EVENTS

SEPTEMBER
Magic Penny Gardens
Sunday, September 19, 2004
1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Carnegie Library of Homestead
510 Tenth Avenue
Munhall, PA

RAIN OR SHINE.

Share the excitement in creating the Magic Penny Memory Gardens.

Bring a special plant from your garden
Tell the story of your plant in writing or on videotape
Receive Magic Penny Garden Journal Pages
Enjoy refreshments, music, and activities for the young and young at heart.
Participate in the propogation of generosity, community, art, and healing.

The Good Grief Center for Bereavement Support, the Carnegie Library of Homestead, the Steel Valley Arts Council, the Munhall Garden Club, and the Persephone Project are collaborating on the creation of artist-made gardens on the grounds of the historic Library.

The landscape design has been created by Mark McKenzie/Landscape Architectural Services, Inc. Three artists have been commissioned to create gardens: sculptor Lisa Austin, sound-artist Frank Ferraro, and activist-artist Eric Christopher Sloss.

Magic Penny Gardens is a concept developed by artist Stephanie Flom and the Persephone Project/STUDIO for Creative Inquiry/Carnegie Mellon University to promote gardening as contemporary art and gardeners as artists.

The project is made possible by the generous financial sponsorship of Pennsylvania American Water, Landscape Architectural Services, Inc., and the PA Partners in the Arts program of the PA Council for the arts (PCA), a state agency. PA Partners is funded by the citizens of PA through annual legislative appropriation, and administered locally by Pro Arts. The PCA is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, A federal agency.

JUNE
STEPHANIE FLOM & DR. PAUL PITTS, Ph.D.
Mayflies & Matisse
a weekend public program on
Imagination, Art & Individuation

Public Lecture: Mayflies & Matisse
Friday, June 11, 2004
8:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Chatham College
Pittsburgh, PA (Shadyside)
Buhl Hall – Beckwith Lecture Room
(see website for directions)
Donation: $10 Members, $12 Non-members, $5 Seniors/Students

Stephanie Flom will share her compelling journey into the world of imagination, art and individuation. The story begins with a healing dream and journal drawings. These lead to an unusual connection to French modern artist Henri Matisse and his famous cut paper compositions. Following her path, Flom is led to a symbolic relationship with the fairy-like aquatic insects (Mayflies) whose return to the rivers signal an ecological victory. Dr. Pitts will reflect upon Flom’s narrative from a Jungian perspective, believing her experience illustrates nature’s individuation process at work.

Public Workshop: Mayflies: River Spirits Return
Saturday, June 12, 2004
10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lehner Grain and Cider Mill
Verona, PA
(National Register of Historic Places)
Donation: $30 Members, $40 Non-members, $10 Senior/Student

Timed to coincide with the annual re-appearance of the Mayflies, this experiential riverfront workshop, will explore topics of symbols, mythology, and local ecology. Additional information will be presented about mayflies as well as about the Rusalki, mythical water nymphs from ancient Slavic tradition who were held in great reverence. Dr. Pitts will add a Jungian approach to these myths and transformations. Participants will have an opportunity to engage individually with nature on a walk along the riverbank. Imaginations are invited.

Presented by the Pittsburgh Jung Society in cooperation with STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University. Special thanks to Christine Davis Consultants, Inc. for use of the Lehner Grain and Cider Mill, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

MAY
Pittsburgh Garden Swap
Saturday, May 22, 2004
12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
Fifth and Shady Avenues
Pittsburgh, PA

This is the third year for this popular event. Trade plants and garden supplies with other garden enthusiasts.

Sponsored by Pittsburgh Garden Swap and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

For information: renae_geraci@yahoo.com

December
STEPHANIE FLOM
Persphone, Pomegranates, and Promises
Wednesday, December 31, 2003
6:00 p.m - 12:00 a.m.
Dominion Plaza - Liberty & 6th
Pittsburgh, PA

The goddess of darkness will spin her wheel of fortune to divine resolutions that hold the promise of Spring.

First Night Pittsburgh is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust with programming by the Three Rivers Arst Festival. Persephone, Pomegrantes & Promises is one of the four commissioned Resolution Sculptures.

First Night Pittsburgh is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust with programming by the Three Rivers Arst Festival. Persephone, Pomegrantes & Promises is one of the four commissioned Resolution Sculptures.

October
DELANIE JENKINS
Harvest of Art
Saturday, October 11, 2003
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Frank Curto Park
Pittsburgh, PA

Please join Delanie Jenkins, Creative Heights Residency artist with Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, as she harvests the third garden in Persephone Project's ArtGardens of Pittsburgh at Frank Curto Park. Jenkins, an installation artist, is drawing on her agricultural roots and memories in relation to palnt material, scent, and sense of place. The garden is planted with cotton, okra, and luffa sponges that will be used within an art installation at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild next summer.

September
GARY PLETSCH & JAN LONEY
Sunset Art Openings
Saturday, September 20, 2003

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Gary Pletsch
1002 Franklin Avenue (Franklin & Coal Street), Wilkinsburg, PA
[Turn right on Coal from Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg when traveling East (away from Pittsburgh), proceed four blocks to Franklin.]

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Jan Loney
39th and Butler Street
Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, PA

Potter Gary Pletsch and metalworker Jan Loney have ambitiously transformed vacant corner lots into Magic Penny Garden installations. Come enjoy the sunset and celebrate green public art sited in Pittsburgh-area neighborhoods.

The event is free and open to the public.

To print out your own Magic Penny Garden Journal pages click here to download a pdf version.

PDF files require the use of Adobe's free Acrobat Reader software.

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LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS
Stephanie Flom tells the story of the Persephone Project through a PowerPoint presentation that features images of contemporary garden works created by artists throughout the world. The thought-provoking yet accessible presentation has been shared with diverse groups ranging from professional conferences to middle school students.

For more information or to schedule a presentation, please email us at persephone@cmu.edu or call 412/268-1027.


ARCHIVE OF EVENTS
To learn about past Persephone Project events, visit the Archive of Events.

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