Kristy Dubinsky, from Irwin, recently walked through the RAW/Pittsburghexhibition enjoying the diverse collection of emerging artists.
“There’s definitely a collaborative nature and aspect to this,” Dubinsky said. “They bring together everything from fashion to music to fine art, photography, film. It’s just a great way to bring everybody together.”
The organization is an offshoot of an idea that began in Los Angeles and has grown to include cities across America and in several other countries. The group’s stated mission is: to provide independent artists in the first ten years of their careers with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity. RAW/Pittsburgh does this by providing a venue for an eclectic mix of artists to showcase their work to the public while interacting with their contemporaries.
Karen Hays, from the North Hills, enjoys not just the variety of presenters but finds it “a nice night out” and “an interesting venue to be a part of.”
According to Ryah Issa, production assistant for RAW/Pittsburgh, the concept began in Los Angeles with a fashion designer who “wanted a bigger platform to show her work.” She added some other artists to one of her own showcases to attract a larger number of people.
From there the idea took off and spread to other cities.
“This is a way to bring people from all corners of Pittsburgh together,” Showcase manager Leigh Yock said.
RAW/Pittsburgh gives each individual artist a much larger crowd than they could have attracted on their own and it also gives young artists a chance to exchange ideas with their peers.
The group’s final 2013 presentation will be an awards evening at Cavo nightclub in the Strip District, Friday, November 22.
