Art for August … August Forever

At the August Wilson Center, more than 50 musicians and dancers from around the world performed at Drum Talk during October 15-18, providing an eclectic mix of lively concerts emphasizing rhythm traditions from Africa, Japan, Middle East, Latin America as well as U.S. jazz roots. Drum Talk was organized by Pittsburgh-based Afrika Yetu, and audiences – adults and kids alike – were clearly struck in seeing how drums and percussion have been so instrumental (despite differences in the availability of native materials) in cultural development across the continents.

In keeping with the festival theme - Many Rhythms, One Heart - Afrika Yetu members remind us that perhaps the human heart, the rhythm of the heartbeat itself, might be the source of this fascination and celebration of drums throughout history in building this sense of community and celebration of the human spirit. Perhaps we all have music inside us, which also innately connects us. Rhythm that makes us know we are alive.

With such diverse performances and engaged audiences at Drum Talk, Afrika Yetu also remarked that the event itself could be viewed as its own G20 onstage. Comments like that made me smile, and while nearly a month has passed since the G20 Summit, at least we still have the fun “Pittsburgh is Art” t-shirts campaign as a reminder. Arts bringing people together – a simple message throughout the ages as well as today.

Sure, 2009 has been some year for Pittsburgh, with many favorable articles (e.g., The Economist) and media outlets touting the region’s strengths. Of course, the G20 Summit provided unprecedented global exposure that over time may help further stimulate the region in attracting new people and companies that might seek to re-locate here with considerable economic benefits.

While the summer of 2009 went by entirely too fast, Pittsburgh did land some prestigious national and international conferences as well as interesting events, including the world’s richest professional bass tournament, the Forrest Wood Cup, attracting fishing enthusiasts from across the country. It is pretty incredible considering the large number of visitors coming to Pittsburgh for the very first time. And just as significant, what they experience first-hand once they arrive as compared to what they might have expected as far as scenery and the environment given the region’s heavy industrial past. This nexus of cleaner air, cleaner watersheds, brownfield development, river trails, and others successes in boosting recreational opportunities while Pittsburgh emerges as a leader in high tech and green technologies has certainly enhanced Pittsburgh’s image with its impressive skyline and unique mix of historic and modern architecture in many neighborhoods. The region has certainly made huge strides in becoming recognized as a desirable place to live, work, and play.

Pittsburgh celebrates some important cultural milestones in 2009, including the 50th Anniversary of the Three Rivers Arts Festival, the 40th Season of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre now underway, and 25th Anniversary of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust which has helped lead the remarkable re-vitalization of downtown.

But perhaps the most visible and longlasting milestone of 2009 is the opening of the August Wilson Center. The feeling of heartfelt pride and excitement was so evident back on the May 30 AWC Open House where over 10,000 people gathered on a beautiful Saturday afternoon full of festivities. And since that time, with incredible evenings such as the AWC Grand Opening Gala (perhaps the best party of the year) and other performances, including Lalah Hathaway, modern dance company Philadanco, the return of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra (led by Sean Jones), Multicultural Arts Initiative, and last weekend’s Drum Talk.

The AWC has also been the site of some unique fundraisers, including the First Annual Women ROCK! on October 2 where over 35 artists and performers gathered for an evening of poetry, dance, theatre, jazz, and rock, as well as an inspirational “I Am Your Sister” photojournalistic tribute to women that have overcome adversity through Dress for Success Pittsburgh programs that have collectively helped over 3,000 women obtain professional clothing, prepare for job interviews, and support to meaningful new careers -- ultimately achieving economic independence for themselves and their families.

I’m not African-American. And I’m not from Pittsburgh. But one of my most memorable experiences were two trips to South Africa where I spent over 4 weeks, much of which were in the townships of Kutlwanong, Qalabotjha, and Soweto for a project to support the introduction of energy-efficient housing and capacity building aimed at eliminating the use of high-polluting residential cookstoves inside shacks, where we often found levels of dangerous carbon monoxide and other pollutants that are especially so harmful to the vulnerable elderly and small children most susceptible to respiratory disease. Air pollution in these townships can be 4-10+ times higher than World Health Organization standards while many township residents spend 40% or more of their income on high-polluting coal, paraffin, and other fuels. Thus, finding practical affordable ways to reduce these high-polluting fuels can dramatically improve public health while helping break the cycle of poverty.

I had some amazing experiences in South Africa, and can recall being the only white person inside township establishments called shebeens (many of which began during apartheid), where many people would come up and thank me knowing I was from the USA. I met many unforgettable people on those projects, including a Soweto health official who once told us that while many South Africans may be very poor, they can still afford a smile. Now that’s culture.

As an engineer who loves the arts, I’m sometimes asked about experiences that have helped transform me along the way from once being an occasional theatre person living in the suburbs to the more avid arts patron today. Cultural experiences abroad certainly broaden one’s perspective, and sometimes friends laugh when I mention ‘Living Like a Tourist in Your Own City’ and how lucky we are to have such a vibrant cultural scene. And awe-inspiring events like the Million Ripples Gala when Archbishop Desmond Tutu came to Pittsburgh during October, 2007.

As I reflect on this article, I’m reminded of other experiences, like once being a volunteer stationed at 707 Gallery on Penn Avenue on a Gallery Crawl night in February 2006 for an exhibit called “Art for August” featuring beautiful artists like Leslie Ansley and Monique Luck along with many others whose art had been inspired by August Wilson. It was very cold, but still over 1,300 people came through that gallery in one night.

Soon, the August Wilson Center will become a treasure not just for Pittsburgh, but for the nation. I hope many Pittsburghers will experience its stunning design and many performance events coming up. I’m particularly looking forward to the Aunt Ester Cycle being planned in November to showcase four of August Wilson’s remarkable plays. In a society where there seems to be so much division, arts is something we can all feel passionate about. Many rhythms, one heart. Arts bringing people together. August forever.