Category: Excursions

Excursion: Mix-N-Match

April 2016

Making kites in Market Square.
Making kites in Market Square. Photo by Dashawn Gray.

We went to Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh to experience the 2016 Market Square Public Art Program project, Mix-N-Match. The artwork by Dutch artist Allard van Hoorn turned the Square into a record player. It featured several tracks of music by community groups.

Hula hooping in Market Square.
Hula hooping in Market Square.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Hazelwood was one of the community groups to participate in making sounds for the tracks. Edith and a group of Hazelwood residents created tape drawings and van Hoorn recorded the noise.

We had a fun day of creating kites, playing games, and enjoying the public art.

Excursion: Pittsburgh Past, City Future

March 2016

A group in the Carnegie Library.
Looking at archival material in the library.

Urban design, community development, architecture, photography, and history are the topics we examined in the Pennsylvania Room of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Main and the Carnegie Museum of Art. 

A group sitting in the Hall of Sculpture at CMOA.
Learning about the Hall of Sculpture in Carnegie Museum of Art.

We toured the Hall of Sculpture at CMOA and had a drawing session in the Heinz Architectural Center.

The group draws on the floor of the Heinz Architectural Center.
Drawing in the Heinz Architectural Center.

Excursion: Ink & Clay

February 2016

Working with clay in the Braddock Library.
The group makes clay tiles.

The BCL Arts and Culture Facilitator was our guide to the Art Lending Collection, the Puppet Collection, the Neighborhood Print Shop, and the Bath House Ceramic Studio.

A child with clay creations.
Working with clay is fun!

We screen printed a two-color poster for the Hazelwood YMCA Easter Celebration and designed ceramic tiles during our afternoon of art making.

Screen printing with a group at the Braddock library.
Screen printing in the Neighborhood Print Shop.

Excursion: Skin

January 2016

We joined in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Skin I’m In by author Sharon Flake at CLP-Homewood with a staged reading of a new play based on the book. The Skin I’m In is a novel published by Hyperion Books that depicts the story of seventh grader Maleeka Madison who has low self-esteem because of her dark skin color. All participants received a copy of the book.

Excursion: Light

January 2016

This was a seniors only excursion. 

Group members sitting at the Studio for Creative Inquiry.
At the Studio for Creative Inquiry.

AEU, Hazelwood Active Living Center, and POORLAW hosted a trip to the Studio for Creative Inquiry for a dinner and presentation by Conflict Kitchen. We shared a Persian meal from Conflict Kitchen.

After dinner, we went for a night time stroll through the Winter Flower Show and Light Garden at Phipps Conservatory.

Excursion: Red

December 2015

Rudolph stuffed animal drinking out of a straw.
A stuffed Rudolph joins in the fun!

Our holiday excursion!

The first live theater experience for AEU was a matinee performance of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer the Musical, based on the 1960s animated television show, at Heinz Hall. This popular holiday story reminded us that what makes us different also makes us special.

Santa and a group from AEU.
Visiting with Santa Claus.

A surprise guest from the North Pole (with a white beard and red suit) met us at the City-County Building. 

Excursion: JOHN CON

October 2015

  • Space Gallery
  • Office of Public Art walking tour
  • David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Drawing with artist John Regeirt.

Artist John Regeirt led a portrait workshop at Space Gallery. He shared his drawing secrets and ended the session by inviting us to draw a portrait of him to be included in an exhibition organized by Brett Yasko.

Strolling through Tony Tasset’s Magnolias for Pittsburgh on a walking tour.

We met up with Renee Piechocki, the director of the Office of Public Art, who took us on a tour which landed us on the roof of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Our last stop was Wood Street Galleries for a special viewing of a slow motion Spiderman invading a family portrait.

On the roof of the Convention Center.

Excursion: Flux

October 2015

  • Silvereye Center for Photography
  • Rivers of Steel Carrie Furnace
Life imitates art at the Silver Eye Center for Photography. Image by Dashawn Gray.

The emphasis of the FLUX excursion was change. Change in the landscape, city, and representation. We investigated the theme at two locations, Silver Eye Center for Photography and Carrie Furnace.

Silver Eye director, David Oresick, talks about the exhibition. Image by Dashawn Gray.

At Silver Eye, we viewed the exhibition Dandy Lion (Re)Articulating Black Masculine Identity. We took a tour of the Alloy Pittsburgh exhibition at Carrie Furnace and met with artists Rose Clancy, Liz Hammond, Sarika Goulatia, and Ricardo Robinson.

Creating with artist Rose Clancy. Image by Dashawn Gray.
The group at Carrie Furnace. Image by Dashawn Gray.

Each participant on the excursion was given a disposable camera to photograph their experience. We collected the cameras at the end of the day, processed the film, and awarded cash prizes for the top three photographs.

Walking through the Carrie Furnace site. Image by Dashawn Gray.

Excursion: Fallingwater

September 2015

  • Fallingwater
  • Kentuck Knob
The group before touring Fallingwater.

We toured Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob in the beautiful Laurel Highlands located 43 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Fallingwater was built in 1935 and is one of the most significant architectural pieces of the 20th century. We had a 60 minute guided tour of the house, guest house, and garage.

Ready to take a group tour inside Kentuck Knob.

Just down the road is Kentuck Knob, also designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. We had a 40 minute guided tour of the house. There was also a sculpture garden on the grounds with works by Claes Oldenburg, Andy Goldsworthy, and other world renowned artists.