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Tom Sarver

Tom Sarver's upcoming show at 707 Penn Gallery is a play on the art gallery experience, blending art with the interactive experience of shopping. The artist will be present at posted times during the run of the show. His variety of interactions may include making alterations to the work, playing records, performing puppet shows and hocking his wares. The show will include drawings, sculptural assemblage works and collections of objects. Many pieces will be available for trade or easy purchase. Unscheduled activities will be performed by the artist (and friends) throughout the run of the show.

Sarver's idea for the exhibition sprang from family stories about his grandfather's general store once located in the East End of Pittsburgh. The project looks at the neighborhood store as a gathering place; a site where stories are told and relationships are established. The artist’s previous social projects include creating a Downtown Bait & Tackle shop installation, opening an interactive community museum at the Mattress Factory (The Tom Museum), organizing a series of game show-style art contests (Art Olympic Theater) and transforming the Carnegie Museum of Art’s Richard Serra sculpture into a site for apocalyptic contemplation.