Tomorrow is Liz's favorite day of the year. Head over to Lake Elizabeth in West Park at 4pm tomorrow (Thursday, July 7, 2011) and see why:
Dove release thanks to our friends – both bird and human – from the Aviary
Education Coordinator Shannon shared this morning, "Last year during the dove release, Liz was like an innocent child experiencing her very first Christmas morning." Here is photographic proof.
Phew. It's been a week since the 2011 Urban Garden Party. We're just now coming down from the adrenaline rush of planning, anticipation, excitement, and good times. We hope those of you who attended had as much fun as we did. Because we did.
I have just one important thing to say: Thank you.
Our new boyfriends and favorite iPad DJs, AndrewAndrew
Each year, we are floored (and humbled) by the amount of support and interest the Garden Party receives. From national sponsors to tweets, our supporters have come through again to make this Garden Party our most successful to date! The event sold out and we raised more than $215,000 to support future exhibitions, education and community programs, and museum operations.
There was a lot of buzz before the event, too: We mustn't forget the hilarious craigslist ticket scalping and the awesome Tom Hughes' witty response Pop City had the Garden Party as their Pick of the Week Steeltown Anthem's creative Mundania Horvath blogs two days before the event Lindsay Patross of I Heart Pgh wrote a great lead-up blog post on the Garden Party and the Community Garden Party – which had a record attendance of 500 people!
Again, thanks to each and every one of you for helping last Friday's event be the most successful Garden Party we've ever had!
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.
Hello friends, my name is Tom. I’m the summer marketing intern here at the Mattress Factory and today I have come on a mission. A mission to tell you about yet another rocking party the Mattress Factory is throwing this month.
Less than 36 hours after the 2011 Urban Garden Party’s trip from Hollywood to Paradise has drawn to a close (and in less time than it takes to walk to Homer City, PA and back), we will be throwing our Community Garden Party!
We’re going to have some awesome performances, great art and amazing personalities including the emcees of the party, Tom Sarver and Mike Cuccaro of The Puppet Happening. I’m telling you, this party is going to have it all.
You wanna to see the art? We got you.
Our galleries will be open and you can see our latest exhibition Neighbo(u)rhoodin the main galleries. Or take a walk down to our satellite space at 1414 Monterey Street to see all the great work done by local artists for Gestures 15.
You wanna make some art? Oh man, we got you.
Going along with our newest exhibition Neighbo(u)rhood, there will be art-making activities including screen printing, flower potting, sound recordings and more.
You wanna hear some music? How about some drums….OF STEEL.
You get the gist, a fun time will be had by all who attend. Now, I know what you may be thinking, “But Tom, how could I possibly afford this afternoon of unleashing my wild side with my friends and family?” and “Who would ever think to walk to Homer City, Pennsylvania?”
Friends, allow me to answer only one of those questions:
This party is FREE, it’s going to be fun for all ages and it’s open to the public. Come on down Sunday, June 19 and party with us from noon to five!
We start planning for the Garden Party 51 weeks in advance. Yup. That’s right; the week after the Garden Party we’re back at it again.
This will be my fifth Garden Party as an MFer. Despite the insane hours and the heart palpitations of worry – this party is a blast! And it's only 15 days away.
A few things you may not know about the 2011 Urban Garden Party:
1. WIN A DATE WITH JAMES FOREMAN James Foreman, Mattress Factory member and supporter, is running his second annual “Win a Date” contest for one lucky girl (or guy) to be Jim’s date for the evening. For icing on the cake, he’s buying a Green Membership and handing it straight to you so you can keep on enjoying the Mattress Factory for 364 days after the Garden Party ends. Full disclosure: I’ve known Jim for 9 years. He’s a good guy. One of the best. He’ll blush for the first five minutes, and then continue to blush after consuming his first mixed drink. He’s nice, intelligent, thoughtful, generous, and will watch you dance your ass off (not so much of a dancer, that guy).
He’ll be picking a hot date in the next few days, so apply now!
Jim at 5, I think. He doesn't know I'm using this photo... yet.
Nobody knows about this yet, so this is the exclusive, last-minute announcement: Do you have a boyfriend? A girlfriend? A wife? A husband? A domestic partner? A best friend? Now's your chance! James is cracking the whip and forcing his judges to choose a winner for Win a Date With Each Other! That's right - he's giving away two extra tickets to the couple who wants it the most!
Stay tuned to the @MattressFactory twitter feed and Facebook page for more information about how you and the partner of your choice can join James and his date for the best party this side of paradise!
Here is Jim (near right) at last year's Garden Party.
2. TICKET GIVEAWAYS Pocketbook a little light? Watch during the final two weeks–starting tomorrow–for a few ticket giveaways on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for your chance to enter a contest to win a pair of tickets to the party! (Already purchased your tickets? No worries, we’ll give you an automatic upgrade to our exclusive VIP party for being such awesome supporters/partiers.)
3. ANDREWANDREW AndrewAndrew will be here DJing from their iPads. And probably judging what you wear more than you think. (My favorite line in the video below: “We’re the guys who invented Facebook.”)
Every Thursday from now until Labor day the MF education department will set up shop in West Park near Lake Elizabeth (we like to call her Lake Liz) on the Northside. We’ll offer a different hands-on activity related to the outdoors and art each week! We’re excited to partner with Venture Outdoors and Kayak Pittsburgh for this, our 2nd year – providing free weekly programs for all ages!
MFers hanging out making art at Lake Liz
Located in the city’s oldest park, Allegheny Commons/West Park, Lake Elizabeth is perfect for families, beginning kayakers, or anyone nervous about getting out on the river. Just 3 feet deep, this shallow lake offers great views of the downtown skyline in a controlled environment. Allegheny Commons is located on Pittsburgh’s North Side near the National Aviary and only a few blocks from the Mattress Factory.
Kayak Pittsburgh lets you poke around the lake
When: Every Thursday (June 2 - September 1, 2011), 4-6pm Where: At Lake Elizabeth Who: You, Mattress Factory, and Kayak Pittsburgh Cost: FREE ($5 per kayak on weekends)
Let’s talk about neighborhoods.We have an entire show about the topic courtesy of Curator-in-Residence, Georgina Jackson.
The Neighbo(u)rhood exhibition includes events, installations and video-based works, which present differing points of departure and reflections upon the idea of neighborhood. The (u) in the title refers to a difference of translation, but also an a nod to the role of oneself in the existence of neighborhood.
ARTLab project in March led by artist Gian Carlos (far right)
The show has me thinking about our communities and the way that our actions can contribute to our wellbeing as a whole. Because of this I think that we should start taking care of our global neighborhood by making art. Fundreds of pieces of art…
Participants of this Saturday’s Artlab will be participating in the Fundred Dollar Bill Project. Fundred Dollar Bills are original, hand-drawn versions of U.S. one hundred dollar bills that are being created around the country.
So what happens to these fundreds and fundreds of little pieces of art? They are all going to collection centers (the closest collection center is at one of our favorite places, The Fabric Workshop in Philadelphia) and will be delivered – by an armored truck! – to the U.S. Congress. Along with the fundreds will be a request for an even exchange of the creative capital for real funding to make safe lead-polluted soils in New Orleans and beyond.
The Fundred armored truck! One day, your Fundred will be inside.
Please join us from 1:00-4:00pm in the Mattress Factory lobby and help to take care of our neighborhoods!
Where: Mattress Factory lobby
When: Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 1-4pm
Why: To celebrate community and help a community through the Fundred Dollar Bill project.
