| Waffle Shop: A Reality Show | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | Jon Rubin and Carnegie Mellon University students |
| Year | 2008 - 2012 |
| Type | Performance art, talk show, restaurant |
| Location | East Liberty, Pittsburgh |
| 40°27′37.2″N79°55′30.3″W / 40.460333°N 79.925083°W | |
Waffle Shop: A Reality Show was a performance art project and restaurant in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The restaurant was operated by Carnegie Mellon University students. [1] [2] The Waffle Shop was part of a trend in Pittsburgh to support performance art within the urban core. [3] In addition to serving food, students operate a talk show live-streamed online, featuring restaurant patrons as guests. [4] [5]
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It opened in 2008 by Carnegie Mellon University art professor Jon Rubin as a 2-semester student art project. [6] The project/restaurant was so successful during that initial run that it was continued for several more years. [7]
Some special talk shop themes have included ringtones as "art." [8] [9]
The related sign atop the building was also used for public art purposes, [10] and later became known as The Last Billboard. The billboard stayed in place and continued to be changed periodically until it was removed in April of 2018. [11]
Local food critics reviewed it relatively favorably, noting the unique talk show situation. [12] [13]
It closed in 2012.
