5.30.2011

Our Dreams for the Circus

Over the past few weeks, we have been rallying together local artists, writers, musicians and actors who want to take part in this event. They have offered us poems, music, monologues, artwork and all kinds of creativity inspired by the Steel City.

However, we want to make sure that our event also explores local environmental issues. We are looking for local scientists and environmental activists to join us. They would be given the opportunity to set up booths and learning stations about the local ecosystems and the challenges they may be facing. This would be the perfect opportunity for people passionate about the environment to share their knowledge with others, and to spread awareness about issues such as fracking, river pollution, park restoration, invasive species, and so much more.

We are also looking bring together local environmentally conscious vendors. The crowd drawn to the circus will be full of people who are interested in exploring new ways to buy environmentally friendly products and foods. This would be the perfect opportunity for businesses to spread the word about themselves and their missions.

Of course, no circus would be complete without a few clowns. We are looking for variety acts to join us: clowns, jugglers, balloons, face painting and so much more! We want to make sure that this event is fun for all.  Talking about environmental issues can sometimes be overwhelming, and we know that it is important to emphasize joy and wonder, rather then the doom and gloom that so often goes hand in hand with this topic.

All together, we want this event will be full of people who are passionate about their love for this city and all it holds. It is meant to be a celebration, as well as an opportunity for learning. It is our hope that everyone attending this event would feel their love for this city grow ever deeper, and that would be instilled with a sense of wonder about this fantastic city and all of the nature within it.

5.28.2011

Guidelines for Submissions


Submissions should be e-mailed to Athena KitchenFlint at aakitchenflint@gmail.com 

Steel City Presents: The Tree River Circus is meant to be a festival celebrating Pittsburgh’s unique history, culture and environmental struggle. We want to give the city a voice, allowing her to speak through your creativity.  In order to achieve this, we want to hear what you have to say about the city of Pittsburgh, about local history and communities, and about the trees, parks, rivers and all nature within the city.  Your work could be part of a new and upcoming festival right in the heart of Pittsburgh!

Prizes:
-Select entries will be showcased in the July event.
-A board of local theater professionals will choose a first, second and third place winner in each category. Winners will be awarded prizes of merit. (More details to come!)

Please keep in mind:
-Submissions must be your own original work.
-Each entry must include a brief bio with a cover page that includes your full name, phone number, e-mail address and mailing address.
-You will retain copyright power for your submissions
-There is no limit on the number of submission that each individual sends. 
-All submissions will be reviewed by a board of local theater professionals, and chosen on their content, length and connection to the theme. Selected entries will be part of the event in early July.
-Submissions should be sent via e-mail to Athena KitchenFlint at aakitchenflint@gmail.com


What to Submit:
All submissions should be accompanied by a brief bio, including a cover page with the person's name, phone number, e-mail address and mailing address.

Creative Writing: Submit your short stories, poetry or creative essays. Maximum length is three pages for each entry. All files should be sent in .doc or .docx form.

Monologues or plays: Submit your written monologues or short one act plays. Plays should be no longer than 10 minutes. Files should be in .doc or .docx format.

Art:  Submit images of your paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints, photography or cartoons. Include a brief description of the piece. The description should include the materials used, if applicable.  Send .jpg, .png, .gif, or .bmp files.

Music Submissions: Submit your music videos or songs. Include written lyrics, if applicable. Send .avi, .mp3, .aiff .aif or .wav files no more than 40MB each. Lyrics should be in .doc or .docx form.

Other Submissions: Do you have something else you think might be perfect for the Tree River Circus? Contact Athena KitchenFlint to discuss requirements.

There is NO LIMIT on the number of submissions per person. 

Submissions should be e-mailed to Athena KitchenFlint at aakitchenflint@gmail.com

Interested in Finding out more?
Find us on Facebook or on Twitter!

POST EDIT:
While the official deadline is over, we will still accept submissions of art, performance, music and short creative writing. Please e-mail Athena for more information.

5.27.2011

About the Circus

Our Mission:
To bring awareness to local environmental issues by building a community voice through the use of Theater and festivity.

Environmental injustice comes in a variety of forms. No matter what shape it takes, it causes isolation among victims. Victims initially find themselves without a voice and powerless to stop the degradation of the environment around them. They not only feel isolated, but their health is often compromised, further stripping them of their dignity as a human being, further isolating them, and making them feel even more helpless.

One of the most effective ways to combat and prevent suffering is to create community. Community allows each individual to be supported by others that are experiencing the same feelings of helplessness and anger. Through a process of sharing their angers and frustrations with others who feel similarly, they can begin to build a community voice, which is crucial in the process of beginning to fight for their rights.

In this day and age of private lives, the need for community has increased greatly.
Just as a public garden can bring people together, we believe a festival for Pittsburgh and the environment will be very effective at building community and giving a voice to beings, human and non, that are often unable to speak out about the issues they are facing. It is our hope that The Tree River Circus will gather together a community of people who love this city and want to celebrate it in whatever way they are able.

Pittsburgh is a city with a very dirty history. These skies were once full of endless smog, and the night sky glowed red. Over the past few generations, we've managed to make this city into a great green giant.

Now that this city is has regained much of her green, it's easy to forget about the dirty history behind us. We often take our parks for granted, and we've forgotten our past.

The Tree River Circus is meant to be a tribute to the past, present and future of Pittsburgh and her relationship to the environment. It is a celebration for the parks, rivers, animals and humans that call this city home.