NEWS	
  RELEASE	  	  	  Contact:	  	  Stephanie	  Sun,	  Marketing	  Manager	  ssun@contemporarycraft.org	  412.261.7003	  x29	  www.contemporarycraft.org	  	  	  CONTEMPORARY	  CRAFT	  EXPLORES	  ISSUES	  OF	  SHELTER,	  REFUGE,	
  AND	  PROTECTION	  IN	  NEW	  EXHIBITION	  An	  innovative	  and	  socially	  engaged	
  art	  experience	  free	  of	  charge	  in	  the	  Strip	  District	  EXHIBITION	  HIGHLIGHTS:	  Free	
  admission	  Free	  hands-­‐on	
  making	  activity	
  in	  the	  Drop-­‐in	
  Studio	  14	  artists	  40	  +	  works	  of	  art	  Companion	  exhibitions	  and	  programs	  8	  Community	
  Partners	  Studio	  Workshops	  	  	  EXHIBITION	
  DETAILS:	  DATES:	  September	  8,	  2017	  –	  February	  17,	  2018	
  PLACE:	  Contemporary	  Craft	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  2100	  Smallman	  Street	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  Pittsburgh,	
  PA	  15222	  TIME:	  Monday	
  –	
  Saturday,	  10	  AM	  –	  5	  PM	  ADMISSION:	  Free	  WEBSITE:	  www.exploremindfulart.com	  FACEBOOK:	
  facebook.com/SCCPgh	  Twitter:	  @SCCPgh	  INSTAGRAM:	  @SCCpgh	  Hashtag:	  CraftingaSafeHome	
  Pittsburgh,	  PA	  –	  June	
  6,	  2017	  	  Shelter	
  is	
  universally	  identified	  as	  a	  basic	
  human	  right,	  yet	  refuge	  and	  protection	
  are	  out	  of	  reach	  for	  millions	  worldwide.	  To	  bring	
  this	  subject	  to	  light,	  Contemporary	  Craft	  (CC)	  presents,	  Shelter:	  Crafting	  a	  Safe	  Home,	
  a	  socially	  engaged	  art	  experience	  that	  focuses	
  public	
  attention	  on	  the	  basic	  human	
  need	  for	  safe	  housing.	  The	  exhibition	  opens	
  on	  Friday,	  September	
  8,	
  2017	
  and	  will	  be	  on	  view	  through	  Saturday,	  February	  17,	  2018	
  at	  CC’s	  Strip	  District	
  gallery	
  located	
  in	
  the	
  Produce	  Terminal	
  at	  the	  intersection	  of	  21st	  and	  Smallman	  Streets.	  	  	  

A	  Forum	  for	  Artists	  to	  Share	  Thoughts	  on	  Social	  Justice	  Issues	  Through	  Art	  Featuring	  more	
  than	  40	  works	  of	  art	  in	  diverse	  craft	  media	  by	  14	  contemporary	
  artists,	  Shelter	  explores	  the	  increasing	  public	  concerns	  on	  housing	  insecurity	  and	  displacement,	
  and	  how	
  the	  arts	  can	  encourage	  positive	  self-­‐expression	
  and	  to	  guide	  thoughtful	  conversations.	  The	  exhibition	  examines	  creative	  responses	  to	  difficult	  topics	  through	  the	  inclusion	
  of	  artworks	  that	  convey	  personal	  stories	  and	
  experiences	  to	  demonstrate	  the	  local	  and	
  worldwide	  impact	
  insecure	  housing	  has	
  on	  individuals	  and	
  the	  society.	  	  	  The	  exhibition	
  highlights	
  a	  variety	  of	  techniques	  and	  forms,	  including	
  Innovative	  art	  expressions	  rooted	  in	  traditional	
  craft	  materials	  such	
  as	  glass,	
  wood,	  fiber,	
  and	  clay,	
  as	  well	  as	  work	  that	
  incorporates	  found	
  objects	  	  Page	
  1	  of	  5	  	  	  to	  explore	  unexpected	  relationships	  between	
  craft	  and	  the	  inherited	  history	  within	
  objects,	  and	  installation	  art.	  The	  visionary,	  poetic,	
  and	
  experiential	  potential	  of	  art	  will	
  enable	  the	  visitors	  to	  see,	  feel,	  and	  understand	  the	  need	  for	  stable	  housing	  and	  be	  moved	  to	  become	  part	
  of	  the	  solution.	  
	  • Holly	
  Grace	
  is	  an	  Australian	
  glass	  artist	  based	  in	  Melbourne,	  Victoria.	  During	  her	  education	  as	  a	  glassmaker	  and	  artist,	  she	
  travelled	  to	  Scandinavia	  many	  times.	  It	  was	
  in	  Denmark	  and	
  Sweden	  that	  she	  began	  to	  look	  and	  observe	  the	  landscape;	  drawn	
  to	
  the	  soft	  transitions	  of	  color	  that	
  are	  different	
  from	  the	  intense	  bright	  light	  in	  Western	  Australia.	  It	  is	  also	  during	  this	  time	  that	  Grace	  started	  incorporating	  photographic	  documentation	  of	  the	  landscape	  in	  her	  work.	
  	  	
  Glass	  is	  Grace’s	  lens	  to	  explore	
  the	  complexity	
  of	  the	  natural	  world.	  Glass	
  is	  used	  as	  a	  surface	
  for	  Holly	  Grace.	  Round	  Mountain	  Hut,	
  2016.	  Blown	  glass,	  kiln	
  formed	  translating	
  light,	  creating	  landscapes	  both	  real	  and	
  and	  silver	  stain	  with	  integrated	  LED	
  light.	  7.5”	  x	  14”	  x	  8”.	  
imagined,	  internal	  and	  external.	  “I	  grew	  up	  in	  Photo:	  David	  McArthur	  of	  Parallax	  Photography.	  
Perth,	  Australia,	  a	  city	  of	  extreme	  isolation	  where	
  nature	  is	  a	  beautiful,	  yet	  harsh	  reality... By	  immersing	  myself	
  in	  nature	  I	  seek	
  to	  find	  a	  retreat	  –	  a	  shelter	  from	  the	  day-­‐to-­‐day	  of	  human	  existence,	  placing	  me	  within	
  an	  environment	  that	  is	  both	  foreign	
  but	
  completely	
  natural.”	  	  • Pittsburgh-­‐based	  designer	  and	  artist	  Seth	  Clark	  explores	  deteriorating	  architecture	  to	  find	  the	  dignifying	  energy	  that	  tries	  to	  escape	  the	  history	  of	  abandonment.	  Clark	  creates	  collage	  and	  sculpture	  by	  combining	
  wood,	  fiber,	  and	  paper	  with	  found	  materials.	  He	  draws	  inspiration	  from	  structures	
  that	  were	  designed	  to	  be	  permanent,	  but	  have	  been	
  challenged,	
  destroyed,	  and	  forgotten.	  Clark’s	
  first	  series	  “Abandoned”	
  consisted	  of	  images	  of	  houses	
  that	  had	  been	  abandoned	  in	  Detroit.	
  Clark	
  was	  attracted	  to	  them	  because	  they	  were	  once	  lived	  in	  and	  loved	  by	  families	  and	  individuals.	  The	  structures	
  had	  history	  and	  Clark	  wanted	  to	  preserve	  those	  images	  and	  emotions.	  “I	  see	  an	
  inherent	  honesty	  in	  the	  face	  of	  my	  subject.	  Among	  all	  of	  the	  clutter	
  –	  the	  shards	  of	  wood	  and	  layers	  of	  rubble	  –	  there	  remains	  a	  gentle	  resolve.	  As	  I	  work,	  I	  study	  these	  structures	  incessantly.	
  The	
  buildings,	  often	  on	  the	  brink	  of	  ruin,	  have	  something	  very	  energized	  and	  present	  trying	  to	  escape	  from	  their	  fragmented	  reality.”	
  	  	  • As	  a	  seasoned	  filmmaker	  in	  Pittsburgh,	  Chris	  Ivey	  has	  been	  documenting,	
  exploring,	  and	  addressing	  local	  residents’	  fears	
  about	  gentrification.	
  His	  documentaries	
  captured	  the	  essence	  of	  community	
  change	  and	  brought	  out	  the	  pressing	  public	  issues	  on	  displacement,	
  neighborhood	
  violence,	  and	  race	  and	  class.	
  “Everyone	  needs	  to	  have	  their	
  voice	  heard.	  You’re	  not	  going	  to	  agree	  with	
  everybody,	  but	  everybody	  has	  to	  be	  heard	  for	
  the	  dialogue	  to	  start.”	  	  	  	  Page	  2	  of	  5	  	  	  • Studio	  jeweler	  and	  assistant	
  professor	  at	  the	  Lamar	  Dodd	  School	  of	  Art	  at	  University	  of	  Georgia,	  	
  Demitra	  Thomloudis,	  has	  worked	  on	  The	  Houston	  Yellow	  Tape	  Project	  from	  August	  2013	  to	  August	  2014.	  This	  yearlong	  project	
  consists	
  of	  documentation	  of	  ten	  residential	  homes	  demolished	  within	  the	  two-­‐block	  radius	
  of	  Thomloudis’	
  home	  in	  Houston,	  Texas	  and	  ten	  pieces	
  of	  jewelry	  created	
  from	  remnants	  found	  at	  each	  home’s	  demolition	  site.	  “Formed	  by	  remnants	  collected	  from	  these	  individual	  sites,	  the	  jewelry	  captures	  both	  a	  collective	  and	  an	  individual	  identity	  and	
  preserves	  a	  fragment	  of	  what	  no	  longer	
  exists.	
  The	  jewelry	
  in	  Houston	  Yellow	  Tape	  Project	  physically	  embodies	  a	  singular,	  discarded	  moment	  during	  the	  sprawling	  of	  the	  city.”	
  	  	  	  • Kathryn	  Clark	  explores	  global	
  issues	  ranging	  from	  the	  	  
	  foreclosure	  crisis	  in	  the	  United	  States	  to	  international	
  border	  controls.	  Clark’s	  work	  questions	  the	  pattern	  and	  scale	  of	  human	  manipulation	  on	  plants	  and	  the	  long-­‐term	
  implications	  it	  has	  on	  our	
  environment,	  society,	  and	
  economics.	  The	  narratives	  and	  images	  are	  hand	
  embroidered	  on	  textiles,	  creating	  historical	  documents	  of	  our	
  times.	  “Inspired	  by	  the	  historical	  storyboard	  of	  the	  Bayeux	  Tapestry,	  Refugee	  Stories	  is	  a	  series	  of	  embroidery	
  panels	
  that	  follow	  the	  journey	
  of	  the	  Syrian	  refugees	  into	  Europe.	
  The	  monumental	  scale	  of	  the	  crisis,	  the	  second	  largest	  mass	  migration	  in	  history,	  is	  documented	  in	  various	  points	  along	  the	  refugees’	  journey	  out	  of	  Syria	  and	  into	  Western	
  Europe.”	  	
  Crafting	  a	  New	  Home	  Kathryn	  Clark.	  By	  Sea,	  2016.	  Hand	  embroidery	  on	  black	  taffeta	  and	  cotton	  voile.	  62”	  x	  	  48”.	  

Following	  the	  significant	  impact	  of	  CC’s	  2016	  social	
  justice-­‐centered	  exhibition	
  Mindful:	  Exploring	  Mental	  Health	  Through	  Art,	
  the	  organization	  continues	
  to	  explore	  the	  pressing	  societal	  issues	  that	  affect	  our	  changing	  community.	  Through	  important	  community	  partnerships	  with	  social	
  service	  organizations	
  such	  as	  the	  Allegheny	  County	  Department	  of	  Human	  Services,	  Homeless	
  Children’s	  Education	
  Fund,	  Women’s	  Center	  &	  Shelter	  of	  Greater	  Pittsburgh,	  and	  more,	  CC	  ensures	  the	  exhibition	  is	  connected	  to	  the	  community	  in	  a	  meaningful,	  genuine	  way.	  	  	  A	  series	  of	  events	  and	  weekend	  activities	
  that	  provides	  opportunity	  to	  dive	  deeper	  into	  the	  conversation	  regarding	  homelessness	  and	  housing	  insecurity	  are	  planned	  throughout	  the	  run	  of	  the	  exhibition.	  Lectures,	  artist	  talks,	  Saturday	
  Information	  Sessions	  with	  community	  partners,	  gallery	  tours,	  and	  Studio	
  workshops	  allow	  visitors	  to	  connect	  with	  the	  exhibiting	
  artists	  and	  respond	  to	  their	
  art.	  Resources	  such	  as	  a	  free,	  online	  teacher’s	
  curriculum	  guide	  and	  a	  full-­‐color	  catalogue	  further	
  complement	  the	  exhibition.	  CC’s	  Drop-­‐In	
  Studio	  (free	  and	  open	  to	  the	  public	  during	  regular	  business	  hours)	  will	  feature	
  a	  hands-­‐on,	  art-­‐making	
  activity	
  appropriate	  for	  visitors	  of	  all	  ages	  and	
  skill-­‐levels	  designed	  by	  one	  of	  the	  exhibition	
  artists.	
  	  	  Page	  3	  of	  5	  	  	  	  Group	
  tours	  for	  Shelter	  will	
  include	  guided	  activities	  for	  participants	  to	  explore	
  embroidery	  techniques	  and	  to	  create	  fabric	  squares	  inspired	  by	  their	  own	  home	  and	  what	  home	  means	  to	  them	  These	  squares	  will	  ultimately	  be	  compiled	
  into	  quilts	  to	  benefit	  transient	  members	  of	  our	
  community,	  continuing	
  the	  tradition	  of	  quilts	  giving	  as	  a	  symbol	  of	  welcome	  and	  acceptance	  by	  a	  community.	  Schedule	  a	  group	  tour	  with	  CC	  at	  info@contemporarycraft.org	  or	  call	  at	  412.261.7003.	  	
  Shelter’s	  impact	  extends	  beyond	  the	  primary	  gallery	  walls	  and	  includes	  companion	  exhibition	  -­‐	  Vantage	  Point:	  Maggy	  Rozycki	  Hiltner	  in	  CC’s	  BNY	  Mellon	  Center	  Satellite	  Gallery	  from	  October	  6,	  2017	  through	  February	  4,	  2018.	  Hiltner,	  an	  embroidery	  artist,	  will	  fill	  72	  linear	  feet	  of	  wall	
  space	  with	  hand-­‐stitched	  imagery.	  
Through	  incorporating	  vintage	  fabrics	  and	  text	  into	  what	  initially	  appears	  as	  an	  idealized	  landscape	  with	
  blue	  sky,	
  green	
  grass,	  and	  puffy	  white	  clouds,	  Hiltner	  reveals	
  the	
  impact	
  of	  industry	  and	  human	  consumption	  on	  our	  environment.	  	
  	  Shelter	
  is	
  scheduled	  to	  travel	  to	  several	
  venues	  after	  its	  debut	
  in	  Pittsburgh,	  including	
  the	  Ohio	  Craft	  Museum,	  Columbus,	  OH	  and	  Springfield	  Museum	  of	  Art,	  Springfield,	
  OH.	  A	  complete	  calendar	  Maggy	  Rozycki	  Hiltner.	  Vantage	  Point,	  2015.	  Hand-­‐of	  exhibition	
  programs	
  and	
  events	  is	  available	
  at	  stitched	  cotton	
  and	  found	  textile.	  46”	  x	  864”	  www.exploremindfulart.com.	  	  Opening	  Weekend	  Celebration	  CC	  will	  mark	
  the	
  opening	  weekend	
  of	  the	  exhibition	  with	  a	  free,	  public	  reception	
  on	  Friday,	
  September	
  8	  from	  
5:30	
  –	
  8:00	  PM.	  There	  is	  a	  $5	  suggested	  donation	  at	  the	  door.	
  Opening	  celebration	
  events	  will	  continue	  on	  Saturday,	
  September	  9,	  from	  12:00	  AM	  –	  2:00	  PM.	  The	  day’s	  activities	  include	  a	  Dialogue	  with	  the	  Artists,	
  where	  exhibiting	  artists	  will	  be	  in	  CC’s	  gallery	  to	  talk	  about	
  their	  work.	  	  Shelter	  Support	  Shelter:	  Crafting	
  a	  Safe	  Home	  is	  made	  possible	  by	  the	  Mary	  Hillman	  Jennings	
  Foundation,	  The	  Pittsburgh	  Foundation,	
  Staunton	  Farm	  Foundation,	  the	  National	
  Endowment	  for	  the	  Arts,	  The	  Fine	  Foundation,	  the	  Brooks	  Foundation	  through	  the	  PNC	  Charitable	  Trusts	  Grant	  Review	  Committee,	  and	
  Cohen	  &	  Grigsby.	  
Media	
  sponsored	  by	  90.5	  WESA,	  91.3	  WYEP,	  and	  NEXTpittsburgh.	  (As	  of	  August	  2017)	  Contemporary	
  Craft	  is	  supported	  in	  part	  by	  the	  Allegheny	  Regional	  Asset	  District,	  the	  Elizabeth	  R.	  Raphael	
  Fund	  of	  The	  Pittsburgh	  Foundation,	  The	  Heinz	  Endowments,	  and	  the	  Pennsylvania	  Council	  on	  the	  Arts.	  	
  About	  Contemporary	  Craft	  Presenting	  contemporary	  art	  in	  craft	  media	  by	  regional,	
  national	
  and	  international	  artists	
  since	  1971,	  Contemporary	  Craft	  (CC)	  offers	  cutting	
  edge	  exhibitions	
  focusing	
  on	  multicultural	  diversity	
  and	
  non-­‐mainstream	  art,	  as	  well	
  as	  a	  range	  of	  studio	  workshops,	  community	  outreach	  programs,	  and	  a	  retail	  store.	
  Through	
  its	
  mission	
  of	
  engaging	
  the	  public	  in	  creative	  experiences	  through	  contemporary	  craft,	  CC	  offers	  	  	  Page	  4	  of	  5	  	  	  meaningful	  art	  opportunities	  for	  more	  than	  135,000	  people	  a	  year	  through	  four	  core	  values:	  providing	  vital	  support	  for	
  artists;	  filling	
  critical	  gaps	  in	  public	  education;	  sharing	  cross	
  cultural	  perspectives;	  and	  using	  art	  to	  build	
  community.	  	
  	  CC	  is	  located	
  at	
  2100	
  Smallman	  Street	  in	  the	  Strip	  District	  of	  Pittsburgh,	  PA.	  Hours	  are	
  Monday	  through	  Saturday,	  10	  am	  to	  5	  pm.	  The	  satellite	  gallery	  is	  located	  in	  the	  “T”	  station	  lobby	  of	  BNY	  Mellon	  Center	  in	  downtown	  Pittsburgh,	  and	
  is	
  open	  daily	  from	  6	  am	  through	  midnight.	
  Exhibitions	  and	  informal,	  hands-­‐on	
  art	
  activities	  in	  the	  Drop-­‐In	
  Studio	  are	  always	  free	  to	  the	  public.	  For	  more	  information,	  visit	
  www.contemporarycraft.org	  or	  call	  412.261.7003.	  	
  Photos	  To	  view	  the	  complete	  collection	  of	  available	
  high-­‐res	  Shelter	  photos,	  visit	  www.exploremindfulart.com/shelterimages	  and	  use	  the	  password	  SHELTERimages.	  For	  addition	  materials	  or	  high-­‐res	  images,	  please	
  email	  Stephanie	  Sun	  at	  ssun@contemporarycraft.org.	  	  #	  #	  #	  	  	  Page	  5	  of	  5