Mattress Factory - it made me feel all funny inside.

Over the Thanksgiving break I finally got to the Mattress Factory along with Your Active Art-Loving Husband, and it definitely made me feel all funny inside. I would say it also made my soul giggle and kind of made my head hurt, too.

The Mattress Factory is a contemporary art museum located in the North Side and has all sorts of in your face, interactive, mind-blowing installation pieces. The Mattress Factory is appropriate for all ages and during my visit there was a great mix of visitors from couples to families to grandparents and grandkids. Here’s a video posted recently demonstrating the power of one of the permanent installations on toddlers.

The museum is actually located in two refurbished historic buildings along Jacksonia Street; a parking lot is located at 505 Jacksonia and provides entrance to the main building. And as you enter the building, the helpful staff at the front desk directs you on where to start and what to expect. I highly recommend you pick up one the paper guides to the current exhibit at the front desk; it tells you about the artists and the show. For a contemporary art novice like me, the guide was invaluable!

We started on the top floor (4th floor), which is devoted to the newest exhibit. It is a group exhibition called LIKENESS, all about an artistic exploration of how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us. The installations include a funny piece of storytelling that was one of my favorites. LIKENESS exhibits are also found on the 3rd floor and basement level. **Don’t miss the piece in the basement, it’s both creepy and funny and was also one of my favorites. LIKENESS runs until March 2010.

On the lower floors are several permanent installations including exhibits by Greer Lankton, James Turrell, and Yayoi Kusama that were all pretty trippy. The Turrell and Kusama exhibits in particular are not to be missed. They are very guest interactive and lots of fun and kind of blew my mind. A staff member said that when they hold receptions there they have to watch the guests before they get a little too interactive; I can only imagine!

The second building owned by the Mattress Factory is located about a block and a half from the main museum. This building houses some of the artist-in-residence pieces and is also well worth a look.

For those who are not particular fans of contemporary art and could basically take it or leave it, I do understand you. I mostly missed out on the art appreciate gene, myself, and my interest tends to run to pretty colors and straight lines. I would still encourage everyone to visit MF at least once because I believe this kind museum challenges your perceptions of art and the world, and because I believe supporting the arts has always been a huge part of what makes Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.

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Riverview Park

I was recently out enjoying a fine November weekend and decided to explore Riverview Park. Riverview Park is located just north of Pittsburgh along Perrysville Ave (Route 19). Probably the most well-known and visible feature of the park is the Allegheny Observatory, located on a hilltop in the center of the park. The park itself winds around the hilltop and includes wooded paths, a road/path, several pavilions and a pool. The park opened in 1894 within the City of Allegheny and today is undergoing some improvements thanks to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

At this time of year, there was ample space to park up by the Observatory. Because the leaves are all down, you can get a good sense of the overall layout of the paths and roads without much difficulty (I can imagine in the summer months that the paths would feel much more secluded). I really loved how the domes of the Observatory peaked out through the trees almost everywhere I walked; it was an easy way to navigate and quite scenic as well.

The hillside around the observatory is well maintained with a long sloping lawn. A fenced-in, off-leash dog area is located here next to the Observatory. Around the lower portions of the hillside and on the slopes, the park has a number of wooded paths. The paths can be as short or as long as you like since they mostly double back on themselves. They were fairly well kept and several joggers were out when I was there.

One section of paths that is beyond the hill is the Snyder Point natural area. The conservancy is working to restore the setting and right now with the trees bare, you can enjoy the view across to the Ohio River.

A narrow road winds throughout the park with wide shoulders well marked on either side. This is a great option for bicyclists and joggers, and even a number of dog walkers that I saw. The speed is of cars is kept down and there is little traffic. A few pavilions, a playground, and a pool are also located within the park.

Being lucky enough to live near Frick Park, I get to enjoy the Pittsburgh city parks almost every day. Riverview Park is another nice option within the parks system and we’re lucky to have it. I’m glad I took the chance to explore a new part of my city.

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