Artist Ashley Hodder painted this amazing mural. It’s on the building across the street from A.Boss Opticians. I was picking up my daughter-in law’s glasses Monday morning.
Steel Town Girl Mural in Braddock
Tag: art
Cocktails with a Curator Guest Blog
Art Education, Cocktails, and COVID
From my friend Joanne in Florida
Hi Ruth!
I received a wonderful book from your sister Mary which reminded me of the creative way the Frick Museum NYC stayed connected to the public during their shut down due to the long pandemic.
First, the back story.
During 2020-21, Mary shared a link to a video series that the Frick Museum posted to YouTube. It was one of their ways to offer a virtual means of communication and keep the museum present and engaged. They offered sixty-five episodes of a series called “Cocktails with a Curator.” Each new episode (Friday nights) featured a piece of art from the Frick Collection, paired with a cocktail that “matched” the art. They provided the recipe, the curator would be online with his/her drink, and spend a half hour providing commentary on the selected masterpiece. Wonderful way to spend Friday night happy hour, and you can still enjoy all episodes of this award winning series at this link: Cocktails with a Curator™ – YouTube
Best of Cocktails highlights 15 of the 66 episodes
“Audiences under 21 are encouraged to join with a non-alcoholic drink” so Mocktails it might be
And now about the book. Based on the popularity of the video series, the Frick has produced a volume that presents histories of works of art paired with creatively inspired drinks. For example, Holbein’s painting of Thomas More, who famously clashed with Henry VIII, is combined with a Bloody Mary (named after Henry’s eldest daughter). You can find the book here:
Cocktails with a Curator – The Frick Collection Shop
Thank you Mary, for introducing me to the video series, and for sending me this lovely book. Cheers to you!
Book by Aimee Ng, Giulio Dalvit, and Xavier Salomon
We especially enjoyed the episodes hosted by Xavier Salomon who is now “new Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon, Portugal.”
The Eyes Have It
Eye sculptures!
We were downtown in the Cultural District on Wednesday night, thanks to a generous friend who shared tickets they were unable to use. And there we were, right by the eye benches and fountain. We’d just come out of the Theater Square Garage. We photographed the Eye Benches, sculpted by artist Louise Bourgeois.
Kindergarten Interpretation
Responding to Apples. A Guest Blog
Ruth, your recent blog featuring apples made me think of my friend Mary Ann – a wonderful watercolor artist here in Florida. She is headed to Washington DC in April to accept an award from the National League of American Pen Women, Inc, for her art submission representing the topic of “Apples”.
Founded in 1897, the National League of American Pen Women, Inc. (NLAPW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and promotes professional women in arts, letters, music, and allied professions. For more information go to National League of American Pen Women, Inc. – NATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMERICAN PEN WOMEN, INC. — Linking creative women since 1897
Mary Ann Miller is active in the local (Jacksonville) league and created quite an original take on the topic. She painted “Joie des Pommes” (Joy of Apples) –four scenes influenced by 4 famous artists (Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Cezanne). An apple hides somewhere in each scene …. pretty clever take on the subject. The scenes are created in 3D and framed in a shadowbox … lots of beautiful little details.
2025 Vinnie Ream Medal Winners – National League of American Pen Women, Inc.
Toyosaurus Sculpture at Children’s Hospital
The colorful sculpture Toyosaurus created by pop artist Renee Dupree caught our attention.
Located at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Garage Door Decor
Mural in Lawrenceville by Monstermarblez AKA Chad Parker known for his glass marble creations.
Here’s one article about his artwork and another about his niche of making glass marbles
I was the passenger in my friend’s car. As she popped into the post office, this monster caught my eye
What Laura Saw on her Lunch Break
And texted to me. A Google image search told us the name of the sculpture and artist. Jerzy Kedziora
More on other sculptures by Kedziora in the Park click to see Girl With Yo-Yo and The Rower
Here’s an article Gravity Defying Sculptures Totally Transform Schiller Park Click to see more sculptures
Six years ago I posted a photograph of one of his works at the Columbus library Duo with Chair suspended from the ceiling
Note: Just added this little poem shared by Judy Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire.
There was a boy,
A tiny mite,
Who tried to fly
A mighty kite
But then at last
It came to pass
Both boy and kite flew out of sight!
One of my favorite kindergarten poems❤️ Judy
I read it every year to my kindergarten class. Then each child had to predict what happened to the boy and /or draw a picture or how do you think his mother felt when she saw him?
One of the best pictures was Superman saved him!!! We read it every March! We painted kites and made pattern kite tails. Oh how I miss those days!! Judy S
At the Museum 2
I let Michael set the pace. Two grandsons at the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History in a week’s time.
Server Identifies the Take Out Order with a Doodle
My friend Jen was taking a bbq chicken sandwich home to her husband.
When she opened the bag, she saw the drawing our server Jo had drawn.
Jen said I could “blog it!”
I ordered the street corn for the first time.
Fire Side Public House in East Liberty
