University of Pittsburgh Library System

Please join us Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 6-7 p.m. at Pittsburgh Public Theater for a presentation and exhibit featuring the work of August Wilson Archive Student Research Award Recipient Maria McDill. During her research at the archive, Maria compared scripts from Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean play and explored their evolution and Wilson's creative writing process. She used this information as inspiration for her quilt....more

Please join us for a reading of scenes from a new, in-process play inspired by the August Wilson Archive and written by August Wilson Archive Community Artist Scholar and Playwright a.k. payne, MFA, on Friday, July 11, 2025 from 6-7 p.m. at The Dr. Vernell Lillie Theatre at Pittsburgh City Theatre....more

Please join us on Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 6–8 p.m. at Moka on Soho Gallery for an artist exhibition opening which will feature the work of six of our August Wilson Archive Community Artist Scholars: Charlotte Ka, Errol "Mo" Reynolds, Janet Watkins, Deavron Dailey, Amir Rashidd, and Lynne b. All six artists spent time researching within the August Wilson Archive during their award period...more

Please join us for a video screening of the short film Learning To Hate, Wednesday, June 11, 2025 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Archives & Special Collections Instruction Room, 340 Hillman Library, 3rd Floor. This film was created by August Wilson Archive Community Artist Scholar, Ulric Joseph. Learning To Hate explores the current racial climate of America through the lens of the past while using Wilson's works as a reference for reflection and black truth. ...more

Please Sailor Dia for a research presentation, discussion, and special performance on Thursday, May 15, 2025 from 5-8 p.m. at The August Wilson House. Dia will be sharing what’s sprouted from their research and development as a Community Artist Scholar at the August Wilson Archive. This event will feature a hybrid presentation and discussion about what we can learn from Wilson through analyzing his production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. ...more

Please join us for an artist exhibition featuring the work of Imani Batts, a Pittsburgh native with an unwavering commitment to sustainable fashion, on Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6-8 p.m. at Studio 4. Her new body of work titled Nothing New Under The Sun was inspired by her dedicated research in the August Wilson Archive and plays on themes and characters from King Hedley II and Seven Guitars. ...more

Please join us on April 25, 2025 from 6-8 p.m.at the Archives & Special Collections Instruction Room, 340 Hillman Library, 3rd Floor for a listening party which will feature sound works created by Malik Washington. Malik Washington is a recipient of the August Wilson Archive Community Artist Scholar Award and will present and discuss his recently created body of work which is based on August Wilson's play Gem of the Ocean, set in Pittsburgh circa 1904....more