Art and tragedy: The Butler’s Keifel connection
Related Stories
A new exhibition of Holger Keifel’s iconic photographs will open Sunday at the Butler Institute of American Art, marking the third time the museum has displayed the German-born, New York-based artist’s work
But how did the Butler’s two-decade relationship with Keifel begin? With an introduction made by Jim Pernotto, the Youngstown-based abstract artist.
In 2002, Pernotto was living and working in New York City. A former curator at the Butler, Pernotto was visiting his hometown and stopped by the museum to talk to Louis Zona, director of the museum.
Knowing that Pernotto lived near the Twin Towers, Zona mentioned that he wanted to do something special to commemorate the first anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack.
Pernotto told him about his friend, Keifel, who took many photographs at Ground Zero after the tragedy.
That conversation turned into Keifel’s first exhibit at the Butler, which consisted of five monumental photo portraits of first-responders titled “WTC Rescue Workers.” All five of the portraits were eventually purchased by the Butler and became part of its collection.
Keifel will visit the Butler on April 7 for a reception and gallery talk.
THE VINDYS to be featured during PIRATES telecast
The Vindys will become the first Youngstown band to be featured on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Friday Night Rocks series.
Bands in the series are shown performing multiple times during breaks in the action duringPirates games telecast on AT&T Sports Network.
The Vindys will be featured during the April 5 telecast of the game against the Cincinnati Reds. The band will do the video shoot at its performance Thursday at Jergel’s Rhythm Grill in Pittsburgh’s north hills. The show starts at 8 p.m.
The Vindys also have a Friday show at the Music Box in Cleveland and a hometown show March 29 at West Side Bowl.
ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL IN NEARBY WEST VIRGINIA
Montani Semper Liberi – Music & Art at Oak Glen, a three-day celebration of music, the arts and West Virginia’s cultural heritage, will return to the Oak Glen High School complex (just outside New Cumberland, W.Va., near Mountaineer Park) this weekend.
The event will feature a roster of nationally and internationally renowned bluegrass, blues, jazz, folk, Celtic and Americana touring artists, as well as a wide array of local and regional performing artists. There will be 19 performances spread out over four sessions during the three days.
The acts include the Tim O’Brien Band, Steve Forbert, Mean Mary, Bill Toms, The Rad Trads, the Cave Twins, the Speed Bumps and May Erlewine.
Passes are $20 for single sessions and $60 for the full event (all four sessions). For information, call 304-374-7474. Go to musicandartatoakglen.com.
IS THIS EVEN LEGAL?
Questlove (of Philadelphia band The Roots) and Live Nation will introduce Questlove’s Cheesesteak at outdoor venues – including Blossom – this summer. It is a plant-based twist on the classic Philly cheesesteak, made out of Impossible Meat (you’ve heard of that, right?), and it’s healthy and environmentally friendly.
I’d just feel better if they didn’t try to link it to a Philly cheesesteak. Some things are sacred.
Guy D’Astolfo covers entertainment for The Vindicator. Follow him on Twitter at @VindyVibe.