Photographer Rob Larson Captures Pittsburgh's Roller Derby Scene

Rob Larson: Derby

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today's date: August 6, 2012


Rob Larson: Derby
709 Penn Gallery
709 Penn Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District
August 31-October 7, 2012

Opening Reception: Friday, August 31, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Gallery hours: Wed. & Thurs. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. / Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m - 8 p.m. / Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Free and open to the public.

Pittsburgh, PA:  Hip whip. Taking a knee. Grand slam. Rink rash. This is the unique vernacular roller derby, which is alive and well in the City of Champions.  Photographer Rob Larson beautifully captures this bawdy, theatrical sporting subculture, as well as the physical ramifications (like rink rash) found in Pittsburgh’s robust Roller Derby scene with his most recent photo exhibit Derby at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s 709 Penn Gallery.  This exhibit is free and open to the public.

They’re some of the toughest athletes you’ll ever meet. They don’t play on a field of unblemished grass or on a rink of glassy ice. They don’t sign million-dollar contracts. And they don’t have lucrative endorsement deals.
Roller derby is made up of tough, smart and fascinating women who work up a sweat, get bruised, and sometimes draw blood for no other reason than they love the sport. They are sisters, daughters, wives and mothers. They are teachers, designers, and small business owners. And they all skate to win.  Through the collection of portraits that make up Derby, Rob Larson captures the spirit and power of an attraction that has, much to the thrill of its fast-growing number of fans, gone from 70s Saturday afternoon camp to today’s serious adrenaline rush.

About Rob Larson
Pittsburgh-based photographer and mixed-media artist Rob Larson enjoys photographing urban landscapes, people and the suburban nights. This is followed by his interest in employing silk-screening, wheat-paste and spray paint to make art that he liberally covers in shellac. Schooled traditionally in photography, Rob focuses on more intense lighting and heavily geometric compositions to pull together images that tend to be more ambiguous with their stories and statements.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Rob Larson, email rob@roblarsonphoto.com or call 412-965-0579.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh