PITTSBURGH, Feb. 4—The awardees of the second-annual Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh Call for Diverse Art have been announced!
This year’s program received an overwhelming number of inspiring submissions from artists across Pittsburgh’s communities, highlighting powerful visions for a more equitable and inclusive future.
The awardees will be recognized during the Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh Exhibition and Reception, held as part of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center’s monthly “artful networking” series Intermission on Thursday, Feb. 20, at the AWAACC.
The event will feature an in-person showcase of the award-winning works, performances, and a celebration of the artists’ contributions to envisioning a just Pittsburgh.
First Place Awardees
• Video/Interdisciplinary: Meghana Dodda – There is Color Everywhere
• Writing for the Page: Kumiko Yakicic – Unspoken Diary
• Performance Art: Indira Cunningham – Origin
• Visual Art: Matthew Raffaele & Emily Powell – Unseen Hands
Youth Arts (Under 18) First Place Awardees
• Video/Interdisciplinary: Arya Datta – Fishbone
• Performance Art: Jules Carlson – We Want a Future
• Visual Art: Anna María – Pittsburgh for Everyone, Everyone for Pittsburgh
Runner-Up Awardees
• Video/Interdisciplinary: Carlos F. Peterson – Descendant's Kinetic Sketchbook
• Performance Art: Prince Matthews – A Tale of 2wo Cities
• Writing for the Page: Avery Robinson – In Defense of the Spotted Lantern Fly
• Visual Art: Stephanie Oplinger – Eve
Youth Arts (Under 18) Runner Up Awardees
• Visual Art: BHTart – Equity
Honorable Mention Awardees
Video/Interdisciplinary
• Abby R. Bonilla & Mikyle Celesdriana Johnson – Just Us
• Dan ODonnell (aka Faj) & Gabrielle Johnson – Snowglobes and Sunrises
• Haley Dub – I Just Wanted to Read a Book
• Treasure Treasure – School Picture Day
• Zuly Inirio – Requiem Aeternam
Visual Art
• Ada Siobhan Griffin – Untitled (Reroot)
• Ashley Oukaci – Coming Together
• Bahirah – Midday Shopping
• Carlos F. Peterson – 1955 to Freedom Corner
• Chris Winter – Recognition
• Felicia Savage Friedman, The Cussin' Yogini – Human, Being. Communal Silence
• Grace Osborne – Her Crown
• Ishara Henry – IMO
• Ifeoma – Inner Vision
• J Rich – Back in Blue
• Jameelah's Creative Creations – International Mingle
• Jezline Loretta – Painting the Roses Red
• Julie Lee and Higu Rose – Dreaming of Mckees Rocks
• KALE – Pittsburgh Changes With You
• Lynda Kirby – Held In Common
• Mai Elahi – Queer in Color
• Matthew Nzasi – No Words
• Morgan Alexandra Mine – Medicine Woman
• Rachel Equity – Victory in the Margins
• Samiha Islam – Cathedral of Liberation
• Shawn Forrester – Jinzers
• Stephanie Oplinger – The Social Machine
• Tito Victoriano – Just Pitt I and Just Pitt II
• Yafa Negrete – Liora, My Sunshine
Writing for the Page
• Caleb Sewell – What if a Just Pittsburgh is No Pittsburgh at All
• Emily Carlson – The Tribunal
• Jen Kropinak – Rust Coats the Skin
• Jennifer Karen Ponce Cori – This is Native Land
• Jordan Scott – Be Ambitious
• Noah Yakicic – Pittsburgh
• Savannah Nayor – Pious Limbo
• Shawn Forrester – One and The Same
• Tavia Moore – Modern Day Crusade
Performance
• Shrabani Basu – Fulfillment of Life by Giving Dance
The Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh initiative celebrates creative expressions that challenge, inspire, and expand perspectives of what an equitable Pittsburgh could be. This year’s submissions spanned visual arts, writing, performance, and interdisciplinary works, offering profound insights and bold visions from artists of all ages.
The Feb. 20 event at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center will be free and open to the public, with the opportunity to engage with the artists and their work. The exhibit at the AWACC will be up until Sunday, March 30.
For more information about the exhibition or the Envisioning A Just Pittsburgh program, please visit https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/engagement/envisioning-just-pittsburgh-2024 or contact FHCSocialInnovation@pitt.edu.
About Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh
The Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh Call for Diverse Art is a collaborative initiative by Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh, 1Hood Media, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, and other community partners. The program seeks to inspire dialogue and action through the transformative power of art, envisioning a more just and inclusive future for Pittsburgh.