by Emma Riva
Cover image of the Tomayko Foundation collection by Chris Uhren
Welcome to Pittsburgh Artnews Brief—a little bite of what’s going on in the city. Is this a gossip column? No, but it’s also not just objective news. The goal is to give a rundown of what’s happening, not just events, but what are people talking about? Let’s get into it.
The Frick has caused a stir for delaying “Treasured Ornament,” an exhibit of ancient Islamic art due to fear of controversy over it during a period of violence in the Middle East. The museum said that this was “insensitive”—however, a representative from Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh said that the federation disapproved postponing the show, so it’s unclear to whom this exhibit was insensitive. If anyone from the Frick would like to comment, shoot over an email.
Speaking of controversy, occasional flirter-of-controversy and former Steelers player Baron Batch announced the closure of his gallery in South Side Works, Studio AM, at the end of November. Batch will hold open studios on 11/18 and 11/19 for the public and reflected on the studio in a blog post. He did not disclose its reasons for closing. Opportunity for new gallery in South Side? Just saying. 👀
Hall & House, a new studio space and “considered home and gathering place” in Wilkinsburg headed by Camille Interligi, is now open. Interligi is exploring possibilities for studios, communal art making, “salons”, and residencies—all for no charge. If you’re looking for a community-based spot headed by a big thinker with a generous heart, Hall & House is somewhere to watch and Interligi is someone to talk to.
Etna’s .5 Gallery, which had previously stopped showing as of this summer, is now exhibiting Bob Freyer in a show titled Down the Rabbit Hole this Saturday 11/11 6-9PM. With .5 in a transitional phase, there’s an opportunity for aspiring gallerists or curators to look at the space.
Musician Mai Khoi recently opened her home in Garfield as a house show venue called Stage MK and on 11/13 (7PM at 515 N Mathilda St) will be throwing a house show featuring a mixture of “improvised and traditional Arabic music on the oud” by St. Petersburg, FL-based Erich Barganier and “bassoon/saenghwang and organ pipe improvisation” by Jay Rauch and devon osamu tipp. This is a venue to check out if you’ve never been, because Khoi and Pittsburgh Sound Preserve create an incredible inflection point for experimental music and the arts.
Shows closing in the next two weeks are Lydia Rosenberg’s Lamp Store (11/18 at 527 N Taylor Avenue), Tomayko Foundation’s Commence (11/17 at 5137 Liberty Avenue), and Akudzwe Elsie Chiwa’s solo exhibition Divinity/Femininity at 937 Gallery (11/19 at 937 Liberty Avenue)—so hit those if you haven’t had the chance.
Opening soon are Brew House Association’s Buttery Spread (11/9 at 711 S 23rd Street 6-9PM), curated by Emma Honcharski and Chas Wagner as part of Brew House’s curatorial residency, 113X113 (11/10 6-9PM at 100 43rd Street), Associated Artists of Pittsburgh’s winter anniversary of 113 years for the organization where each piece is $113, so get some affordable collection done! We also have not one but two local bookstores with art openings: Fungus Books in Wilkinsburg exhibiting Brent Pheto (11/10 6PM-? at 700 1/2 S Trenton Ave) with some never-before-seen works and Bottom Feeder Books exhibiting Kelly Lanzendorfer in Secret Garden (11/10 6-8PM at 415 Gettysburg Street).
Skipping ahead a week, Platonic Solids (11/16 at 843 Holland Avenue, 6-9PM) will be opening at Blankspace on Holland Avenue in Wilkinsburg, featuring a wide lineup of artists including Arush Kalra, Andrew Allison, Haylee Ebersole, Rachel Morgan Simmons, Millie Marshall. The show’s title “Platonic Solids” references the close friendships between all involved.
Pittsburgh is an intensely interesting, always-shifting art scene where the line between galleries and commercial spaces is thin, and some of the most famous art collections in the world reside in the museum systems while fresh voices emerge in DIY spaces and friend groups. That’s why I started this magazine, and this briefing is a way to get a feel for what’s going on in the ecosystem that is our city. Look out biweekly for the next update.
Got a tip? Want to cover any of these subjects? Have hot takes? Drop us a line: petrichorpgh@gmail.com.
PETRICHOR 
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