PYRO Galley is 15 Years Old, and members of the artist's co-op Bette Levy and C.J. Pressma were with bus November 29 to talk about the anniversary exhibit opening in December. Tune in LVA's Artebella On The Radio on WXOX 97.1 FM or stream it on Artxfm.com each Thursday 10-11am.
C.J. Pressma is primarily a digital printmaker as well as a textile artist. He is a
founding member of PYRO. In 1970 he founded the Center for Photographic Studies – an alternative school of creative photography. In 1978 he was awarded a National
Endowment Fellowship in Photography. In 2001 he was one of 84 artists selected by the Brooklyn Museum of Art for its landmark exhibition: Digital Printmaking Now.
Bette Levy is a founding member of LAFTA (Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists), a past member of Fiber Forum, an arm of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, a past vice president, board member and Kentucky state representative for the Surface Design Association, and a member of numerous other textile, arts, and community organizations. She has written articles for Surface Design Journal, Arts Across Kentucky, and other professional journals.
PYRO Gallery was founded in 2003 by CJ Pressma, Marilyn Whitesell, Debra Clem, Erin Devine, Susan Gorsen, Michael Brohm, David Modica, Cean Peevey-Rosenthal, Mitch Eckert, Keith Auerbach, and the late Susan Moffett, who was very excited about what said this about PYRO’s future: “Potential in that, this "Butcher Block" area will be a destination once all the development is complete - Butchertown is blooming! And possibilities in that having several smaller galleries will allow us to have more exhibits up by different people, perhaps some guests of PYRO. Not to mention some fun and challenging installation/performance artwork.”