June recap: 5 Pittsburgh-based artists worth your attention
From large-scale sculptors to textile-based artists, Patrick Fisher has met with an incredible number of Pittsburgh artists and arts organizations who graciously opened their doors to him during his first month as the new CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.
One of Patrick’s first priorities in his new position has been meeting directly with artists to learn how the Arts Council can better help artists thrive. A quick glance at his Instagram and LinkedIn accounts will show just how sincere he is with that mission, and it’s one you can expect to continue.
“I knew before moving here that Pittsburgh is home to a number of thoughtful and talented artists,” Patrick says. “Even in knowing that, I have been surprised by just how large the pool of talent is.”
He says Marimba Milliones, the CEO of the Hill District Community Development Corporation, said it best during a conversation about the artists who live and work in Pittsburgh when she said, “Pittsburgh is a tier-two city with tier-one talent.”
“As a city, we cannot simply claim talent,” Patrick adds. “We have to identify actionable ways to cultivate, support, and sustain it. I am eager to delve into the strategic planning process with the Greater Pittsburgh Art Council’s internal and external stakeholders so we can actively imagine and plan together the investment strategies we must take to ensure that artists in Pittsburgh are properly resourced so that the city can be the best tier-two city for art in process.”
Below, meet five of the artists he’s shared time with during his first 30 days in Pittsburgh. In the months to follow, we’ll share weekly recaps of his visits in this space to bring more awareness to the wide range of impressive artists and arts organizations in our region.
Percy Echols II
Glass Artist
percyechols.com
Percy is the Pittsburgh Glass Center’s resident expert on working with plasma and neon. Working with plasma requires Percy to have an artistic understanding of blown and sculpted glass combined with the alchemical and scientific application of electrified gases and specialized equipment.
Percy began working with glass in 2011 when he took his first glassblowing class at Illinois State University. It was in 2014 that he was introduced to working with plasma while at the Pilchuck Glass School. Percy moved to Pittsburgh in 2016, which is also when he began working with the Pittsburgh Glass Center.
Check out Percy’s podcast, Taming Lightning, if you’re interested in learning more about Percy, glass art, and plasma.
Dee Briggs
Sculpture Artist
deebriggsstudio.com
Dee was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. At the age of 18, she moved to New York City and studied architecture at The City College of New York. Later she earned a Master of Architecture degree from Yale University. Now, she’s based in Pittsburgh and works out of her studio in Lawrenceville.
Dee primarily works in large-scale sculpture. Her work is site specific and she leverages her understanding of architecture to create forms that swoop, rise, and cantilever. As a sculptor, Cor-ten steel is Dee’s preferred material. The material naturally develops a protective, aesthetic coating of rust over time as it weathers the elements.
Max Gonzales and Shane Pilster
Muralists and Teaching Artists
maxgonzales.art and dowhatwelove.com
Max and Shane are very active in the Pittsburgh area. With a background in graffiti, both artists utilize urban arts in various ways to build community. Though neither are originally from Pittsburgh, they both have invested a tremendous amount of sweat equity into the city and its neighborhoods.
In addition to being active artists, Max and Shane are also teaching artists, working with area youth through a number of organizations and initiatives. This includes work at Rivers of Steel, a multi-faceted project located at the historic Carrie Blast Furnaces that seeks to showcase the artistry and innovation of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s industrial and cultural heritage by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.
Rona Chang of Otto Finn
Textile Artist
instagram.com/ottofinn
Rona is a Pittsburgh-based, Taiwanese-born artist who found her creative home in New York City. She attended the Cooper Union School of Art, where she pursued an education in printmaking and photography. Rona’s aesthetic and artistic perspective has been shaped by her bicultural upbringing in Taiwan and NYC.
Rona’s approach to Otto Finn was influenced by her extensive experience working in museum environments and engaging with art collections, as well as her passion for sustainable fashion. Otto Finn showcases textiles that have rich histories and feature bold colors or prints. Through Otto Finn, Rona celebrates the fusion of cultures and the power of textiles to convey narratives and ignite imagination.
Ian Brill
Audiovisual Installation Artist
ianbrill.org
Ian is a Pittsburgh-based new media artist who creates programmatic, performative, audiovisual architecture, artifacts, and designs. His work focuses on the accumulation of form through process. Ian designs, codes, and builds immersive multi-sensorial environments. Through his work, he considers boundaries of becoming (versus being) and our ever present relationship with technology. Ian expertly intertwines scale, beauty, organization, and spectacle.