Happenings June 11

community + cultural info

Happenings June 11, 2003 1. Mark Eitzel and The Hidden Cameras (Fri) 2. Gist Street Reading Series (Fri) 3. Quantum Theatre: The Arabian Night (begins Fri) 4. A Smiling Hunger: Transforming Cultures (opens Fri) 5. Union Project Clean-Up Day (Sat) 6. Poetry in Motion Launch II (Sat) 7. Old Weird Americana Night - Reloaded (Sat) 8. Damo Suzuki Network (Sun after Sonic Youth) 9. Unseam'd Shakespeare: Bacchanal (Mon) 10. SPC 2030 Long Range Plan Public Participation Panels (downtown tonight, and June 12-25) 11. Trail Mixer [Friends of the Riverfront benefit] (RSVP by June 16) 1.------------------------------------------------- @ the warhol: Mark Eitzel and The Hidden Cameras Good Fridays June 13, 7 p.m. Tickets $10 As both a solo artist and the frontman for enduring cult favorites, American Music Club, Mark Eitzel has established himself as a successful and critically acclaimed singer/songwriter. Combining the energy of punk, the pastoral beauty of folk and the melodrama of lounge music, he has built one of the most darkly poetic bodies of songs in the modern pop canon. The Toronto-based band, The Hidden Cameras will open the show. This "gay-folk-church-music" ensemble has become an official Toronto cult for performances that are part art, part group aerobics, part singalong and part slam dancing. The Andy Warhol Museum 117 Sandusky St.--North Shore 412.237.8300 <www.warhol.org> One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh BUS: 16B/F, 500 --------------------------------------------------- 2. ------------------------------------------------ Gist Street Reading Series Meg Kearney (poetry) and Cathy McKinely (non-fiction) Friday, June 13, 2003 - 8:00 pm James Simon's Sculpture Studio 305 Gist Street - Uptown - Pittsburgh $2 suggested donation <www.giststreet.org> It's time to officially begin the summer season of Gist Street. And to kick that off we have two kick-ass writers in from New York City: Meg Kearney (poetry). Her book, _The Unkindnessses of Ravens_ is her first and was published by Boa editions. Cathy McKinley (non-fiction). _The Book of Sarahs: a Family in Parts_ was published in 2002. It will be a fantastic reading. Fantastic. You are lucky. Lucky, lucky, lucky. Are you lucky enough to win the raffle? Well, we'll see. This lucky reading is on June 13th. Yes, Friday the 13th. Come. We will have a fine ol' time. Should we have a fruit theme? Perhaps we should. I'm going to make a fruit tart. You can bring anything you want to. Fruit, beer, wine, lemonade. There will be, as always, homemade bread by Antoine. Maybe some homemade ice cream, depending on how Antoine's feeling about it all. Bring some wine. Bring some beer. Bring some fruit. Bring some cash for the bucket and some cash to buy books. Bring a friend. Bring a neighbor. The readings begin at 8:00 p.m.. That's 305 Gist Street. James Simon's sculpture studio. Uptown. Pittsburgh. 3rd floor. If you'd like to read more about our readers, get directions, see photos, or read some gossip, please visit our website: <www.giststreet.org>. $2 suggested donation at the door gives you a shot at the raffle prizes. Fun. Yes. 412-434-5629 if you're lost. Hope to see you there! --Sherrie Flick BUS: 61A/B/C, 71A/C/D, 500 --------------------------------------------------- 3. ------------------------------------------------ Quantum Theatre presents The Arabian Night June 13 - 29, 2003 8:00 pm (no shows June 16, 17, 23) Press & Official OPENING NIGHT June 18 Spring Way Center, 2515 Liberty Avenue, Strip District Tickets: $20, limited number of $15 student tickets. Please call ProArts at 412-394-3353 Quantum presents the AMERICAN PREMIERE of this poetic new play by German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig, translated and directed by Melanie Dreyer. Young German and Arab immigrants live side by side in huge, modern apartment complexes in gritty cities like Berlin. their lives seem undistinguishable, but at core, these people are different. or are they? The play examines the fantasies we spin about those 'exotically' different from ourselves. It's images are elemental - desert winds and raging waters are lurking, as if there's a menacing dream just behind pedestrian reality. Are the characters whom they seem to be, or are they embodiments of ancestors long gone, scores unsettled? Their attraction for each other is wistful, touching, but with an edge of violence. Quantum has an especially amazing location for the work - the slickly renovated urban atrium of Spring Way Center. 36 feet high, the audience is raised into space for vertical action above and below, and the play unfolds in a feat of choreography as well as poetry. Melanie Dreyer directs her translation. A professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Melanie brings her extensive knowledge of contemporary German theatre to Quantum. The play stars Ken Bolden, Camille Faria, Sally Randa, Raj Bose, and Ethan Hova. Scenic design is by Julie Ray, Lighting design is by Bryan Miller, Sound design by Dave Bjornson of AAM Studios, Costume design by Venise St. Pierre. Special events: Post-show talkback with artists, free to ticket holders, Sunday June 15. Pre-show reception at Cultural Partner Society for Contemporary Craft, June 19, 5:30-7:30 pm, June 19, 2100 Smallman Street, free to ticket holders. BUS: 86A/B, 91A, 54C, UVLoop (Fri/Sat) --------------------------------------------------- 4. ------------------------------------------------ What: A Smiling Hunger: Transforming Cultures When: Exhibition runs Friday, June 6 - Sunday, June 22; Opening reception: Friday, June 13, 5:30-7:30 pm (Included in the Three Rivers Arts Festival's Walk-about Reception) Where: Future Tenant, 801 Liberty Ave., Downtown The first summer exhibition at Future Tenant, A Smiling Hunger features works by Hill District artist Jorge Myers and the collaborative groups Kitchen Renovation Dinner Theater and Paper Rad. Curated by Takahiro Noguchi, a recent graduate of the CMU School of Art MFA program, the exhibition presents single and collective acts of transformation from local and nationally known artists. These artists radically recover and alter their physical and cultural environments as a means of survival. Coming from different walks of life (a middle-aged writer and her teenage son, art professionals and computer nerds, a onetime auto-shop owner and present activist) they not only create art, but also contribute their work to a larger vital community, spanning from the Hill District to electronic and punk subcultures. Local artist Donna DiBartolomeo has filled the walls of the room at the rear of the Future Tenant Space with her scrawled and graffiti-ed drawings. The drawings emerge from the artist's contemplation and reflection on her past experiences, present circumstance, and projections and hopes for the future. Complexion is a journal without pages, a presentation of a manuscript or diary on the walls. Gallery admission is free. For more information, contact ellena@cmu.edu <mailto:ellena@cmu.edu> BUS: All Downtown --------------------------------------------------- 5. ------------------------------------------------ Union Project Hosts Neighborhood Clean-Up Day The Union Project is hosting a Vandalism Clean-Up Day on Saturday June 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the former Union Baptist Church (Stanton & Negley Avenues, Highland Park). A press-conference will be held at 1:00 on the front lawn. Over the Memorial Day weekend, vandals broke into the Union Project, shattering 26 interior windows, splintering original 100-year-old handcrafted woodwork, ripping up floorboards, and trashing furniture and clothes donated for the community-wide Highland Park Yard Sale. There were also some 15 attempts to set fire and five small homemade bombs meant to spray shrapnel and flames. The Union Project is restoring the former church as part of its mission to create community by connecting neighbors and celebrating art and faith in common space. The June 14 clean-up day follows a strong precedent - in less than two years, this grass-roots project has garnered the support of 400 people and their 6,000 hours of work removing trash from the building, planning for the restoration, raising funds, organizing the board of directors and more. "This project would not be possible without the participation of our neighbors," says Executive Director Jessica King. "It takes a whole community to pull off something this big." Projects for the Saturday work day include cleaning up vandalism damage, securing the doors with new and improved locks, painting and refinishing the exterior doors, installing upgraded exterior lighting and continuing the ongoing landscaping and beautification efforts. "Our goal for the clean-up day is to show that an active, healthy community cannot be sabotaged by violence and destruction," says Board Chair Brad Siemens. In addition to the physical repairs, a Union Project Vandalism Fund has been established for those who wish to contribute financially to project, specifically for the costs associated with the clean-up effort. The Board of Directors has set a goal to raise $20,000 in response to the crimes. Organizers expect a strong community turn-out and note that food and drink will be provided for volunteers. To volunteer, call 412.478.3105 or email Justin@unionproject.org <mailto:Justin@unionproject.org>. For more information regarding the event, call the Union Project at 412.363.4550 or email info@unionproject.org <mailto:info@unionproject.org> or visit www.unionproject.org. Justin Rothshank Associate Director The Union Project 801 North Negley Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206 www.unionproject.org <http://www.unionproject.org> Restoring neighborhood space to connect, create, and celebrate. BUS: 64A, 71A, 77D/F/G, 94A/B, 89A --------------------------------------------------- 6. ------------------------------------------------ The UV Loop, The Three Rivers Arts Festival, BridgeSpotters Collective, and AIGA present Poetry in Motion Launch II featuring the BridgeSpotters Collective: Live Art and Live Word Saturday June 14, 2003 937 Liberty Avenue 7:30 to 9pm Free Chassity "the lioness", Bomani "the h-illa", and Tarish "the phenomenon" will perform spoken word and live art with themes of poetry and motion! On exhibition now at 937 Liberty Avenue in conjunction with the Three Rivers Arts Festival, live art paintings by Tarish "the phenomenon", Alphonso "Big Sloan", and Larry "Uhnk" Tinsley created at the Midnight Espresso Series [MES], The Gallery, and Celebrating East Liberty. And featuring special guest, Vanessa German, sculptures and African masks. PLUS the Public Transit Video Project We'll be taping Live and in color in the space Saturday night, documenting testimonials of support for more funding for public transit, plus rants against funding cuts, and real stories of how public transportation impacts the lives, jobs and business of Pittsburgh. Get out, get with the program and say your piece. BUS: All Downtown --------------------------------------------------- 7. ------------------------------------------------ OLD WEIRD AMERICANA NIGHT - RELOADED So spectacular the last time we did it, we just HAD to do it all again, only bigger and better! On Saturday night, June 14, QUIET STORM hosts "OLD WEIRD AMERICANA NIGHT II", a left of center evening of acoustic country, blues, story-telling and the vaudeville-esque as it was meant to be in the days before Pete Seger gave your love a cherry, mighty winds, or ethno-musicologists. Six acts under one roof! Featuring: LONESOME BOB is one of the strongest singer/songwriters to come out of Nashville's "alt-country" scene and a former member of the Ben Vaughn Combo. Capable of laying his soul bare as well as dealing in rocking black humor, Bob will be delivering a rare acoustic set backed by his band featuring Erin Snyder, Jon Manning and Tom Moran. Bob's classic debut CD, "Things Fall Apart" is slated for re-release this summer. THE DELIBERATE STRANGERS return to the scene of the crime. CURTIS ELLER, the self-described "angriest banjo player in New York", is an American treasure. Raised in a circus, Curtis is a man to whom Buster Keaton represents the apex of Western Civilization. If songs about circus disasters, pigeon clubs, and snakebites are your thing, he's your man. CHUCK KINDER is an internationally famous author. He's also one hell of an entertainer in his own right, capable of leaving an audience spellbound with his readings. Chuck has recently finished his latest novel, "Last Mountain Dancer". BJ O'MALLEY is a true high lonesome chanteuse, if you've never heard her, think of a genetic combination of Loretta Lynn and Marianne Faithful, and you'll be damn close. Hailing from Youngstown, OH, BJ will be backed by her mother, Ginnie Davis, on the accordion and harmony vocals. CHUCK OWSTON wears a lot of different hats. Rockabilly Hall of Fame member, minister, author, playwright, actor, medieval minstrel, and bluesman. In the times we live in, Chuck is as close to a real life Skip James as you're going to get. Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity! Show time is 8PM. Quiet Storm is located at 5430 Penn Ave. in Garfield. (412-661-9355). Don't forget - you can BYOB! $6.00 cover. All ages. For more info on any of the artists, photos, bios, etc., contact: Tom Moran 412-421-5240 or deliberate_strangers@hotmail.com Pertinent links for more performer info, photos, downloads, etc. <http://www.curtiseller.com> - Curtis Eller <http://www.deliberatestrangers.com> - The Deliberate Strangers <http://littletownrecords.com/BJOmalley.htm> - BJ O'Malley <http://www.shogem.co.uk/chuck/index.htm> - Chuck Owston <http://www.fazieditore.it/autori/Kinder-Sito/bio.html> - Chuck Kinder <http://www.quietstormcoffee.com> - Quiet Storm BUS: 86B, UVLoop --------------------------------------------------- 8. ------------------------------------------------ Announcing the ostensible, unofficial Sonic Youth afterparty show: Sunday June 15 10 pm $10 at door over 21 at Rosebud, 1600 Smallman St in the Strip District DAMO SUZUKI NETWORK (featuring the frontman of legendary German rockers Can. Yes, that's the guy that garage phenoms Mooney Suzuki named their band after. The Network includes members of Chicago bands Defender and Isotope 217) with The Timeout Drawer (Stereolab-esque postrock pop from Chicago, on Tiger Style Records) The Eaves (Slowdive/Lush-styled shimmer pop from NYC, on Ace Fu Records) and local Krautrock supergroup PPDB (includes Rickety Rocker/City Paper cover star Mike Bonello, Jefferson Presents' Gordon Nelson, Orgone Cinema's Greg Pierce, Midnite Snake/The Justins' Alexei Plotnicov, Boombox/Midnite Snake's Jim Lingo, and Thad from Lorelei) Starting promptly at 10 pm to give you a half hour to get from the Sonic Youth show at the Point, which ends at 9:30. Drive it, bike it, walk it, but regardless, if you're hip, you will be there. BUS: 86A/B, 91A, 54C --------------------------------------------------- 9. ------------------------------------------------ Bacchanal-a wine dinner and celebration to raise funds for Unseam'd Shakespeare's 10th Anniversary. Featuring performances by Smoke Daddy and the Bigboned Girls, Soma Mestizo and Phat Man Dee What: Bacchanal-A Celebration of Unseam'd Shakespeare Co.'s 10th Anniversary Where: Casbah, 229 South Highland Ave., Pittsburgh 15206 (Shadyside) When: Feast 6:30-9:30 Revel 9:30- 12:?? Tickets: $100 (Feast and Revel) $25 (Revel only) Reservations: For Feast and Revel call Casbah, 412-661-5656 (No reservations required for Revel only) Unseam'd Shakespeare Stages Bacchanal to celebrate 10th Anniversary Season Pittsburgh (June 16, 2003)-Unseam'd Shakespeare Co. will host "Bacchanal" at Casbah on Monday, June 16, 2003 as a fundraiser for the company's 10th Anniversary Season. Bacchanal features a four course dinner paired with wines followed by "entertainments to delight the senses," featuring performances by local visual and dance artists, jazz virtuoso Phat Man Dee and musical groups Smoke Daddy and the Bigboned Girls and Soma Mestizo. This one event comprises two fundraisers for Unseam'd Shakespeare Co. The first, the feast, begins at 6:30 and continues until 9:30. The second, the revel, begins at 9:30 and ends shortly after midnight. BUS: 500, 71C --------------------------------------------------- 10. ------------------------------------------------ Dear Friend of the Region; The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is beginning the federally required public comment period about their broad objectives and specific priority transportation and economic development projects through 2030. As the short text below asserts, this is one of the most important ways in which our region's future is shaped. The report will determine whether we strengthen all of our existing cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural communities or, instead, continue the trend of sprawl marked by ever increasing consumption of land despite a declining population. This unsustainable trend weakens our region's competitiveness, offsets economic gains with losses to other areas, degrades our environment, further exacerbates segregation, increases taxes for all of us, and makes the region less attractive to visitors, newcomers and residents alike. Lacking a regional approach to land use planning, the region's investments in roads, sewers, and other infrastructure is, in effect, the regional plan since development, transit, and population chase these major public investments around the region. I hope you can participate in being heard at one of SPC's public input meetings on the Long Range Plan to voice your opinion. Pasted below are the public input schedule and some background for reflection. Respectfully, Ken Doyno, AIA Written comments will be accepted until June 30, 2003. They can be e-mailed to comments@spc9.org or faxed to Prue Larson at 412-391-9160. Comments may be mailed to Prue Larson at Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, 425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2500 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1852. Oral testimony is limited to two minutes. Times, dates, and locations are listed below. You can view the plan at www.spcregion.org. "SPC Public Participation Panels for input on the 2030 Long Range Plan" June 11th @ 5:00 p.m., Allegheny County Public Participation Panel on draft Long-Range Plan update - Large Conference Room, 1st floor, John P. Robin Civic Bldg, 200 Ross St., Pittsburgh June 12th @ 7:00 p.m., Butler County Public Participation Panel on draft Long-Range Plan update - Public Meeting Room, Butler County Government Center, West Diamond St., Butler June 16th @ 6:00 p.m., Washington County Public Participation Panel on draft Long-Range Plan update - Room 103, Courthouse Square, 100 West Beau St., Washington June 16th @ 7:00 p.m., Armstrong County Public Participation Panel on draft Long-Range Plan update - Commissioners' Conference Room, 2nd floor, Armstrong County Courthouse Complex, Market St., Kittanning June 17th @ 6:00 p.m., Westmoreland County Public Participation Panel on draft Long-Range Plan update - Commissioners' Meeting Room, Westmoreland County Courthouse, Greensburg June 18th @ 7:00 p.m., Indiana County Public Participation Panel on draft Long-Range Plan update - Large Group Instruction Room, Indiana Area Senior High School, 450 North 5th St., Indiana June 24th @ 7:00 p.m., Beaver County Public Participation Panel on draft Long-Range Plan update -- Beaver County Environmental Center, Lower Level Meeting Room, 1000 Third St., Beaver June 25th @ 4:30 p.m., Fayette County Public Participation Panel on draft Long-Range Plan update - Swimmer Auditorium, Williams Building, Penn State- Fayette, Route 119 between Connellsville and Uniontown Reference For further perspective on this issue you can read these articles and the review of the SPC plan on www.spcregion.org under "Public Participation." http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20030601powell0601p5.asp http://www.post-gazette.com/columnists/20030601brian0601p1.asp http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/comm/20021222doyno1222p5.asp http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20010619lowry0619p5.asp http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/20001011edgould3.asp --------------------------------------------------- 11. ------------------------------------------------ Trail Mixer A Confluence of Art, Music and Energy Friday June 20, 6-9p.m. To benefit Friends of the Riverfront Mix it up at a rivers¹ edge celebration with food, drink and music in the cool spaces of the Pittsburgh Terminal Buildings on Carson Street Highlighting the best-kept riverfront secrets in the City, this year¹s Trail Mixer celebrates the South Side, its riverfront trail and amenities. The evening will feature: + The jumping New Orleans style of the Boilermaker Jazz Band with lovely Jenny Luv + Mayflies by Persephone Project artist Stephanie Flom + And architectural renderings of what the South Side riverfront could be by landscape architect Dina Klavon $50 for the evening¹s celebration $35 for members of Friends of the Riverfront or if you hike, bike, boat or bus to the party For more information, please call 412-488-0212 or email jennifer@friendsoftheriverfront.org Checks payable to: Friends of the Riverfront Mailed to: 33 Terminal Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Please R.S.V.P. by June 16 Friends of the Riverfront is an organization dedicated to the redevelopment of Pittsburgh¹s riverfront and the continued expansion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail The Trail Mixer is sponsored by Highmark BUS: 51A/C, UVLoop --------------------------------------------------- --- The Ground Zero Happenings list periodically sends announcements about interesting things going on in Pittsburgh, in general focused on the arts and urban issues. Its mission is to get the word out about events which might get overlooked, and to prevent things like "Oh man, if only I'd known that was going on, I'd have been there" from being said. If you'd like guidelines for submitting an event to the Happenings list, send mail to happenings-guide@gzpgh.com Send all your friends to our home page at http://www.gzpgh.com where they can use a one-click form to subscribe to this list.