Three Rivers Arts Festival

Call for Artists: Poster Contest

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:00:00 -0500

Three Rivers Arts Festival and City Paper invite you to submit your best artwork for the 2010 Three Rivers Arts Festival poster.

The winning artwork will creatively represent Three Rivers Arts Festival's mission to connect the community to the arts.

The grand prize winning design will be used to help promote the 2010 Three Rivers Arts Festival throughout the Pittsburgh region. Four winning designs will be produced as posters.

How to enter:

READ the rules and regulations
DOWNLOAD the Three Rivers Arts Festival logo
CREATE your artwork based on the Artwork Requirements
PRODUCE a digital file of your design (jpg or pdf)
FILL OUT the entry form
UPLOAD your file to the form by following the instructions

Deadline for Entries
March 17, 2010

Click here for more information

Call for Artists: New Juried Visual Art Exhibition

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:30:00 -0500

Three Rivers Arts Festival is pleased to announce the New Juried Visual Art Exhibition. Back by popular demand, this juried exhibition will showcase work by artists from the Pittsburgh region. The exhibition will take place at an indoor Cultural District gallery during the 2010 Three Rivers Arts Festival, June 4-13, in downtown Pittsburgh.

Submissions are welcome from across the spectrum of visual arts. Works will be juried by a panel of Pittsburgh-based artists and curators.

Deadline for submissions: March 30, 2010

Click these links for more information on the New Juried Visual Art Exhibition.

Deadline Extended for the 2010 Artists Market

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:37:31 -0500

The deadline to apply for both the 2010 Artists Market and the 2010 Emerging Artist Scholarship Program has been extended!

We're now accepting applications until Friday, February 19, 2010.

Don't wait another minute. Submit your application today!

More info on the Artists Market
More info on the Emerging Artist Scholarship Program

Virtual Town Hall Meeting

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:24:50 -0500

We're at it again! Planning has begun for the 51st Three Rivers Arts Festival... and beyond, and we want even more of your ideas.

Before things get too far along, we hope you'll send us your ideas for programming, venues, formats, food, activities... everything! We're looking to Festival patrons to tell us what they'd like to see.

Send your ideas to ideas@artsfestival.net.

Call for Artists: 2010 Artists Market

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:57:06 -0500

We are now accepting applications for the Artists Market at the 2010 Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Festival dates are June 4 - June 13, 2010. Artist response to the 10-day festival in 2009 was overwhelmingly positive, with many artists reporting condensed crowds and increased sales.
Artists can select one 3- or 5-day session during the Festival. View the sessions here.
We will again be using Gateway Center Plaza as the location for 5-day session booths and Point State Park as the location for 3-day session booths. View the booth maps here.

Applications are accepted only through Zapplication. By using Zapplication, you can store a library of digital images of your artwork and apply to dozens of shows all over the country. Zapplication is free to artists.

~~Deadline for entries: February 10, 2010.~~
Deadline extended! February 19, 2010
Click here to get started.

First-time-ever applicants are invited to apply for an Emerging Artist Scholarship. If you live within 100 miles of Pittsburgh and have never done an outdoor, festival-style show before, you might be eligible. Click here to find out more and download an application.

As always, if you have any questions about applying to the Artists Market, feel free to call Sonja at 412.471.3191 or send an email.

Artists Market Breaks into Top 50

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:10:12 -0500

Good news! Three Rivers Arts Festival's Artists Market "climbed the charts" to #47 in Sunshine Artist Magazine's Top 200 Fine Art/ Fine Craft Shows. This ranking is based on artist's reviews and critiques. Congratulations and thank you to all who were involved in making our show one of the best in the country!

CD Live! Presents The Tragically Hip

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0500

For immediate release
Monday, August 10, 2009
Contact: Lauren Bracey, 412.471.3591, bracey@pgharts.org

CD Live! Presents The Tragically Hip
8 pm, Friday, October 16, 2009, Byham Theater

Brought to you by 91.3 WYEP, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Three Rivers Arts Festival

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 91.3 WYEP and Three Rivers Arts Festival are pleased to announce CD Live! presents The Tragically Hip at 8 pm, Friday, October 16, 2009, at the Byham Theater in downtown Pittsburgh. Tickets go on sale Friday, August 14, at 9 a.m.

Critically acclaimed for over two decades, The Tragically Hip has been at the heart of the Canadian music scene, evoking a strong emotional connection between their music and their fans that remains unrivaled in this country. A five-piece group of friends including Robby Baker (guitar), Gordon Downie (vocals, guitar), Johnny Fay (drums), Paul Langlois (guitar) and Gord Sinclair (bass), who grew up in Kingston, Ontario, The Hip has achieved the enviable status of a band that enjoys both mass popularity with over 8 million albums sold worldwide.

The band's 12th studio album, We Are the Same, was released in April 2009 by Rounder Records. The album was recorded and mixed by Bob Rock at the band's Bath House studio in Kingston, Vancouver and Maui. Among the 12 brand new tracks are the singles "Love Is A First" and "Morning Moon."

Tickets ($39.50, $34.50, $29.50) go on sale Friday, August 14, 2009, at 9 a.m. at the Box Office at Theater Square, by phone at 412.456.6666, and online at pgharts.org.

Calendar Listing
CD Live! presents The Tragically Hip. 8 pm, Friday, October 16, 2009, at the Byham Theater. Doors open at 7 pm. Tickets: $29 - $39. On sale Friday, August 14, at 9 a.m.: online at pgharts.org, by phone 412.456.6666 or the Box Office at Theater Square. CD Live! is a project of Three Rivers Arts Festival, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and 91.3 WYEP.

About CD Live!
CD Live! widens the creative expression of the Pittsburgh music scene while advancing the artistry of musicians from around the world. This collaborative project of Three Rivers Arts Festival, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and WYEP-FM was formed to build new music audiences and to welcome these listeners to the Cultural District.

Click the images at left to download full-size, print quality versions of these promotional images. Image credit: Clemens Rikken.

CD Live! Presents Cowboy Junkies

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0500

For immediate release
Monday, August 3, 2009
Contact: Lauren Bracey, 412.471.3591, bracey@pgharts.org

CD Live! Presents Cowboy Junkies
8 pm, October 6, 2009, Byham Theater

Brought to you by 91.3 WYEP, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Three Rivers Arts Festival

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 91.3 WYEP and Three Rivers Arts Festival are pleased to announce CD Live! presents Cowboy Junkies at 8 pm, Tuesday, October 6, 2009, at the Byham Theater in downtown Pittsburgh. Tickets go on sale Friday, August 7.

Cowboy Junkies formed in 1985 when Michael Timmins (guitar), Peter Timmins (drums) and bassist Alan Anton, one of Michael's oldest friends, began jamming in a garage. Joined shortly thereafter by Michael and Pete's sister, Margo Timmins, the band released its debut, Whites Off Earth Now!!, in 1986 on their own Latent Recordings label. The band toured the Southern and Southwestern US in support of the record, soaking up the music of Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers along the way, which, in turn, inspired their second album, The Trinity Session, self-released in 1988.

Recorded with a single microphone in Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity in one 14-hour session - at a cost of $250 - The Trinity Session featured spare, lilting originals alongside Jennings, Williams and Patsy Cline covers, as well as a haunting version of the Velvet Underground classic "Sweet Jane." With "Sweet Jane" getting considerable airplay on college and commercial radio and reviewers lauding the band's fresh sound, word soon began to spread and before long, the Junkies had signed to RCA Records, which reissued The Trinity Session to a wider audience and platinum sales. The band's subsequent albums chronicle the band's evolution, a process Michael describes as gradual and organic.

Cowboy Junkies returned to Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity for a day in November 2006, joined by Ryan Adams, Natalie Merchant and Vic Chesnutt to revisit the repertoire of The Trinity Session in celebration of the original recording's 20th anniversary. Captured by filmmakers, Pierre and Francois Lamoureux, the resulting documentary, Trinity Session Revisited, was released as a DVD/CD in January 2008.

Cowboy Junkies are joined by special guest Lee Harvey Osmond. Tickets ($35) go on sale Friday, August 7, 2009, at 9 a.m. at the Box Office at Theater Square, by phone at 412.456.6666, and online at pgharts.org.

Calendar Listing
CD Live! presents Cowboy Junkies with special guest Lee Harvey Osmond. 8 pm, Tuesday, October 6, 2009, at the Byham Theater. Doors open at 7 pm. Tickets: $35; online at pgharts.org, by phone 412.456.6666 or the Box Office at Theater Square. CD Live! is a project of Three Rivers Arts Festival, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and 91.3 WYEP.

About CD Live!
CD Live! widens the creative expression of the Pittsburgh music scene while advancing the artistry of musicians from around the world. This collaborative project of Three Rivers Arts Festival, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and WYEP-FM was formed to build new music audiences and to welcome these listeners to the Cultural District.

Click on the image at left to download a full-size, print-quality version of this promotional photo.

A Few Favorite Things

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:01:47 -0500

I hope everyone had a great time at this year's Festival. Here are some of my favorite Festival moments. Hope to see you next year!

No surprise here. Thanks to this blog, complete strangers knew how geeked I was for The Black Keys. Apparently I wasn't the only one.

I hadn't heard of Jessica Lea Mayfield before the Festival, but now I'm anxiously awaiting a new LP from her.

You can't tell from this picture, but this guy rides around on his bike with his dog perched on his shoulder. That's just awesome.

I spent a large chunk of my childhood in the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. I'd be remiss to not mention the great work they did at this year's Festival. Running Through the Sheets made me want to be a kid again.

That's Daniel Baxter's piece from Now I Am the Master, which is open until July. It's a ghost. That also happens to be a squid.

Watching Medeski, Martin & Wood interact with subtle nods and other minute gestures as they performed was more impressive than I could have imagined.

Booker T. looked stately at his Hammond B3. That man is a legend for a reason.

Pittsburgh, this one's for you. Thanks to the city of my birth.

Thanks for reading.
-RCS

Three Rivers Arts Festival thanks Ross Scarano for his wonderful writing and unflappably upbeat attitude over the past 6 weeks. SXSW, he's coming your way, and he'll do anything - curatorial to janitorial, as previously discussed. Do yourself a a favor and hire him!

Your Opinion Matters!

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:52:38 -0500

The Festival might have just ended, but with an event this huge, it won't be long before planning begins again. Before we start work on the 51st Three Rivers Arts Festival, we want to hear what changes you'd like to see. We're looking to Festival patrons to tell us what you thought of this year's Festival, and what you'd like to see in the future.

I sat in the Information tent in Point State Park a number of times during the Festival - I know some of you have very strong opinions about what this Festival should be. So take our online survey! You can even take the survey if you didn't attend this year's Festival.

By doing so, you'll be entered to win 4 tickets to The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presentation of your choice.

Click here to take the survey.

Flickr

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:47:26 -0500

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

The Best of the Best (Round 2)

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:12:41 -0500

The next batch of artists in the Artists Market means a new list of award-winners! Here's the best the Market had to offer in the Festival's latter half.

Best in Show
Olga Mihaylova (Plaza Booth 13)

Local artist Olga Mihaylova's beautifully complex jewelry is mostly composed of tiny beads. Some of the pieces look as if they must contain thousands of the brightly colored bits. The care Mihaylova takes is evident in each piece, whether it is a crocheted necklace or a bracelet made of candy-colored glass.

Festival Award
Jupi Das (Plaza Booth 73)

During time spent in Beijing, Jupi Das discovered the art of papercutting, and since then she has dedicated herself to the craft with a fervor that is visible in all of her art. The level of detail in each piece is overwhelming - the viewer's eye is pulled further and further into the recurring images. A true Festival favorite, Das has even had her work exhibited in the White House in the form of an ornament made especially for the White House's Christmas tree.

Juror's Merit
Liz Williams (Park Booth 19) & Daphne Covington (Plaza Booth 39)

Festival Honors
Yoko Sekino-Bove (Plaza Booth 25), Mary Waite (Plaza Booth 92), Susan Verberg (Plaza Booth 101), Istvan and Eniko Vago (Plaza Booth 88).

Honorable Mentions
Michelle Sabol (Park Booth 22) & Tim Hooper (Plaza Booth 49)

Lost and Found

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:45:30 -0500

If you lost something at the 2009 Three Rivers Arts Festival, we might have it. Please email a description of the item you lost to operations@artsfestival.net. If we found it, we'll let you know!

Transportation Options

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:35:49 -0500

With lots going on downtown this weekend between the Pirates, Pride in the Street and PrideFest, we hope you will consider taking an alternative method of transportation down to Three Rivers Arts Festival. Downtown parking is going to fill up faster than normal.

Other options include:

Ride a bike! Enjoy the beautiful summer weather and get a little exercise. Biking to Point State Park is easy and convenient. Check out this biking guide from Bike Pittsburgh.
Take a Port Authority bus or the T. The T will drop you off right across the street from Three Rivers Arts Festival venues, and any bus stop in downtown Pittsburgh is less than a 10 minute walk from our sites. Plan your trip online or by calling the Port Authority at 412.442.2000.
Walking. No instructions required.
Hang-gliding. Beware tall buildings.

And if you must drive, please carpool.

The Best of the Best (Round 1)

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:37:12 -0500

Sonja Sweterlitsch announced the award-winners of the first round of this year's Artists Market artists this morning. These are the artisans you cannot miss, but they're leaving Tuesday!

Best in Show
Tim Peters (Plaza Booth 93)

Tim and Erika Peters carefully craft porcelain vessels and sculptures. The intricate details of each piece are achieved with exacto knives and scalpels. Each piece shines like a rare pearl, the result of the iridescent glaze applied to each one. Tim Peters will be in the Artists Market until June 9.

Festival Award
Susan Loy (Plaza Booth 79)

A Festival favorite, Susan Loy creates literary calligraphy from her farm in rural Virginia. The process is such a painstaking one that in a year, Loy will produce only six pieces. Her background in American studies informs many of the pieces Loy produces. For instance her series using the text of the Constitution arose in the wake of 9/11. "I always start with the text and then work from there," Loy said. Susan Loy will be in the Artists Market until June 9.

Here are the rest of the winners:

Juror's Merit
Greg Stones (Plaza Booth 49, June 5-9) & Tim Roth (Plaza Booth 77, June 5-9)

Festival Honors
Chris Jackson (Park Booth 39, June 5-7), Gail Sorace Beam (Plaza Booth 20, June 5-9), Sunil Sharma (Park Booth 22, June 5-7), and Teresa Nilsson (Plaza Booth 19, June 5-9)

Honorable Mentions
Daniel Baxter (Park Booth 3) & Howard Blitchfeldt (Plaza Booth 92)