Suzanne Watters - a local Pittsburgh area silk screen artist - has a display of her works at Christine Frechard Gallery - Squirrell Hilll.

                      
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    On Sat. May 31 - 2014 - during a lovely late afternoon - the large scale silk screen artist - Suzanne Waters is setting up a sumptuous opening reception of her nicely framed works at Christine Frechard Gallery - 5871 Forbes Ave - at the very heart of Squirrel Hill - Pittsburgh, Pa 15217. The exposition will last about a month until the end of June 2014. Click on
http://www.christinefrechardgallery.com to get more news about the various events at the gallery.
    The local artist - a Sewickly resident - Ms. Watters - a tall, strong and statuesque appearing lady about forty years old with long, brown hair and brown eyes - answers my interview questions while she puts some finishing touches of delicious looking horse'de'ovres and fine wines spread over the Christine Frechard Gallery - tables. 
    Ms. Watters says that she works on one project at the time and the choice of two colors gives her an opportunity to pick the best combinations - however - frequently - when she lifts the screen for the final time - she is pleasantly surprized at the unexpected end results.
   Click on her website:
suzannewatters.artspan.com
to find out more about this local artist who also teaches Art History and History of Visual Communications at Rober Morris University. Ms. Watters states that working on her art projects gives her a good feeling of recharging her energies; in addition - she likes to market and distribute her works as well as she is looking forward to the orders for some commission projects.

Pittsburgh's - Shadyside - Sonoma Williams Store - A Botique for Aspiring Chefs - holds terrific technique classes - most Sundays.

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       On Sunday May 4 - 2014 - a local young chef/Cooking School instructor named Mike presented several Latin American - specifically Mexican staples. The technique session consisted of the demonstration of several Latin American - Mexican staples - among them - fresh Salsa and delicious Chicken Fajitas - featuring chunks of chicken - marinated in Margarita mix which were braised with several seasonal, vegetable strips - on the electric grill .
      Mike did an excellent presentation of both items. He highlighted various ingredients - all available in Sonoma Williams - in slightly higher price versions - however - the quality and presentable packing always justify the prices which are a little higher in Sonoma Williams stores.
      The Sonoma Williams store in Shadyside - 5516 Walnut St - Pittsburgh, Pa 15215 - always presents the seasonal visuals in an extremely appealing manner. The clientele of that store consists of an exciting mixture of customers - some of which are connected to a prominent and prestigious - Carnegie Mellon University Campus located right next to Shadyside. The shops, coffee shops, upscale eateries of Shadyside as well as several bars of that "she-she-poo-poo" part of town - are characteristic of that popular part of Pittsburgh right next to a legendary, European style - Squirrel Hill - which is very similar in character; both areas convey the atmosphere of easy luxurious but classy - life styles.

A short interview with a Philadelphia visual artist - Antonio Puri during the opening reception of his mixed media art exposition at Christine Frechard Gallery - Squirrel Hill - Pittsburgh, Pa 15217.

                      
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               On a lovely, breezy early evening - Sat. April 26 - 2014 from 5pm till 8pm - Christine Frechard's Gallery in Pittsburgh's - Squirrel Hill hosted an opening reception for a Philadelphia visual artist - Antonio Puri - who works in mixed media. The exposition will last a month.
       I ask Mr. Puri - a tall, athletic looking guy in his early forties - who looks Latin or Italian - several questions about his work and the source of his inspiration. He tells me that when he was growing up in India in a city of Chandigarh - the French architect LeCorbusier inspired Puri with a motive of geographical shapes which dominate Mr. Puri's works. 

      The artist - also - told me that his artworks are the extension of him. Mr. Puri mentioned something interesting - namely that his major work - a big piece of mixed media hanging prominently on the wall of the Christine Frechard Gallery - art piece - consisting of a thirty or so - squares - could make a suitable markette for the front of the building for some architect.
       Antonio Puri further explained to me that as far as marketing of his works is concerned - he contacts the art gallery owners and art agents while working on his art pieces. He gets the ideas for his art works from life experiences. 
      When I asked Mr. Puri what he would be doing if he wasn't busy with his art - he answered that he had no plan "B" of any kind.
    "I need to do my art - like I need to breath."
 
       Important note: Since publishing this interview - Ms. Frechard has closed her art galleries in Pittsburgh area - however - Mr. Puri's website - antoniopuri.com - is worth exploring.

 

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Christine Frechard Gallery - 5871 Forbes Ave - Pittsburgh, Pa 15217 (Squirrel Hill) - had a terrific swing event on Sat. Apr. 19 - 2014.

           
               
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     On Sat. Apr. 19 - 2014 from 9 pm till midnight - Christine Frechard's verstile Art Gallery - turned into an exciting nightclub with Jimmy Sapienza - Pittsburgh's veteran swing vocalist expertly and generously entertaining - the diverse public - consisting that night of some youngsters from neighboring Oakland - the home of Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh - mixed in with some middle aged and older - Squirrel "Hillers". 
     Last night - Jimmy's accompanist - a short, slight but unfortunately blind/sightless keyboard player - demonstrated his mastery of the instrument and good rapport with Mr. Sapienza whose choice of the repertoire also needs to be given the proper credit. The lasting hits of Louie Prima and Frank Sinatra always strike a chord with the listeners.
   Some good dancers showed off their dance steps on an "improvised" gallery's fine wooden dance floor. The atmosphere of a relaxing spring night - attracted some young dancers who also demonstrated a lot of excellent, new dance combinations.
    Next week - we will give you a review of the opening reception taking place on Sat. Apr. 26th - 2014 - 5:30 pm - the new to the gallery, modern American artist -Antonio Puri - originally Indian - lately from Philadelphia - will present his works. For more details - click on Christine's website -
   www.christinefrechardgallery.com

   Stay tuned for that "write-up" and have a very happy Easter 2014 to all!

      An Important Note:  Christine Frechard's Gallery - has subsequently closed in that location. You can google Christine Frechard's Gallery - Pittsburgh, Pa. - area - to - possibly - find her other location. 

Visual Arts Artist - Bettina Clowney displays her paintings at Christine Frechard Gallery - Squirrel Hill - 5871 Forbes Ave - Pittsburgh, Pa 15217.

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        An established Philadelphia artist - Bettina Clowney - displays her watercolors and oils at Christine Frechard Gallery. The opening reception and the interview with the artist -  took place on Sat. March 22 - 2014 - from 5 pm till 8 pm. The exposition will last from March 22 - 2014 till April 25 - 2014.
        Ms. Clowney - a distinguished looking lady with an "artistic" twinkle in her bright blue eyes explained that she usually works on developing at least two painting ideas at the time since the paining projects tend to progress at "their own - right pace". She uses the so called "glazing" technique which applies several subtle layers of colors - to arrive the unique combined shades of delicate hues.
      At any rate - you need to check out recent expositions at Christina Frechard's Gallery - so for more details - first google Christina Frechard Gallery in Pittsburgh, Pa - to see which artist she currently - hosts. She recently relocated her gallery to a different part of Pittsburgh where she has more space.

      An important notice - Christine Frechard has moved her gallery from Pittsburgh's - Squirrel Hill to the Pittsburgh's - Lawrenceville - Butler St. - location. However - as best we know - in Sept. 2024 - Ms. Frechard - has also - closed the second location. You can always - google her name and the name of the art gallery - just to make sure.

Pittsburgh's - Squirrel Hill (a faboulous - artistic - progressive - affluent - "with it" - part of Pittsburgh) has a fantastic new art/languages/educational - center.

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      Four years ago - Christine Frechard - a doctoral candidate from University of Paris - that is Paris, France not Paris, Texas - who came to finish her doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and decided to stay longer - opened a new, shick, slick and cozy art gallery which hosts other "artsy" events - as well. Last night's opening reception for Ann Brewer - a local artist who paints impressive, large, color-bold paintings - turned out to be a fabulous event. All the great food and drinks - notwithstanding - the Sat. Jan. 11 - 2014 - 5 pm till 7 pm - opening attracted a lot of diverse Pittsburghers - some from Squirrel Hill - some from other parts of the city.
    A little, ten-year-old art patron who wore an adorable, dark colored, formal suit with the bow tie in place - looked very cute and was well-behaved which the ten-year-olds not always do. He was visibly interested in some primitive art pieces featured prominently in Christine's gallery. Her selection of African masks looks impressive - especially - considering the moderate prices.
    Long story - short - in a nutshell. You need to visit Squirrel Hill's new gallery at 5871 Forbes Ave - Pittsburgh, Pa 15217. 
          Have a great weekend - everybody and look for more announcements of super cultural and fun events of all kinds happening in the gallery!!!

     An important note: Christine Frechard has - subsequently - closed her gallery - and the address indicated above - currently - as of 2025 - is rented to a dress shop.

Mike Walko's Ballroom Studio in Monroeville (a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pa) hosts a lively New Year's Eve Party 2013/2014.

                
                          
    Hello to all the numerous fans of this website, welcome to the first feature in 2014!!!

       The short review of the New Year's Eve Party 2013/2014 - in a nutshell - it was good. The small but well-established ballroom studio in Monroeville, Pa - the suburb of Pittsburgh, Pa - held a lively and fun - New Year's Eve Party on Tues. Dec.31 - 2013. The good feature of the event - much appreciated by all of us who don't like to "flush" the proverbial, hard-earned bucks - down the toilet - was the reasonable price of the ticket in addition to bringing a dish to share.
      The studio provided champagne toast at midnight, terrific ballroom dance music system plus - in addition to the dishes for the food - came the kitchen to fix the snacks. Even though their New Year's Eve party favors were skimpy - the studio owner - Mickey - dressed sharp and was a gracious host - notwithstanding his advanced age and him - recovering from a recent surgery.
     The variety of people present made an interesting ingredient in making of a cool New Year's Eve evening. It turned out that the life of the party became an older lady - dressed "to kill" in a seductive manner with her dancing style in the same mode - a good dancer - nevertheless - whose beautiful daughter and a shy son-in-law - somehow did not mix in as well as the older lady but they seem to enjoy themselves. 

    Still - the older lady - kept all the best male dancers present - happy since they could make comments about her "free" dancing style to their younger, and more attractive partners while the older "superstar" for the evening continued to "dazzle" as she belted out "Felice Navidad" in a surprisingly pleasant voice. Not boasting or anything - but I had to help her with the Spanish lyrics since I know five languages very well.
     The best thing - though - about this New Year's Eve party of 2013/2014 - was that I - unexpectedly reconnected with a couple of old friends, great ballroom dancers whom I have not seen for a few years.
      Keep dancing ballroom in 2014 - everybody - so the New Year 2014 will be great for all of us!!!

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A note of explanation:

Mike Walko passed away - a few years ago but Pittsburgh, Pa. has several good dance studios for ballroom dancing. Please - consult Google.