PITTSBURGH SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS NEWS AND EVENTS www.pittsburghillustrators.org March, 2008 And Now, A Word News Flashes From Our Members from Vince Rogowski Helps Invisible interested in helping out a good cause, Hey everybody, the walk is on Saturday, April 12th. Children Registration is at the Pittsburgh Zoo at I know two things Everyone thinks Rich Rogowski is all 8am. For the cost of a small donation about Brett Favre: about Rich Rogowski, but nothing He mispronounc- could be further from the truth. Case es his own name in point: These images used for an art and he cried like show benefiting the Invisible Children a baby when he charity. All 10 of the pieces (hand-ren- retired from pro- dered line art over a digitally treated fessional football canvas) sold out the night of the event this year (For with 100% of the money going to those keeping track, this is my second editor’s letter referencing football, a Invisible Children, an organization that game about which I am hilariously helps the displaced children in war uninformed). stricken Uganda. I have to stop typing now because the tears are welling up. The reason I mention Favre (pro- To read more about Invisible Children, nounced \`fäh-vrǝh\) is that I, too, visit www.invisiblechildren.com and must announce my retirement from www.rogodesigns.com to see more a grand and glorious institution – The of Rich’s work. PSInside. Unlike Favre, however, I’m not gonna bawl like a girl scout with a skinned knee. And, unlike Favre, I’m not going to spend my retirement getting fat and counting my millions. you get to walk off your Easter choco- You see, because of my involvement late, nab a “Walk in the Wild” t-shirt and with PSI – participating in and chair- help out some folks who really need it. ing our exhibitions, posting my imag- For more info, call 412-795-3029. es on our website, attending socials and learning from every PSI member I Walk In The Wild Officer Koljonen talk to – I suddenly find that business Remember Reporting for Duty is good. Oh, I’m not rolling in it like Mark Bender’s PSI Member and World-Traveler, Sarah Phil ‘I have a solid gold dinosaur on Laina Koljonen, was recently elected the 5th floor of my mansion’ Wilson. Zoowalk as Hong Kong Graphics Society’s Art But I’m busy enough that I just can’t sketch from Promotion Officer. Established in 1976, squeeze enough hours together to the January put in the care and effort this newslet- PSInside? HKGS is the oldest printmaking asso- ter (and its readers) deserves. Well, here’s ciation in Hong Kong and introduces the finished printmaking to the public through Because of my involvement with this piece. Nice work, as usual. This time exhibitions, talks, workshops and newsletter, I’ve had a chance to meet it’s for a benefit walk through the exchange activities where local and and talk to a lot of members I might Pittsburgh Zoo for Neurofibromatosis. foreign print artists learn and grow by not have otherwise. It’s been a great Mark’s daughter, Maddie, has NF and sharing experiences. opportunity to learn, network and also modeled for the poster. Anyone make friends and I’m really going to continued on page 3 continued on page 2 1 NEWS FLASHES continued Large scale exhibitions and related activi- is on April 3rd in the Andrew Carnegie ties have included exchange exhibitions Free Library & Music Hall (in Carnegie, with Shanghai, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang PA) from 5:30 - 8:30pm. The show will run and Anhui in China. According to Sarah, from March 30th through April 20th and “There’s not much on my agenda yet, will feature over 30 pieces, most of them but [I just wanted] to let you know that painted in the last 3 years. Light refresh- doors are open for any future collabora- ments will be served and, as an added tion between PSI and HKGS!” So, I don’t bonus, Galina Istomin, Concert Master for know if Sarah is currently in Pittsburgh or jet-setting around Hong Kong, but if you happen to see her, don’t forget to congratulate her. And then start butter- ing her up so we can angle another PSI show in China. The Incredible Shrinking the 4 foot by 8 foot banner was drawn Mazur traditionally (at 1 inch to 1 foot scale) and colored digitally. These banners If you’re thinking about getting into replace banners that were already hang- the art-thief business, Nathan Mazur’s ing above the pool, but Ilene doesn’t new show might be easy pickin’s. Wee feel too guilty about that -- the original Beasties, which opened at Zombo banners were designed by Ilene and art- Gallery this March, features something ist Helen Sysko in 1987 when the Jewish like 50 miniature paintings of cartoon Community Center opened. insects, spiders, worms and other creepy- crawlies. These teeny little works of art New Member, New Show, will be hanging through April 5th at Zombo Gallery (4900 Hatfield Street in New York Lawrenceville). So grab your magnifying the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, will New member Alexis Covato will be par- glass and head out to catch this show perform a short violin interlude in the ticipating in an upcoming show in New before it disappears. Music Hall at 6:30 pm. And if you want York this April. The Clowns, Jokers and to take a piece of the exhibit home with Pranks Art Show will open at the Claude you, original art, giclee prints, art posters, Gallery (282 Main St., Eastchester NY) on and greeting cards designed by Yelena April 5th, from 7pm-1am. The show fea- will be for sale. 30% of the revenue tures at least 15 artists so there’s plenty from all sales will benefit the campaign to see. If you happen to be in New York to restore, renovate and revitalize the during the show, stop in and support Lex. Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall’s historic landmark facility. If you’d like to help out a friend and a good cause, stop by the reception (less than 10 minutes from Downtown in lovely Carnegie) and wish Yelena well. For more information visit www.yelenadesign.com or www.carnegiecarnegie.com Banner Year for Ilene Ilene Winn-Lederer has spent much of her time as of late designing and illus- trating giant, vinyl banners represent- ing the 12 Tribes of Israel for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill. On March 16th, the ban- ners had their Grand Opening and were Lamm’s Reflections finally installed and on display above the swimming pool at the community Yelena Lamm would like to invite every- center. Ilene will have photos for us soon, one in PSI to her upcoming art show. but until then she sent in the design The opening reception for Reflections for the tribe of Issachar. Each design for continued on page 3 2 NEWS FLASHES continued A Romantic Time with LeRoy’s kingdom before then, visit his A Word from Vince continued website at www.leroyland.com Sarah Miller miss doing it. We’ve had a few different Sarah Miller is currently working on an Anni & Anne’s Trip to the newsletter editors along the way (Rick animation for author Anne Elizabeth Antolic, Mark Brewer, myself) and each that will premiere at the Romantic Times Big Apple one brought his own unique personality Convention on the 18th of April right After spending most of their money to the PSInside. We’re not sure who’ll get here in Pittsburgh. Sarah will be speak- having taxicab races up and down 5th the job next, but I’m certain whatever ing at the event as part of a panel along Avenue, PSI members Anni Matsick and new direction the next editor takes the with her co-artist on the project and, Anne Trimble attended the Society of newsletter it will be fun, informative of course, the author. Feel free to visit Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the unifying element it was always www.anneelizabeth.net for more infor- Mid Year Conference in New York City intended to be. mation. February 8-10, including the Illustrators Intensive. Their reports can be read on In his President’s letter later in the issue, the Western PA SCBWI illustrators blog at Rick puts out a call for new members to http://pghpicturebook.wordpress.com step up and get involved in the day to day business of PSI. Speaking from expe- or at the direct page links below: rience, if you’re considering joining the http://pghpicturebook.wordpress.com/ long tradition of enthusiastic volunteers, 2008/02/13/anni-matsick-writes-about- I can promise you won’t regret it. And for the-mid-year-conference/ Pete’s sake, can we get some new blood at the socials? C’mon people! I can http://pghpicturebook.wordpress.com/ only listen to John Manders ramble on 2008/02/15/anne-trimble-also-attended- drunkenly about pirates so many times. the-mid-year-conference/ Thanks everybody. -V so please email me (Kathy Rooney) at Call For Artists [email protected] to let me know you Heads up, are interested in this event. Here are Pittsburgh some further, preliminary details: Society of The event will take place on a 3-day Illustrators weekend, June 20 – 22. SPORTS The Artists/Authors Exhibit will take ARTISTS! Kathy place indoors in the first floor McGwinn Rooney is Hall Gallery passing on some informa- The street in front of Heinz History tion about Center will be blocked off for outdoor an upcoming event that may interest sports related exhibits & events you.