RADICAL DAYS ADVENTURE
Sarah Ireland came up with the fabulous idea for all of us to caravan to Pittsburgh for the city's enchanting Radical Days offering. Her invite went like this:
"RADICAL DAYS" returns in September
Experience Free Admission, Performances at Treasured Regional Assets
The Allegheny Regional Asset District, with it's participating assets, announces that the popular "RADical Days" event will take place again this year from SEPT 28th-OCT 7. During this special event, regional assets come together to say "thank you" to the public with free admission to nearly 30 regional facilities. Participating organizations offering a free admission date or event confirmed thus far are: The Andy Warhol Museum, August Wilson Center for African American Culture, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Frick Art and Historical Center, Heinz Field (tours), Sen. John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum,Kelly-StrayhornTheatre, Manchester Craftsman's Guild/MCG Jazz, The Matress Factory, Mellon Arena, National Aviary, New Hazlett Theatre, PNC Park (tours), Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony, Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, Riverquest (Pittsburgh Voyager), Silver Eye Center for Photography, Society for Contemporary Craft, and Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum.
The Allegheny County Library Accociation members Libraries and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will offer free special events and programming. Additional detail, including each asset's free admission date, plus dance and musical performances, will be released later this summer.
I think we should make a trip out of it. I would say everyone meet either at the hotel or in Pittsburgh. If your in, respond to this post with ideas that you have or your avalibility and let's get something started!
-Sarah
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I am an employee of the Carnegie museums, so if there is anything that I can do regarding the Carnegie Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, Science Center or the Andy Warhol Museum, let me know.
-Skot Jones
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Radical Days is quickly approaching. I am planning to gather as many of you a possible and take this thing alive. The chance to experience all these places is right at our feet.... Are you with me?
Just get an idea of what you wanna checkout. Departure time is early. Let me know if your coming so we can make room!! Oh yeah, find your cameras, camcorders, sketch books, etc.., and plan to be inspired.
-Sarah
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This is going to be great!
-Skot
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The Schedule! September 30th....
This is a SUNDAY... Mark your calendars!!!
Aviary 9-5
Warhol Museum 10-5
Mattress Factory 12-5
Science Center 10-5
There are many others, but these are the ones I am trying to check out. This is such a great opportunity. Now I have a few seats avalible in my car for those in the Johnstown area. We will be leaving around 7 to hit the Aviary first. Now as far as everyone coming from Pittsburgh, we can meet either at the aviary itself, or for those who cannot find it, we can meet up and make a caravan. So get ready for a free day of art for arts sake! Oh yeah, i think maybe a picnic at the Point would be a lot of fun. So call me or post here to secure your spot on the trip!
-Sarah
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Hi Sarah, I will be coming up to join you and the gang for the Pittsburgh trip Sunday sept 30th. I will arrive at the hotel late saturday night.
-Cool Hand Jaemi
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All right! It is going to be a blast. I am super excited. so many people are coming. much more than expected! Can't wait to see you Jaemi. Till then...
-Sarah
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October frost
Everyone may feel free to come out and stay at the hotel that pre-Saturday night. (You all probably have your own regular rooms by now anyway). But, it is getting cold up here on the mountains, so I suggest you bring an extra blanket -just in case.
-Blair
PS: I'm looking forward to meeting some of you for the first time in an environment that isn't within the hotel. How strange and wonderful.
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Adam and Honore just wrote and are coming out from Philadelphia to join us for this trip! We should rent a bus!
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So here's the plan cats and kittens.....
For those of whom can make it, we are meeting at the hotel on saturday night. WE MUST LEAVE BY 7AM SUNDAY MORNING. If you are not staying the night, be here at 6:30.
We will then rodevous with others in Pittsburgh at the Aviary. Addressess are posted below if you need to get directions. Try car pooling if you can... parking is going to be painful. You could even try to catch the great inner city public transit, the T or a bus. Check schedules at pattransit.com.
If you are comiing from far away, the train heads east from Johnstown at 8:30-9:00 am, so you could leave early monday if need be or Heading west at 7:00pm if you can leave that late in the day.
There will be a picnic so if you wanna bring along something that would be great, pack it in a cooler. drinks, finger foods. I am pretty set on eating at the park, there is one right in the middle of all three locations.
The museums close promptly at 5pm. Also, wear comfy shoes. Everything is about a 15min walk from each other. We will start at the Aviary promptly at 9am. Then heading to mattress factory arriving there at 11:30, then have lunch in the park at 2pm on the way to the final stop at Andy Warhol at 3:30pm. If anyone can't make it to all of them, meet up with the group when you can.
Afterward maybe head to the riverwalk, to sit and lay out our thoughts and inspiration. at bit of a wind-down before the treck back to the hotel for a night cap.
This jaunt has become quite the party! We have so many. Probably about 15 or so. Still not to late to jump on board!
Aviary
700 Arch Street
Pittsburgh, Pa 15212
412-323-7235
Mattress Factory
500 Sampsonia Way
Pittsburgh, Pa 15212
Andy Warhol
117 Sandusky St.
Pittsburgh, Pa 15212
-Sarah
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Just a few more days till our journey my friends... Remember, we are leaving at 7 ON THE DOT. Did I mention 7 ON THE DOT?
-Sarah
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3x5 NOTECARD QUICK ON-LOCATION IMPRESSIONS OF THE DAY
I would say for those who didn't make it, your loss.
It was excellent for our group to get away from the hotel, like Vikings united on a ship to sail to another shore. Saturday night, one person after another arrived. Jaemi first, Steph next. We spent the night gathered in Sarah's room in the hotel discussing future projects on the rise. At 3 AM Mark the Magician showed up, ringing the doorbell. At 6 AM Sarah marched the halls demanding, 'wake up! wake up!' Jim and Joey joined us. I haven't hung out with Jim in a long time, great to see him. Joey had some awesome high-sock boot combination on like some punk hillbilly red riding hood. Her shirt read 'Mean Girl.' 7:20 we launched. This was our caravan: Mikey P, Jesh, Magic Mark, Jim, Joey, Steph, Matt, Chanel, Sarah, Blair, Dylan, Jaemi, and Renee. Thirteen artists.
The various buildings we visited sort of struck me as our own place, similar anyway, the venture to manifest a building specifically for artists. I always loved the concept of Warhol's Factory in New York. The Mattress Factory had a sign posted in the doorway reading, 'The Mattress Factory is a research and development lab for artists.' I noticed on the floor that someone had used the head from a broken sculpture as a door blocker, that being my favorite visual for the trip, a simple side gesture where one knows one is among artists. Going from one environment to the next was excellent.
I loved the few times I'd been to the Warhol Museum. My first time was just a few years ago when Videssa sent me an admission ticket as a birthday gift. I'd been a big fan of Edie Sedgwick and Ciao! Manhatton from as far back as film school. Warhol was a genious at manipulating the media, similar to the same way PT Barnum was. He'd contact the press and say he was throwing a big party and that all his glam friends would be there, so the media would commit to come. And then he'd contact all his friends and say he was throwing a party and that the press was even coming. It was brilliant.
11 AM we ate lunch in the park, compliments of Sarah, who wonderfully made us a big picnic. Dylan climbed the trees, truly a monkey boy. When reminded he forgot to eat his pickle, he winged it behind him and cheered, 'Yum!'
Someone begged Mark the Magician to do some tricks. "I don't do tricks," he told them, "Tricks are done by dogs and dirty women." He spread out cards on a blanket to enchant and entertain. Strangers joined us.
The girls took a lot of group photos. Rich fun. -The memory capturing moment.
Oh! Some of us ran out and combed the streets of Pittsburgh until we found a Sunday night Indian buffet to finish the day with a grand feast. The Maharaja Restaurant at the Days Inn for $8 was the bomb! Great conversation.
The most radical element of Radical Days, for me, was how inspired all of us were as the day progressed. Each person I spoke with appreciated everything, loved the day, and enjoyed seeing all the new artists' shared work. Minds went spinning with inspiration! And all felt pretty good about themselves and their own work, expressing how amped they were to get back home to their own canvas and pound the curbs to raise the next temple walls with their own passionate expressions.
Thank you Sarah.
And thank you Pittsburgh for having the vision to create such an offering!
-Blair
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I enjoy being around displays of ANY type of art, be it piss on a canvas or a bright green light or whatever you like. It beats being around MTV-style environments any day. I was filled with inspiration by this trip and came up with numerous ideas for little side projects - some spoken word stuff with my violin, a photo series, a painting, among others. I was churning out poetry in my little green notebook all day. I'm excited! It was just a great excursion, loads of fun and different exhibits. It was great to see everyone too, in the outside world apart from the Midway. Kudos to Sarah for an amazing day.
-Renee Angle
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It truly was a wonderful day, though i found the beauty of my friends far more interesting than the art that adorned the walls. It was an all day creation of magic and laughter, striking poses for pictures, filming shadows, dirty grassy ass cracks and chasing squirrels. Queen Sarah, Sweet Goddess Divine.... thank you, also i got the worst pictures of so many of you.....but i promise when i am done playing with them they'll be cool.
-Joey
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I must say to all of those who could not make it, you were missed. To all those who did. thank you so much. We had a blast, from the aviary to the science center.
As it turned out we had a bit of time left over and spent it at toms museum in the mexican war streets. Talk about living your dream. If you get a chance, stop by and say hi. Some of us even toured a submarine at the science center while others were taking a ride through the human body. A great way to wind down after storming the town 13 strong.
Thank you Mark for entertaining us at our picnic. As always you not only impressed us, but brought a few onlookers as well. And to Chanel for joining us at the aviary, your sense of direction kept us on track as I, like always, couldn"t figure out which way was north, twice!
RADical Days happens every year...
I bet next year the turn out may double!
-Sarah
