Giant Inflatable Art Objects Greet Visitors to Pittsburgh As Part of Pittsburgh Roars Cultural Celebration

Giant Inflatable Art Objects Greet Visitors to Pittsburgh As Part of Pittsburgh Roars Cultural Celebration

PITTSBURGH, May 16/PRNewswire/ --

The Monongahela Monster, Houndstoothy the Squirrel, and Pittsburgh's
Painted Pachyderm are just a few of the giant inflatable art objects greeting
visitors to the Greater Pittsburgh region as part of the Pittsburgh Roars
cultural celebration.

(http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060410/NYM066)

Pittsburgh Roars is a collaborative effort by more than 70 cultural,
civic, and community partners to get people out, enjoying and appreciating
the region as a vibrant place to live, work and visit.

Commissioned by The Sprout Fund, an organization that provides outdoor
public art, ten giant inflatables will be on display at various Pittsburgh
Roars events throughout the region. Designed by local artists, these immense
art objects -- most of which are nearly 30 feet tall -- will travel around
Pittsburgh to be placed together and individually, inside and outdoors at
different locations throughout the Pittsburgh region to draw attention to
Roars programs and special events.

According to Marguerite Jarrett Marks, spokesperson for Pittsburgh Roars,
"these wonderful, colorful, and larger-than-life outdoor sculptures embody
the spirit of Pittsburgh Roars, and we hope convey a sense of whimsy, fun and
excitement to visitors who come to Pittsburgh to enjoy our wonderful
architecture, museums and cultural attractions."

Several giant inflatables will make appearances this summer at various
locations throughout the region in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Roars
initiative. "Pittsburgh has always been appealing to European visitors who
admire the region's significant historic landmarks and work by such well
known architects as Henry Hobson Richardson and Frank Lloyd Wright," says
Jarrett Marks.

In addition to rich architecture, there is no shortage of world-class art
museums in Pittsburgh, including the Carnegie Museum of Art, whose current
exhibit, "Fierce Friends: Artists and Animals," was originally presented by
the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The Warhol Museum on the city's North Shore
is another essential museum stop for any visitor to the region who admires
the artistic vision of Pittsburgh-born Andy Warhol.

Amid the architecture and cultural attractions, visitors to Pittsburgh
will enjoy the city's long-standing importance to jazz music. MCG Jazz,
celebrating its 20th anniversary, part of the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild on
the city's North Shore, promotes jazz through special performances,
recordings and concerts throughout the region. Many famous jazz musicians
made their start in Pittsburgh's Hill District, and that legacy lives on
today.

Making European visitors feel at home in Pittsburgh is a top priority of
many of Pittsburgh's hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts. Several hotels
located in Downtown Pittsburgh have multi-lingual staff ready to help foreign
visitors make the most of their trip to the region.

For more information on travel in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region,
visit www.visitpittsburgh.com . A complete list of Pittsburgh Roars related
programming and events is available at www.pittsburghroars.com .

Pittsburgh Roars

Pittsburgh Roars is celebration saluting Pittsburgh and the surrounding
region. Launched in March 2006, Pittsburgh Roars encompasses more than 70
cultural, sports and entertainment venues, civic, community and economic
development organizations, corporations, and foundations that have joined
forces to present an unrivaled schedule of unique public events, attractions
and activities. For more information, visit www.pittsburghroars.com.

Web site: http://www.pittsburghroars.com
http://www.visitpittsburgh.com

Source: Pittsburgh Roars

Barbara Vilanova of Pittsburgh Roars, +1-412-242-0796. Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060410/NYM066 / AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org / PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

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