I’m in the process of planning an Art Olympic Festival to take place on Saturday, August 29th 2015 on the North Side of Pittsburgh. The event, a contest inspired by the Iron Chef TV show, features three teams of artists competing over three hours to make winning sculptures out of piles of junk. Teams are judged in categories such as “creative use of materials and best performance.” The highly interactive event allows audience members to get up close and see the work in progress. Visitors are welcome to make commentary on the show, and to participate in a “half-time show” competition. The August 29th event will by hosted by the Neu Kirche Contemporary Art Center as part of their Fallow Grounds artist residency series. Festivities are scheduled to begin at 4 PM and run until 6:30 PM. The event, located at an empty lot near the Neu Kirche Center, is free and open to the public. Previous Art Olympic main event shows have happened at the Mattress Factory, The Union Project, the New Hazlett Theater, and Market Square. Shorter, table top events have taken place at the August Wilson Center and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.
In 2008, Art Olympics at Market Square was a main event of the Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh. Photo by Larry Rippel.
2007 event at the New Hazlett Theater (with Art Olympic Trophy).
Sketch for the Art Olympic Fest, Fallow Grounds Residency at Neu Kirche Art Center.
Tom Sarver 