Grab a spoon and head to the South Side Soup Contest, check out the LA-based BODYTRAFFIC dance company or see the visual art show "Envisioning A Just Pittsburgh" — here's what to do in Pittsburgh this weekend.
Visual Art
Justice, equality and community resilience are the themes of “Envisioning A Just Pittsburgh,” a partnership between the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, The August Wilson African American Cultural Center and 1Hood Media. The show brings together generations of artists working in a range of media. The second annual iteration opens at the Wilson Center on Thu., Feb. 20, with an evening celebration as part of the Center’s Intermission series. It runs through March 30, and admission is free.
Visual Art
See what the next generation of artists is up to at “The End That Never Was,” at Downtown’s SPACE Gallery. The exhibit features work by first- and second-year master’s of fine art students from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Art. Eight artists working in film, sound, virtual space and tactile media explore “fan culture, language acquisition, memory, affect” and more. The opening reception at this Pittsburgh Cultural Trust venue is Fri., Feb. 21.
Food
The South Side Soup Contest marks its 20th anniversary. Once again, some 1,000 soup fans will traverse the length of East Carson Street trying samples of soups of all kinds from more than 40 local restaurants and other businesses, and voting for winners in multiple categories. As sponsored by the South Side Chamber of Commerce and The Brashear Association, this fundraiser is among Pittsburgh’s most venerable food traditions. Soup’s on starting at noon Sat., Feb. 22.
Music and Dance
Born under the trauma of South African apartheid, the troupe of vocalists and dancers known as Thula Sizwe has risen to global fame by keeping alive indigenous Zulu culture. The 10-man troupe’s current tour includes a series of workshops this week at local schools, organized by the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus. On Sat., Feb. 22, comes an afternoon festival chorus concert at North Hills Middle School. That’s followed by a daytime community sing and full-length solo concert on Sun., Feb. 23, at Shadyside’s First Unitarian Universalist Church, and a Feb. 27 public dance workshop at Hill Dance Academy Theater.
Music
Music by Black composers is the focus of A Choral Celebration of Black History Month, a concert by the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh. The show features work by contemporary American composer Adolphus Hailstork, Duke Ellington, Pittsburgh-raised Billy Strayhorn and more, including the premiere of Bach Choir artistic director Thomas W. Douglas’ “Shout Joy.” There are two performances, the evening of Sat., Feb. 22, and the afternoon of Sun., Feb. 23, both at East Liberty’s Eastminster Presbyterian Church.
Dance
BODYTRAFFIC is a Los Angeles-based troupe with a national and international profile. The acclaimed contemporary dance company visits the Byham Theater this week courtesy of the Pittsburgh Dance Council. The show is Sat., Feb. 22.
