Tag: Mark Panza

Look Up – Panza Gallery

Weekly Photo Challenge: Look Up

He looked up.  I looked down.  Can it count for the challenge?

Mark Panza, artist, photographer and gallery owner.

He looked up at me on the stairs. Oh no, all I had was my phone.

You’ve met Mark on the blog before.  He creates those peaceful mediation lights.

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I was in Millvale Friday afternoon.  The Pittsburgh Society of Artists Show is up and the opening is 6PM Saturday night.  They were asking members who are photographers to volunteer to photograph events so I said I would. Thought I’d check it out when it was empty first.  A sneak peek below. More to come.

Tomorrow night the gallery will be filled with people!

Etna Memorial Day Parade 2016 is my piece on left.

On the way home, stopped at a light in Lawrenceville. I looked up -saw the Artist Crossing Sign

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(Note to self: I’d better get my windshield washed if I am going to photograph through it)

 

 

by Categories: Art, Photography, Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 16 Comments

Meditation Lights Created With Dual Image Photographs

When I went to pick up my order at my favorite framer, Panza Gallery in Millvale, I saw these lights aglow.

They are “lights not lamps“, Mark Panza said.  “You can leave them on all the time and they don’t get hot.”

They caught my eye and I asked Mark about them.  Turns out he makes them and not to share his trade secrets but he uses his signature combined dual images containing architecture, figures, and or nature.  He constructs the base from frame scraps, builds a glass or plexiglass box, adds an LED light  and then Mark lines the box with his image.  Each one is unique.

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In some of the pieces you can see recognizable architectural details from the William Penn Hotel downtown Pittsburgh and Sacred Heart Church Rose Window in Shadyside.

 

 

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They looked even better when Mark switched off the gallery lights.  There was still a lot of daylight from the door but they really glowed.

 

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You may have seen previous posts with Panza Gallery featured.

Mark (and his lovely daughter Jennifer) always do a great job framing my photographs and artwork.

Panza Gallery is “dedicated to the Pittsburgh artist”.

Millvale, PA has a lot happening.

 

 

by Categories: People at Work, PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , 8 Comments

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!
by Categories: Art, People at Work, Pittsburgh PhotosTags: , , , , , , , 12 Comments