Always Looking for a Future Tenant…

[Pittsburgh has a ton of awesome colleges and universities. From time to time, we’ll cover cool ways to connect with them. First up? Laura Jackson highlights CMU-sponsored gallery Future Tenant, a creative space you’ll definitely want to check out before you graduate.]

There’s a tiny, quirky gallery that resides on 9^th Street and Penn; it’s squeezed between a parking garage and a pizza place. Of course, I’m speaking about the one and only Future Tenant gallery in Downtown Pittsburgh.
 
Founded in 2002 as a collaboration between the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Fine Arts and Masters of Fine Arts program, FT (Future Tenant) strives to remain on the cutting-edge of installation and performance art. Ever year, the gallery is maintained by a different group of Arts Management students, keeping the gallery fresh and original. Several of Pittsburgh’s up-and-coming artists and performers have emerged from this gallery space.
 
Basically, Future Tenant is a place for CMU faculty and students to test the limits of the art world. The core programming of FT involves: guest curators, artist residency programs and open mic night. Future Tenant works tirelessly to span all genres of art and to provide a nurturing environment for new artists.
 
Several of my colleagues and friends had spoken of the brilliance of this gallery; I decided to experience it for myself. The first show I was lucky enough to attend was titled Your Place at the Banquet.
 
This show was a combination of performance and installation art; it discussed the issues of sustainable and organic food. I heard of this show thanks to the Mattress Factory Museum (located on Pittsburgh’s North Side). While I volunteered for RAD day at the Mattress Factory, the Your Place at the Banquet exhibit occurred on the 3^rd floor of the museum. Every guest who attended the exhibit clamored for the homemade butternut squash soup. Instantly, I was sold on the exhibit! The same evening, I searched for Y.B.A.T.B. on Google and discovered that the show closed in two weeks at Future Tenant gallery. I attended the closing day and imagined guests huddled around the whimsical, topsy-turvy table. There was a huge wooden jungle gym-like sculpture in the gallery as well. One of the gallery attendants informed me that this sculpture represented a human’s intestines (and the performance artist “slid” through them during the opening reception). In addition, I watched videos and viewed prints, which spoke of the advantages of organic and sustainable food.
 
The next exhibit (actually, a show) was a performance piece (Future Tenant’s first ever Open Mic Night). I worked up the courage to read one of my poems aloud in front of the gallery, along with some of my favorite quotations and philosophies. Honestly, I’ve never felt so liberated, free and at peace than on the stage! The crowd reacted with ease as they laughed at the appropriate times and gazed in wonder during the more serious moments. The audience enjoyed my performance so much that I inspired a gallery goer to read a poem on the spot!  Afterwards, the Performing Arts Manager of FT invited me to January’s Open Mic night.
Needless to say: mission accomplished!
 
Lastly, I attended the opening reception of the Pretty Pictures: Tugboat Print Shop exhibition. Tugboat is a husband/wife printmaking team (run by Paul Roden and Valerie Lueth out of their home studio in Lawrenceville). Thanks to the Mattress Factory (yet again), Tugboat quickly became my favorite Pittsburgh printmaking studio! Paul Roden attended the opening reception; I was privileged enough to converse with him about his work, his wife and their new baby! I bought a nice print from him as well. Overall, this show represented a great opportunity for me to network and add to my art collection!
 
From political issues and performance art to fine arts and crafts, Future Tenant presents traditional art forms with a contemporary twist. Carnegie Mellon University faculty and students have created a safe, nurturing and educational environment for novice artists to introduce their work to a smaller, non-threatening audience.
 
Whether you are a Pittsburgh native or visitor, devoted artist or stick-figure connoisseur, every person will be able to appreciate the talent and work that goes into the Future Tenant Gallery. I encourage you to stop by during your next trip to Downtown Pittsburgh. Who knows? You might just find yourself on stage with the artists!
Future Tenant is at 819 Penn Avenue Downtown. Want to learn more? Visit their website or email info@futuretenant.org.