Pittsburgh Art Events: 4/30-5/1/10.

c. David Grim (taken 4/12/09)

Tons of stuff to do around town this weekend at disparate locations. Have fun negotiating the area...

Friday

Melwood Filmmakers (477 Melwood Ave) still has the occasional opening, although I haven't made one in awhile. This weekend could be the exception, with "R.E. LEVINE: Patterns: echo shift and rescript" (6-8PM). As someone who works on newsprint, I may just have to check out a kindred soul. Look at her stuff on her home page.

Meanwhile, an organization called ArtDimensions is throwing the work of 25 different artists up on the wall of a backstreet bar in Lawrenceville. Cattivo (146 44th St.) will host the opening from 6:30-9PM.

And the Miller Gallery at CMU is unveiling "If Found Please Return To:____________", featuring the work of Bachelor of Fine Arts seniors. The promotional materials mention that the work reflects "the pornographic realities, hermaphroditic fantasies, psychological obsessions and mystical journeys that are part of our human condition." Tim and Eric would respond with a hearty "Great Job!".

Saturday

Wake up early and head over to Millvale, where I currently rest my head. There you can gaze on the glory of Maxo Vanka's astonishing murals on the walls of St. Nicholas Croatian Church (24 Maryland Avenue- you can see the yellow structure up on the hill when driving south on Rte. 28). Now folks, this is truly a unique spot in the world... and criminally neglected in the 'Burgh. So when I say stop by sometime between 10AM and 4PM, you should really do it. You can take advantage of the free coffee and pastries, but I bet you'll be too slack-jawed to eat.


My colleague Jason Shorr is hosting a long-awaited reception for a new batch of work at Boxheart. "Myth" will no doubt expand Shorr's exploration of the human body into hitherto uncharted realms. Show up at 4523 Liberty Avenue (in Bloomfield) at 5PM.

If you get a hankering to meander further afield, drive out to ArtSpace 105, the venue operated by the Steel Valley Arts Council, located at 105 E. Eighth Avenue in Homestead. Buffalo artist Seth Graham is in town to "induce thought and prompt questions", starting at 6PM sharp. And then you can drive further up the Mon to UnSmoke Systems' "Gold in Braddock" (1137 Braddock Avenue). They're talking about alchemy, not mining. Along with pieces by 17 artists, there will be "artisan cocktails", music by The Shanks, and free brick-oven fired pizza! That runs from 5-10PM.

And finally... Zombo Gallery (4900 Hatfield Street, Lawrenceville) has "Cute and Creepy", opening at 6PM. This show contains the work of Nathan Mazur and Jessica La Vecchia. Their artist statement tells us to expect "Monsters, bunnies, zombified fisher-price style little people, anthropomorphic food and heart based flatulence."

Argh!

c. David Grim (taken 8/19/08)

How do you deal with frustrations when it comes to interacting with people? It's awfully easy to project your own flaws onto others. I try to be aware of the reasons why I react in certain ways to certain individuals. It's difficult to step back and do this when emotions are riding high, but I have found it to be a useful process.

My biggest problems in relationships usually stem from thwarted expectations. I've known this to be true of myself for awhile, and so I generally set the bar low when it comes to friends and loved ones. I try to work under the operating assumption that I never quite know what I'm going to get. While this approach can sometimes leave me feeling lonely and depressed, I have found that it minimizes heartbreak.

Still, I find on occasion that I want more than I can reasonably expect (based on previous experience) from someone, and then I get upset. I guess I should take issue with myself for continuing to act against my best judgments and believing in people who let me down repeatedly. Maybe I'm too sentimental, but I must admit that I still find myself engaging in wishful thinking. To what extent do individuals change over time? It seems that it's almost always an arduously slow process, even with the best of intentions.

Pursuit

c. David Grim (taken 8/29/09)

I hear
The high heels
Clicking down the hall

And I think
They might
Be for me,

But I know
That they are for
Every man

And
Any man

That might hear them.

These foot steps
Are not coming
For me

Yet their
Resonance
Still suggests
Pursuit,

Calls for it
Like a siren.

4/27/10

Oops!

c. David Grim (taken 4/13/08)

I'll say this without reservations- this year's Art All Night was fun. Even dropping my piece off was entertaining, due to the alleyway between industrial ruins that we had to proceed down in order to get our work there. I turned up Munly and the Lee Lewis Harlots, and listened to it bouncing off the walls. It was both gritty and sublime, if you know what I mean.

However, I did do something I have never done before in all the years I've been displaying at this annual event. I forgot to go back on Sunday and pick up my piece. According to the Art All Night website, stuff that gets left there becomes their property. But I don't even know who "they" are exactly. I tried to e-mail them, but I haven't heard back yet. There are absolutely no contact names listed.

If I don't ever get the piece back, I'll be bummed mainly because my image was in a very expensive frame. I can print out another shot, and I wouldn't mind if someone likes it enough to hang on their wall. By the way, if the person that ends up with the photo ever reads this- I'd like to request that they hang it sideways as indicated above. I think it looks better that way.

The Man in Search of a Perpetual Spring.

c. David Grim (taken 6/23/09

Pittsburgh Art Events: 4/23-24/10.

c. David Grim (taken 8/19/08)

Friday

The seasonal Downtown arts crawl is upon us. I already mentioned Responding at Future Tenant, so if you need the details on that show, just scroll down to last week's posts. Other highlights include photos by Robert Raczka at the 707 Penn Gallery, Thad Mosley's sculptures at the August Wilson Center, Joan Milsom at Shaw Galleries, and Wood Street Galleries offers a mix of music and art created by Claudia Hart and Ella Buckley. Events get underway around 5:30PM and last 'til 9PM. Get there are close to six o'clock as possible if you want a parking space near the festivities. If you are into DVDs, comics, and/or CDs, stop by Eide's Entertainment (1121 Penn Avenue) for their annual anniversary sale.


Saturday

Three words- Art All Night!! Yes indeed, hundreds of artists (of all levels of skill and experience) will hang up their work for one night only at the ol' Iron City plant in Lawrenceville. What makes it especially interesting is that there is no jurying whatsoever. Anyone can get anything up on those walls. Most of the stuff is for sale too, and there are often some pretty great bargains to be had. This is the 13th straight year they've done this, and it is worth a visit. There's no excuse for missing it either, as it runs from 6PM on Saturday evening until 2PM on Sunday. Come at an especially odd hour, and you'll avoid the throngs that attend. All the details (including a schedule of free entertainment) can be found right here.

Whoah, kids... Neil Hamburger is in town at the Smiling Moose (1306 East Carson, 7PM). This truly post-modern comic presents the vision of awkward Catskill-style comedy, heavily-laden with tasteless humor, and inane pop cultural references. Good stuff, indeed. Come and snicker.

Once again, I don't have money for Attack Theater's "Dirty Ball". It's at Lydia's in the Strip, if you are considering ponying up for a ticket.

Slouching Toward Somewhere.

c. David Grim (taken 4/25/08)

When I was 18, my brother started a tradition for my birthday that carried on for many years afterward. He was about 16 months older than me, and liked to underscore that advantage. He would always wish me a happy day, and then inform me that I would finally be a "real adult" in a year. It was a moving goal-line, and as we got older we laughed more about it. Now that he is forty however, most of the humor of the gag is lost.

I guess there comes a point in everyone's life when they realize that they are no longer a kid. Truthfully, I feel like a "real adult" now, with whatever that entails. It's strange to think how the transformation sprung upon me when I wasn't paying attention anymore.

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about aging lately, so it's no surprise that I was attracted to William Vollmann's book about train-hopping ("Riding Toward Everywhere"-2008), even though it is a bit of a disorganized and rambling mess. When I was in my early 20's, I'd sometimes daydream about jumping on a moving freighter. I even got close to planning it out, but I probably would have done so spontaneously, had I done it at all.

Especially after reading about what that experience is like nowadays, I realize I'm never going to do it. The chance for grievous injury, and all the other accompanying discomforts make it less and less palatable. Vollmann still did it at age 50, but somehow it strikes me as a bit inauthentic after reading about his interactions with modern-day hobos. Maybe I'll ride AMTRAK again instead.

Samuel Alito is the Champion of Small Game.

c. David Grim (taken 8/3/09)

Today the Supreme Court voted 8-1 to strike down a Congressional prohibition against filming, distributing, or selling depictions of animal cruelty. I had to think a bit about this before it made any kind of sense. It's certainly not often that this current batch of justices finds anything like a near-consensus. I found it especially odd that this was an issue that sparked agreement.

I'm not a PETA member. Nor am I a vegan. I think animals have as much soul (generally-speaking) as the average human being. Cats have more soul than most people. But I'm not a fanatic animal rights activist. Having said that, it makes sense to discourage animal torture. So why allow it on video and for purchase?

It turns out that those eight esteemed arbiters consider the legislation that they ruled upon to be too broad. Apparently, hunting DVDs could be against the law in DC under the current rule. Still, I don't think that anyone has landed in the hoosegow for peddling that tripe. Reportedly, the first guy prosecuted and imprisoned under the just-invalidated law was a guy that put together clips of dog fights from around the world. He was sentenced to three years. I have no sympathy for him.

Finally I found it somehow peculiar that Samuel Alito was the lone dissenting voice. I thought he only stepped into that position at State of the Union Addresses.

The Emo Age

c. David Grim (taken 4/5/08)

I'd guess that my generation is the first to hear the term "new male". Obviously, it's fall-out from the women's rights movement of the 20th Century. If the ladies define themselves according to different criteria, and take on a number of new roles, I guess it's only fitting that men revise their own definitions about what it means to be part of their own gender.

I know for a fact that some guys my age have a problem with even considering alterations to the conventional ideas. I work with kids every day, and I see differences between what boys allow themselves, and what would have been considered acceptable when I was a teenager. I've seen them embracing in the hall, and others massaging each others' shoulders. There is nothing to indicate that these particular teens are gay either. And no one stops to berate them as they do these things.

We are running an anti-bullying program at work, and we have weekly sessions. One activity involved reading off a list of statements and asking the kids to cross a line when one of the statements applied to them. When I read, "I have cried within the last year", I never expected that the boys would cross the line. But without exception, they all did. When I was fourteen, any male youth that admitted to that would have opened themselves up to a torrent of abuse. It just wasn't done. I was actually kind of proud of that bunch. Still, I did find it pretty surreal.

One man's treasure is another man's bar-code.

c. David Grim (taken 4/5/08)

April marks the beginning of the sale season. Garage sales, rummage sales, flea markets, community days... all of these have come around once again, and I have my eye on Craigslist looking for listings. It also means I have to make it an early night on Friday. I guess it's ultimately a good thing to have in the back of my mind after the long work-week.

But there really is no point at all in going to these things if you're not willing to commit to waking up at 7:30AM. That's because there are semi-professionals all over the tip. And they are getting easier to spot. They generally look like early retirees, yet they are all business. If you get to your destination (say a church social hall or basement) before the official opening, you'll see some of these poker-faced individuals near the front of the queue. They're the ones that are not looking to socialize or answer any innocent questions.

As the doors open, these vultures proceed directly to the tables displaying their areas of expertise. It could be the toys, or books, or dvds/videos, or other collectibles. They scan items quickly, and start shoving stuff into their fancy tote bags. Ten minutes later, and everything worthwhile has been snatched up. Nothing left for the lay-shopper.

This season I've already seen two different people with hand-held electronic devices for scanning ISBN numbers. One guy was quickly rifling through the movies, and a woman was checking out books. When they apply their machines to the bar-codes, the going price for each item appears immediately on the displays. It definitely smacks of cheating. The focus is purely upon turning a profit, rather than finding an unexpected treasure to savor. And that's a shame.

Pittsburgh Art Events 4/16-17/10.

c. David Grim (taken 6/22/09)

Friday

It seems like it's been awhile since the Zombo Gallery (49th and Hatfield, Lawrenceville) had an opening. This week, Kersten Ervin opens "High School" (6-10PM), a project featuring vintage yearbooks. I don't have any more details, but I suspect that all the awkwardness and discomfort of adolescence will be on display.

Meanwhile, Future Tenant unveils "Responding", a group show that includes local artists Rose Clancy, Vanessa German, Maria Mangano, David Montano, and David Pohl. Curator Anna Mikolay asked these creators to convey a lingering sense of place, and the results will be shown from 6-9PM at this Downtown gallery (819 Penn Avenue). Although I usually avoid the mess following a work week in the Golden Triangle, these particular artists are an experienced bunch with a long tradition of involvement in the Pittsburgh arts scene. A visit should be worth the inconvenience.

And Fiberart International 2010 gets under way at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and the Society for Contemporary Craft. The reception at both locations runs from 5:30-8PM. I have very little experience with the medium, so your best bet is to go to the official website for an explanation of what you might see.

Also at PCA is a grab-bag of solos shows featuring the likes of Elin Lennox, Elizabeth Mooney, Thea Augustina Eck, and James Southard. One might get the idea that the PCA is presenting the visual arts as an essentially solitary pursuit, were it not for the collaboration between Ben Hernstrom and Frank Ferraro, as well as the AAP-sponsored, Eric Shiner-curated exhibition entitled "Interplay". Anyway, it's a lot to see in one location and costs (as per usual) just $5 to get in.

Saturday

My experience at the Braddock Chili Cook-off last weekend reminded me just how worthwhile the efforts of Fetterman and company are for that community. I simply have too much trouble finding the neighborhood to make regular visits. It's as if the esteemed gentlemen and ladies who run Allegheny County were conspiring to keep people away from the denuded community. Anyway, a place called The Garage Art Space (1216 Maple Way) will host a reception for the work of Jenn Myers and Daniel Luchmann from 6-9PM. Grab a map, get adventurous, and make your way to it.

The Things I Heard Department, Vol. 2.

c. David Grim (taken 8/19/08)

I spent a lot of time in a meeting the other night. As people filed in for what we all knew would be a commitment lasting several hours, we made small talk. It is often during such times that you exchange information that you wouldn't necessarily trade under any other circumstances. The participants of this gathering rarely interact, and that fact provided a relative anonymity which can function in one of two ways. It can result in the most mundane of small talk. Or it can inspire madly inspired, but vague revelations.

So I was pleasantly surprised when one guy started telling his story about riding around on shift with a Pittsburgh police cruiser. I imagine that he learned all sorts of interesting things from the experience. He chose to share one juicy tidbit that I enjoyed. He introduced it by asking where we all thought that the highest incidence of prostitution occurs. All the usual suspects sprang to mind, and I have to admit my amazement at the answer to his query. Apparently there is an awful lot of whoring going on at our local senior centers.

This makes sense, in a peculiar way. No doubt it gets increasingly difficult to find an alluring partner as we reach our dotage. In such circumstances, why shouldn't we turn to alternative options to get our needs met. I actually found myself blurting out (in a half-joking manner) that it should be considered a "public service". While a few people around the table laughed and/or agreed, a couple also seemed to take offense at my suggestion. But I'll stick to my conviction- with the elderly, the ordinary rules simply shouldn't apply.

Remembering Dreams.

c. David Grim (taken 8/19/08)

I usually don't remember my dreams, let alone write about them. A couple of nights ago, I had no trouble falling asleep but woke suddenly at 4:44AM with my heart racing. In my night time wanderings I found betrayal, and got worked up about it. It was an exaggeration of the feelings I had while I was awake, and it felt more real than most of my dreams do. In the very last moment, the one in which I was startled from my slumber, a girl unknown to me gave off a hideous smirking grin, and her teeth were small and packed in and ridiculously pointed- truly a horrific sight that seemed to linger throughout the day.

Last night I dreamed of a local art dealer, who is known for his lavish tastes in decor and entertainment. To me he has become symbolic of a sort of hedonistic approach to life that certainly holds a certain sway over my imagination. He was giving me a tour around his gallery that (in the strange logic of dreams) gave way to an entire amusement compound. Room by room, he showed me his toys. One great space was filled with stand-up arcade games, and another was anchored by several lanes of bowling.

There were many people milling about, yet I seemed to be the focus of his attention. I don't remember all the other wondrous things he had, but rather what was missing. I recall being puzzled by the lack of a darts machine. For some reason I expected that I might find one among the panoramic scene of play. And (in the dream) I confronted him on this lacking. He replied distractedly that he was indeed interested in darts, but for some reason had not gotten around to acquiring a set. In an environment of plenty, I had the impression of finding the single thing that he was missing.

The Things I Heard Department, Volume 1.

c. David Grim (taken 4/11/08)

I like to check out local business establishments whenever I have any remote reason to do so. I've settled into this particular neighborhood over the last half a year, and I've sampled some of the better eating options around town. One place in particular has some of the best pulled pork I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. But I'm always on the lookout for more options. And I don't have a sophisticated palette.

So, right up the street from me there's a new restaurant that's only open for breakfast and lunch. I had the rare occasion to check it out recently. It's a former drinking establishment, and people mostly just line up along the bar to eat. There's a surreal quality, what with all the empty liquor shelves and the wood paneling. But I had committed to the idea of trying something new.

I wasn't much in the mood for a chat, and had cracked a book open as soon as I ordered. But this blatant signal went unheeded by the proprietor, who proceeded to regale me with tales of her seven-year-old daughter/weekend waitress, and how much she loathed "gloomy days". I just wanted my food, but I tried to be polite. I ordered a grilled cheese BLT (which was serviceable) and the mac-and-cheese. This latter item was derived from this woman's grandma's recipe, and she was quite excited to have me order it. It wasn't good.

Finally I was relieved when the bill came. Unfortunately, the owner didn't have change for my $20, and so she had to send someone out. It was while I waited that she uttered words that no diner wishes to hear- "Well, I'm waiting for some sunny weather. I've had pneumonia for the last three months." Umm, yeah. My stomach churned.

Pittsburgh Art Events 4/9-10/10.

c. David Grim (taken 4/4/10)

Friday

What better way to spend your Friday night than to search for amphibian egg masses in a vernal pond? Fern Hollow Nature Reserve is in Sewickley, and it is offering you the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with some slimy, slithery things. Of course most young people find their way into exploring such phenomena every weekend, but this is a chance for folks to get outside their genus. Show up 7PM at 1901 Glen Mitchell Road. It's $5 per family.

If you are not the outdoorsy type, Breathe Yoga Studio (1113 E. Carson St., South Side) is featuring the mixed media work of Shari Lynn Bennett, and having an opening between 7-9PM. Meanwhile, the 3G Gallery downtown (1001 Liberty Ave.) is hosting a group show inspired by travel from 5-7PM. Rick Byerly's lava shots from Hawaii will be included in the assortment of work.

Todd Rundgren is still alive. If you know who I'm talking about, go to the Palace Theater in Greensburg at 8PM. Or, if you want to see music that reached its apogee sometime after the mid-70's, Get Hip Records is offering a full bill, including the legendary Cynics, Aviation Blondes, Salena Catalina and The What Else. You really can't go wrong supporting local independents. Show up at the Rex Theater on the South Side, and bring $12.

Saturday

Crafts, yeah. The "I Made It!" series continues inside and outside of the former Joseph Beth Booksellers in the Southside (2PM). There''s gonna be "live entertainment" on a stage, plus a chili cook-off competition.

And how lucky are we to have not one, but TWO chili cook-offs on the same freakin' day?! The The Fourth Annual Braddock Carnegie Arts Program Chili Cook-Off starts at 1PM at 424 Library Street. It's $10, and you will get to sample some of the most savory concoctions available in Western PA. If last year is anything to go by, this is a must-attend event. They should have plenty of versions (both carnivorous and vegetarian) to choose from, and you'll get a individualized clay-fired mug to take home. Plus there's a raffle (I won a Starbucks card last go 'round).

The Shrine Circus is in town at the Mellon Arena, and the super-special guest star is Batman. Shriner's love kids, or so I've learned due to my foray into the basement of the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA.

Onward Mason Soldiers!

c. David Grim (taken 4/4/10)

This past weekend I made a return trip to our nation's Capitol. As I was doing some net research in the week before the trip, I began to realize that I've been there many times before. Still there were (and still are) many things that I have not seen in DC. The concentration of major museums there is just astounding. I remember in the 90's, when the Holocaust Museum opened, what a big deal the addition was for tourists. But since then the place has seen many new attractions opened.

I only had about a day-and-a-half to work with, so I had to winnow my choices down to a very few. I considered the Crime Museum, but it costs over $20 to go in, and virtually everything else is free. I had little interest in seeing the Spy Museum, since I find the whole espionage 'n intrigue thing overblown. So I took a good, long, hard look at the art museums and made my choices.

But first I decided I'd see the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA. I knew I'd be stopping over in that town, and felt I'd grab the opportunity while it presented itself. The truth is, though, that you seen one... you seen 'em all. Visiting the Grand Lodge in Philly was impressive, and my follow-up to the temple-on-the-hill seemed redundant. I did enjoy the model Shriner's parade (the image above came from that animated spectacle. The overwhelming impression I got was one of immense expense for a masturbatory legacy. Whatever.

Living in Utopia?!

c. David Grim (taken 4/4/10)

Today I finished reading 1939: The Lost World of the Fair (1996), by David Gelernter*. It concerns the huge exhibition held in Queens during the small gap between the Depression and WWII. Gelernter is obviously fascinated by the scale of the project, and toward that end he provides ample descriptions and information about the fair itself. This was what I was hoping for when I bought the book earlier this year. I loved The Devil in the White City (Erik Larson), and not just for the salacious serial killer vibe contained therein.

And while the picture Gelernter paints of the grounds themselves is intermittently fascinating, he does seem to be more concerned with lamenting what he sees as the demise of the American Dream in the ensuing years. He views the optimistic embrace of technology as the secular religion of the nation, and claims that the promises offered in the many exhibits of the 1939 Fair were subsequently delivered. He builds to his main point- we have created our Utopia, and we live in it today. Yet we can't help but become mired in the ennui of existing inside it. We no longer imagine a future.

Aside from this peculiar conceit, Gelernter also enmeshes the reader in the story of a young intellectual Jewish bourgeois couple, and their tragically star-crossed fate. This was a distraction for me, as I was much more concerned with daydreaming about great public amusements. It was also an odd literary device- inserting a wholly fictionalized story in the midst of tangible history. It gave the whole affair a sheen of surreality, which I believe worked counter to the author's aims of expostulating a social perspective of a past era. It was an interesting read, but not entirely successful.


*Unrelated aside: the author (who is a prominent neoconservative theorist, which in large part explains his somewhat reactionary take on post-modernism) was critically injured when he opened a mailbomb from Theodore Kaczynski in 1993.

Everything Has Fled

c. David Grim (taken 4/8/08)

What if there was a single human being that you told all of your secrets to?

Let's assume that you could actually let yourself in on all your dark, hidden places. After all, the brain is capable of all types of deceptions... even internally. What if you were completely aware of what you were capable of, and you thought through (in detail) all of your possible fantasies, and you were honest with yourself about your opinions? If all of that were true, you could have conversations lasting from dusk until dawn, for weeks.

What would the life of your confessor be worth to you? What would you sacrifice to protect it, and not have to trot out all of that stuff again? How much would you be capable of repeating again? Would you have felt such shame in the telling that you never wanted to hear the words releaased from your mouth again?

Happy Good Friday.

Pittsburgh Art Events 4/2/10.

c. David Grim (taken 4/5/08)

This weekend we can put our focus on Friday, due to the overwhelming concentration of art-related events happening. I didn't look too hard for things to do on Saturday, but nonetheless I didn't find any.

Friday

Here's an interesting concept- "Rock, Paper, Scissors"- in which three galleries host opening receptions built around one of those three themes. The Space Gallery downtown (8PM-Midnight) has the first, ostensibly focusing on the music aspect of the word. Artist Image Resource on the North Side (6-8PM) is doing the "paper", and I suppose that makes sense. And the Fe Gallery in Lawrenceville (7-9PM) has the "scissors". Just a few of the artists participating are George Davis, Jill Larson, Alexandra Watrous, Adam Welch, Bovey Lee, Randie Snow, Keny Marshal, and Laura Jean McLaughlin. The hours for each have been staggered, so that (should you wish) you can attend all three. Not only that, but Molly's Trolleys will be on hand to provide free transport between venues.

If you need a pick-me-up between destinations, the Crazy Mocha in Bloomfield (4525 Liberty) awaits with a wide variety of caffeinated pleasures, as well as a couple of walls worth of paintings by Greensburg-based artist Gabe Felice. Always a charmer, Gabe consistently puts out some of the most distinctive and interesting work available in Western PA. And this should be a good opportunity to meet him too, as he won't have any excuse (like three feet of snow) not to show up for this opening.

And yes indeedy.. Unblurred is here. The Geek Art/Green Innovators Festival will make its presence felt along Penn Avenue. Specifically, events will be held at the Sprout Fund headquarters (5423 Penn) and at the BCG Center (113 N. Pacific).

The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination (5006 Penn) has "Antiquated & Future (or Imaginary) Technology" from 7-10PM. Fast>>Fwd Gallery is opening (5-10PM) the somewhat seasonally-ironical "PLENTY OF SLEEP WHEN WE’RE DEAD", featuring work by Mike Egan, Josh Iddings, Ron Copeland and Christian Breitkreutz. Garfield Artworks (4931 Penn) offers yet more adult-themed paintings by the ubiquitous Lauren Toohey. Tech-geek extraordinaire Jason Bannister has lots of robotic designs at the renamed Space:Collective (4823 Penn). Awesome Books (formerly the Clay Penn at 5111 Penn) will have a reading by Christiane Leach for her book release ("Spinning Standing Still") at 7PM. And Edge Studio (5411 Penn) has "Cunning Stunts:Exquisite Corpse"- 11 women addressing the concept of 'alter ego". Whew!

As if all that were not enough, Modern Formations (4919 Penn) rolls out their Annual Spring Salon exhibition, whereby viewers are asked to choose which artist displayed merits their own solo show at the gallery during the next year.

If you aren't totally exhausted with all the other offerings, stop by Remedy Lounge (10PM-Midnight) in Lawrenceville for an unveiling of the nuanced collage work of Rachel Hallas.