Susie Ibarra and Roberto Rodriguez; photo courtesy of the artists

Updates
The Artway is about creating spaces and opportunities for diverse neighbors to gather and where literature and art challenge and inspire us all to re-imagine and make a better home together.

In December, we continued the work of planning our community-based artist residencies. This month we have had planning visits with two of our partners, the Archa Theatre/Allstar Refjúdží Band from Prague who will be in residence in June 2014 and Susie Ibarra and Roberto Rodriguez, who will bring their innovative Digital Sanctuaries to Pittsburgh’s northside community in July 2014. For these residencies, we will involve still more—and different—segments of our city than ever, including recently arrived refugee communities. It is exciting to contemplate the kind of communication that an artistic collaboration might open up among neighbors who are, as yet, largely invisible to each other.

Allstar Refjúdží Band concert; photo by David Kumermann

Recent Wins
Pittsburgh’s NPR affiliate, 90.5 WESA, recently interviewed Henry Reese, City of Asylum co-founder and chairman, about breaking down barriers.

Insight/Provocation
Engaging with community in a creative endeavor offers opportunities to build coalitions that cross racial, socio-cultural, age, and other demographic lines. We believe this series of residencies that will launch with Oliver Lake’s January visit will make important contributions to the ongoing conversation about who we are and what our community values.