At Pittsburgh Glass Center, 'The United' exhibition gives window on immigration issues
The organizers of “The United,” opening Oct. 2 at the Pittsburgh Glass Center in Pittsburgh’s East End, want the message to be clear: The pieces explore immigration issues.
“Each artist has a personal story, and we hope people can relate to them and in turn help break down some barriers concerning immigration,” said Heather McElwee, the Pittsburgh Glass Center’s Randi & L. Van V. Dauler Jr. executive director. “We want to create dialogue, and this is not a coincidence that we are launching this one month before the (presidential) election. We want to start a conversation. The more we talk, the more that can help. It’s definitely a timely topic.”
The exhibition will showcase the artwork of 12 artists from the U.S. as well as Belgium, Northern Ireland and Russia. Curated by Johanna Lasner, an artist based in White Rock, Canada, the artists were selected by a jury that included Karla Lamb, a multidisciplinary Chicana poet and artist based in Pittsburgh, and Jaime Guerrero, a Pittsburgh-based glass sculptor and mixed media artist originally from Los Angeles.
“The United” will be on display through Jan. 24, 2021, from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. A maximum of 15 people are allowed in the gallery at a time. It will also be viewable online.
The glass center is partnering with Jewish Family and Community Services in Squirrel Hill. Leslie Aizenman,director, refugee & immigrant services at Jewish Family and Community Services will speak at “The United” opening. There will be link to the Jewish Family and Community Services website on “The United” website and information available for those guests who visit the glass center. There will also be virtual artist talks and glass demonstrations with some of the Jewish Family and Community Services support groups.
Most pieces are made of glass, and some will be for sale.
The exhibition will be set up once the “Art on Fire” auction is complete on Sept. 25, when there will be online event at 7 p.m. with live glass-blowing demonstrations.
“Art on Fire” has more than 100 glass-art items by internationally renowned and emerging artists. Guests can check out the items in person during center hours or online.
Lasner will host an online event at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 for “The United.” She said “the exhibit delves into the question of how critical art may answer to the fabrication of an immigration system that addresses inequality, human rights violations, and exclusion.”
Lasner said she wants the discussions to be informative and she hopes for honest conversations about immigration issues.
“We hope to create opportunities for reflection, dialogue and discovery, where awareness can become a form of resistance and luckily generate new content and propositions for more robust, fair and reality based immigration legislation, which leads towards a more equitable society to improve human dignity, social justice and planetary wellbeing,” Lasner said.
The center was closed March 16 through July 21 because of the pandemic. Since reopening, in addition to “Art on Fire” and “The United,” guests can buy “glass-to-go-kits” to make art at home.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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