Mattress Factory | Weblog

2012 Urban Garden Party: Alice at the Factory countdown!

2012-05-04T16:45:00.002-04:00

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

2012-05-04T10:14:00.002-04:00

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

2012-05-02T14:10:00.000-04:00

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

ArtLab: Come and FIND where you FIT IN!

2012-04-06T17:40:00.000-04:00

Hi, Shannon the Education Programs Coordinator here. I’ve often proudly described the Mattress Factory as the “Island of Misfit Toys.” We love the diversity within our community of dedicated art-lovers and enthusiasts who frequent the Museum. This weekend we would like you to have a chance to contribute a piece of yourself to one of our ArtLab installations. Tomorrow we will be hosting a non-traditional, nonsectarian holiday ovule hunt (okay, okay, you can call it an art Easter egg hunt if you must).

Tomorrow from 1:00-4:00pm, visitors will be invited to search the galleries for items to be added to a collective installation. You may be surprised by what you find! We want the finished result to tell an interesting Mattress Factory tale of who we all are together.

These will be hidden throughout the Museum tomorrow – find one and bring it back to the lobby to help us complete the puzzle!

This project is a nod to Ling He's installation Wish exchange dandelion in our new exhibition "Gestures: Intimate Friction" over at our 1414 Monterey galleries. Ling says, "My wish to explore generosity is dispersed through 99 puzzle pieces traveling in balloon style that would spirit innocent spotters to return them, with drawings on their backs, to the gallery. Neither the puzzle, nor the room, has a right answer – it is defined with how much each participant would like to give."

These are the puzzle pieces to Ling's installation Wish exchange dandelion which are somewhere out there in the North Side (if you find one, bring it back to the MF for free admission!)

At the bottom of each of these balloons is one of those clear puzzle pieces from Ling's Wish exchange dandelion. Museum visitors released these puzzle pieces and balloons during the exhibition opening on Friday, March 30th

In the spirit of Ling's community-building installation with all of those lovely red balloons, we'd love to see you tomorrow to locate and take these little pink coin machine capsules scattered around the galleries and help complete the installation!

ArtLab
Saturday, April 7, 2012
1-4pm
All ages
FREE w/paid Museum admission

A blast through the past 15 Gestures exhibitions

2012-03-22T09:25:00.000-04:00

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.

ArtLab: Experimenting with Light

2012-03-16T10:22:00.001-04:00

Light makes visible the objects of our world, but rarely do we think of light as an object itself. James Turrell’s artwork invites us to consider light to be more than an illuminator of objects. He invites us to examine light as an art medium- something that can be molded and manipulated. In his installations, Turrell uses his knowledge of psychology and visual phenomena to impact the viewer’s eye, mind, and body.

Danaë, 1983, one of our three permanent installations by James Turrell

James Turrell’s light installations are ineffective without careful consideration and manipulation of the space that contains the light. This week’s ARTLAb invites you to create your very own light installation in the lobby of the Mattress Factory. By using translucent materials, a projector, and the interior architecture of the Museum you will be challenged to create a unique environment inspired by James Turrell’s work. How can YOU change the look and feeling of a place?

Catso, Red, 1994, one of our three permanent installations by James Turrell

Join us for this month's ArtLab in the lobby at 500 Sampsonia Way on Saturday, March 17th from 1-4pm and experiment with light! All ages are welcome and it's free with paid museum admission.

An ode to our tireless volunteers

2012-02-16T13:41:00.003-05:00

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.

Factory 500 Member Tour: Unique Collections

2012-01-17T15:25:00.000-05:00

The MF Factory 500 group had a chance to start the new year off right with a member tour on January 7th. This outing was a chance to see three very diverse collections around Pittsburgh's North Side and Troy Hill area.

The Factory 500 group explored Craig's large collection of bikes.

Our first stop was Bicycle Heaven on the North Side. Craig Morrow has spent years of his life collecting vintage and modern bicycles from around the world. The oldest bikes date from the 1890s and his collection ranges into the thousands, including very rare collectibles. Craig sometimes dissembles old bikes that come his way and sell the parts on E-bay. In addition, he rents modern trail bikes to people who want to explore the North Side trail. He has even dealt with movie studios who are looking for period-appropriate transportation. And like Craig said, "Everything is for sale...for the right price!"

The group was led in a tour of St. Anthony's Chapel in Troy Hill.

The second stop was another famous collection in Pittsburgh: St. Anthony's Chapel. The chapel was founded by Father Mollinger in 1868, and it became a sanctuary for Roman Catholic holy relics he purchased throughout Europe. He spent all of his considerable fortune building, maintaining and outfitting the chapel to house the relics he collected. Bones, teeth, cloth, sculls and other fragments are displayed throughout the chapel. St. Anthony's Chapel has over 5,000 relics from hundreds of saints and martyrs of the Catholic faith.

The group listens as Evan Mirapaul (left) explains some of the history behind his collection.

The third and final stop was Evan Mirapaul's house in Troy Hill. Evan has a beautiful house filled with wonderful collections of art and photography. He invited the group to explore his home and ask questions about his collection. While they were there, our members were able to enjoy some wine and light refreshments, and socialize with some of Evan's friends and neighbors.

Thank you to all who made it such a great night! To see more pictures from the event, you can check the MF Flickr Gallery. If you would like more information about our Factory 500 member tours, or would like to become a member, please give me a call at 412-231-3169 or visit our website.

See you all at the next Factory 500 event!

-Abby

Membership Coordinator

pARTy LAB on Friday, December 30th

2011-12-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

We had so much fun the day after Thanksgiving for our annual 2011 Family Day we’ve decided to do it again! Join us for pARTy LAB on Friday, December 30th from 11am-4pm for art activities in the museum’s lobby.

Here are photos from our Family Day last month... we loved it so much we're doing again!

Make a DIY Roadkill (inspired by Nika Kupyrova’s installation on our 3rd floor). Using fabric and clothing remnants, visitors can design their own stuffed creations. Museum educators will be on hand to sew and stick the freshly stuffed works of art together securely.

With New Year’s celebrations imminent, family-day participants can stop by our HAT-LAB to create one of a kind head-wear suitable for the most spectacular parties. Ring in the New Year in style—even your most fashion-forward friends will be envious.

Girls and Boys of all ages are invited to get down at our New Year’s pre-party at the MF.

pARTy LAB
Art activities for all ages
Friday, December 30th
11am-4pm
Free with museum admission

POSTED BY LIZ
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It's no secret. It's no lie. We love our artists.

2011-12-16T11:00:00.000-05:00

One of the greatest things about working at the MF is hanging with all of the amazing artists from around the world. For our current show, Factory Installed, we all had the opportunity to spend time with the amazing Mariana Manhães.

Mariana joined us all the way from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, but we all felt like we knew her well before she got here. She was so pumped to install a brand new work at the MF that she blogged about the whole process before she ever set foot on MF soil.

From here to there, Mariana documented sending her materials across continents on her blog
http://marianaatthefactory.wordpress.com/

Hanging with an MF artists isn't always quite what you think it will be. Our artists transport their lives to Pittsburgh and we do our best to make them feel quite at home. We do everything from helping them settle in at our residency housing to taking them to the grocery store.

But enough about grocery stores, let's look at the art. Check out this brand-spanking new video of Mariana speaking about the work she created for our show Factory Installed, Thesethose:

Quirky Gifts from your Favorite Quirky Museum

2011-12-08T14:23:00.001-05:00

Hello friends, MF Sam here. It’s that time of year again… [cue snowflakes] time to drink hot chocolate, unpack your toasty mittens and wrap goodies up in brown paper packages tied up with string. Here at the MF Shop, we’ve been decking the halls with the traditional holiday moose and technicolor tree. We’ve also gathered tons of items to bring holiday cheer!

First off, stocking stuffers. We’ve got mechanical wind ups (top left), cheeky recycled cuffs (top center), handmade keychain creatures (top right), an awesome selection of ornaments (bottom left), stack-able tops (bottom center) as well as the gift that keeps on giving: bamboo toothbrushes (bottom right)!

We also have a seriously great selection of gifts, here are some of my favorites:

Queen Bee handbags (top left), organic animal pillows (top center), odd-ball shirts (top right), fish leather earrings (middle left), contemporary art books (middle center), retro inspired clocks (middle right), artist designed plates (bottom left), pinhole cameras (bottom center), and yours truly wearing thread bundle necklaces.

If you still have some holiday shopping to do (I know I do) then come check out the Mattress Factory shop (either here at the museum or online)!* Better yet, bring the whole family to check out the Factory Installed show, and while your loved ones are experiencing the Turrell floor, come scoop them up a great gift. For all you bargain hunters, we will have a sale table set up throughout December.

I hope everyone has a safe and lovely holiday season, as well as a fabulous new year!

– Sam

*Don't forget, a portion of every purchase you make in the MF Shop supports our exhibition and education programs. Feel good shopping.

Good Gravy, It's Family Day!

2011-11-14T18:17:00.001-05:00

As usual the Mattress Factory will be hosting its yearly Black Friday Family Day on November 25th from 11am-4pm (the day after Thanksgiving)! Avoid the shopping crowds and enjoy not one, but TWO fantastic exhibitions in our galleries and hands-on art activities for the whole family in our lobby.

We are especially excited this year that visitors can experience artists’ work from (literally) all over the world. Sites of Passage, an exhibit on contemporary Egyptian life and art—from the perspectives of American and Egyptian artists—can be found in our annex building. Special guest, Sites of Passage Curator, Tavia La Follette will give a guided tour of the exhibit at 1pm (first come, first serve—space is limited). At 2pm, Gary Huck—Firefly Tunnel participant and political cartoonist—will host a drop-in collage-cartooning workshop until 4pm in the museum’s lobby. All ages and types are welcome!

Join Gary Huck for his drop-in
collage-cartooning workshop on 11/25/11!

Visitors can also take in the museum’s newest exhibition, Factory Installed--brand new site-specific installations by 5 artists (from 5 different countries) in our galleries at 500 Sampsonia Way. Join us all day for a lobby activity based on Pablo Valbuena’s mind-bending installation, Para-Site [mattress factory].

Pablo Valbuena standing in front of his installation, Para-Site [mattress factory]

Also in our lobby will be our newest education project, Tamatebako. Created by Japanese artist Yumi Kori, Tamatebako is a portable, fabric room for experiencing space. See it at the MF before it is lent to the Children’s Museum for the entire month of December.

MF Shannon (right) and I (left) try out Tamatebako

Of course as always, discover (or perhaps revisit) our noteworthy permanent collection works in both buildings, grab a bite to eat in our café, and indulge in a bit of holiday shopping in our unique museum store.

Hope to see you all there!

PS: I heard a rumor that there MAY be a complimentary hot chocolate bar and stamp-your-own holiday wrap station as well…. Just sayin'!

Mattress Factory Education and Outreach programs are supported by the Allegheny Regional Assets District, Milton and Sally Avery Art Foundation, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, The Jack Buncher Foundation, the Grable Foundation, Institute for Museum and Library Services, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, PNC Charitable Trusts, and the Surdna Foundation.

POSTED BY LIZ
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516 Sampsonia Way is underway!

2011-11-08T17:31:00.000-05:00

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
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It was such a RAD day

2011-10-05T10:42:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday the MF joined it's fellow Pittsburgh institutions and opened up it's doors to the public for free as part of RADical Days.

Our little museum was packed full of friendly faces (more than 600 of 'em!) and we couldn't have loved it more.

Dotted boxes were everywhere as visitors took part in an ARTLab activity based on "Sites of Passage" artist Mostafa Sleem's piece Mind Area "Sound of the Sound."

Local artist and MF friend Rose Clancy brought her group exhibition Your Place at the Banquet to the 4th floor of the museum in the form of delicious soup and Kevin Clancy's awesome mobile food stations.

Folks braved the rain and made their way down the block to our satellite space at 1414 Monterey to check out our latest exhibition "Sites of Passage."

As everyone's faces could tell you, it was a pretty rad day.

New BoxSpring Café Hours!

2011-09-22T17:51:00.000-04:00

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:

FILL THIS BOX

2011-09-16T13:00:00.012-04:00

The directions read: "Evidence of human learning. Please contribute."

To find out what this means, stop by our monthly ARTlab in the lobby of the Mattress Factory between 1-4pm tomorrow, Saturday, September 17, 2011.

Hint: This ARTlab activity is inspired by "Sites of Passage" artist Mostafa Sleem's piece Mind Area "Sound of the Sound" :

Where: Mattress Factory lobby
When: 1-4pm, Saturday, September 17, 2011
Who: Open to all
Cost: Free

Sights of Summer

2011-09-06T10:03:00.000-04:00

Summer is over. School is back in session. The sun is setting a little earlier each night.

MF Shop Coordinator, Sam Ditch, snapped these photos of our Community Garden Party on June 19, 2011, with her phone camera and I think they really capture the essence of summer.

You'll catch me viewing this slide show in the middle of snowy and gray January daydreaming of hula-hoops and sprinklers.

Farewell summer. I'll miss you.

POSTED BY LINDSAY
Read All Posts by Lindsay

Hangin' out at Lake Liz for Art Outdoors

2011-08-30T17:22:00.018-04:00

Thursday, September 1st, is the final day of Art Outdoors for 2011.

Every Thursday during the summer, the MF Education Department has set up shop in West Park near Lake Elizabeth on the Northside. We've offered a range of different hands-on activities related to the outdoors and art each week. We partnered with Venture Outdoors and Kayak Pittsburgh for this unique program – thanks to them and for everyone involved* in helping provide free weekly programs for all ages. You'll find us under the blue tent next to Kayak Pittsburgh's unmistakable yellow kayaks (and, yes, you can try your hand at paddling on the little lake for free).

The summer has flown by, so if you haven't had a chance to stop by yet, we hope to see you tomorrow (Lake Liz, 4-6pm, free). For encouragement, we leave you with a few photos from this summer's activities, including a photo of our lovely Director of Education, Liz Keller, and Museum Educator, Gian Carlos, making their way to the Lake via the Mattress Factory staff's favorite form of transportation: bicycling!

Liz and Gian in the MF parking lot heading out to Art Outdoors last Thursday

The Aviary makes magic happen for our 2nd annual Art Outdoors dove release

Kayak Pittsburgh is on hand to teach you how to paddle

Don't want to get wet? Head over to the MF art tent and get creative

Nothing like chillin' in a boat in an urban setting

*Mattress Factory Education and Outreach programs are supported by the Allegheny Regional Assets District, the Grable Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

David Conrad + Ice Cream = Supporting the MF

2011-08-19T10:24:00.015-04:00

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.

Factory 500 Member Tour: July 23, 2011

2011-07-29T16:24:00.006-04:00

Every few months, the Factory 500 members at the Mattress Factory get together for a night to discover new artist studios, galleries, unique businesses and homes in the area. On July 23rd, the group toured several places in the Strip District and Lower Lawrenceville, getting a taste of hard cider and craft cheese as well as seeing custom concrete and current exhibitions. It was a great evening!


Janet McCall, Executive Director, explains some of the history behind Society for Contemporary Craft.

The Factory 500 members look at the current exhibition, Bridge 11: Lia Cook, Mariko Kusumoto, Anne Drew Potter.

The group arrived at 6 pm for the first stop at Society for Contemporary Craft on Smallman street in the Strip District. The members heard about the history of the establishment from Janet MaCall, Executive Director, and about some of the current exhibitions from Director of Exhibitions, Kate Lydon. The group was able to enjoy some food and drink while exploring the education workshops, galleries, and gift shop.


Paul explains some of the methods they use to create their work.

A counter top on display in the Outlaw Studios showroom.

The second stop for the evening was Outlaw Studios, also in the Strip District. Outlaw Studios prides itself on creating custom architectural concrete work for both indoor and outdoor spaces, in homes and businesses alike. Paul Kubis, one of the two founding members, explained the business idea began in 2003. In 2005, Paul and his business partner formed Outlaw Studios and moved to a 10,000 square foot studio in the Strip District. Paul spoke to the group and gave us a tour of his showroom during the evening.


The members gather around in Arsenal Cider House for a hard cider tasting.

Bill Larkin speaks to the group about their hard cider.

Next, the tour took the group to Arsenal Cider House and Wine Cellar, Inc., at 300 39th Street in Lower Lawrenceville. Owned by Bill and Michelle Larkin, they have made a name for themselves brewing hard cider. As a thematic Civil War-era winery, Arsenal Cider House brews their own hard cider, as well making other period drinks and sorbet. Their flavors change often, from peach and blueberry to white grape. Their menu and store reflect the history of the nearby Arsenal Park, and their drinks have been featured in restaurants and bars across Pittsburgh.

Jonathan invites the group into his home to try some craft cheese.

The Cannonball Curds made at Arsenal Cheese.

The fourth and last stop for the evening's tour was Arsenal Cheese, started by Jonathan Gaugler and his wife, Becky. Located at 274 Fisk Street in Lawrenceville, Jonathan makes craft cheese in his home and distributes it to businesses and restaurants around Pittsburgh. You can read a little bit about them in a Post-Gazette article here. Jonathan gave the group a sample of his Cannonball Curds, a cheese that he makes from start to finish.

Thank you to all our hosts for this Factory 500 member tour! The evening was full of delicious food, drink and conversation. For more pictures of the evening, visit the Mattress Factory on Flickr.

Factory 500 members are invited to join these tour ever few months. For information on Factory 500 memberships you can visit us online or you can give Abby a call at 412-231-3169.

See you all at the next Factory 500 event!

Stray Birds Sunrise Performance

2011-07-09T10:55:00.011-04:00

This morning Michael Pestel and Kudo Taketeru performed a mesmerizing performance at sunrise. There was a thick mist in the air and you could see the steam evaporating from Kudo's body. Not only did the mist obscure our usual view of downtown Pittsburgh skyscrapers, but of some of the neighboring houses as well. When he exhaled slowly, we could see his breath. As the sun rose, the foggy dew lifted and shifted the mood of the performance awakening the bird within.

Photos by Clif Page

Without a doubt, one of my favorite aspects of this morning's performance was the Northside neighbor walking by. She appeared to be on her way to or from work complete with headphones in and sporting her hospital scrubs. The woman nearly jumped back when she realized she was walking only a few feet away from Kudo's dance performance. She lingered for a few minutes and even started video-recording him with her phone. What an amazing juxtaposition of routine and spectacle.

A passerby stops to record the performance

There will be another performance at 2pm today (7/9/11) and a final performance on Friday, July 15th, at 8pm for sunset. Join us.

__________________________________________________

The following is an explanation of butoh dance and birdsound from Michael Pestel:

"Butoh and Birds

Butoh is a modern Japanese dance-and-movement form. Taketeru Kudo, currently in residence at the Mattress Factory is one of the most acclaimed performers of the new generation of butoh. His movements are unusually fluid and frequently compared to those of a bird, something uncommon in the nether world of butoh kinesthetics. We are here, along with several others, to explore the world of birds in sound and movement and to communicate with them. Workshops for children and adults are ongoing from June 20-July 8 from 1-3:00 p.m.. Performances take place weekly through July 15th. Please see Mattress Factory and Aviary websites for details.

Performing with Kudo - an avian ghost - is not easy. It requires fierce concentration at the razor edge of emotions and a whimsical sense of humor. This is butoh the way we approach it: Kudosan in avian motion and the musicians in birdsong and squawk. Nothing is choreographed or planned except for the meticulous absence of planning. Just like the birds.

Decisions for movement and sound emerge from raw feeling – gut-wrenching, lice-scratching, satyr-prancing revelations cut as if through onion strata into circling layers of tears, laughter and stillness. Just like the solitary kookaburra at the National Aviary crying and laughing inside its cage, our cycles of emotion start and stop ceaselessly. Or like the flamingos in the Wetlands Exhibit honking back and forth, back and forth, then suddenly spreading wings, preening, walking silently, elegantly, honking some more, we too follow our impulses uncensored.

Unlike ballet or the kind of modern dance that seeks to defy gravity, Kudo's attempts at flying are quickly aborted and stumble clip-winged to the ground. He then resumes immediately his flights of fancy, trying again and again to lift off of human ground. Everything collapses and rises in an exquisitely ordered sense of the unpredictable only to finally expire, escape or fade out in an incremental, even excremental, decrescendo of exhaustion.

We are told that such extreme dialectics emerged out of Japan’s postwar crisis - from Truman’s bombs - and that butoh was formed directly from the ashes of the Emperor’s undecipherable surrender. Since capitalism has merely redirected Japanese military discipline, as well as a horrific sense of loss, into the vicious cycle of consumer production and consumption, the crisis which butoh confronted sixty years ago remains more or less the same today – or perhaps more stuck in the Japanese craw, indeed the global craw, than ever.

Now bombs have become leaking nuclear plants. And by the end of this century, many hundreds of bird species around the world will join the swelling list of extinctions caused by us humans. The National Aviary's conservation efforts will go into overdrive. We are all in this together.

One could say that the butoh musicians’ approach to sound is similar to Kudo’s approach to movement. There is the emotional dialog and the sudden bursts of arhythmical playing mixed with steady syncopation. In terms of bird sound, the sweet dulcet song of our “yellow warblers” might turn suddenly into a flock of “snarling pterodactyls” – if indeed they snarled – and then return, just as quickly, to the joyous task of warbling. Rather than merely supporting or chaperoning the other, however, Kudo and the musicians prod and poke each other beyond superficial points of synchrony into more complex states of cacophony, chaos and unity.

Just like the birds."

-Michael Pestel, June 2011

POSTED BY LINDSAY
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Dove Release: Liz's favorite day of the year

2011-07-06T15:41:00.002-04:00

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.

Let's just zoom in on this face of pure joy.

Where: Lake Liz in West Park, Northside, Pittsburgh, PA

When: Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 4pm sharp

Cost: FREE

Who: Everyone is welcome

Thanks: A special thanks to our friends at the National Aviary

Why?: This is just one activity as part of our summer-long Art Outdoors each and every Thursday

POSTED BY LINDSAY
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2011 Garden Party Wrap-Up

2011-06-24T13:05:00.013-04:00

2011 Urban Garden Party Photos

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.

Here are a few places we were spotted after the big bash:
WPXI-TV's coverage on Seen and Be Seen
Fantastic detail shots by the talented Rob de la Cretaz
Marylynn Uricchio's Seen article for the Post-Gazette
Jo Ellen Smith shares her mad camera skillz
Kate Guerriero's Fanfare article for the Tribune-Review
Photos by the always amazing John Altdorfer on our own Mattress Factory Flickr set
Andrea Laurion shares her view of the party through dizzy photos
From our secret live streaming photo set at the party where guests uploaded their photo and instantly saw themselves on the big screen

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!

POSTED BY LINDSAY
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Go on and get down with your bird self

2011-06-13T16:08:00.022-04:00

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.

UNLEASH YOUR INNER ARTIST AT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN PARTY!

2011-06-06T14:14:00.025-04:00

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)rhood in 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.

We’ve got local steel drum masters North Side Urban Pathways Sounds of Steel coming in and the folks from Evolve Productions will be dancing up a storm.

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!

Special thanks to our sponsors:

AT&T

Verizon

Huntington National Bank

PNC Bank

Venture Outdoors

Artist Image Resource

Rita's Italian Ice

Franktuary

Indigo Raffel

Obscure Games

Tee Rex