Local Pittsburgh happenings in arts, performance, culture, etc.
Oct. 7–14:
Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask
Oct. 12, 2–5 p.m., August Wilson African American Cultural Center, free, registration required
Paul Laurence Dunbar, the first African American poet to gain national and international fame, opens his preeminent poem with: “We wear the mask that grins and lies.” His story, beginning in Ohio in 1872 and encompassing a life of publishing poems, novels, and operettas, is the subject of the documentary “Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask.” Frederick Lewis’s feature-length documentary will be screened at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, followed by a discussion and reception to approach a deeper understanding of the work. The Center itself also houses the permanent exhibit “August Wilson: The Writer’s Landscape,” the first full exhibition solely dedicated to Pittsburgh’s most famous playwright, August Wilson.
17th International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration Reception
Oct. 17, 6–8 p.m., Hunt Library 5th Floor, free
You probably wouldn’t recognize the wood-paneled gallery that is home to the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation as part of Hunt Library. Their shared namesake, Rachel McMasters Miller Hunt, has displays of both of her obsessions — books and plant science — housed under one roof. Founded in 1961, the Institute manages research projects and an archive collection of over 90,000 physical items. Their exhibition features 43 artworks by 43 artists, representing 19 countries, as part of the American Society of Botanical Artists Annual Conference taking place in Pittsburgh (Oct. 17-19). The plant studies on display marry aesthetic beauty with scientific observation, epitomizing Carnegie Mellon’s interdisciplinary values. The exhibit itself will extend from Sept. 17 to Dec. 17.
“Nearing Each Other” Gallery Opening
Oct. 17, 6–8 p.m., Forum Gallery at Carnegie Museum of Art, free
Upon entrance, visitors to the otherwise archival Carnegie Museum of Art are met by the lobby’s Forum Gallery — a space for rotating exhibitions by living artists. This symbiotically allows the museum to have its finger on the pulse of the contemporary art scene and the working artists to take advantage of the visibility and resources of a large museum. Its 89th iteration, titled “Nearing Each Other,” showcases the work of six local artists: Christine C. M. C. Bethea, Matthew Constant, Justin Emmanuel Dumas, Addoley Dzegede, Jamie Earnest, and Bryan Martello. Diverse in media, the pieces are conceptually linked by the way place defines our relationships. The exhibit will occupy the Forum gallery through Jan. 26, 2025.
How Geckos Rule the Night: From Ancient Amber to Modern Stowaways
Oct. 21, 12–1 p.m., Carnegie Museum of Natural History Earth Theater and Zoom, free
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History has already given us the joy of Tim Pearce and his snail jokes. This week, they are hosting Villanova professor Dr. Aaron Bauer, a gecko specialist. He has identified more new reptiles than any other living scientist, and his lecture will focus on the diversity of their 2,300 species and their nocturnal and invasive assets impact on their evolutionary journey. The lecture will take place inside the panoramic Earth Theater, but admission to explore the rest of the museum is free for Carnegie Mellon students.
“3 in 30” Tours and Collection Tours with Docents at Carnegie Museum of Art
Daily
In the stress of midterm season, the daily tours at Carnegie Museum of Art offer a stimulating yet flexible break. The docents offer tours of two types. Daily Collection Tours last an hour and depart daily at 1 p.m.. “3 in 30” tours, which only run from Thursday to Sunday and depart at 11 a.m., highlight three pieces in 30 minutes total. Both types depart from Scaife’s lobby and feature different pieces each time. They provide a more structured alternative to independently exploring the museum, but if you do wander off, make sure to check out Tatiana Bilbao’s “City of Rooms,” their Keith Haring piece, and the “Pittsburgh Anthology” gallery.
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