Autumn Harvest Art Show Benefits Hollywood Theater

The Autumn Harvest Art Show will feature the works of Dormont artist Karen Larsen, along with those of 50 other area artists, on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Hollywood Theater, 1449 Potomac Ave., Dormont.

Admission to the event is free. The event also includes two "creepy" short films and a feature-length film.

The show will benefit the .

Artists will receive 60 percent of the sales for their works—ranging in price from about $55 to $1,000—and the remaining 40 percent will be split between the theater for programming and operational costs, and Most Wanted Fine Art, which curated the exhibit along with Moxie DaDA.

Nina Sauer, an avid theater supporter who owns Most Wanted Fine Art with her husband, Jason Sauer, on a section of Penn Avenue in East Liberty that is considered Pittsburgh's art district, used to work in Dormont and fell in love with the theater. She worked with the previous management to try to save it.

The hope is that the theater can host a seasonal art show to display the talents of local artists, she said. A similar event was held in July, but this particular exhibit celebrates the "season of change."

"We have some (pieces) that are Halloween themed and some that are trees and leaves," Sauer said. "It's really a nice mix. Every piece of art is for sale."

Each artist has one work on display with the exception of featured artist Karen Larson of Dormont, who has 11 pieces. Most of the artists will be in attendance to discuss their artwork.

Taking advantage of the theater's capabilities, the organizers also chose three "creepy films" (not rated) for screenings from 7 to 9 p.m. since, Sauer said, "filmmakers are artists, too." The films from Pittsburgh filmmakers, shot using local casts and crews, are:

• "Zombie Proof," a six-minute short film.

• "Still," an eight-minute short film written and directed by David C. Snyder.

• The Quiet Arrangement, a 98-minute award-winning feature film also written and directed by Snyder.

"I just love it," Sauer, who is involved in the 48-Hour Film Project, said of the ability to incorporate films into the evening's offerings. " I believe in what they are trying to do."

From 9 p.m. through closing, Pandemic Pete will spin tunes for transglobal sound destruction. The deejay mixes transglobal music with hip-hop for a unique dance sound.

"We're working to try to build a community art space," Sauer said. "They want the Hollywood Theater to be a community event center—a place where you can experience things."