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Artifex Proposal #1: Mission Street Bridge Project

Reposted Insights

This draft report was furnished in the discussions to re-open the now closed ice rink facility. Of course, the draft can change and no association between the site and the contents here exist, other than to acclerate community discussions.

Artifex is an alliance of eclectic, like-minded individuals who believe that a commitment to supporting the work of local artists enables these community members to serve as mentors, educators and contributors to the culture and economy of Pittsburgh. The goal of Artifex is to create an accessible, cross-generational community center that inspires every member of the Pittsburgh public by allowing them to take part in a variety of innovative and inclusive arts experiences.

The Artifex community center will provide performance, rehearsal and teaching spaces for projects related to the visual arts, dance, theater, and music. In addition, community-oriented activities, such as community gardens, arts festivals, and farmers' markets will create a unique common ground for people from all demographics. Projects and experiences like these, with their foundation in education and the arts, can empower people to grow and to pursue their personal goals while instilling a sense of community among groups that may otherwise be unrelated.

To achieve its goal, Artifex recognizes the need for adequate land and space for the community center to accommodate people and their projects; this space must be utilitarian and flexible, to adapt to the changing needs of the community and its interests. After surveying the area, Artifex is confident that the location formerly known as the Neville Ice Arena, at the end of 21st Street on the South Side of Pittsburgh, possesses the necessary characteristics for the center. The organization feels that this large plot of land, nestled snugly into the South Side ÏslopesÓ and vacant since February 2001, is ideal for the type and number of activities Artifex hopes to support, promote and cultivate. The location's proximity to downtown (situated along the 51C, 53C and 54C bus routes) allows for an easily accessible recreation area for the community. Additionally, informal polling and support of petitions indicate that beautification of the area and use of the land for this type of community center are ideas amenable to South Side residents.

Pittsburgh currently finds itself at an artistic crossroads.

Many local theater and dance companies have been evicted from their spaces because of budget and funding shortfalls. The city's musicians, poets and performers have to deal with the ever changing club scene, which is plagued by closings, relocations, and theme changes, leaving them with few venues to play. Furthermore, the arts must compete with more mainstream and more lucrative industries, including sports and mass media entertainment.

The Pittsburgh community is left asking "Where is the art?"

Through federal funding, grants, donations, memberships and revenue from programs and performances, Artifex will be able to offer these groups a viable and cost-effective space for rental, rehearsal, performance and appreciation of the Pittsburgh arts scene. After initial redevelopment costs, Artifex and the community center building will become self-sustaining and will eventually generate a surplus, which can then finance additional arts-based projects around the city.

In addition, a center of this size and with its roots in the arts will give Pittsburgh's youth a safe haven to convene with friends, mentors and educators in a controlled, educational and artistic environment. Artifex plans to work closely with elected student volunteers to create an environment where young people will want to be involved and participate.

Similar centers (The Neutral Zone in Ann Arbor, Michigan) have had great success in promoting projects dedicated to youth programs such as hosting on-site programs such as art contests, poetry readings, and live music entertainment.

Further, by working closely with local art groups, including (but not limited to):

Theater groups such as

Through a rotating stage rental system, each of these organizations and groups will have the opportunity to present their vision to the people of Pittsburgh

Clearly, by aligning with other civic-minded groups that are well known both locally and nationally, including City Parks, Western PA Conservancy, Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America, and utilizing city volunteer programs the Artifex community center can tap into some incredibly valuable existing resources, while creating new opportunities.

By working closely with all these different organizations we can make this project happen, and help Pittsburgh become a creatively prosperous city.

Without having access to the location, Artifex has put together a limited plan for the space and how the group plans to utilize the building. Programs will include those designed to establish a daily destination for young students (ages 19 and under who make up 14 percent of the South Side population) and for seniors (age 65 and over who make up 20 percent of the South Side population) as well as curricula intended to appeal to the 20 to 40-year-old population, giving all a venue to hear local music, space to see dislocated theater and dance companies, gallery space featuring the works of local and national artists, and classrooms for artists to teach their crafts. Through these programs, the Pittsburgh community will have a more well rounded student body coming up through schools and universities, as well as a work force that is better able to propose creative solutions and to work in concert. The center will become an activity and mentoring center for the area's naturally occurring retirement community, while offering an alternative gathering place for the city's young people, one not reliant on alcohol or sports. Realizing their neighbors are valuable cultural resources and friends, young people will be more likely to remain in the area once they've finished school.

Interacting with members of the community encourages a better appreciation for the various neighborhoods and for the city, itself. The center is intended to become a ÏhubÓ for creative thinking, while facilitating a common ground for interaction between disparate members of the community. With one central base for different forms of art, the populous will enjoy a less fractured, and therefore, better-organized, more productive, and more accessible arts community.

Projects for this plot of land include, but are not limited to:

Dance Studios

two depending on space limitations, that will individually require: mirrored walls on one side; 50'x30' danceable area; smooth wood or marley flooring; tumbling mats/gym mats; ballet bars along non-mirrored walls; three stand-alone, mobile, balance bars to equal 20ft in length and a sufficient heating source.

Stage

that will occupy the majority of the existing ice rink area. Versatile.

Gallery

comprising the remaining space of the existing ice rink area.

Pottery Shed

that will occupy the garage space currently located at back of building; this area will require: kiln; two potters' wheels; shelving; utility sink with hot/cold running water; adequate ventilation system; at least one sturdy table, 5'x10'; barrels for storage; various types of clay and clay utensils.

Dark Room

that will occupy a lower level room requiring: plenty of ventilation and drainage; two image enlargers; chemicals, including developer, fixer, etc.; refrigerator; film drying closet; light table; utility sinks with hot/cold running water. (Enlargers will be donated by SDEsign.)

Coffeeshop

that will occupy the front portion of existing building, the concrete area formerly used as the snack bar, and will require: food preparation and/or refrigerated storage capabilities; computers with internet access; big screen television; sound system and jukebox featuring local music; book shelves and donated literature; donated board games, foosball, pinball, and pool table; couches, chairs and tables.

Community Gardens

located in the surrounding acreage that require: lighting for footpaths, etc; plant bulbs; yard and gardening tools, including fencing and hardware; will provide volunteering opportunities for Western PA Conservancy, 4-H, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America and local school and church organizations as well as individually maintained garden plots.

Textile Workshop

that will occupy spaces in the existing building and will require: one large loom; two small looms for teaching; various yarn and fabric supplies.

Glassblowing Workshop

that will occupy available, outdoor, space and will require: a 24-hour kiln; materials and tools; utility sinks and running water.

Metalworking Shop

that will occupy the back of existing building, where generators are currently located; Edinboro College is selling all its metalworking supplies to make room for upgraded materials, which would allow the center to purchase the needed equipment at a fraction of the current market cost.

Classrooms

within each of the aforementioned spaces.

The Artifex community center has the potential to become many things to many people: a performance space for a struggling theater company; a gathering place for young people who want to nurture their creativity; a ballroom space for area seniors who want the world to know that they are still valuable, viable members of the community; a garden spot for apartment-bound parents who want to show their children how things grow; an amphitheater where members of the community can listen to a jazz group play under the stars on a breezy summer night. As it grows to become these things, the center can become so much more; it can become the soul of the arts community in Pittsburgh.

APPENDIX

A.1

Artifex is a non-profit organization that was conceived in July 2002 with the specific mission of creating an accessible community center out of the abandoned Neville Ice Arena at the end of 21st street. The original incorporators include:

Sean D. Enright

is the President and co-founder of yawp Magazine, INC., a print literary journal based in Pittsburgh since 1999, and producer of the yawp Carnival Poetica. A Boston native, Sean is an award-winning photographer, who has worked locally for the Carnegie Signal Item, Bridgeville Area News and Cranberry Journal. He is also an accomplished poet, who has read his work throughout Pittsburgh, including an appearance at the April 2002 FLUX! His poetry has been published in The Wittenberg Review of Literature and Art (Springfield, OH), Do or Donut (Ann Arbor Michigan), Lucid Moon (New Jersey), Real Food ÎZine (Pittsburgh, PA), as well as in a collection titled ÏOver Responding MonsterÓ printed by Alpha Beat Press (New Hope, PA). Sean manages and promotes local music, including popular jazz-sex-pop band Salena Catalina, serves as manager for Caf» Allegro restaurant, and is the art designer for Club Caf», both on the Southside.

Joseph Stile

graduated from Point Park College with a degree in Theatre from the College's Conservancy of Performing Arts. Joe is a member of a national non-profit organization called The Borderless Puzzle Project. He is an accomplished actor, who has performed with Pittsburgh-based Provoke Theater, Immersion Theater and the Point Park Repertory Company, and has appeared in a number of local independent film projects.

Chris Colpo

is a Pittsburgh native who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Studio Arts and Natural Sciences. He is currently the manager for Mad Mex Restaurant in Oakland. A prominent member of the Pittsburgh music scene, Chris is the drummer for Salena Catalina, recently named one of WYEP's top ten local bands of 2002.

Richard Gartner

attended Duquesne University, where he earned a degree in music, percussion, and a NASB Finance certificate. His previous experience with non-profit organizations includes developing an advertising package for Allentown Symphony Orchestra, and managing volunteer workers during the orchestra's summer concert series. He currently works for a Washington, DC based CPA firm whose focus is labor organizations. He also performs with Meade Street Jazz, Unspunt Orchestra, Allison Wonderland, John Holt Productions and Soma Mestizo.

Tracy Kephart

studied chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University and spent many years doing grant and technical writing before beginning her foray into the high-tech world. She is currently a consultant in database, system and network administration. Tracy has fostered a lifelong love of dance and the arts and is an active performer, teacher, volunteer and supporter of the arts.

Rachel M. Perrone

received a degree in interdisciplinary studies, with a focus on media studies, from Miami University. She has participated in workshops on ethical leadership, professional development, networking, mentoring, and advocacy, and has studied at the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership, Young Women's Leadership Retreat. Rachel was a Legislative Aide for the Allegheny County Council. During her tenure, she was the primary contact for all Council media/public relations, responsible for creation and dissemination of press releases, op-ed pieces, etc. Rachel developed and expanded contact with local media and was also responsible for drafting legislation and committee reports. She is currently working toward her master's degree in liberal studies, with a focus on public policy, at Duquesne University with an anticipated graduation date of summer 2003.

Tracey Emberg

moved back to Pittsburgh in 1991, and attended Duquesne University where she played the part of Linda Christie in Woody Allen's Play It Again Sam, and the villain in the children's play, The Planet of the Perfectly Awful People. While attending the University of Pittsburgh the following year, she played lead roles in both Richard Ford's American Tropical and in the premier of Joyce Carol Oates The Secret Mirror. During this same time, she became involved with Friday Nite Improvs, and eventually become the co-coordinator and treasurer of the group, in addition to taking an active part in the weekly shows. She was also secretary and a first-generation member of the Susquehanna Hat Company. Tracey is currently assistant leader of Brownie Troop #98 in Carrick, PA.

Douglas Duerring is the owner/designer/technician for Nostromo Sound & Light. He is an award-winning lighting designer, who has been involved in Pittsburgh theatre for the past 10 years. Douglas toured with Cirque Du Soleil on their North America performance of Dralion. Doug also worked on the sound and lights for the Sept. 11th Tribute in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, for President Bush. He recently acted as sound and light engineer for the Southside's Tiki Lounge and Lava Lounge. Douglas is currently working for Club Med, Bahamas.

John Fischer

began studying Ballet in 1972, as a child, under Audrey Trogenofsky. He was later accepted into the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. During his time there, he earned a full scholarship to the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts. Immediately following his experience at the Governor's School, he entered Point Park College's dance program. Following his college career, he lived and studied in New York under Gabriella Darvash (formerly of the Kirov ballet in Leningrad), and in Chicago, (with the South Chicago Ballet). His credits include: Romeo & Juliet; Les Sylpheds; Rite of Spring; The Nutcracker; and The 7 Deadly Sins. Most recently, John was in Pulse, here in his native Pittsburgh. He is currently studying under Manseur Kamaletdinov, the former artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow.

Michael Callery

recently returned to Pittsburgh after 30 years in New York City, where his activities ranged from building scenery for East Side Theatre Arts (a non-professional opera company), to teaching multimedia at New York University's Graduate School of Education. His major interest is theatre, and he hopes to work to bring performance artists and theatrical productions to existing and new theater audiences.

A.2

South Side Demographics (Flats & Slopes) (census tracts ....

Chart missing.

A.3

Names collected at informal petitioning at the polls November 5th, 2002, Market House, South Side, were nuked.

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