Pratt Fine Arts Center is pleased to announce the unveiling of The Alley Art Project on May 5 from 5 - 9pm in Seattle's Pioneer Square. The community art project, created in partnership with Alley Art, seeks to reclaim alleys for pedestrians, making the neighborhood more lively and sustainable. The project features a glass and metal sculpture, a permanent installation of decorative metal panels designed to secure a rotating display of artwork, and an architectural trellis to facilitate urban landscaping. Metal artist and Project Lead Patrick Maher worked with glass artist Christopher Sternberg-Powidzki of Glasshouse Studios and artist/interns Christine Betow, Tyron Zane Hutcheson, Matthew Nelson, James Salay, Kareem Tai and Alair Wells to complete the project. The opening celebration will also feature artwork created by the interns.

What: The Alley Art Project: A community-based public art project
Who: Patrick Maher, Christopher Sternberg-Powidzki, Christine Betow, Tyron Zane Hutcheson, Matthew Nelson, James Salay, Kareem Tai and Alair Wells
Where: Nord Alley (just south of Occidental Park in Pioneer Square between 1st Avenue S. & Occidental Avenue AND Main St. & Jackson St.)
Opening Reception: First Thursday, May 5, 2011, 5-9pm

About Alley Art:
The Alley Art Project draws on the energy and ideas of Pioneer Square neighbors to diagnose the problems in one forgotten space - the alley running parallel and east of First Ave South, between Main Street and Jackson Street - and to forge solutions.

A broad base of community supporters have stepped up to help with the project. Jones and Jones and the International Sustainability Institute are donating design and project management time, respectively. Glasshouse Studios is contributed glass artwork to be install in the alley.

About the Artists:
Patrick Maher studied at the Art Institute of Boston and Cornish College of the Arts. He has worked as a blacksmith since 1992 and founded Red Door Studios in 1996. Patrick has created extensive public and private artworks, including projects for the Edmonds Ferry Terminal, Meridian Playground and several Seattle p-patches.

Christopher Sternberg-Powidzki started his career in glass at the age of 15 as an apprentice at Thames Glass in Newport, Rhode Island before following his career to Seattle. Chris has studied with Bennett Jordan and Lino Tagliapietra at Pratt Fine Arts Center, and with Petr Novotny at Pilchuck Glass School. He is currently the head gaffer and production manager at Glasshouse Studio.

Christine Betow received a BA in Music Theory and Mathematics from Whitman College as well as a BA from Western Washington University in Outdoor Recreation. Somehow this odd assortment of interests led her to Pratt, where she began taking classes in fabricating and forging in 2008. Her work was most recently shown at Burning Man.

James Salay received a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington and a BA from Evergreen State College. He teaches sculpture classes at Pratt and has worked as a sculptor, craftsman and engineer. James works primarily in wood, metal and stone and is associated with the Burning Man Project.

Kareem Tai is a Connecticut native who originally came to Seattle to study social work and explore the Olympic Peninsula. He's been a musician since childhood and has been making steel sculpture for several years. Kareem works in Pratt's sculpture studios as a studio monitor and independent artist.

Alair Wells received a BFA in Sculpture from The Atlanta College of Art and an MFA in Sculpture from Louisiana State University. Alair has organized and participated in several iron casting workshops and events nationwide; her mixed-media installations have been exhibited in Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago, Minneapolis, and New York. She taught sculpture and installation classes at Binghamton University before relocating to Seattle in 2006. Alair teaches at Pratt and works as a metal fabricator and blacksmith at Ballard Ornamental Ironworks.

Tyron Zane Hutcheson studied at Evergreen State College. He travels widely and has spent time at Pratt as a sculpture studio monitor, independent artist and student.

Matthew Nelson is an independent artist, sculpture studio renter and student at Pratt Fine Arts Center.

Image: Sketch of Nord Alley by Seattle Times artist Gabriel Campanario, February 25, 2010.