ASSOCIATED ARTISTS OF PITTSBURGH CELEBRATE "YEAR OF GLASS" WITH SPECIAL EXHIBITION AT PITTSBURGH CENTER FOR THE ARTS

PITTSBURGH, January 15, 2007 - As might be expected from a group of accomplished artists, the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) are making their mark in the citywide "Year of Glass" celebration with an unusual approach. Opening February 2nd and continuing through March 18th at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, the juried exhibit, "Vitreous: …" will be featured.

Vitreous? Meaning "related to, derived from, or consisting of glass", Vitreous challenged the artists to create work in any media with a relationship to glass being integral to each piece. As exhibition co-chair, Jane Ogren notes, "The options were wide open as long as the concept of glass was incorporated into the piece. It could include features of glass such as reflection, refraction, translucence, luminosity or could simply be created from glass."

The juror for the members-only exhibit was Ms. Petra Fallaux. An arts educator and well-known juror, Ms. Fallaux was pleased and surprised by the range of mediums drawn out by the unusual and broad-based theme. "The exhibit includes oil, watercolor, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, photography, fiber art and more. The members produced a wonderful body of work," she said. Of the 83 artists and 183 pieces submitted, 51 pieces by 47 artists were selected by Ms.Fallaux for the exhibit.

Inaugural Artists + Industry Pilot Project Also Exhibited

As part of "Vitreous," an exhibit within the exhibit, created by a group of AAP board members, and tied to the Year of Glass, will also be presented February 2nd at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. The first in what is hoped to be a series of projects partnering artists with various industries, the pilot project brings a glass-related business together with art. An experimental fiberglass project, this effort combines the advanced glass fiber fabric produced by Butler-based Dielectric Solutions, with how artists might use the materials in their work. The artists visited the Dielectric factory, studied the material and have used it to create pieces for the pilot project.

The artists participating in the "Pilot Program #1" will then take the materials to students throughout the area through the AAP Outreach/Education Program, and work with high school and college students to create the students own art pieces using similar materials, and to illustrate the potential for artists and industry to work in unison. "We are hoping that this cooperative effort is just the first of many similar efforts throughout the region," said Anna Marie Sninsky, AAP outreach advisor.

Note: The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts is located at 6300 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. It is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. It is closed on Mondays and legal holidays.

© 2006 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh - 6300 Fifth Avenue - Pittsburgh, PA  15232 - 412-361-1370 - aapgh1@verizon.net