history – Ruth E. Hendricks Photography

Millvale Murals are Masterpieces

Right in Millvale PA, across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh.

” Croatian artist Maxo Vanka painted a one-of-a-kind masterpiece on the interior walls of St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, PA. The 25 murals—created in two intense periods in 1937 and 1941—are unique, evocative and larger-than-life representations of faith and family; the immigrant experience in America; social justice and injustice and the horrors of war” from the website Vanka Murals

When I parked on Grant Avenue, I noticed the banner sign on the lamppost and remembered seeing these dramatic and stunning murals at St. Nicholas Church. Information on the website link about how to get a tour and how to support the preservation of these significant and historic artworks.

June 20, 2018June 20, 2018 by Ruth Categories: Art, PhotographyTags: art, Croatia, Croatian Artist, faith, family, history, immigrant, Maxo Vanka, Millvale PA, murals, painting, photography, postaday, preservation, signage, social justice, St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church, war 4 Comments

Oh Say Can You See….a Streetcar?

Pittsburgh Streetcar in the South Hills, right across from the mall.

Streetcars in Pittsburgh History

March 13, 2017 by Ruth Categories: Photography, Pittsburgh PhotographyTags: history, photography, Pittsburgh PA, Port Authority, postaday, railway, South Hills Village, street car, streetcar, tram, transit, transportation, trolley 12 Comments

Fort Okanogan Interpretive Center

We drove in and parked. Through the exhibits and a video we learned a lot about the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Hunting, fishing, artifacts, fur trading industry, There was an exhibit about the 2014 wildfires in the area We were welcomed at the front desk and shown around by the Museum Coordinator- Kristen Heidenthal

Anthropology & Museum Studies majors as undergrad and a Master’s in Archives and Administration

Dugout Canoe belonged to Long Jim a chief of the Chelan Tribe

September 3, 2016 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: Confederated Tribes of Colville, dugout canoe, Fort Okanogan, history, Interpretive Center, museum, Museum Coordinator, Native American, photography, postaday, travel, Washington, wildfire 8 Comments

Killer Heels Show at the Frick Art Museum- Pittsburgh

The other night my dear friends (and blog followers)Tookie and Jack, left two tickets for the Killer Heels Show in my mail basket.

Today my friend Vincie and I used them to see the Killer Heels show right here in Pittsburgh.

We had the best time.

Here’s a gallery of Killer Heels and A link to the show Killer Heels Frick Art Museum and opening night party sounded pretty wild and fun. The show is there until September 4th. Post-Gazette story about opening party

You start by reading the history -men wore them first!

A woman studies the beginning of the exhibit.
1880

Did you ever watch Sex and the City?

Yes, that’s David Bowie wearing the shoes above!

Something for everyone……

Lady Gaga shoe, worn in her perfume ad.

Glass slipper-

Here is an old Post with Killer Heels tag after I saw the show in New York with my sister.

In this second post, I mentioned the Brooklyn Museum First Night December 2014 But I didn’t photograph any of the Killer Heels show then- maybe photography was not allowed?

Today I asked the guard if I could use my phone camera without flash and he said yes

The visitor center had a display case of Mrs. Frick’s shoes

Then we headed home.

Thanks Tookie and Jack. We enjoyed ourselves tremendously.

The Gift Shop

Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe is organized by Lisa Small, Curator of Exhibitions, Brooklyn Museum”

August 17, 2016August 17, 2016 by Ruth Categories: Art, PhotographyTags: #killerheels, fashion, Frick Museum, high heels, history, Pittsburgh PA, shoes, style 22 Comments

TOYS of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Exhibit

Heinz History Center- downtown Pittsburgh

A sampling of the exhibit. I went with the Retired Teachers after a luncheon at Lidia’s.

Memories of childhood in America.

Here are a few-Erector sets and Tinker Toys. Lincoln Logs. Slinky and Etch-a-Sketch, Pac Man and Star Wars. Barbie dolls and GI Joe. Mr. Potato Head and trolls. Spirograph and Cootie. Howdy Doody, Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers.

Maybe you’ll recognize one of your toys from your childhood.

March 11, 2016 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: cootie, dolls, history, iPhone photography, nostalgia, Pittsburgh, postaday, retro, slinky, toys, twister, vintage 16 Comments

In Harmony, Pennsylvania

Harmony – the weekly photo challenge.

I thought a report from Harmony, PA would make an interesting and different post.

Always seeking fresh blog content.

I was already out in my car and drove along the Ohio River without the the GPS. When I put Harmony PA into Maps App I was taken first to the street signs at the bottom of this post. Harmony, Pennsylvania is about 30+ miles north of the city, Pittsburgh.

Unfortunately the Harmony Museum was closed for the day by the time I got to town so will find a willing friend and return. (Preferably on a Spring day with some blue sky.)

I read they have a German Christmas Market, too. Views of Main Street and

Harmony Museum

Town Center

Harmony Fire Department

Bottlebrush Gallery and Center for the Arts

The Bakery

Stohr Haus Bakery on Left

We will have lunch at the Stohr Haus Bakery .

Have to plan to arrive at the right time, next time.

Open Wed-Fri 7-2 Saturday 8-2

Below -the Historical Marker for the Harmonist Cemetery.

“Graves were not marked”

Have you ever seen a cemetery without a single marker?

Link to information about the Harmony Society

Steve and I went to Harmony in March 2010 (blogpost at night) for a poetry reading at the Bottlebrush Gallery

Today I shopped in the gallery- bought tea towels and a baby quilt.

Because I took a circuitous route, avoiding the interstate and driving the secondary roads, my phone GPS took me to 3 Harmony signs near the town of Baden, PA. Unintentional but interesting to find three Harmony signs.

Received a great response from Harmony Museum Thanks Ruth!! A great time to visit us next would be June 11th. It is our Herb & Garden Fair (at our Harmonist Barn), Fiber Festival in town, and Springfest in town. Lots going on! Free shuttle between the barn and town. Food, entertainment, artists, demonstrations, so much to photograph that day! Starts at 9 am and runs until 3 pm, though the shops are open later than that!

March 6, 2016March 6, 2016 by Ruth Categories: architecture, Photography, Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: american history, architecture, cemetery, German History, Harmony, Harmony Pennsylvania, Historic Landmark, history, log cabin, Pittsburgh, postaday, preservation, signage, street sign 30 Comments

Painter of Historic Native American Cultures

Meet fine artist James Ayers, a 1991 graduate of Rhode Island School of Design.

In January, I was introduced to him at the 26th Annual Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, Arizona. If you are in the area, it goes until March 27th.

We were meandering through the exhibited art in the huge white tents and his booth was a standout!

We stopped to chat.

When asked how long a painting this size would take to complete he said “about a week.” Hours and hours.

He photographs his models and pays great attention to authentic details. It was fascinating to watch him paint the hand on Spirit of the Wise Man- Shoshone Painting.

(Click the title of the painting or his name above to see more of his work.)

I know my photographing him while he painted was a distraction but he said it was okay. Thank you James.

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February 17, 2016February 17, 2016 by Ruth Categories: Art, People at Work, PhotographyTags: Annual Celebration of Fine Art, art, artist, fine art, history, James Ayers, Native American Culture, photography, postaday, Rhode Island School of Design, Scottsdale AZ, Shoshone Painting, Spirit of the Wise Man, travel 9 Comments

Reflections at the end of Mother’s Day

How a family grows-

My grandmother and grandfather and my mother held by her grandfather on the right

with my mother’s grandmother and great-grandmother seated- Durand Illinois- my mother born in 1912

Marian Van Sickle in the middle with her brothers on either side John(l) and Robert(r) with parents Judd and Charlotte Van Sickle

My brother David and sister Mary and me in our mother’s arms Montclair NJ 1952

Me in Germany 1983 with Laura (’83) Mark (’76) and Matthew(’80)

On the left, Laura (and James) expecting first baby and Mark (back right) with his family- Erika, Anna, Michael, John Patrick (Jack) and Maura and my sister in the middle back and Erika with her mother and father and aunts and cousins and Henry in the front.

May 11, 2015 by Ruth Categories: Family, PhotographyTags: ancestors, Durand Illinois, family, generations, Germany, grandmother, history, Mother's Day, photography, postaday 14 Comments

Elusive Light, How it Changes Everything

Taken just before sunset

What a difference 20 minutes later

New York City- Christopher Street at Greenwich Street

Formerly the Federal Archives Building built in 1899- for the history click here

April 9, 2015 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: 1899, architecture, Canon 5D Mark ii, Christopher Street, Federal Archives Building, history, light, New York City, photography, postaday, sunset, travel 5 Comments

Ponka Way and Oneida Street- Feb 26, 2015 and Oct 8,1907

Almost all of our snow has disappeared this week but here’s my photo from Mt.Washington, a block from Grandview where I turned from the Duquesne Incline, Feb 26, 2015.

The demolished house structure appears to be the house in the old photo below but not for certain.

Here is the link to the Oct. 8, 1907 image I found at and got permission to show on the blog to compare the two views.

Photo Credit- Pittsburgh City Photographer Collection, 1901-2002, AIS.1971.05, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh. Thanks to the Media Curator, Miriam, for granting permission.

March 11, 2015 by Ruth Categories: architectureTags: architecture, archives, Archives Service Center, artists, demolition, HIstoric Pittsburgh, history, Mt. Washington, neighborhood, Oneida Street, photography, PITTSBURGH CITY PHOTOGRAPHER COLLECTION, Pittsburgh Photography, Ponka Way, postaday 5 Comments

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