RECAP // Mini-Factory: SOUND

Mini-Factory – our intrepid group of 3, 4 and 5 year olds - explored the world of SOUND at the Mattress Factory Museum.  How do artists use SOUND in their artwork?  What does the SOUND make me feel, think and imagine?   Red, by Rolf Julius, was a great starting point for our group.  Julius is an artist who pushes the boundaries of how our senses have traditionally been compartmentalized in the art world.  In Red, Julius has taken speakers, turned them upside-down, taken the grill off, and covered them with red pigment.  What happens when SOUND pipes through the red speakers? It jumps, vibrates and moves giving SOUND a visual component.

Stopping at the third floor landing, we explored another SOUND installation by Julius. Sound for Garden combines various objects such as wind chimes, factories, and city life to create a SOUND collage which compliments and accompanies the Garden Installation. The aim of this piece is to pull from two realms, SOUNDs of the past and present, guiding viewers to carefully observe their surroundings and, therefore, tune into their senses.

Once we explored galleries, it was time to put our observations to practice. Young artists listened to various sounds, including contrasting music allowing the SOUND to guide their paint brush.  We created a SOUND mural which was installed in the lobby of the Mattress Factory Museum.

Mini-Factory is an interactive learning program for children ages 3 - 5 years old and their parents or caregivers.  Using contemporary installation art, parents and children will explore new ideas and concepts from the everyday world.  Join us on April 23 for ME!

MF SHOP // Artist Feature: Nathan Hall

Every artwork tells a story. In this first ever MF Shop Artist Feature, we have chosen the work of composer, visual artist, jewelry designer, and Carnegie Mellon Alumni Nathan Hall.

A modern day Renaissance man, Nathan's jewelry line blurs the distinction between earthy and edgy. His one of a kind pieces are part of a fascinating story about the artist's experiences in Reykjavík, Iceland. We were delighted to have Nathan join us in conversation about his work.



I understand that you received your Masters in Music from Carnegie Mellon University, and later were a Fulbright Fellow for a year in Iceland. Could you tell me a bit more about your time in Iceland?

I’d been interested in Iceland since high school, and had even started taking Icelandic language lessons in Pittsburgh. Getting the Fulbright was one of the best things to ever happen to me!

I lived in Iceland for a year, making music, touring the country, meeting artists, and generally trying to immerse myself culturally. I got much better at speaking Icelandic, I joined a choir, and I started making new designs for my line of jewelry. Now that I’m back in the States, I go back to Iceland often to see friends, work on new creative projects, and visit places I haven’t yet seen.

As a composer and visual artist, what drew you to the medium of jewelry?

I’ve always been interested in jewelry right along with music, even from childhood. In grade school I’d make these hideous little bead necklaces for my relatives (they continue to joke with me about them to this day). And unlike composing, you see results from your work a lot faster, and then you can wear your art around.

In what ways has your background in music influenced your work as a jewelry designer?

For both fields, I’m constantly challenging myself to make new and better work and to stay fresh, and then get it out into the world. I love when my music creates a subtle atmosphere, and I hope that seeps a little into my jewelry as well.

Which aspects of Iceland were particularly inspiring to you?

There is a more immediate sense of landscape in Iceland- of all the lava that surrounds everything, of the dangers of the ocean waves, or the forces of a glacier grinding down a mountain. It’s more amped-up than most places in the world. Add to that a culture that really values the arts, and thinks it’s a totally valid life to be a composer or jewelry designer, or whatever—it’s all very inspiring.

The juxtaposition of raw natural elements and technically refined metalwork is particularly striking in your lava stone and metal crochet necklaces. Can you tell me a bit about the artistic process that goes into creating one of these pieces?

It took me quite a lot of trial and error to come to these designs, the right kind of pliable sterling silver, the width of the crochet, and how to get beads threaded into the piece. Every crocheted necklace is a single strand of wire, so I have to plan the shape out in advance, like a pattern. I also don’t crochet wire in the way I might make a scarf, because making irregular-sized loops is more interesting and organic to me.

Who do you have in mind when designing your jewelry?

Some of my favorite customers have been women who love art museums and big unique “statement” necklaces. The Barbara Luderowskis of the world! But when we can’t all be so bold, I imagine confident, stylish men and women who want something colorful, textural, with a story to tell.

What is your favorite piece in your collections?

It’s actually neither crocheted nor lava, but still rooted in Iceland. It’s a piece I did for a friend’s wedding (pictures below). I gathered sea glass on the coast of Reykjavík, and I wrapped the glass in sterling wire and wound the pieces with pearls and pale yellow crystals. I love those kinds of special projects. And the bride was happy too. 

To see Hall's line for yourself, visit the MF Shop online or at the museum! Admission is NOT required to shop.

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RECAP // Mini-Factory: COLOR

COLOR influences how we feel, how we see, and what we think. Today in Mini-Factory, our group of 3, 4 & 5 year old artists explored the world of COLOR by starting with a favorite book, My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss. Expressions such as “feeling blue,” “white as a ghost,” and “red hot mad” convey how people associate feelings with COLOR. 

Anne Lindberg’s piece shift lens provided the perfect example of how artists are inspired by COLOR.  By combining various crisscrossed colored thread stretched wall to wall, shift lens creates a blending of colors.  Light filtering from windows behind the installation add another layer of nuance which further blends the blues, yellows and greens.

Artists are constantly inspired by the colors around them… and so too are chameleons.  Using children’s literature as our entry point, our group didn’t miss a step making the connection with A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni. Chameleons change color to match their surroundings; how many colors can a chameleon be in the kitchen, in the desert, in the rainforest?  By looking carefully and observing the many tones of colors, students colored their chameleon to blend into various landscapes, putting into practice our discussion and exploration of COLOR.

RECAP // Breakfast In Bed: Valentine's Brunch @ the MF

This past Sunday, nearly 300 people joined us for our inaugural Valentine's Day Brunch. Love - and the aroma of fresh waffles - was in the air. Although usually closed on Sunday's, for Valentine's Day the Mattress Factory was open exclusively to Brunch attendees.

Visitors indulged in a scrumptious liège waffle spread courtesy of Pittsburgh favorite, Waffallonia, and spirits were high thanks to perfectly crafted mimosas and bloody mary's from local hot spots Salud Juicery and Wigle Whiskey. A huge thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated Valentine's Day with us, and our fantastic vendors for making this event one to remember!

RECAP // ARTLab: Weave a Memory

Everyone had so much fun creating our collaborative installation in the Lobby last Saturday for ARTlab. Visitors of all ages worked together to assemble a massive yarn web inspired by Chiharu Shiota's piece Trace of Memory. Instead of trapping memories, it felt like we were encapsulating giggles in our web box!

ARTLab February 20th 'Still life, a performance by Adam Milner' 

Our next ARTlab, 'Still life, a Performance by Adam Milner,' is on is on Saturday February 20th and will take place in the Mattress Factory Lobby. The Pittsburgh-based artist will be recruiting help from visitors to bring his piece together during ARTlab from 1 - 4. Stop by to help him out, or just to see what he is up to! This event is FREE with museum admission.

  

MF IN THE NEWS // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On Monday, a major Mattress Factory announcement was featured by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette! The article discussed eminent artist James Turrell's gift of an iconic Skyspace to the museum's permanent collection.

RECAP // Factory 500: Martin Prekop's "Mirrored House"

On a chilly Saturday afternoon, Factory 500 members gathered at the home of artist, Martin Prekop in Fox Chapel. His home is appropriately referred to as the "Mirrored House," and is not a hard one to miss if you are driving by.

Built in the 1960s, and spanning an estimated 5,000 square feet, the "Mirrored House" is the long-time art project of Martin's. Martin moved to Pittsburgh over 20 years ago to serve as Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University for 12 years. He continues to teach at CMU, focusing mostly on photography. The "Mirrored House" has not only been an art project in and of itself, but is also the subject matter in Martin's photography. With a fully equipped dark room in the basement, Martin continues to create black and white photographs of his home.

After the Factory 500 members had some time to explore around the home, both interior and exterior, everyone congregated in a large room with floor to ceiling glass windows - which in the warmer months double as a garage door that opens up into a lush back yard. "How did you get started with the mirrors?" a Factory 500 member asked. Martin explained that after he bought the home he was washing his hands in the bathroom and looking out the window. "I was staring at a brick wall and what I really wanted to see was my backyard," he said. "So I put a mirror there outside on the brick." One mirrored brick led to two mirrored bricks, which led to thousands. "You never know how many bricks your home is made up of until you decide to put mirrors on every one," Martin quipped.

Twenty some years later, Martin's home is full of mirrors, artwork, records and stylish furniture - a real piece of installation art and a treat for Factory 500 members to experience.

Factory 500 is the Mattress Factory's premier membership program, chaired by Susan Lammie. The group tours private collections, artist studios, local businesses, and other interesting arts destinations in Pittsburgh several times throughout the year. Don't miss out - join today!