The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination

12/02/2024

The Irma Freeman Center Presents: PITTSBURGH AVANT-GARDE. Opening First Friday, December 6th, 2024

This exhibition features over 50 Pittsburgh artists who all started from the underground art scene.

in tandem with the upcoming release of the book “Pittsburgh Avant-Garde: 60 Years Inside the Underground Art Scene” compiled and edited by our director, Sheila Ali.

The opening reception will take place Friday, December 6th 6–9 pm with classical music duo Erin Snyder and Doug Lischner playing at 7:30 pm 🎶

See you there 🌟

Artwork by

11/04/2024

Join Clown vs Puppet for at the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination for unforgettable night of laughter, wonder, and puppetry! Presenting a new series that showcases an eclectic mix of clowns, puppeteers, and circus artists, this event promises to be unlike anything you’ve seen before. Kicking things off:

✨ TOYBOX - All the way from Asheville, NC, America’s favorite cartoon witch!

🎩 Oryan the O’Mazing - America’s #1 clown with a frown!

🎙️ Dave English - America’s most tolerated emcee!

💃 Bonus performance by “Cheryl Capezzuti’s Puppets for Pittsburgh Dance Club” - Pittsburgh is in America!

Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind show, filled with humor, whimsy, and surprises.

🎫 Tickets available at the door! 🎫

See you there!

11/01/2024

Art Show and Auction happening TONIGHT at the IF Center! “This Is Me” by Let’s Get Free

Over 200 pieces of art for auction! Free entry, 6-9 PM. See you there 😊

10/29/2024

“This Is Me” Art Show and Auction will open on Friday, November 1st at The Irma Freeman Center! 6-9 PM

This is the 7th annual art show by Let’s Get Free

“This Is Me features work from over 80 incarcerated artists, and 60 artists in solidarity with ending mass incarceration. All the artists’ work combined total 200+ artworks!

There are over 100 pieces of art up for auction benefiting Let’s Get Free, a local prison advocacy group. The auction begins at the opening on November 1, and will run for three weeks until Monday November 18 at 9pm. People can bid in person at the Irma Freeman Center, or online. All money raised will support the work of Let’s Get Free.” 

We are super excited for this show and the wide range of important art it showcases! Free entry! See you there

10/24/2024

Just Harvest Presents: justART!
Tonight at the IF Center, 7-10 PM
Look for the links in our bio to get your tickets and see the art for sale!

Tonight features an art show and sale, food and drink, artist talks, a food justice discussion, and more!

Music by .exe

Art Pieces in order:
“One Party System” by Andy Schaner
“Knit Together” by Dawn Wallhausen
“Growing Pains” by Brent Pheto

10/24/2024

TOMORROW: October 24 - 7-10 PM

Just Harvest’s annual Art Show & Fundraiser, justART! At the Irma Freeman Center!

justART! will feature:
• Art Show & Sale 🎨
• Featured Artist talks 🗣️
• What’s next for food justice in PGH?🥗🥪🍕
• Cocktails and small bites🍹🫦
• justART merch

Food justice is important! Click the link in our bio to get your tickets now!

10/18/2024

Happening TOMORROW at The IF Center: “Zeitgeist!” The Ruth Freeman Klawansky Pop-Up Memorial Exhibition. 2pm. Free to enter!
Ruth was the second daughter of Irma and Louis Freeman. She was raised in Pittsburgh during the post-war years in a traditional Jewish home. Ruth was profoundly affected by the Holocaust, and the stories about the loss of relatives and millions of others. Like her mother, Ruth found art to be a kind of spiritual liberation. As a way of coping with life’s adversities, Ruth always expresses herself through art!

10/18/2024

10/12/2024

Some how this was missed by the crowd. The book had a generous donation from 601Artspace in honor of Biko's memory! We now are only a few thousand away from our goal. We will be going to print soon! Please try to pre-buy our books sooner rather than later, to help reach 3k left to go!!! Here you yo! Please share!

10/11/2024

POP-UP ART SHOW happening tomorrow, October 12, 1-5 PM. Free to enter! No tickets necessary

There will also be a Sally O’Malley costume contest on October 13th, 7-8 PM. Prize for the best contest and highest kick! 🦵

10/03/2024

CLOSING SHOW TOMORROW: “Miller, Mullen, and Pohl” from 6-9 PM.

Last chance to see this show on First Friday! See you there ✨

10/03/2024

Become an investor in Pittsburgh'sAvant-Garde for as little as $50 with your money returned to you with interest! This is a great way to help the project succeed!

10/02/2024

09/30/2024

Plese join us and tell all your friends!
https://gofund.me/2ef187a0
Sue Abramson, Abira Ali, Rick Bach, Chuck Barr, Bill O-Driscoll, Kenneth Batista, Romare Bearden, Ruth Bedeian, Christine Bethea, Emory Biko, Black Sheep Puppet Festival, Mike Bonello, Joan Brindle, Eric Calfo, Cheryl Capezzuti, etta cetera, Dennis Childers, tENTATIVELY, a cONVIENCE, Doug Cooper, Katy DeMent, Jim Dugas, John Eastman, Edward Eberle, Samir Elsabee, Industrial Arts Co-op, Karen Lillis, Irma Freeman, vanessa german, Ryder Henry, Industrial Arts Co-op, Chris Ivey, Ashley A. Jones, William A. Karaffa, Tim Kaulen, Diane Keane, Laverne Kemp, Ruth Klawansky, Evan Knauer, Michael Mangiafico (FIG), Jean McClung, Bekezela Mguni, Laura Jean McLaughlin, Duane Michals, Bill Miller, John Morris, Thaddeous Mosley, Ellen Chisides Neuberg, Ed Parrish, Jr., David Pohl, Robert Qualters, Curtis Reaves, Larry Rippel, Samuel Rosenberg, Tom Sarver, Richard Schnap, James Shipman, Spahr, Spaz, Christina Springer, Subrosa, Andres Tapia-Urzua, Tree, Mary Tremonte, Scott Turri, Edgar Um Bucholtz, Andy Warhol, Women of Visions, Bob Ziller, Anonymous, Karen Antonelli, Jim Brindle, Jaime Bird, John Cleaveland, Cara Gaetano, Chris McGinnis, David Harris, Heather Mull, Mark Perrott, Dan Peindl, Sherry Rusinack, Sandra Streiff, Hong Zhao, Alice Winn, Artist Image Resource, Boom Concepts, BoxHeart Gallery, Bunker Projects, Concept Art Gallery, Contemporary Craft, Digging Pitt, GalleriE CHIZ, Garfield Artworks (Susan Spier), Adrienne Wehr, Eric Holmes, Irma Freeman Center for Imagination, Lauri Mancuso, Mattress Factory Museum, David Bernabo, Pat McArdle, Steve Mendelson, E. Murray-Finkelstein, Orgone Cinema, Richard Parsakian, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Brady Lewis, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Jen Saffron, Rivers of Steel, Ron Baraff, Silver Eye Center for Photography & The Turmoil Room!

I am the director and curator of the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination, and I am ask… Sheila Ali needs your support for Help Print Pittsburgh's Avant-Garde!

09/23/2024

A POETIC OF SPACE is running in the bathroom of the Irma Freeman Center through September 29th.

This is an immersive guided meditation experience with synced lighting, music, video, and audience interaction. It was first premiered in Oslo, Norway and now has brought it to Pittsburgh!

This is a one-at-a-time experience. Follow the link in our bio (under IFCI links) for tickets and more info!

09/19/2024

NEW EVENT: SEPTEMBER 21st, 6-9 PM

the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination welcomes an Emotional Drag Spectacular with some of Pittsburgh’s best drag performers playing your feelings: Max Starvinia, Catty Wampus, Luci Dreams, Morrigana Regina, Land Shark, & La Foole. Hosted by drag clown Roy G Bivness, with live crafts, story time, facepainting, popcorn, bubbles, and guest stars from Arcade Comedy Theater’s family friendly improv team “Penny Arcade” coming with games and teaching emotional literacy!

Featuring tabling from the QMNTY Center and local vendors. The experience will bring together all of your favorite art forms for one evening of fun! Feel free to dress up or come as you are, either way you’ll get a prop bag! Containing bubble wands, sparkly paper crowns, fidget toys, and more than you could ever imagine.

The show starts at 6:00PM with 15$ tickets, but with a discount for families (or groups) of four to attend for 50$! Whether you’re a Disney Adult or looking for an Inside Out experience for the whole family, this is the event for you!

Follow the link in our bio for tickets, or get your ticket at the door!

09/16/2024

Don't forget to buy the book at our presale in order to get your copy before the end of the year! Our order goes in soon! In the meantime here are some more sneak peeks!!!

https://www.irmafreeman.org/preorder-pittsburghs-avantgarde/pittsburghs-avant-garde

09/16/2024

Don't forget we need to sell more books and soon to get them here before the end of the year. Make great gifts!! Here are some more sneak peaks!!
https://www.irmafreeman.org/preorder-pittsburghs-avantgarde/pittsburghs-avant-garde