ART IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE II - 2009

HONORARY CHAIRPERSON 2009

Nancy (Laney) Rogers Crozier

IN MEMORY OF

Elizabeth (Libby) Hazlett

EVENT CHAIRPERSON 2009

Susannah Calvo

AUCTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2009

• Joseph Bellack,
• Susannah Calvo,
• Jackie Dixon,
• Phil Dymond,
• Carole Higgins,
• William Hoffman, Jr.,
• Diana Kreiling,
• Donna Liberatore,
• Tom Luscombe,
• Suzanne Mahady,
• Betty Ann McHugh,
• Jane McKenzie,
• Mary Moran,
• Gabrielle Nastuck,
• Jim Okonak,
• Michael Philopena,
• Kathy Rafferty,
• Donna Scalise,
• George Shaner,
• Sharon Shepard
• Kathy Sobota,
• Dottie Staffen

2009 SPONSORS

PARKS SPONSOR

• McFeely Rogers Foundation

DEPOT STREET SPONSOR

• Scott & Pam Kroh
• Latrobe Hospital Charitable Foundation
• Quatrini Rafferty
• Seton Hill University

JEFFERSON STREET SPONSOR

• Apollo Design Group
• Kattan-Ferretti Insurance Agency
• Keystone Waterproofing
• John & Sandra Marks
• Mullen Refrigeration
• James R. & Christine W. Okonak
• Richard P. Gibson & Rosemary Kirr Charitable Trust
• Saint Vincent Monastery - Archabbot Douglas Nowicki

3RD ANNUAL SILENT & LIVE AUCTION SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

ART AMONG US UPDATE!

Art among Us, our free community outreach program has taken off once again this Spring. During the month of May, 300 children will walk through the doors of the Latrobe Art Center. The children will range in ages from preschool to eighth grade. The program will last approximately an hour and a half. The children will examine each medium and learn how to tell the difference between them. They will then do a hands-on project that they will be able to take home with them and end the day with a scavenger hunt. Every year the groups increase in quanitity and the children end up having a wonderful experience. The goal of this program is to give children the opportunity to experience first hand that art is alive and well in our neighborhood. If you are interested in taking advantage of this wonderful free community program, please call the Art Center and schedule a time.

BUDDY PROGRAM - A SUCCESS!

Latrobe Art Center is offering a new free community outrech program for children with special needs and physical disabilities. A variety of projects will be offered accrouding to their age, ability level, and interests. Our goal is to provide the children with a chance to express themselves creatively and raise their sel-esteem.

Over the course of the four weeks, the children will have the help of Latrobe Art Center "Buddies" to create art! At the conclusion of the four weeks, a small art show and reception will be held at the art center, free of charge, where the children's work will be displayed for the students, buddies, family members, and public to see. Each child will receive a special art certificate for participating in the program.

Gabi Nastuck, Artistic Director of Latrobe Art Center, is responsible for the creation fo this project.Gabi, along with Seth Rupert (intern), Ellie Brendlinger, Ginny Hutchinson, Doreen Currie, Sue Hrubes, and Linda Monzo are working with the children from Latrobe Elementary Special Needs Class. There are thirteen children rangiing in ages from nine to twelve years old.

 

"They are all entusicastic about art! We have hd two weeks with them so far, and it's so rewarding to watch them and see their eyes light up as they create their own piece of artwork! It makes my day that I can make a difference in theirs," says Gabi.

 

 

The reception for the students will be held on Monday, May 10th, 2010 from 12:30pm - 1:30pm. On your lunch hour, come down to the Art Center, and meet these little budding artists. Their artwork is amazing, and the children are too!

 

 

 

MR. FRED ROGERS FINE ARTS REGIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION

Latrobe Art Center along with Greater Latrobe Art Conservation Trust are proud to announce their first annual juried exhibition.  This juried exhibition gives the artist the opportunity to not only be accepted into the show but to be chosen for consideration into the Greater Latrobe School Systems highly acclaimed Special Art Collections.   

One of the Greater Latrobe School District’s treasures is a unique art collection featuring over 200 paintings; it is the largest one in the United States that is entirely student-selected and, for the most part, student purchased.  The Art Collection began in the Great depression under the leadership of two extraordinary teachers: Mary Martha Hilmer and James R. Beatty and it contains the works of such prominent regional artists; Samuel Roseburg, Roy Hilton, John Kane, Virgil Cantini and Raymond Simboli. 

Since 1936, the Special Art Collection has been a pioneering program for students of the Greater Latrobe School District and the citizens of the Latrobe surrounding area.

Mary Martha Himler, art teacher at Latrobe High School and a recognized regional artist, worried that her students would not be exposed to original art.  She was an enterprising woman so she convinced artists exhibition in the annual show of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh that they should lend works to be brought to Latrobe.  She joined with James R. Beatty each year to present those works as an exhibit to the student body and to the Latrobe community.  The high school students then voted each year to determine what works should be added to the Special Art Collection.  The practice of student voting continues today, 74 years later.  The GLSD Art Conservation Trust, founded in 1991, oversees the art collection and raiser funds for its conservations and exhibitions.

The Latrobe Art Center is thrilled to host the first Mr. Fred Rogers Fine Arts Regional Juried Exhibition. For one month, the gallery will be filled with this show. Sam Berkovitz, of the Concept Gallery in Pittsburgh, will be the Juror for this Exhibition and will award $2,000 worth of prizes.

The Opening Reception and Award Ceremony will be on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. A delightful evening of food, drinks, beautiful artwork, and talentedartists will fill Latrobe Art Center & Rogers Park (weather permitting).

For details about entering the juried exhibition please download the prospectus or call the Art Center at 724.537.7011.

For information about the GLSD Special Collection or to schedule a guided tour, please contact Jessica Golden at 724-539-4220.

Mark September 1, 2010 on your calendar, and join us for an exhibition that is going to be a show stopper!

 

2nd LIMITED EDITION PLATES - NOW AVAILABLE

Latrobe Art Center is excited to announce the commemorative plates for the spring/summer 2nd limited edition.

Kathy Rafferty's oil painting of St. Vincent Basilica was chosen along with Sharon Yoder's watercolor painting entitled Spring Awakening.

Each eight inch ceramic plate has been signed by the artist, numbered, and dated. It comes with it's own stand and is only $25.00.

Come into the art center today to keep your collection growing. It's a striking piece of art! This is a perfect gift for Mother's Day or Graduation!

PAINTIN' IN THE RAIN

Latrobe Art Center's Gallery Members have been hard at work painting umbrellas. Local Latrobe Artist, Susan Hrubes, came up with this great Spring fundraiser idea, "What a wonderful way to support the local Latrobe ARt Center. These umbrellas will put a smile on your face even on the rainiest of days."

On Thursday afternoon, during Open STudio, artists create wonderful works of art on adult and children's umbrellas. "Umbrellas are scattered everywhere, it's such a fun afternoon seeing the artists's come up with such unique creative designs. Our front window is filled with umbrellas and we even have them hanging from the ceiling as you walk in the gallery. We cannot keep the umbrellas in stick!" says Gabi Nastuck, Artistic Director.

The waterproof umbrellas are $35.00 for the adult and $25.00 for the children's size. They can be purchased at the Center and at Rose Style Shop on Ligonier Street.

We just got another shipment of pocket umbrellas featuring five different colors; red, blue, green, black,and pink. They fold right up into your purse! These umbrellas are $25 a piece.

If you would like to special order a design on your umbrellas you can call or come into the Center. "We have had almost 10 requests and the demands just keep on coming! It would make a wonderful gift for that certain someone who has everything!"

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to the dedicated artists who have turned an ordinary umbrellas into a beautiful piece of artwork!

Judy Bazzone, Ellie Brendlinger, Dorren Currie, Shari Davis, Joyce Gazdick, Christine Gilotty, Sue Hrubes, Dolly Lynch, Linda Monzo, Carole McCray, Peg Panasiti, Kathy Rafferty, Jan Sabatos, Eileen Stoner, and Sharon Yoder.

THERE'S A NEW NEIGHBOR IN TOWN!! COMING SOON TO LATROBE ART CENTER - COFFEE BEAN NEIGHBORHOOD CAFE!!

LATROBE, Pennsylvania, April 1, 2010 – Another exciting announcement from the Latrobe Community Revitalization Program (LCRP) —The Coffee Bean Neighborhood Café will open this spring in downtown Latrobe inside the Latrobe Art Center located on the corner of Main & Ligonier Streets. 

Three very successful Coffee Bean Cafes are located along Route 30 in Latrobe, Greensburg, and Irwin.  Owner Dale Personett is known for his unique, house blend coffees, caffe lattes, and espresso.  “We are thrilled that Dale has decided to open a Coffee Bean Café in downtown Latrobe!  This will be a wonderful addition to our downtown--and to have the café located inside the Latrobe Art Center is an added plus!  What a special atmosphere!  Customers can relax and enjoy a robust cup of coffee while being surrounded by fabulous artwork of over 80 local artists.  The Latrobe Art Center features paintings, sculptures, handmade jewelry, stained glass, pottery, fabric arts, woodworking, photography, hand painted cards, and homemade pillows,” commented Annette Couch, Director of the Latrobe Community Revitalization Program. 

Gabrielle “Gabi” Nastuck, Administrative & Artistic Director of the Latrobe Art Center remarked, “The Latrobe Art Center is thrilled and very excited to have this new addition.  This is exactly what our “neighborhood” needs.  We will be working side by side with the Coffee Bean to make this a very unique place to be.  The Neighborhood Café will also be open when we have special events, receptions, workshops, classes, and open-mic nights.  Latrobe Art Center is a most accommodating place to host showers, luncheons, club meetings, and more.  The options are endless and the Neighborhood Café is available! 

Close your eyes and imagine sitting at one of our bistro tables, checking email while sipping your coffee and eating a luscious piece of cheesecake.  You are surrounded by beautiful artwork, the aroma of the coffee is amazing, and the acoustic music playing in the background is so relaxing.  It’s a great escape from your busy, hectic day in the neighborhood.  And most importantly, when you come in to the Neighborhood Café, we will always make you feel extra special!” 

Barbara H. Nakles, Chair of the Greater Latrobe School District’s Art Conservation Trust, had this to say, “We remember that when to walk in downtown Latrobe meant that we would meet everyone we knew.  We would stop and talk and catch up on all the important and unimportant things in our lives.  The Latrobe Art Center has brought back a little of those days.  Now, with the Coffee Bean Neighborhood Cafe at the Center, it will bring back more.  Coffee, conversation, community—all in a beautiful and inspiring setting—means the corner of Main and Ligonier is alive again!” 

Take a walk, take a stroll through downtown Latrobe and visit our new neighbor—The Coffee Bean Neighborhood Café!  Coming this spring! 

“Our ultimate goals are to enhance Latrobe’s downtown appearance, increase foot traffic throughout downtown Latrobe and retain or recruit business to our area.  With the recent kick off of Latrobe’s Façade Improvement Program along with the ongoing Lloyd Avenue Gateway Improvement Project, and our Redd Up Latrobe Project, we believe that we are making tremendous strides,” said Couch.

LATROBE ART CENTER WELCOMES JOYCE WERIE PERRY!

On Saturday, March 13th, Latrobe Art Center welcomed renowned Pittsburgh artist, Joyce Werie Perry.  Joyce taught an oil workshop using her award winning original knife technique.  Joyce Werwie Perry is the owner of le Poire, a fine art studio and gallery located in the heart of Crafton near the West end of Pittsburgh.  Joyce has won numerous awards in regional and national exhibitions and has recently been awarded the prestigious honor of a solo exhibition in October 2010 at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art by Barbara Jones, Curator.  Joyce is a member and former Vice President/Exhibitions Co-Chair of The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh and has over 110 works in private and public collections nationally. 

Joyce taught a total of twelve students for the one day workshop held at the Center.  She began the workshop with a brief lecture on the advantages of the technique and a look at examples of her work.  After demonstrating the technique she gave each individual personalized attention throughout the day.  Students learned how to observe their subjects in a new way and loosen up with texture, rhythm and movement as well as vivid harmonious color.  In turn this would take them to the next level by bringing expression into their painting.  Using a few knives that were provided by Joyce, they learned how to manipulate paint by adding and subtracting, incising and transferring soft, buttery oils on the canvas.

Joyce states, “Exploring the mystery of human existence and recording how we relate to oneanother as human beings is the force behind my work.  The texture and contrast of color in the paintings is achieved through the rapid application and detraction of oil with knives – a technique I developed in my endeavor to add immediacy and freshness to the work.  Extreme variations of texture accomplished through the manipulation of the paint enables me to inject emotion and empathy for the subject.  Although my work is always transforming, the need to portray the human condition remains constant, and my desire to pull emotion from the viewer vital.”

The students had a very successful day with Joyce and hopes that she will return again in the near future.