. Tom brought along some samples for the group to try.

Roundabout Brewery owner Steve Sloan opened the craft brewery in July 2013. Located at 48th and Butler, Roundabout features fresh-brewed beers with a New Zealand flair. Members sampled his fantastic beer and a lucky few got to keep Roundabout beer growlers.

The group samples food and beer.

Paul of Tugboat Printshop was also on hand at Radiant Hall. Tugboat hand crafts woodcut prints in their studio in Lawrenceville. Paul spoke to the group about their work and showed some of their intricate pieces.

Paul Roden from Tugboat Printshop at Radiant Hall

Thanks to everyone who attended! Factory 500 is the museum's premier membership group, chaired by Susan Lammie. Members get exclusive access to tours of artist studios, businesses, private collections and more.

See you at the MF soon.

-Abby
Patron Programs at the MF

Record-breaking Urban Garden Party fundraiser!

It's been exactly one week since the Urban Garden Party: Alice at the Factory and we're still a bit in shock from the amazing support we have received. With your help, we raised a record-breaking $220,000 for the museum's unique artistic and education programs!

Many thanks to everyone who helped in any and every way – corporate sponsors, visual and performance artists, volunteers, musicians, food vendors, host committee, photographers, ticket-buyers, and our Chairs Susan and Scott Lammie – we couldn't have done it without you. We are humbled.

What people are saying:

 "...And so the story goes that more than 1,300 guests were falling down the rabbit hole and into the summer soiree that has become infamous for a history of bold swan dives into edgy, eye-popping territory." 

- Kate Benz from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"The Mattress Factory's Urban Garden Party is held each year in the rugged outdoor space, and regulars (of which there are quite a few!) know to wear shoes that can handle the terrain. That doesn't preclude going all out in the costume department, and the "Alice at the Factory" theme inspired many mad hatters to don gay apparel."

-Marylynn Uricchio, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Mattress Factory’s Urban Garden Party should be on your to-do list for next year. Alice At The Factory was a perfect summer party, celebrating quirkiness and art, and supporting an organization that is one of Pittsburgh’s gems. We had a blast!!"

-Liz Labs, Nakturnal

"The MF's Urban Garden Party was over-the-top magical, tasty and eccentric, full of twirly-whirly dancing, and stuffing oneself silly!"
 -Anna Moore, Table Magazine

Curiouser and curiouser!

What people were photographing:

We are indebted to the fantastic photographers who really capture the soul and the depth of this one night!

The official MF photoset: John Altdorfer, Larry Rippel, Andy Rincon, and Ashley Noble
Jo Ellen Smith
Rob de la Cretaz

Even more photos:
WPXI
Showclix
Elevation Loft

We had Alice's prettiest rabbits attend the VIP party

See you at next year's Urban Garden Party on Friday, June 21st, 2013!

What do we want? RAINBOW WORLD! When do we want it? NOW!

What would you do if someone took away something you loved?  Would you demand its swift return?  Would you protest?  Would you take to the streets?

That’s exactly what the kids at MF’s Community ArtLab did yesterday when their beloved “rainbow world” (the colorful installation currently in our lobby) got tied up in knots and no longer hung down to the floor to flow freely. With a little help from ArtLab instructors Kevin Clancy and David Pohl, the kids decided to take matters into their own hands. Their list of demands was simple:  What did they want? RAINBOW WORLD!  When did they want it? NOW!

So they made some signs, grabbed some instruments, and set out onto Sampsonia Way to make some noise.

Some of our friends from Lungs Face Feet stopped by to help.

Each summer, MF’s Community ArtLab brings artists and educators together with local youth for a summer day camp experience that inspires creativity and initiates conversations about the community. With themes like “The Power of Play” and “Super Hero Snacktime,” each session of Community ArtLab gives kids a chance to explore artistic and practical ways to improve the places we live.

The theme of this week’s workshop is “Utopia.” Students have been visiting nearby gardens, pondering geodesic domes, and learning how to become the change they wish to see in the world. It’s fitting then, that they returned to the museum yesterday to find that sometimes dreaming big really does pay off–rainbow world was back!

This summer's Community ArtLab workshops are currently full, but you can click here to learn more about them or sign up for the waiting list.

2012 Urban Garden Party: Alice at the Factory countdown!

Hard to believe, but our annual fundraiser, the Urban Garden Party, is just six weeks away! Things are really heating up for another fabulous event full of great food & drink, fresh sounds from multiple music performers from near (Pittsburgh) and far (NYC and Oregon), and a few fantastic curiosities. Follow this image during the next few weeks for a little surprise – we'll reveal a piece of the puzzle every other day.

UPDATE 5/18/12: The Queen of Hearts is none other than our fearless leader, founder and Co-Director Barbara Luderowski!

Tickets have sold out the last two years and we're on pace to sell out even sooner, so purchase your tickets today and enjoy a great party while supporting a great museum.

Paul Nosa: Sewing People's Imagination

A few days ago we received a request from Paul Nosa to hang out here at the museum and "sew people's imagination." We said yes.


Watch this video for some AMAZING backwards writing with thread.

Paul Nosa: sewing people's imagination. "Unexpected visitor at the tea party in the sky."
 
Paul is a sewing artist from Tucson, Arizona. He draws people's imagination with a sewing machine powered by a solar panel and a bicycle electric generator. He's currently on a sewing tour across America facilitating people's creativity and showing them how to make their own alternative energy sources.

Paul Nosa: sewing your dreams five words [or less] at a time. "Swimming through the day."
 
If you can think of a scenario in five words or less, he will sew it on the spot using a bicycle-powered sewing machine. When he isn't using his bicycle, he has some photovoltaic panels to juice up a battery which he can connect to his sewing machine on his distinctively outer space looking "Solar Sewing Rover." You can purchase your custom patch from him and walk away with a one-of-a-kind piece of art and feel great knowing you're supporting this talented artist's trek across the continent. We also have a few cool limited edition Paul Nosa MF totes available in the MF Shop.


Who: Paul Nosa
What: Sewing Artist from Tuscon is stopping by the Mattress Factory during his U.S. tour on his way from New York City to Los Angeles. 
This event is sponsored by the MF Shop.
When: Saturday, May 5, 2012, 11am-4pm
Where: In the Mattress Factory's "Garden" (or in the lobby if rain)

ArtLab: Projection Perception

This Saturday’s ArtLab will showcase Factory Installed artist Pablo Valbuena's video projection, Para-Site [mattress factory]. Pablo uses light and projection on a static wall to emphasize the preexisting architecture in the Museum. In doing so, he lays out the blueprint for an animated virtual space. At different times throughout his installation, it appears as if windows are folding and the space reflected by mirrors. None of these things physical happen; they’re all amazing optical illusions. Pablo explains his work as the "dissolution of the limit between real and perceived."

Pablo Valbuena's mind-bending installation, Para-Site [mattress factory]

This week’s featured ArtLab workshop leader is local installation artist and Mattress Factory Educator, Esti Piels. Esti will provide a video that the museum visitor will collaboratively create the context by drafting or illustrating a physical setting for the projection. Each visitor will be asked to view the video first and then create a composition or scene for the narrative to occur. This temporary "scenario" will be living for the duration of the brief projection while being video documented by Esti. She will then piece together each documented scene to create a feature length video collaboration. The finished product will be available on this blog in the near future.

 Pablo Valbuena's installation being enjoyed by Museum visitors.

Join Esti this Saturday and add your creative piece to this video collaboration!

What: ArtLab: Projection Perception
When: Saturday, May 5, 2012, 1-4pm
Where: In the Museum's lobby
Cost: Free w/ paid Museum admission


Left: Esti thinking hard about how to make 
Saturday's ArtLab fantastic

A blast through the past 15 Gestures exhibitions

As our artists are feverishly working away down at 1414 Monterey, we hope you are all getting excited for the opening celebration of our sixteenth Gestures exhibition on March 30th, 2012! Join us on Friday, March 30th, from 6-8pm to check out Gestures: Intimate Friction.

Each year, several artists come to our satellite galleries at 1414 Monterey to create site-specific works for our Gestures exhibitions. To help prepare you for the excitement that is about to ensue, we have provided you with a smattering of past Gestures works from throughout the years. Enjoy!

Tom Bedger

Fall, 2001

Gestures 1

Harry Schwalb

Workplace, 2002

Gestures 2

Nathan Nissim

Heliogabalous, 2002

Gestures 3

Robin Stanaway

Collective Corrected Vision, 2003

Gestures 4

Todd Swan

Lamplight, 2003

Gestures 5

Nami Ogawa

, 2005

Gestures 6

Peter Lambert

Sketches in Steel, 2005

Gestures 7

David Sleasman

Hybrids: Pittsburgh: Prairie, 2005

Gestures 8

Jen Lucchino & Freddie Croce

Untitled, 2006

Gestures 9

Jairan Sadeghi

The Current State of Things at Point A, 2008

Gestures 10

Derk Wolmuth

Space Vacuum, 2008

Gestures 11

Amber Coppings

Echoes of Objects, 2009

Gestures 12

Patricia Villalobos Echeverria

Parasite (40°27'25"N 80°00'48"W), 2009

Gestures 13

Ryder Henry

Periphery, 2010

Gestures 14

Jerstin Crosby

On the Inside, 2011

Gestures 15

Gestures 16 "Gestures: Intimate Friction" is guest-curated by Mary-Lou Arscott, of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Architecture. Participants include Nina Marie Barbuto, Dee Briggs, Nick Durrant, Jeremy Ficca, Pablo Garcia, Jenn Gooch, Ling He, Matt Huber, Nick Liadis, Transformazium, Gill Wildman, and Spike Wolff. Again, the opening reception is Friday, March 30, 2012, 6-8pm, and runs through September 16, 2012.

An ode to our tireless volunteers

Hi friends! Maria here. I'm a new voice on the MF weblog, but those of you who have been to the museum have probably met me – I staff the admissions desk 5 days a week. In addition to handing out those cool little plastic admissions tags, I'm responsible for other things too. One of them is recruiting, training, and scheduling volunteers to help out at the museum.
  
                 

Erin Phillips keeps a watchful eye over the work of Chris Craychee and Jerstin Crosby at the Gestures 15 opening.

Volunteers, you say? Well, yes! Our staff is full of hardworking people, but we can't do it all. When that happens, we call in some of the most dedicated people in the MF family: our volunteers. Ever visited the MF? Chances are the person who served you your drink at that opening, helped you find your way through James Turrell's light installations on your first visit, or assembled the exhibition guide was a volunteer.

Instructor Teresa Martuccio and volunteer Sherry Johnson from United Cerebral Palsy brighten a Thursday morning.

Volunteers make a huge impact at the museum. To use some concrete figures, last year our volunteers gave us over 1,200 hours of their time over the course of nearly 400 visits. On average about 100 hours are contributed every month, and that doesn't even count special events like Garden Party, which require hundreds of hours by themselves.

Taylor Henzler and Kaitlyn Schwalje have a ball at the 2011 Garden Party!

Concrete numbers, however, will only give you half the story, so please allow me to brag about these fine people and all the ways they help us. Volunteers install artwork for exhibitions, greet and assist visitors in the galleries every weekend, run outreach programs and events with our staff, and provide behind-the-scenes administrative support too. They're the friendly faces and tireless workers whose efforts allow our educational programming to reach its fullest impact through outreach all summer. And allow our Garden Party to become the hottest ticket in town year after year. And allow our unique approach to on-site, immersive art to be shared with the world through fantastic openings and great experiences while visiting the galleries.

Annelise Bergevin and Michelle Liedke add some class to the lobby at the 2011 Garden Party VIP entrance.

In addition to being a hardworking and awesome group of people, our volunteers are pretty diverse, too – they're college students, brand-new alumni looking for new opportunities, parents, people with special needs, and full-time professionals. Their expertise covers everything from English literature to robotics, but they all have a passion for art and the Mattress Factory's mission.

Karen Forney quizzes our visitors on MF trivia in exchange for swag.

To put it simply, these people are an essential, invaluable part of the museum. We simply couldn't do it without them. So, the next time you see a volunteer at the museum, know that what you're enjoying is helped by their efforts. Volunteers, thank you for all of your hard work in 2011. We're looking forward to another great year!

Interested in joining this fabulous crew of dedicated folks? More info can be found here on our website or  by contacting us at volunteer [at] mattress.org.

516 Sampsonia Way is underway!

We hope you'll join us this Thursday, November 10th at 10am for a groundbreaking celebration of our newest exhibition space – 516 Sampsonia!

516 Sampsonia with the main galleries at 500 Sampsonia in the background

The Mattress Factory is currently renovating an 1890 Victorian-era row house and vacant lot located at 516 & 518 Sampsonia Way. By the end of summer, we'll will have an additional 2,500 square feet of space for more exhibitions and programs.

"It really does give us a much more flexible schedule so that there should be always something interesting to see. We love the fabric of this neighborhood. We love the idea of keeping this old building, not tearing it down, not building something that would be more appropriate."

                             -Michael Olijnyk, Co-Director, as quoted by William Loeffler, Tribune-Review


Watch the retrofitting progress here:

Groundbreaking Celebration
Thursday, November 10, 2011
10am
Coffee and pastries will be available
Free and open to everyone

POSTED BY LINDSAY Read All Posts by Lindsay

New BoxSpring Café Hours!

 We are happy to let you know that the BoxSpring Café is now open every day the Museum is open! 

Tuesday - Saturday 11am-4pm and now Sunday 1-4pm!

MF Lynn is ready to tempt you with delicious treats. 

And fruit. But who wants fruit when there are treats around?

The Sunday menu:

David Conrad + Ice Cream = Supporting the MF

Do you like ice cream?

Mmmmm, ice cream. Photo: Mr. T in DC

Do you like handsome men?

Actor and arts supporter David Conrad (We just couldn't resist the pink hearts!)

Do you like supporting the Mattress Factory?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then Saturday, August 27th, will be your lucky day. Through the generosity of Life'sWork / Ben & Jerry's PartnerShop in Squirrel Hill, you will be able to support the Mattress Factory by stopping by the PartnerShop from 12-9pm and purchasing any ice cream deliciousness and presenting the coupon below – 20% of your purchase will benefit the Mattress Factory. For even more sweetness, if you swing by the ice cream shop between the hours of 1 through 5pm, you'll get to meet the charming and dashing (and Mattress Factory board member) David Conrad!

See you next Saturday!

Psst! Want more art and more David Conrad? You'll be able to catch the exhibition he's been working on over in Braddock, The Lost Pittsburgh School.

Go on and get down with your bird self

As I was sitting at my desk typing away the other afternoon, I decided to open the window and enjoy the soothing afternoon sounds of birds and flutes. Wait a second...flutes?

Upon further inspection I found none other than MF friend and Bird-musician Michael Pestel leading his KIDBOP children's workshop in the Garden below. The workshop has been a blast so far and along with movement artist McLean Danny and Butoh Dancer Taketeru Kudo, the kids have been learning all about bird sound and bird movement. Want to join in? Just give us a call, the workshop is running until July 1st and there is plenty of room and we welcome drop-in visitors!

The workshop is fun for all ages and even some museum directors

(MF Co-Director and Founder Barbara Luderowski pictured right)

Oh, but that's not all! (in my best Bob Barker showcase showdown voice) We've got some great performances lined up featuring the Big Experimental Bird Orchestra of Pittsburgh (BEBOP)! The Mattress Factory was pumped to team up with their Northside neighbors the National Aviary and the Children's Museum to bring this series of performances, as well as the KIDBOP workshop, to Pittsburgh.

Join us bright and early July 9th at 6 a.m. for a morning of musical performance with the Stray Birds Sunrise Performance. That afternoon, at 2 p.m., the kids from this week's workshop will be performing alongside BEBOP as KIDBOP: the Kids Incredibly Daring Bird Orchestra of Pittsburgh.

Can't make it this Sunday? No problemo my avian aficionado, on Friday, July 15th at 8 p.m. is the Stray Birds Sunset Full Moon Performance. Hang out with us in the MF garden for an evening of music and outdoor video projections of the BEBOP/KIDBOP project.

For a little taste of what you're getting yourself into, check out this video of Michael performing with some of his friends at the National Aviary:



So join us for some outdoor, musical fun July 9th and July 15th and get on down with your bird self!

Video of Pestel and Kudo Butoh performance on 6/26/11 by Renee Rosensteel

The KIDBOP workshop and BEBOP/KIDBOP performances are being presented by The Mattress Factory in partnership with The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and The National Aviary. Funded by The National Endowment for the Arts and the Grable Foundation as part of the Charm Bracelet Project Fund.

SARAH PIERCE NEEDS YOU!

Sarah Pierce is an artist based in Dublin, who is making a newly commissioned work at the Mattress Factory for the show Neighbo(u)rhood. Her focus is the University of Pittsburgh campus. She is interested places where students gather, in various registers of "organization" from classroom learning, to political demonstrations, to student government, to campus clubs.

As part of this new work, Pierce is producing a new performance that will take place during the opening of the exhibition on May 13, 2011 from 6 - 8 p.m. She has collected various quotes from student protests and the Black Action Society dating back to 1959-1969, as well as recent ones from studio art classes and student senate meetings recorded in April 2011. These quotes will be incorporated into the performance, along with a series of simple 'gestures' performed by a group of 8-12 volunteers.

It's time to sign up to become a part of the art!

If you are interested in participating as a volunteer for the performance (any and all are welcome), please contact Lindsay at the Mattress Factory at lindsay [at] mattress [dot] org or post a comment below.

TIME COMMITMENT: Volunteers are asked participate in a closed workshop on Thursday, May 12 from 6 - 8 pm at the Mattress Factory, with Pierce to develop / rehearse the performance. There will be a short 'rehearsal' on May 13 at 6 pm, and the performance is at the Mattress Factory during the opening reception of Neighbo(u)rhood on May 13 from 6 - 8 pm.

No performance, drama, or dance experience required. All are welcome to volunteer, age 18 and older please.

ARTLAB THIS SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2011

Hi. I’m Shannon.

I happen to think that I work for one of the most amazing museums in the world. I’m constantly surprised by what we do here. Sometimes it is shock and awe. Sometimes it is just pure joy that only strange art can create. Whatever it is… I love it. I also happen to be in a position where I get to share that experience with the public through programming related to our exhibitions.

Hey, that's me over on the far right

What did I do to deserve this? I’ll tell you what I did… I became theEducation Programs Coordinator for the Mattress Factory in summer 2010. This job allows me the freedom of imagination and reflection to put my own stamp on the programs I plan. So, I imagined ways to revamp our Saturday ARTLab programs. Folks can go anywhere, including countless museums and centers, and create art projects to take home and enjoy on shelves and mantles but how often do they get to become installation artists and temporarily show their work at a museum? Not often. That must change. It will change now.

Factory 14s "Eat It All" opening on July 30, 2010

Every 3rd Saturday of the month our visitors are invited to contribute their blood, sweat, tears, and creativity to a communal installation project here at the Mattress Factory called ARTLab. Please spare us the blood, sweat, and tears but bring the rest. One of our very own museum educators will guide willing participants of all ages through the process of installation art. The level of effort is up to you but the impact of the experience is up to us.

Rice paper flowers

This Saturday (March 17, 2011) Gian Carlos, an installation artist from Puerto Rico, will be leading a ARTLab activity that will help you melt away your worries by creating rice paper flowers and then releasing them along with all your troubles in a large water vessel. Watch your creation slowly disintegrate along with the troubles of the world.

Hope to see you at our next ARTLab this Saturday from 1-4pm!