The Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Meetup Group

Please join us to check out the Keiko Fukazawa Retrospective: The Space in Between exhibit before it closes May 16 at Contemporary Craft, 5645 Butler Street, which is open Monday-Saturday from 10 AM - 5 PM.

Please note this exhibit is free although small donations are appreciated.

Keiko Fukazawa Retrospective: The Space in Between features a comprehensive survey of California-based artist, Keiko Fukazawa’s more than forty-year career, featuring new works alongside selected archival materials. Fukazawa is deeply influenced by her Japanese heritage and American environment, addressing themes of Asian pop culture and social issues through conceptual exploration. Her functional yet impractical interpretations of traditional forms serve as personal expressions that bridge cultural boundaries.

This exhibition is organized into three themes: “Culture Clash,” “ARTivism,” and “In Betweenness,” each one representing different stages of Fukazawa’s creative evolution. As an immigrant artist, Fukazawa draws on her experiences of navigating the space between cultures and identities, infusing her work with depth and resonance. Through her use of porcelain, Fukazawa highlights ceramic artistry, process, and history advocating for the medium’s importance in the contemporary world. Keiko Fukazawa Retrospective offers a compelling narrative of artistic journey and cultural dialogue, showcasing Fukazawa’s enduring commitment to pushing boundaries and redefining the intersection of tradition, innovation and materiality with her practice.

While at Contemporary Craft, check out:

1. Throughlines exhibit on display through May 31, 2025. Each of the vignettes in this exhibition depicts one of the more than twenty places that artist Kate Davidson has called home. From the house she grew up in, to a single room of an apartment, to the corner of a kitchen, they are spaces (whether shared, loud, lonely, or sweet, across cities and states) that have felt meaningful in her life. Sketched and painted from memory, none are a perfect rendering of what these buildings actually look like. Instead, they recall the particular ways they feel, smell, and sound – that single creaky step in a hallway, the porch light Kate’s father always left on, a cabinet filled with ginger, the rattle of the brown line train going by, the cracking green-blue paint on her bedroom wall. They draw on the many ways it means to know a place, how little we actually pay attention to our surroundings, and what details seem to stick even after years of being away. Combining two-dimensional and three-dimensional elements, the drawings are part daydream and part memory. They rest on a twisting throughline, navigating continuous curls, turns, double backs, and loops. All together, the scenes are a map of Kate’s life, a miniature cityscape of the many places that have given her roots.
2. Gift Store As part of Contemporary Craft’s mission, their goal is to support nationally recognized craft artists, as well as new and emerging talent. The CC Store represents over 150 artists nationwide, offering handmade, one-of-a-kind art pieces in ceramic, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, paper, wood, and furniture. Each of these pieces has spent countless hours in the hands of an artist before reaching us. When you purchase work at Contemporary Craft, you directly support the livelihood of working artists and helping to advance the economic ecosystem of the craft community.
3. Check out Contemporary Craft’s Studios that offer in-person craft classes and workshops in metals/jewelry making, wood, fiber, mixed media, book binding, and paper arts at every level from beginner-friendly to mastery. Check out the full list of workshops and register on their upcoming workshops page! Or learn more about their Open Studio Rental program. Scholarship money is also available for all Workshops and for Open Studio Rental. Click to apply! Consider supporting the Studio with a purchase from their Wish List!

Meetup Considerations Depending on the interests of the group and the weather forecast, the group will discuss other Saturday afternoon options, such as walking around Lawrenceville, having lunch at a nearby restaurant, etc. Stay tuned for updates.

For those that may be interested, Hop Farm Brewing is located only 1 block away from Contemporary Craft. It is open from 12 PM – 11 PM on Saturdays, while the kitchen is open from 3 PM - 10 PM.

Parking and Accessibility Contemporary Craft has its own small parking lot. Street parking is available as this part of Upper Lawrenceville is not usually very busy. Public transportation is available as PRT Buses 87 and 91 have bus stops next to Contemporary Craft.

Please join us for Confluence Ballet Company's world premiere performance of a new ballet "The Onion" on May 3rd at 7 PM and May 4th at 2 PM. This world premiere performance will take place at Attack Theatre in Lawrenceville, 212 45th Street.

Featuring original live music composed by Pittsburgh musician Joshua Malavé, and new choreography directed by co-artistic directors Adrian Green and Elena Cvetkovich, as well as company artist Keeley Hernandez, this original ballet is based on a powerful parable from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s brilliant philosophical exploration, “The Brothers Karamazov.”

“The Onion” tackles the relationship between good and evil and how the consequences of our actions on Earth affect us in the afterlife.

Each performance will feature a moderated post-show discussion with the audience to explore the creative process behind this work, as well as the ongoing mission and vision of Confluence Ballet.

TICKETS: Available in advance or at the door if the show isn't sold out
$25 General Admission
$21 Senior Citizen (65+)
$21 Students

For those that may wish to attend the Sunday May 4th 2 PM matinee performance instead, please RSVP here Confluence Ballet Company world premiere "The Onion" with live music, Sun, May 4, 2025, 1:45 PM | Meetup

Please join us for Confluence Ballet Company's world premiere performance of a new ballet "The Onion" on May 3rd at 7 PM and May 4th at 2 PM. This world premiere performance will take place at Attack Theatre in Lawrenceville, 212 45th Street.

Featuring original live music composed by Pittsburgh musician Joshua Malavé, and new choreography directed by co-artistic directors Adrian Green and Elena Cvetkovich, as well as company artist Keeley Hernandez, this original ballet is based on a powerful parable from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s brilliant philosophical exploration, “The Brothers Karamazov.”

“The Onion” tackles the relationship between good and evil and how the consequences of our actions on Earth affect us in the afterlife.

Each performance will feature a moderated post-show discussion with the audience to explore the creative process behind this work, as well as the ongoing mission and vision of Confluence Ballet.

TICKETS: Available in advance or at the door if the show isn't sold out
$25 General Admission
$21 Senior Citizen (65+)
$21 Students

Please join us to check out the wonderful exhibits as well as the new monthly Speaker Saturday series at the Fort Pitt Museum

On Saturday, May 10 from 1- 2 PM, there will be a very interesting lecture on Powder Horns of the Forbes Road and Fort Pitt with historian Mike Burke. Discover the fascinating history of powder horns. Valuable as historical documents, these humble containers for gunpowder also represent some of the region’s earliest examples of folk art. The program will take place in the Fort Pitt Auditorium on the museum’s first floor and is included with museum admission.

Admission Tickets (available at the door)
Adults: $10
Senior Citizens (65+): $8
Students with a valid school ID: $6
Children ages 6-17: $6
Children ages 5 and under: Free
Heinz History Center Members: Free

Meetup Considerations
We'll also have a chance to check out the nearby Fort Pitt Block House which is free.

Depending on the weather, size and interests of the group, and how much time people have, we may also include an option for a group walking tour of nearby public art displays, various galleries, or having dinner/drinks downtown.

As always, it is also fine if you'd like to attend the museum and speaker discussion on your own with family/friends instead.

Parking Here is the ParkPGH website with real-time info on downtown parking garage availability where you can also download apps, get garage availability via text messaging, etc. You can also call 412-423-8980.

Stay tuned for updates!