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It is amazing to see how Pittsburgh artist and illustrator Abbie Adams incorporates her sensibility and creativity into her artwork. For her Artist Spotlight with Union Project, Abbie created a limited edition print, “Neighbors”, which depicts a diverse group of people whom we may see every day on the streets or have brushed shoulders with. Abbie’s work has reflected her interests in art and community issues, our contributor Stephanie Sun interviewed Abbie to learn more about her’s creative process.

Today we are highlighting a member of the Union Project Ceramic Cooperative and one of our Atrium Artists – Silvija Singh.

Nine-year-old Mia Sanford started taking ceramics classes at Union Project when she was just six-years-old. From the very beginning, the impact of these classes has been visibly noticeable. Her mother, Cara, says Mia always comes out of ceramics class buoyed and elated. “No other activity has the same impact on Mia. It feeds her in a way that other extracurricular activities don’t.

Union Project gave Micah Carter a reason to believe in second chances.

After selling drugs and spending time in prison at a young age, Micah came to Union Project for the opportunity to change his life. Through UP’s mission of strengthening the community one experience at a time, Micah received the support to learn and grow in a safe, welcoming space, working to transform a building while transforming his life.

For the past three years, Michelle Dreyfuss has toted a vanload of children from Mt. Lebanon to the Union Project, every day for two weeks to take summer clay classes.

This week is maintenenace week at Union Project and volunteers from our community, members of the ceramics cooperative, and our staff are all pitching-in to make UP a more beautiful place to connect, create, and celebrate. The major project: painting the ceramic studio floor! Check out a before and after shot of how our space is transforming below...

Last week I and a number of volunteers and UP staff prepared for, and poured a small concrete slab in the parking lot behind the Union Project along Samantha Way. All this was done in preparation for a second gas kiln which was generously donated to the Union Project by the Manchester Craftsman's Guild this winter.