Union Project

With live demonstrations and hands-on crafts, this is so much more than an online store. Don't miss it!

To our dedicated audiences, supporters, and artists - The past several months have been a challenge for all of us. We've had to conquer loneliness, master new t...echnologies, and cling to hope, all in service to the long-term greater good. Thank you so much for your ongoing support! Some Businesses Have Been Impacted More Than Others Small, independent venues were the first to close and will likely be among the last to re-open. Many of the state’s performing arts spaces, non-profit organizations like the New Hazlett Theater, as well as for-profit music venues remain closed. Some may never reopen Pittsburgh alone has already lost brillobox and The Rex for good. You Can Help Us #SavePAVenues A national campaign to #SaveOurStages garnered a lot of attention for our industry. Recently, PA State Representative Jake Wheatley, D-Hill District, introduced the PA Save Our Stages Act (HB2894): https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm. To learn about the bill and how COVID-19 has impacted venues like ours, read this recent article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: https://triblive.com//proposed-bill-would-provide-relief-/ You can show your support and help to #SavePAVenues by signing the petition below and contacting your legislators to tell them to support HB2894 in just a few clicks! Sign The Petition: https://www.change.org/p/tom-wolf-help-save-pennsylvania-s- Contact Your Legislators: https://www.citizensfortheartsinpa.org/takeaction Thank you for taking just a few moments out of your day to support small venues like ours. Sincerely, René Conrad Executive Director

We sure do miss gathering in person, but let's focus on the positives of our first ever Clay & Wine on Friday, October 30! BYOB to this clay happy hour in your home means drink whatever you want! Prefer a different wine, beer, or even a cocktail? Mix it up! Netflix can be your babysitter for the evening since you'll only be one room away instead of a whole car ride. You can wear your jammies! Get cozy in your own home and since this isn't work, no one will be checking fo...r a professional look. The dog won't freak out from separation anxiety. What's your favorite silver lining to all the at-home/virtual happenings? Learn more about Virtual Clay & Wine and join us this Friday! https://unionproject.org/classes/virtual-clay-wine-october

Time to throw down! https://m.youtube.com/watch

Join us for our first-ever virtual workshop! While we've begun to re-open some classes and workshops in the studio, we're still foregoing any offerings that include food and drink, for everyone's safety. But Clay & Wine has always been a favorite Friday night offering, so we're piloting this idea and we'll hope you come along for the ride :) Friday, October 30... 6 - 8 pm Cost: $60/pair or $35/kit Spend Friday night with a virtual clay happy hour! Grab a buddy or a date for two hours of clay and wine. Join our instructor on a video call and learn a variety of hand-building techniques! Clay, tools, and firing costs are included in the fee. Each participant will be able to pick up a kit prior to the workshop and then bring their finished art back to be fired. This workshop is BYOB. To register for this workshop, you must complete the registration form on our website and submit payment online using a credit card. Your registration is not complete until payment is received. This workshop is for adults aged 21 and over. If you have questions, please contact Milo Berezin (412-363-4550 x242). https://unionproject.org/classes/virtual-clay-wine-october

There are a few spots left in this fall session class: 10 Wednesdays, September 23 - November 25 6 - 9 pm Cost: $255... A note about COVID-19: We have decreased class sizes and put several guidelines in place. Please review our COVID-19 precautions on our website. If things change, we will adjust our classes accordingly. Whether you already have a little experience in clay, or are just starting out this class will give you an introduction to the fundamentals of wheel-throwing and hand-building. If you’ve already learned the basics and want to improve your proficiency, this class will challenge you and help you expand your knowledge or refresh your skills. Your instructor will focus on teaching centering, maximizing volume, trimming, glazing, and studio safety. If you have questions, please contact Milo Berezin (412-363-4550 x242). Register now! https://unionproject.org//wednesday-beginnerintermediate-c

STUDIO FINDS! Since July, we've been holding small and private group classes and workshops. We're keeping everyone safe and it's wonderful to have the creative juices flowing in our studio again. This beautiful ceramic jar was created by Pitt grad student, Lauren Schricker. What an awesome studio find to stumble upon during a weekend pop-in by our Director of Engagement, Michelle Clesse. #UnionProject #UnionProjectPGH #UnionProjectCeramics #PhysicallyDistancedArt #BioArt #Frog

Today is the last day to give to our summer campaign. We know it's different type of summer and a challenging time for many. Any support to help Union Project continue to serve our communities is appreciated. https://unionproject.org/support

#Repost @crafting_the_future with @get_repost HOW TO PARTICIPATE The front of the card is an open canvas. On the back of the card, creativity is welcome, but clearly format sender and recipient information following USPS guidelines. Incidental marking or marring secondary to transport and postal stamping will become uncontrollable elements within the composition. Brown paper wrapping or other packaging may be utilized to protect compositions and prevent incidental marking... from transport. Submissions must be postmarked by September 25. Help us get to at least 150 submissions. Selling all 150 donated works would fully pay tuition and travel for a CTF student to take a workshop at Penland School of Craft. The exhibition will go online on October 23. Works will be available for purchase from October 23rd to November 6th. $30.00 will purchase a randomly selected postcard from the exhibited submissions. Please submit the following prior to or on the day your work is mailed but no later than September 25th using the form linked in our bio under #postmarked 1. Work Details: Artist Name Title Materials Dimensions Standard 4x6 or (Length x Width x Thickness) 2. Upload an image of your work, scanned or photographed on a neutral background, 1200 pixels x 800 pixels at 72 PPI Submission Address: (All works must be submitted via USPS) David Clemmons, CTF Care of Penland School of Craft P.O. Box 37 Penland, NC. 28765

Finally, we are excited to be soon rolling out our new logo and colors. This branding refresh includes a new website that will be completed this summer. The new site will make it even easier to see all of the wonderful community programs that take place at Union Project. Hint, hint: Director of Engagement, Michelle Clesse committed to our new colors in a big way! Of course, none of this would be possible without you, our friends, neighbors, and supporters. While we miss seein...g you all, we know you are part of our caring community. We are grateful for any donation to Union Project at this time. https://unionproject.org/support

Construction has resumed on our Kiln Shelter and we have a brand-new gas kiln ready to be loaded and fired once the shelter is complete. This shelter will help expand our studio offerings to our students and professional artists and creates a covered outdoor space to hold ceramic classes and other community programs. We are about to begin several major improvement projects that will continue our work to restore and maintain our beautiful building. We will be renovating the hi...storic sandstone stairs and plaza and adding new ADA compliant handrails to ensure that everyone can safely enter through our front door. This will include raising and widening the landing so we can add a wheelchair ramp in the future. We will also be making improvements to our HVAC systems including adding air conditioning to the Great Hall and air filtration systems to the studio, making the building safer and more comfortable for visitors, students, and staff. We are grateful for any donation to Union Project at this time so that we can continue to maintain our building in a safe and welcoming manner. https://unionproject.org/support

Take a look at this brief overview of some of what we’ve been working on, while we’ve been away: Our teaching artists have been running virtual clay programs this summer with the Summer Dreamer’s Academy for 38 Pittsburgh Public School students. They’ve also been working with 8th graders from the Environmental Charter School to create 80 ceramic tiles that will be installed as a new mural at the school. Our staff is preparing The Wheel Mobile, a new mobile clay studio that wi...ll bring our studio to neighborhoods across Allegheny County. We’ve been using this time to customize the vehicle, purchase the equipment and supplies, and design the programs that we will start rolling out this fall. We are grateful for any donation to Union Project at this time so that we can continue to support the communities we serve and maintain our building in a safe and welcoming manner. https://unionproject.org/support