Pittsburgh and Alt Process

SCHRAMMR@WLSVAX.WVNET.EDU
Thu, 16 Apr 1998 20:59:24 -0500 (EST)

Birger and the group,

This year the "Three Rivers Arts FFestival" in Pittsburgh runs from June 5 -
June 21. It is held in downtown pittsburgh on the streets and in several
buildings all of which may be reached by subway which is free between downtown
stops. The festival consists of juried shows, booths where artists and artisans
sell their work and ethnic food including Pittsburgh-type food.

The festival is a good time, but you will find very little in the way of alt
process. Entries come from all over the USA but last year I had the only
alt process print in the show (a gum print). There was one other print
, liquid emulsion on watercolor paper, that might be considered alt process.

For some reason, there is very little alternative process work going on
in this area. I am 50 miles south of Pittsburgh in West Virginia. The
last time I checked, there was only one other alt process printer in the
state (listed by the W.Va. Dept. of Art and History) and she moved away
last year.

I know of no workshops. Of course I am turning out a few devotees via
my course in advanced photograpy for art majors at West Liberty State
College. Maybe I should start one.

While you are in Pittsburgh, don't fail to visit the Andy Worhal museum.
Its great! Andy was a Pittsburgher, went to Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie
Mellon) and, in my opinion, could be classified as an alt process printer.
He used photo silkscreen a lot. The museum is on the "north side" just
across the Allegheny river from downtown. I suggest a taxi.

Out in Oakland, which is a fair distance from downtown, is the Carnegie
Museum which has a fairly good art gallery and the best collection of
dinosauer fossils in the world (so they claim).

Two other interesting places to visit: the "strip district," no, not
dancing girls but a long street of imported foods and quaint shops;
"east Carson street" on the south side. A wonderful collection of
art galleries, curio shops, weird stuff (like a shop that sells supplies for
witches (Wicca folks), an avont garde coffee house, etc.

Don't try to drive yourself around Pittsburg. The streets run at odd angles,
there are many one-way and no left or right turn intersections, 6th street runs
into 9th ave. and everyone drives like maniacs, but the people are
friendly otherwise. The language is confusing. Most people speak Pittsburgese.
Some examples: "Jeet yet", Translation- "Did you eat yet?", "N'at",
Translation- "and that" used at the end of each sentence.

Be happy to provide more information if you wish,

Bob Schramm