“Pittsburgh Recollections” a Mural by Romare Bearden
Port Authority Downtown Pittsburgh- Gateway Center Station
“Pittsburgh Recollections”Romare Bearden Mural
To see and read more about the mural painted by Romare Bearden in 1984 click the article here.
Appraised at 15 million dollars.
Most people who pass by it on their daily commute, probably have no idea. It’s 60 by 13 feet.
I tried the panorama setting again on my new iPhone.
City County Building Hosts Pittsburgh Carrick High School Art Show
Update: 5-13-13
Just added this gorgeous panorama photographed by Instructional Team Leader for the Fine Arts Department -Michael Dean.
The Pittsburgh Carrick High School student Art Show is hung and waiting for the Monday opening reception at 5:30.
Anyone who works in this magnificent building will get a sneak peek during the day. There were ten of us working most of the day Saturday to hang the art and place the tags by each piece.
Awards ceremony is Monday evening at 6:30 PM. Sponsored by CITIPARKS!
How about those Tiffany columns? The marble, the windows, the painted ceiling? And all the student artwork? Wow!
I can’t wait for the students to see their artwork on display in such a wonderful setting.
There will be refreshments at the reception.
Everything looks great!
You have to see it in person to get the full experience.
If you are in the city, please come see the amazing student artwork.
(Parking downtown gets cheap after 5)
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P.S.
Remembering our mothers every day of the year
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The Extraordinary Art of Bodhi Wind
Buddha became the enlightened one, under a Bodhi tree.
This is the name taken by native Pittsburgh artist who tragically passed much too soon, the day before Thanksgiving in 1991. If you graduated from Perry High School, Pittsburgh Public Schools, class of 1968, you knew him as Charles Kuklis. An incredibly talented artist, he was always sketching and drawing.
Recently there was an article by Joe Smydo in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about what to do with an artist’s work after they’ve died.
Bodhi Wind painted the murals for Robert Altman’s 1977 film 3 Women. (Click here to read about the movie and see a photo of Sissy Spacek and Shelly Duvall and one of the large murals painted by Bodhi Wind.) He designed clothing for Cher and his work was shown in Architectural Digest May 1978. An archived article in the NY TimesApril 26, 1977 by Jennifer Dunning is online.
A blog by Angeliska shows more photographs of Bodhi painting the murals for 3 Women. We read on this blog that his mother, Jean Kuklis (also mentioned in the PPG article) would welcome speaking of her son and his art.
I had the good fortune to meet Mrs. Kuklis, her daughter and granddaughter, Monday afternoon and got to photograph some of Bodhi Wind’s artwork. His mother generously shared his story and creative artwork and I wanted to share it with you. I had the privilege of seeing pieces he created in high school, too.
She hopes her son’s art could be shown in a large space, a bank, hotel lobby or convention center. Some of the painted panels are big.
Many are painted on wood and interestingly framed.
Readers who would like more information about the artworks should email Bodhi Wind’s family Bodhi.Wind.Art(at)gmail.com.
detail from the Octagonal
This is one panel of a series. Very large. It needs to be turned right side up. I left a bit of his sister in the pic on the right so you get the idea of the scale.
Sculptor Paul Roger-Bloche Mother and Child Statue
On the way back from getting coffee with a colleague last Thursday, before the evening session of Open House, S. showed me this statue. Today I returned to photograph it in the sinking October sunlight.
As I drove home, I was thinking about a mother’s love for her child after spending a little time photographing the sculpture.
One block from school - Paul Roger-Bloche bronze sculpture,
L’Enfant,
created 1899.
Overbrook Boulevard and Ravilla Street intersection.
Here’s a link to the story about how Boy Scout Troop 224 rediscovered this statue beneath vegetation, when just the head was showing through. 
Art Car Show in Garfield on Penn
Friday night I read about the Art Car Show in an article in the Post-Gazette. At this show, there weren’t any cars like the Art Car in Columbus OH I posted a couple of years ago.
Steve and I ventured out Saturday afternoon and what started out as a gray, dark day became perfect
First, we met George and his 1973 VW Thing. He came when the weather was good as his vehicle has no roof! Made in West Germany and customized in Redondo CA, he bought it in Indiana and told me his goal is to have every car he thought was cool when he was a kid. He has five cars and I should have asked him what the other four were but that question will have to wait for the Oktoberfest Car Show at the old VW Factory in Westmoreland next Sunday, October 14th.
Jason Sauer of Most Wanted Fine Art Gallery was the host of the event and showed me his demolition car named DOA and “that’s what it is” he said,”Dead!” That is why it was covered with a white sheet!
Parts of it have been torched out of the body and grace his Art Gallery walls and there is even a car pieces wind chime hanging from the tin ceiling of the gallery. He was the host for the day. He was at an event in Texas and had Xerox Most Wanted signs and people posed for the piece you see on the gallery wall. All the photos are on the trunk of a car, hanging on the gallery wall and the participants tagged themselves on FB.
Sam Thorp posed by the van she painted.
Steve bought a psychology book at Awesome Books a few doors down and he pointed out the giant sleeping cat in the front of the bookstore. We had fun in Garfield Saturday afternoon.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Create
Limiting myself to a single image, shot on my iPhone at school. I like to document their artwork.
Teaching art to K-8 students, I had many choices.
I am posting this first grader’s response to the question What is Your Favorite Thing About School?
Here are some fellow bloggers responses to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Create
Weekly Photo Challenge: Friendship
The sunflowers are a gift from a friend.
This photograph was taken in the art room today on my iPhone. Most of the middle schoolers were on a trip. After lunch I had a few who didn’t get to attend. This wonderful painting was created by a young man named Scott. He painted the sunflowers a friend had brought me.
I didn’t want to leave the flowers at home alone so took them with me to school. They were so vibrant and summery.
Oh, the unexpected surprise of the gift of flowers from a good friend.
Friday after school, I put the bouquet on the front seatand when I arrived at my son and DIL’s home and took them out of the car, my granddaughter ran down the hill of the front yard to greet me and said excitedly when she saw them, “Oh we studied that artist! ” Later in the craft store she picked up a Starry Night Umbrella and told me it was the same artist as the Sunflowers. She’s 8 1/2 and just completed second grade Tuesday.
Thanks for the flowers, friend. I thought it would cheer you to see them in Scott’s painting.
(And that eyeball glaring from the chair is from the cover of a book that belongs to Scott’s classmate and friend, J, who told me he has checked out the photos on this blog! Cool. )
To see other responses to the weekly photo challenge click here
And the Opening at UnSmoke Artspace
The third day. The actual opening. The third in a series of posts highlighting emerging artists and their exhibition.
It was a great night at UnSmoke Artspace, Braddock PA. Seems to make sense to show the successful and well attended exhibition after two days of hardwork and preparation.
Everyone was waiting and waiting for the plank to break as Aaron drilled and drilled for more than four and a half hours. You can see him fall in the blurry photo and applause broke out!
Congratulations to Aaron Meyers and Justin Sorensen on (Voice of rational being)
Justin Sorensen Sets Up Exhibition (Voice of rational being) at UnSmoke Artspace
After a drive from Rhode Island School of Design to Erie PA and then today to Braddock, PA, Justin Sorensen is setting up his artwork for Friday night’s opening at UnSmoke Artspace . Yesterday’s blogpost showed Aaron Meyers installing his portion of the exhibition but Justin hadn’t arrived yet.
I called Aaron and asked if I could come over and shoot Justin for the blog and he said it was fine by them.
I drove over with my neighbor who can’t make the opening so he could catch a preview of the exhibition. Justin was a good sport and we didn’t stay too long as they were really busy completing the final preparations. Twenty four hours later and Aaron was still drilling into the brick walls.
They took a break and showed us around and I was able to capture Justin and his artwork for today’s post and photos. Opening Friday night at 6 PM. Unsmoke Artspace 1137 Braddock Avenue, Braddock PA.
Justin Sorensen and Aaron Meyers at UnSmoke Artspace in Braddock PA, ready for Friday night’s opening of (Voice of rational being)
Aaron Meyers Sets Up Exhibition (Voice of rational being) at UnSmoke Artspace
After school on Wednesday, I drove to Braddock. Directly across from the Edgar Thomson USS Mill is an old Catholic school building that’s been transformed into a spacious art gallery. UnSmoke Artspace.
This Friday night (May 11th 6-9PM) is the opening of (Voice of rational being) An exhibition featuring the works of Aaron Meyers and Justin Sorensen.
I was fortunate to spend an hour or so watching Aaron set up some of his work and followed him around, shooting and talking and only once did he ask me to hold a plank while he drilled into the brick wall so I wasn’t too useful. He was gracious and explained his exploration of materials and how he had transported the art in a truck and what his performance would be during the exhibit.
One thing that struck me is how Aaron inquired about my teaching at school AND about what my blog is about. So although I was there for the purpose of photographing him and his art, he expressed interest in what I do and it was an easy exchange. Aaron has empathy and understanding for the teaching as his mom and I are colleagues. He told me how almost every school he attended in the city is now closed.
1137 Braddock Avenue, Braddock UnSmoke Artspace
Across the street
People at Work: Body Artist
This is not your ordinary face painting!
Last week one of my student’s moms came in to create a special gift for the Communications student teacher as a farewell present on her last day of student teaching. The timing of it fell on Friday afternoon when they were scheduled for Art class and they asked if it would be okay and I agreed it would be fun to see an artist at work. ( I think she is going to return for Career Day, too)
Michele Johnson is the owner of 7 Heirs Body Art Co/ 7 Heirs Media and was telling us about how she was doing body art painting during the Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears concerts, drawing a crowd as concertgoers looked on at her work. It is true, she is quick and creative and the design appears rapidly and beautifully and the addition of jewels tops it off. The students gave a nice round of applause and it took no time at all!
Have an event and need some pizazz, call Michelle 412. 586.5006 or email her – kristal_klere(at)yahoo(dot)com
Kindergartener’s Night Snowmen Painting Transformed into Note Cards
By her thoughtful mom. (who granted permission for me to post the art cards)
This amazing set of handmade notecards is tied together by a thin thread. Unexpected gift.
Kai’s mom took her artwork and scanned it and reduced the size and then created these beautiful cards. It says Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Hawaiian cause that is where she is from. We are fortunate to receive her volunteer help at school- she posted a bulletin board full of student artwork in the vestibule so parents and children are welcomed with colorful art!
Perhaps you read the book Snowmen at Night written by Caralyn Buehner and illustrated by Mark Buehner, That book in our library was the inspiration for the painting.
Lovely to receive such a thoughtful and handmade gift.
Mona Lisa Lying Down on her Side in Short North Alley
Friday afternoon we (guests from Florida) and my brother and sister, explored the neighborhood of Short North after we ate lunch in German Village. When asked what we should be sure to see, a woman recommended this painting of Mona Lisa. (painted by artist Brian Clemons) We had fun trying to find it, asking several residents where she was……uh, oh, yes, I know I have seen her….not far….hmmmmmm
A short diversion from the task at hand . We had coffee at Cup of Joe afterwards.
All set for the wedding on Saturday afternoon.
Sunlight Through Paint Jars
When I teach students how to put markers away I teach them the order of the spectrum. Kindergarteners can do it! We sing a little song, red orange yellow green blue purple a few times and they line them all up in the boxes. I say, “Don’t forget the brown and black. SNAP THE CAPS!” And a box of eight markers is in pretty good shape for the next class.
Anyway, the paints were lined up in order on the counter and when I came upstairs after the buses left, I saw the sunlight coming through the jars of glitter paint we’d used earlier. I have no idea how we received a box of glitter paint but we did. The colors were brilliant and I got excited as I rushed to get my camera. Here’s what I could catch.
Paint Splats in an Art Room Sink
Six years ago when I came to the school I am now, there were dried out paints in containers that had been moved to our school. I soaked them to reuse the containers. And when the water went down the drain, this is what was left. I taped newspaper over the sink and made a little sign. DO NOT USE SINK. I didn’t tell them why, The next day I brought in my camera, removed the newspaper and photographed the paint splats in the sink. It was really interesting to me. So this is another from the archives. Abstract expressionism.
Custom Framing for 30 Years and He’s Not Even 50 Yet!
That’s what he told me. And he’s been in business for 25 years! I went over to Panza Gallery in Millvale and owner/artist Mark Panza was busy busy busy. He really didn’t need me there Thursday afternoon but he was gracious. Kept on working. I broke his concentration at first by showing up and wanting to shoot him for the People at Work Series, even though we had talked about it on the phone, when it is actually happening it might not be so convenient.
Let me tell you I have a new understanding of why custom frames are not inexpensive. Lots of steps and precision, measure, measure, measure. Concentration, strength, math, craftsmanship. Thanks Mark for allowing me to capture you working. And remember he’s open Wed-Friday 10-5 and Sat 10-3.
That is a pneumatic stapler and you can hear the compressor gear up!
Pittsburgh Artist Captures 16th Street Bridge on Canvas
Thursday evening Bill Pfahl was painting the 16th Street Bridge down in the Heinz Plant parking lot. I was on my way back from Sheraden and headed home. I called Bill to tell him about the churches I saw in McKees Rocks Bottoms- two Ukrainian and one Orthodox and one Byzantine. The sun was dropping on their domes and I pulled off to photograph them. Turns out Bill has already drawn them in pastels and they were sold and are on display in a Wyndam hotel in Oakland 3454 Forbes Avenue
A man came out to his car to go home and he complimented Bill on his artwork. I asked him about the ketchup. Hasn’t been made in Pittsburgh since the 70′s. They made ketchup packets for fast food chains here but all the ketchup is made in Ohio.
I have the Most Holy Spirit Church in Millvale painting on my living room wall. I bought it from Bill during the Art Teacher Show at the Board of Ed a few years ago.
My People at Work series has taken twists and turns this week focusing on artists- emerging and established. Bill is the artist who painted the church Mark and Erika were married in and gave it to them as a gift. I learned about armillary spheres and how the four of them on this bridge were brought by truck and boat as they were too wide for the railroad. Remember the recent Artist’s Palette Post? Bill was gracious to allow me to photograph him while he was trying to paint before the sun set and the light was gone.
Here is Bill’s
palette for this painting.
Bill packs up his paints and brushes as the sun goes down
Click here to see more Pittsburgh painting by Bill Pfahl
Jennifer Panza: Emerging Artist
I went to Panza Gallery in Millvale on Wednesday. Took a watercolor to be framed and wanted to shoot Mark Panza the owner as he said he would be happy to be part of the People at Work Series. But something came up and his daughter helped me choose a nice mat and frame for my painting and I asked Jennifer if she would be part of the People at Work series. She graciously agreed after I explained the project. So I photographed her a few times in the gallery and then I asked her if she still made jewelry and she said yes but she said she had some ceramics downstairs. So right then and there I created a new project- I am starting an EMERGING ARTIST series of photographs! If you know any emerging artists who are in the area and would like to be featured on the blog I would be happy to photograph them and some examples of their artwork. Why not? It is hard to get started and I know a ton of people who make, buy and collect art so why not use the blog to show some of their work and them? Jennifer just got her braces off and paid the final payment on them and check out the ceramics with the teeth. Surely her othodontist needs that piece in the office on display!!! If you want to see more of her ceramics or jewelry just call Panza Gallery 412.821.0959.Or leave a comment and she can contact you. Jennifer is still in school AND working at her dad’s gallery, and when I was there she had opened the place, was working on invoices, taking calls and selecting frames and mats. Thanks Jennifer.
An Artist’s Palette
I was talking to my artist friend Bill Pfahl and asked if I could post a photo of him painting a scene of a church in Lawrenceville. Part of my people at work series. He agreed. Turns out I shot him in 2006. Tuesday I’m going to ask when he’s painting, if I can find him in the city and shoot another portrait. Here is his palette. He painted the church where Mark and Erika were married and gave it to them as a gift. It hangs in their front hall where it changes as the light changes throughout the day.
Artist Helène Aylon at the Warhol Museum
I asked Ms. Aylon if I might take her picture (with my iPhone these days) and she graciously agreed. Then she suggested we take one under the portrait of Julia Warhol, Andy’s mother. It was Mother’s Day.
Her exhibit The Word of God: Helène Aylon, The Liberation of G-d and The Unmentionable runs through June 26th.
To read about Helène Aylon and her art visit her website.
Photographer Rick Byerly runs the Pittsburgh Art Blog click here for more information.
Details also at the Warhol calendar
A solo exhibit
at the Warhol
is very cool.
Right here
in River City- Pittsburgh.
(Photograph posted with artist’s permission)
Paints in Muffin Tins- A Still Life
from the archives Click here and checkout the Royal Wedding Towel from 1981 on Keep or Pitch today
Paints in Muffin Tins
{
Thanks for the well wishes
and emails. I’m coming along.
Today is one from the archives.
Reminds me of an abstract painting
on a museum wall.
Fiber Artist’s Palette- Like an Indoor Garden
Spools and spools of thread. Silk. Cotton. Metallic. All colors. Some shimmer. Rich colors. Waiting to be selected, a length cut and the needle threaded. The embroidery comes alive under the artist’s fingers stitching. I had asked Joan B if I could photograph her thread as I have another photo from before but today the light was so nice. She made coffee in a French Press and homemade sticky buns, a Fiesta bowl full of fresh fruit cut up and mixed with yogurt and honey. An indoor garden of color! And the little cushioned chair holds the needles and pins.
Colors Create a Feeling
And these invite me
to think Spring.
Sunday night Thunderstorm-
March lions roar a day early.
Wanted some bright color for today's post. Knew where to find it! Joan's studio.
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