There were a lot of great photos from this very hot, fun, and exhausting day, so this is the first of two installments.

Here’s Elias Khouri and his dad Najeeb.  Elias just turned 14 and has been playing guitar for a year and a half.  This was his first public performance, and he’s pretty amazing.

This is Karen Lillis, writer and organizer of Small Press Pittsburgh,

Jeffrey Krusl, with Jude Vachon, saying hello,

Florence Smith, of Djoi Designs, with her wonderful jewelry and accessories,

Aubrey and Kazzy had terrariums, among other things,

Joe Holtz, who has been at the festival every year since it began,

Garick Tai-Lee and Charlie Alessi with their ceramics, here with a visit from a mobile art project,

Jabari Mason (and the gorgeous Mrs. Mason) has also come back every year,

The Mobile Sculpture Workshop came back with their welding setup and art-in-progress,

Volunteers from Assemble, with art activities,

Elizabeth Monian of Land Art Generator Initiative,

Little House Big Art,

Carnegie Library, who have also joined us every year,

The Hills and the Rivers — such a great band,

There were lots of kids, and ices, of course,

And we’ll be back soon with the rest of the photos!

(All photos by Leslie Clague)

We’ve got some great organizations and individuals bringing free art activities, demonstrations, and projects to the festival!

The Mobile Sculpture Workshop, a pilot program of the Industrial Arts Co-op, will begin building their second major sculpture at the festival. The sculpture will be designed by eight local area youth, and its on-going construction will be displayed at various events over the summer.

The Mobile Sculpture Workshop was created by the Industrial Arts Co-op as a summer workshop aimed at demonstrating the techniques of safe and proper welding and metal fabrication to Pittsburgh-area youth grades 9-12. Eight sculpture apprentices have been chosen, along with three alternates, to help construct a large-scale sculpture for public display and installation in the Hazelwood area. You can learn more about the Mobile Sculpture Workshop by visiting their website and following their Facebook page.

Little House, Big Art

Little House, Big Art is a unique art and craft studio on the Northside where kids, adults and everyone in between can come in and make stuff in guided projects or in an open studio. The activities they are bringing to the festival include some paintables (canvas panels, wooden picture frames, and wooden snakes) and stuff for plastic and wood beading.

Carnegie Library

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will lead a Gardening Gloves activity at the event and provide materials from its Music, Film and Audio Collection for check out with your library card.

45 Days of Sleepwatch

45 Days of Sleepwatch
In March of 2015, Laura Zurowski found a series of 45 poems posted to Craigslist Missed Connections. Titled “Sleepwatch,” each poem explores the common symbols and themes that infuse our dreams. In this interactive project, visitors can read the original Sleepwatch poems, learn about the meanings of various dream elements, and create and share their own piece of writing or artwork in response.

Assemble

Assemble, a community space for arts and technology in Garfield, will bring an interactive kids crafting activity and information about its free and low-cost STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) youth programs.   This is their third year at the festival.  We haven’t heard what they’ll be doing this year, but it’s sure to be fun!  (Photo from 2013 Polish Hill Arts Festival)

Land Art Generator Initiative

Land Art Generator Initiative will provide drop-in workshop activities that invite people of all ages to think about renewable energy and sustainable cities through the lens of art. Visitors will learn about the LAGI 2016 STEAM Prize and how to participate.

At the LAGI table will be images of large-scale public artwork proposals from past LAGI design competitions. Also on hand will be innovative renewable energy technologies (third-generation thin films and organic photovoltaics, etc.) that kids can play with and learn about. A station will be set up that will take kids through the design process and give them the tools they need to draw their ideas of an artwork for the city that can provide clean electricity. STEAM Prize flyers will be free to take away, providing all the information that kids and parents will need to be a part of it (opens on August 15).

LAGI Books and field guides will allow kids to look up more information about technologies and see additional examples of artwork proposals. Art+Energy Flash Cards will be available for kids to use and to take away.

Visitors will also get a sneak peek at the WindNest public artwork with desktop motel and prototype.

Here’s the next installment of the vendor previews!  Jason Bartlett returns with his evocative watercolor paintings.

The ladies of Siren Studio have an eclectic output, each with her own style.  Here’s Amanda Synpweic,

Jamie Miller,

… and Monica Cervone:

Guglielmo Botter lives in Italy, but has family ties in Pittsburgh and has been visiting here each summer, making pen and ink drawings of the city.  Learn more about Guglielmo and his work here.

Elizabeth Klaczak will bring her handmade soaps and bath products.

Candace Davis and Seth McBurney will have multi-media crafts, including planters, garments, and drawings.  They also collaborated to create the poster for this year’s festival!

Jordon Milchak of On the Skids, will have his t-shirts and designs. Check out more work here.

Trileodeon is the multi-media work of the very talented Niffer Desmond.  In her words, her work includes “awakening arts, learning toys, healing tools, inspiring apparel, eco conscious home decor”.  Learn more on her website, and see more of her work in her Etsy shop.

Jude Vachon will have reusable tote bags, envelope clutches,  bike streamers, fabric headbands, and more.

Sharing a table with Jude will be printmaker Jeffrey Krusl.  See more of Jeffrey’s work here, and learn about his art practice here.