Opening reception for 芸［Gei] : The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal at Contemporary Craft, September 13.

Contemporary Craft will host the exhibition 芸［Gei] : The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal from September 13, 2024 through January 18, 2025, featuring a host of Japanese and Japanese-American artists and performers. It begins with an Opening Reception on the 13th from 5:30 to 8:00 pm, free and open to the public.

芸［Gei]: The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal invites viewers to explore the captivating duality of Japanese Sogetsu Ikebana and craft, highlighting the profound cultural connections woven through these art forms. Ikebana (生け花, living flowers), the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, captures the fleeting beauty of nature. Conversely, we celebrate the eternal through masterful craft objects. These objects embody enduring skill and meticulous attention to detail. From exquisite ceramics to intricate metal and wood sculptures, these crafts echo with the wisdom and patience of their makers, preserving techniques practiced over generations while celebrating individuality and collaboration.

 

Featured artists Tadao Arimoto, Yoko Sekino-Bové, Carol Kumata, and Miwa Neishi engage in dialogue with Sogetsu Pittsburgh, led by Reiko Nakajima and Atsumi Sewell. Embracing the notion of living sculpture in Sogetsu Ikebana, this juxtaposition prompts contemplation of time, materiality, processes, culture, and heritage. Ikebana celebrates simplicity and imperfection, while traditional crafts speak of a lineage committed to perfection and continuity, enriching our understanding of tradition and innovation.

 

芸［Gei] uncovers connective networks bridging natural forces with disciplined artistry. Through a community of hands and dedicated practice, these mycelial connections energize a diverse spectrum of artistic spirits. Join us in contemplating the harmony between impermanence and eternity, where fleeting blossoms and timeless crafts weave a narrative of Japan’s rich cultural tapestry—connecting past, present, and future.

Special events include:

• Opening Reception - Friday, September 13, 5:30 - 8:00 pm. Free and open to the public.
• Artist-Led Guided Tour - Saturday, September 14, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. Free, though registration is required.
• Sogetsu Ikebana: Fundamentals & Techniques with Sogetsu Pittsburgh - Saturday, October 5, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.
• 茶道 [Japanese Tea Ceremony] – A Talk and Demonstration by Yoko Motoyama - Saturday, October 19, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. Free, though registration is required.
• Sogetsu Ikebana: Freestyle & Form with Sogetsu Pittsburgh - Saturday, November 9, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.
• Guided Tour – 芸 [Gei]: The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal - Saturday, January 18, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. Free, though registration is required.

Contemporary Craft is a gallery and creative space that broadly states its mission as "To engage the public in creative experiences through contemporary craft.." It is located at 5645 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

New Chinese movie Upstream (逆行人生) in Pittsburgh, from September 13.

The 2024 Chinese movie Upstream (逆行人生) will play in Pittsburgh from September 13.

After suffering a number of disasters, including losing his job, having his savings wiped out and facing his father's high medical bills, Gao Zhilei (Xu Zheng) takes up a job as a delivery worker, dealing with long days and stomach-turning events. Amongst crazy customers, tight deadlines and competition among app companies, he manages to form strong bonds with his fellow workers. But in his quest for success, he must face a choice: keep the new friendships he's created or move to the next level in his new career by taking advantage of the new business world where he finds himself.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

2024 Chinese movie Untouchable (逆鳞) in Pittsburgh, from September 12.

The 2024 Chinese movie Untouchable (逆鳞) will play in Pittsburgh from September 12.

Big brother Zun Fei and his gang of brothers are doing well in the underworld. However, when conspiracies arise and the brothers turn against each other, Zun Fei can only take up his gun and risk his life to face the threat.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

"Creating with Context: East Asian Printing and Bookbinding," September 17 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's University Library System will present "Creating with Context: East Asian Printing and Bookbinding" on September 17.

Discover the fascinating world of East Asian print culture in this hands-on workshop! Participants will explore traditional printing techniques used in China and Japan, from ancient woodblock printing to various book binding formats, some of them dating back to the 14th century! We will start by traveling back in time to examine rare prints and books from Archives & Special Collections at the University of Pittsburgh Library System, curated by Runxiao Zhu, Head of the East Asian Library, and Hiroyuki Good, Japanese Studies Librarian. The workshop will conclude with a hands-on activity where you'll create your own block print or mini book in the Text & conText Lab.

Curious to learn more about this topic? Check out the East Asian Print Culture exhibit on display in the Archives & Special Collections Gallery on Hillman Library’s 3rd Floor on display Fall-Spring 2024!

It runs from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in room 320 on the third floor and is free and open to both the Pitt community and the public. Registration is required and can be completed online. Hillman Library is located at in Oakland (map).

Chinese Kun Opera workshop and demonstration, September 19 at Pitt.

By Antonis SHEN - Peony Pavilion, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link

The International Student Peer Network at the University of Pittsburgh will present a demonstration of Chinese Kun Opera on September 19.

Join the International Student Peer Network for a professional Chinese Kun Opera group performance, storytelling, open discussion, and the opportunity to try on traditional costumes and makeup.

It runs from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map).

Fantas-Tea, Pho Grill coming to Gibsonia.

Signage has gone up for two new places in a Gibsonia plaza: Fantas-Tea and Pho Grill. The former will be a bubble tea place and the latter will be a Vietnamese restaurant. Not much information is available about either, though records indicate both are operated by a Korean couple that operates a beauty salon in Murraysville, and an older website from last year points to a "PhoEverMore" planned for the spot with a catch-all menu featuring pho, fried rice, ramen, and various Asian appetizers. Fantas-Tea and Pho Grill will be located next to each other at the Walnut Creek Plaza, 5316 William Flinn Highway (Route 8) (map).

More signage up for Breakfast With Tiffany in Fox Chapel.

More signage has gone up at 1034 Freeport Road in Fox Chapel (map), where Breakfast With Tiffany will be coming soon. It is next in a long line of Thai places in this spot, and replaces The98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine, which occupied the location for a few months in 2023. It is from the same head chef as Squirrel Hill's Took Took 98, who also ran The98.

Ghost in the Shell (GHOST IN THE SHELL/攻殻機動隊), Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン劇場版 Air/まごころを、君に), Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉), and 2024's DAN DA DAN: First Encounter comprise Row House Cinema's Anime Classics series, from September 13.

Ghost in the Shell (GHOST IN THE SHELL/攻殻機動隊), Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン劇場版 Air/まごころを、君に), Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉), and 2024's DAN DA DAN: First Encounter will comprise the Anime Classics series at Row House Lawrenceville, from September 13. Tickets are available online; please note that not all films play all days. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Pittsburgh's first Tiger Sugar opening on Saturday, September 7.

Pittsburgh's first Tiger Sugar will open on Saturday, September 7, in Squirrel Hill. Tiger Sugar is an international Taiwanese bubble tea chain with locations around the US.

With humble beginnings in Taichung, Taiwan, in 2017, Tiger Sugar has grown into an undisputed cult brand of Boba worldwide. Our Tiger Sugar drinks not only taste good but tell our unique story with “tiger stripes” that are infused onto all our drinks with unique hand-poured syrups.

They say imitation is the best form of flattery. Many companies have tried to replicate our black sugar bubble tea, but our tried and proven methods stand the test of time.

We use a proprietary 8-hour method for cooking our syrups and tapioca pearls. This results in the perfect marriage of tea, milk, and syrup in every sip.

Our award-winning bubble tea brand is bold, and our unforgettable drink varieties are a testament to this.

It is next to Mango Mango, another international Asian dessert chain that opened its first Pittsburgh location in 2024. Tiger Sugar is located at 5847 Forbes Ave. (map).

Paris Baguette finally opens in Pittsburgh's The Block Northway.

After a last-minute cancellation of its initial September 4 grand opening plans, Pittsburgh's first Paris Baguette has finally opened in The Block Northway this morning. Paris Baguette is a chain of international Korean bakeries, with five planned for the Pittsburgh area. Hours at this location are 7:00 am to 9:00 pm; it's located on the ground floor next to Blaze Pizza.