Stopped by for a visit on the last day of the Sarah Jacobs exhibit, which featured mainly large oil…read morepaintings mixed with digital art. The exhibit was sooooo great. The space is very clean and looks nice. It seems like a nice place to see modern art right there in the main business district of Sharpsburg. The people there are super accommodating and informative about the art. It was nice to come back to Sharpsburg, which is a nice little town to visit. I love how they are one of the only towns left with little parking meters which you will see along Main Street. Make sure to bring your quarters if you go to Zynka. I will certainly be back for some more cool exhibits, or events.

This is a really cool gallery. What I've seen here is beautifully crafted, mostly…read morenon-representational artwork.

Pittsburgh has such an incredible collection of art studios, galleries, and museums and this is…read morejust another one to add to the list. I have been to several shows here over the years. A lot of my friends have had their works featured. In addition, they curate pieces from artists all over the country and the world. They also offer workshops and classes. An all-around great space.

I love small art places. No complaints here. Well done small gallery with high quality retail space…read moreand add in an activity - yes, please. Wish I lived closer, so I could take a class. Or visit late afternoon and walk next door to Hopfarm Brewery. Now there's a winning pair!

Right across the street from Scratch in Troy Hill, lies a building that might not stand out in any…read moreparticular way, but if one goes over to it and pays attention to a historic marker on the wall, you realize that this building (and surrounding area) has quite a history. And inside the building is an art gallery that is open 24/7, but is also always closed. "Gallery Closed," is the name, and there are two rotating exhibits on display that are viewable through the windows. For more info, you should check out their website, and definitely check it out in person if you are in the area ... Cheers!

Don't be misled by the clever name, the Gallery Closed is always open, and that's part of the…read morecharm. You can peer inside the 2 windows to see the current exhibition. It's all part of Troy Hill's exciting emerging art scene. See the exhibit, then stay to tour one or all of the Art Houses.

This is a newish art gallery managed by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Admission is free, and the…read morecurrent exhibition is the artwork of Danny Devine .... Soooo much cool stuff to look at in here, most of it Yinzer inspired ... BIG CHEERS!!!!!

I searched almost all of Pittsburgh to find availability for a private lesson on wheel throwing…read moreand everywhere was basically booked up until next year. Then I found this studio that had plenty of availability with very seasoned instructors. I took a private class with Leslie and it was amazing. She really took the time to teach and guide me through wheel throwing, and was VERY patient with me. I knew nothing about this art and when I came out, I felt so accomplished. Also, she's an amazing artist and has been doing this for a very long time. I will definitely be back for more classes!! The price of a 1.5hr private lesson was actually pretty affordable compared to all the other studios I researched too.

I adore this place! I re-learned how to throw on the pottery wheel since my last practice was in…read morehighschool, and my teacher was so kind and made an effort to make sure I was satisfied with my work. The overall ambience is magical and dreamlike. Every worker there has been kind, attentive, and relaxing to be around. Not to mention extremely affordable and accessible. Definitely a safe space. I highly recommend coming here for any creative venture, relaxing outlet, or just wanting to meet new people.

Ryan Arts Center is a gem in the heart of McKees Rocks, and every community could only be as…read morefortunate as this one to have such a wonderful place to learn, grow, and explore their creativity! Jennifer was extremely helpful in providing information to my boyfriend and I since last night was our first time being here. I can say with confidence that it certainly won't be our last. Kevin Mosely was a speaker featured at Ryan Arts last night and he was speaking on Black history and his experiences as an activist. We started out socializing in the art gallery, which at the time was featuring art for the African American Celebration of the Arts. You could even vote for your favorite to be in the running to win a prize, but all the art was so incredible it's been tough to pick a favorite! The gallery had such a cozy feel to it that it almost felt like I was somewhere I'd been many times before. They had small bites of fruit, veggies, cheese and meat for guests to snack on, and even a few desserts. There was a table with some wine on it if you preferred something to sip on before Kevin took the stage for the night. Soon enough we headed into the auditorium, which was nice and spacious. After Kevin finished answering questions from the crowd, we were welcomed back into the gallery to take pictures and speak with him before we left. Jennifer gave us 2 packets of information on upcoming programs such as yoga, cooking classes, etc. She gave us 2 so I could share with a friend of mine that just moved to the McKees Rocks area which was super nice of her! From the outside it's hard to tell how big this place is, but it has the gallery, auditorium, ceramics studio, kitchen, area for painting, reading, and more. There is something for everyone here regardless of your age and artistic ability, and I can't begin to explain how welcomed we felt during our first visit. Can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of the year!

This is far more than a typical venue to see live performances or art exhibits. It's a place that…read moreallows a community to come together through art and music. Several programs and classes are available. There's a coffee shop where proceeds go back into centre. Part of FOR, also known as For Our Renewal which is a community initiative that has been a part of the McKeesRocks landscape for years. In addition to Ryan's they have a senior center, health center and more. Ryan's allows children to cultivate talents through dance, painting and more. A vital part of life in the Rocks.

This is a very unique organization and establishment. As a migrant from Brazil, we feel right at…read morehome with the staff, the bookstore, restaurant and stage. The programs are very unique and yesterday we were able to catch Brazilian music being presented in such a rich delicate style. There might have been 30 to 40 Brazilians in the house and we were so fortunate to have this venue to welcome us in such a warm and artistic way. I encourage everyone reading this review to check their program and have a seat at the restaurant or at the bar to enjoy one of the most diverse venues in Pittsburgh! Cheers and may Pittsburgh's City of Asylum remain a remain vibrant and fun establishment for all people

Super cool bookstore! We found lots of books on poetry, philosophy, and more- plus a nice little…read moreused book section in the back that's fun to explore. Make sure to check out books by the authors sponsored by the bookstore. Such a great contribution to the world of ideas. We weren't there when they were serving food or when there were musical performances, but it looks like a very good space. Anyway, good vibes, good books... what else could you ask for?

Another one of the Troy Hill Art Houses, Mrs. Christopher's was a home formerly owned by said-named…read morewoman until she died. After that, her kids sold the home and the buyer commissioned an artist to make their vision come alive. Currently on the ground floor is a diorama of Christmas Day 1960 -- although if you are form the '80s and '90s, it may feel reminiscent to you as well... ashtray and cigarettes on the table, cookies for Santa, Monopoly on the floor, TV in the background... Upstairs there is a room designed like a small hunting lodge -- yet created to both mock and put down idea of hunting while reminding us of species gone extinct with repeated images surrounding the room via wallpaper. In the attic is a wall of canned goods -- from produce to a snake to a jar filled with beads. On the other side is floor to ceiling boxes -- like an old Sucrets tin or a fancy jewelry box or an old chocolates box purchased for Valentine's Day long ago. Inside are various knickknacks like little figurines or painted leaves stating "mercury poisoning" or acorns. You are encouraged to open as many as you wish. Bottom line: This house is creative in the feelings it evokes, from reminiscing the old holidays, to starting to ponder the ethics of our hobbies, to wondering about how to preserve anything in a jar or other makeshift time capsule and come back to rediscover it with the joy of a kid. At least that was my experience.

This is the fourth, and newest of the Troy Hill Art Houses. If you are not familiar with the Troy…read moreHill Art Houses, they are all individual houses up on Troy Hill that have been turned into art exhibits. There is no admission fee to tour the houses, and you can reserve a time slot on the website. The newest is called "Mrs Christopher's House," and was named after the former owner of the house. The art inside the house was curated by artist Mark Dion, and just opened for public exhibition on October 26th, 2024. Although video and photography is now prohibited on the inside of the houses (It used to be allowed), I snapped a few photos from the outside, and found some online that I re-posted. Inside there are several rooms, and the theming is different in each room. I won't go into too much detail about the rooms, so I don't spoil the surprise, but they are well worth checking out, especially if you like art, and are of the curious sort, and like seeing interesting things . . . Cheers!