Gateway to the Arts
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Pittsburgh, PA 15206

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Spotlight on: Amir Rashidd

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Artist, educator, writer, musician, and master storyteller Amir Rashidd likes “to go and fit in with the kids.” Before starting his creative arts residencies, Amir likes to visit and get to know the young people and adults with whom he’ll be working. It sets the atmosphere for an engaging and fun experience.

“My wife says this is my way of living out my second childhood!” he says.

Amir_002Known as “Baba (father) Amir,” Mr. Rashidd joined Gateway’s roster in 2009 as a storyteller in our summer Story Time programs for libraries. Amir is starting off his 2010 work with Gateway through a number of visual arts residencies.

In the coming months, he'll be working with children and parents at Wilkinsburg Family Center, Lincoln Park Community Center and Northview Heights Family Support Center creating projects such as murals, reliefs and masks. Visiting each site on average four times, Amir always donates one cost (and funding)- free visit to each location. These particular family support workshops are part of Gateway's progam in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh's Office of Child Development, which aims to educate, celebrate and strengthen families through art.  Additionally, this month Amir will also begin a visual arts residency with first grade students at the Helen S. Faison Art's Academy's after school program.    

Amir Rashidd has been rostered with the Southern Connecticut Library Council as a storyteller, worked for the Bridgeport Connecticut Board of Education as a teaching artist and currently participates in Pittsburgh's The Legacy Arts Project.  His wood carvings were featured in the 2008 exhibition, Art Kings of the Hill: Inspired by Life in Pittsburgh's Hill District at the August Wilson Center Gallery.  

 
 

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  • March 15, 2010
    Call for Artists


    Gateway to the Arts is now seeking professional performing artists and/or teaching artists in all art forms interested in engaging pre-K-12 grade students in their arts discipline and/or Gateway’s models of arts integration. While seeking candidates across all disciplines, we are very interested in arts and technology integration. Interested artists must have professional references and clearances.



    Read more...

Latest Updates

  • May 17, 2010 
    Announcing the Family Performance Series

    On Saturday, June 19, at 3 pm Gateway to the Arts will launch its first ever Family Performance Series at the tent in Schenley Plaza in Oakland with a showcase by performing artists Delta Blue. The newest ensemble to be added to our roster, Delta Blue invites children and parents to dance the cakewalk, tap, sing and twist along with them, as they perform classic tunes that highlight the history of African-American music and dance. The set is the same performance program that is touring to schools.


  • April 17, 2010 
    Root American Music Award

    On Friday March 26, Gateway to the Arts awarded the second Root American Music Award, named after musicologist and former Gateway Board President Deane Root, to Boyce Campus Middle College High School teacher, Joanne Krett. The award recognizes an exceptional teacher who has participated in the Center for American Music at the University of Pittsburgh's Voices Across Time program, designed to assist teachers from different disciplines in incorporating American music into their curricula. Krett, an English teacher, uses music and lyrics as primary learning material, as a tool to connect to the humanities overall and to engage her students more deeply in the curriculum.  

    In addition to this recognition, Joanne and her students also received a free performance program by the acoustic blues duo Wiggins and Harris sponsored by Gateway in cooperation with Calliope: Pittsburgh Folk Music Society