Arts & Culture – Point Park News Service

Baron Batch sees graffiti as medium for social change

May 8, 2017 artist, baron batch, Christopher Ward, Fall 2016, featured, graffiti, Pittsburgh, Studio A.M.

By Christopher Ward, Point Park News Service: Growing up in West Texas, where high school football is a top priority, Baron Batch knew that playing the game was a given – but deep down inside he always knew that he wanted to be an artist, too. As a kid, Batch had a speech impediment where he couldn’t say the letter R, so... Read More

Album Review: “10 Times out of 10”

May 8, 2017 "10 Times out of 10", album review, Amy Guess, music

By Tyler Dague, Point Park News Service: Pop submerged in the sound of slick synth production has gone into overdrive with EDM this decade, turning a throwback ‘80s sound into mainstream flavor of the week. With pop princesses such as Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande dipping into past inspirations in efforts to achieve the next radio smash hit with varying... Read More

‘The Death Show’ displays joys of life

April 11, 2017April 27, 2017 Arcade Comedy Theater, featured, fictional funeral service, improv, Pittsburgh, the Death Show

By Iain Oldman, Point Park News Service: PRELUDE The green room at the Arcade Comedy Theater is currently cold, like a morgue. Ayne Terceira, an improv actor on the show, is huddled inside her jacket trying to keep warm while the rest of the cast file into the green room, one by one, stopping in front of the mirror to... Read More

Once blue-collar bar, Blue Moon launches drag queens to stardom

February 27, 2017February 27, 2017 Blue Moon, drag, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh

By Andrew Henderson, Point Park News Service: Cindy Crotchford had started her performance coyly, sitting on the bar with her legs crossed, in a modest green gown. By the end, her dress and wig were on the floor, and the performer now stood, over six feet tall and hefty, even for her height, in a black corset and panties, upending... Read More

Christmas over? Not for Santa

February 6, 2017 Dean Hodgson, Howard Graham, John Suhr, Pittsburgh, Real Bearded Santas, Santa Claus

By Tyler Polk, Point Park News Service: As the holidays have ended and the Christmas Village in Market Square is torn down, John Suhr hangs up his Santa suit and returns to his work as a locksmith for the city of Pittsburgh. Suhr, 60, of Carrick, has the keys to more than 300 city buildings, and he can pick the... Read More

Pittsburgh revives swing dance culture

January 4, 2017January 10, 2017 Fall 2016, featured, Julie Kooser, Point Park University, swing dance culture

By Julie Kooser, Point Park News Service: Since the 90’s Revival, the swing dance scene in Pittsburgh has flourished, inviting people of all ages and walks of life to participate. This multimedia story captures their spirit: Read More

Legendary comic book writer discusses love of characters

November 28, 2016December 16, 2016 Fall 2016, Neil Strebig, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Comic Con, Point Park University, Tom DeFalco

By Neil Strebig, Point Park News Service: Legendary comic book writer and former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief, Tom DeFalco attended the Pittsburgh Comic Con in November. DeFalco has worked on such prolific titles as “Dazzler” and “Thor,” but is most well-known for his time on “The Amazing Spider-Man” series. I was lucky enough to catch up with him and discuss comic books,... Read More

90s TV legend discusses overcoming obstacles

November 3, 2016December 20, 2016 actor, Comic Con, Fall 2016, featured, Kevin Sorbo, Neil Strebig, Pittsburgh

By Neil Strebig, Point Park News Service: Kevin Sorbo, the Minnesota native, author, and television/movie star will be visiting Pittsburgh this upcoming weekend for the Pittsburgh Comic Con at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The second annual Pittsburgh Comic Con, sponsored by Wizard World, will host over a dozen celebrities, writers, illustrators and geek centric personalities including the cast... Read More

Smokey Bellows plays ‘heavy, weird rock-n-roll blues’

October 14, 2016December 20, 2016 Fall 2016, featured, music, Nick Bigatel, Pittsburgh, Smokey Bellows

By Andrew Henderson, Point Park News Service: Nick Bigatel is the front man of Smokey Bellows, a electro-country band that was formerly known as Dick Whiskey & the Bottle Openers. The band has gained some attraction from the Pittsburgh music scene as it recently signed with First Flight Records and released a first official album, “Half Lucid and the Other... Read More

What to do with 252 images of John Riegert?

September 26, 2016December 20, 2016 Brett Yasko, Fall 2016, featured, Featured Gallery, gallery closing, John Riegert, Museums & Galleries, News Feed, Pittsburgh, SPACE

By Edward Trizzino, Point Park News Service: The recent closing of a local art exhibit has 252 pieces of art in need of a permanent home. The SPACE gallery located in Downtown Pittsburgh recently closed its summer-long “John Riegert” exhibit, which contained submitted portraits of Riegert by hundreds of local artists. Of the 252 portraits, Riegert personally kept almost 50... Read More