PITT'S 14TH ANNUAL INTERGENERATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL BRINGS YOUNG AND OLD TOGETHER

PITTSBURGH, April 28 -- Hundreds of schoolchildren from throughout Western Pennsylvania will converge on the University of Pittsburgh Tuesday, May 4 through Friday, May 7 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. for the 14th annual Intergenerational Arts Festival at the William Pitt Union (WPU), at the corner of Fifth Ave. and Bigelow Blvd., Oakland. This year's event involves more students than ever before. The daily schedule is attached.

Sponsored by Pitt's Generations Together, the festival will unite more than 35 senior citizen artists with 800 elementary, middle and high school students in four days of multi-arts experiences. This year's theme is in the spirit of the Zulu word "UBUNTU: We Are Today Thanks To Those Who Showed The Way."

The elders will teach the children how to design quilts, make origami figures, or paint unique watercolors. Other hands-on workshops involve stained glass, woodcarving, art from nature, fabric banners, magic, cartooning, percussion and the art of doll making. Lower elementary students will participate in the workshops Tuesday, May 4; upper elementary students take part on Wednesday, May 5; middle school students attend on Thursday, May 6; and high school workshops are on Friday, May 7.

Performing artists include the elderly tap-dancing duo called The Dancing Demons, The Pittsburgh Banjo Club and storytellers John Gore and Cathy Raphael. All of these performances, free and open to the public, take place in the WPU Assembly Room on the first floor.

As part of the festival, the month-long "Arts Across The Generations," will be on display at the WPU Kimbo Gallery from May 4 - May 30. It features artwork by children and older artists; this year, some works depict the festival theme -- honoring our elders who have positively influenced our lives. The gallery is open May 4 - 7 from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. The remainder of the month, the gallery can be opened by request at the WPU information booth.

Generations Together is Pitt's award-winning intergenerational studies program that brings senior citizens and young people together in a wide range of unique programs and activities that promote mutual growth and understanding. This event is supported by the Grable Foundation, Duquesne Light, the Howard Heinz Endowment, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Little Sisters of the Poor, Artist and Craftsman's Supply, A & B Smith, and Standard Ceramics.

For more information contact Cornelia Davis at Generations Together at

412-648-7154.

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