Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to host winter gallery crawl

Since 2004, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has been producing quarterly gallery crawls through the city’s cultural district.

The winter edition is set for 5:30-10 p.m. Jan. 24, with free exhibits, entertainment and activities for all ages.

About 30,000 visitors annually are drawn to what the Trust calls an immersive artistic “open house” experience.

“Each crawl is uniquely programmed in collaboration with our community partners, and the Cultural Trust’s visual arts curatorial and programming staff,” says Sarah Gilmer.

Gilmer is the Trust’s strategic partnerships and community engagement program manager.

“It’s a way to see what our arts community is doing,” Gilmer says.

The Trust owns Wood Street Galleries, SPACE, 707 Penn Gallery and 937 Liberty, which feature exhibition openings by local, regional, national and international artists during each crawl, as well as throughout the year.

Accessible to all

This winter’s crawl features more than 20 stops, the majority of which are family-friendly.

“It’s not just a focus on visual arts,” Gilmer adds.

Visitors can get close up with magicians at Liberty Magic, 811 Liberty Ave., and check out illusions, sleight of hand and card manipulations. They can listen to jazz trombonist and Apollo native Jeff Bush at the Backstage Bar, 655 Penn Ave.

The crawl is a way for those perhaps unfamiliar with the Cultural District, or who might find event ticket costs prohibitive, to explore the area, Gilmer says.

Squeezing (most of) it in

With so much to choose from, Gilmer recommends a few visitor “musts.”

“One I would highlight is the ‘High School Musical Showcase’ (at the Trust Arts Education Center). It’s the second time we’ve done this for Gallery Crawl. Students perform excerpts from upcoming high school musicals, to help spread the word and give them some exposure and an opportunity to perform,” she says.

Gilmer also suggests “Dreams of Hope,” at the Trust Arts Education Center, where it is part of the artists in residence program. The performance features theatrical and musical work from the region’s only LGBTQIA youth performance ensemble.

A Trust partner, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, 810 Penn Ave., will host “Past, Present, Future,” 10 years of the Council’s program Art on the Walls, with participating artists featuring visual art, photography and sculptural work. All pieces will be available for sale. Check out the art, and the cookie table.

Enjoy “Trumpet to the Tulips,” described as a “playful collaboration with only one rule: doing something atypical and see what happens” among painters Kristen Letts Kovak, Sarah Jacobs and Katherine Tzu-Lan Mann at the SPACE Gallery, 812 Liberty Ave.

Additional art exhibits include “Discover Greece” by photographer Emmanuel Panagiotakis at Emmanuel Fine Art Photography Gallery, 100 7th St. The show focuses on outdoor images he captured while traveling across the U.S. and his native Greece.

Urban Pathways 6-12 Charter School’s Winter Art Show, 914 Penn Ave., will include student artwork, steel pan presentation and art creation station.

Want to learn to juggle? Zeeppo the Clown, with Steel City Clown Brigade, will offer lessons at Crazy Mocha, 4525 Liberty Ave.

Need a laugh? Head to Arcade Comedy Theater, 943 Liberty Ave., for family-friendly improv comedy shows, which audience members inspire.

Those looking to be more sociable while they get their dance moves on can check out Salsa Friday at the Greer Cabaret Theater, 655 Penn Ave., for ages 21 and up, $5 or free with same-night Cultural District ticket stub, starting at 10 p.m. Food trucks La Palapa and Mac & Gold will be selling food along Tito Way, behind the Benedum Center and opposite SPACE Gallery, Gilmer says.

Those who don’t consider it a night out without shopping can visit the Night Market, 925 Liberty Ave. Browse jewelry, apparel, photography, art, home decor and sweets.

A complete list of the evening’s activities can be found on the Trust’s website.