[log in to unmask]" alt="A collage of four photos; on the left, an instructor in a floral dress and white boots leads an arts class; in the middle, a detail shot of a bird mural and a mosaic decorating a stone entryway with the words "THE RUINS"; on the right, a painted church ceiling depicting multiple avenging angels and saints, winged and aflame.">
Photo credits L-R: ASSEMBLE (via Instagram); Jill Chisnell; Maxo Vanka Murals at St. Nicholas Croatian Church
From hands-on creative experiences to active engagements with history, these
POP! tours offer unique ways to connect with the arts communities and organizations around Pittsburgh. Don’t let these slip away:
register now directly through the ARLIS/NA conference portal!
Please note: Adding a tour to your SCHED itinerary does not register you for the tour. Sign up using the link above!
ART + TECH: SPEAKING SELF PORTRAITS at ASSEMBLE
Tuesday April 2, 1-3PM. $50
Interested in the intersection of Art + Technology? Want to participate in a fun hands-on workshop where you create portraits that can talk? Led by local non-profit
arts group Assemble, this workshop will model makerspace learning practices, as well as
best practices for integrating technology into art lessons and self-expression.
Contributed by Mackenzie Salisbury, POP! Workshops Coordinator
Friday April 5, 1:15-5:45PM. $75. Transportation provided.
Located along the Great Allegheny Passage (a 150-mile trail from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD) and the Youghiogheny River,
the
Ruins Project
is a magical mosaic wonderland that uses a former coal mine as its canvas. I’ve toured the Ruins several times and every time I’m amazed by how much it’s evolved – both
the tour and the art which covers the cement walls and trickles naturally into the landscape. The intimate and informative tour covers coal, mosaics, the environment, and local cultural heritage.
The work of over 250 mosaic artists from across the globe that graces what remains of the mine includes a 67 ft. train mosaic by
local artist Stevo, “The Feather Project” which features over 40 mosaic renderings of native Pennsylvania birds, a mosaic map that includes local landmarks (a tiny Fallingwater!), and the
Patch House Project,
three mosaic quilts by 120 artists (myself included) and life-like portraits of the men who worked the mine before it closed in 1946. The Ruins Project is a truly unique opportunity to be surrounded by art, history, and nature. I can’t think of a better place
to wind down and reflect after the conference.
Contributed by Jill Chisnell, POP! Local Arrangements Co-Chair
MAXO VANKA MURALS AT ST. NICHOLAS CROATIAN CHURCH
Tuesday, April 2, 2-3PM. $20.
The
Maxo Vanka Murals are truly a hidden gem
of Pittsburgh, combining art, culture, history, social justice, and political radicalism all in the 25 awe-inspiring murals painted in the 1930s and 40s. Located inside the historic hilltop St. Nicholas Croatian Church in the once gritty working-class neighborhood
of Millvale, Croatian-American artist Maxo Vanka’s murals each tell a story, including the Croatian immigrant experience, cultural identity, community, religious stories, anti-fascist and anti-war themes, and protest against industrial capitalism. The murals
are painted in a style reminiscent of both Mexican murals and Byzantine art and have undergone fine arts conservation in recent years to preserve the timeless messages that still resonate today.
BONUS: follow
@savemaxovanka on Instagram for more incredible views of the murals and information on upcoming programming!
Contributed by Shoshana Vegh-Gaynor, POP! Tours and Transportation Coordinator
[log in to unmask]" alt="The ARLIS/NA conference banner; large bubbled black letters read POP! over a halftone yellow background depicting bridges around Pittsburgh.">