I’m at Mark and Erika’s House in Ohio and saw the gorgeous painting of Immaculate Heart of Mary church in Pittsburgh’s Polish Hill neighborhood.
It’s where they were married in August 2002.
I posted Bill’s artwork in Ohio in 2018 but it deserves another post.
Looking around the walls of Mark and Erika’s home, I see several paintings by Pittsburgh artist William Pfahl.
He has a painting on the wall of the Pittsburgh Mayor’s Office, too.
Here is the latest addition to their collection of Bill Pfahl’s art.
St. Boniface on Northside where Anna, Michael and Jack were baptized 
Immaculate Heart of Mary – Mark and Erika’s Wedding.
August 17, 2002. Polish Hill 
Central Catholic High School- Mark class of ’94
View from the Quad
Here’s a photo I took at Bill’s art show in Sharpsburg.
And here is he is painting the 16th Street Bridge
Bill was part of the People at Work Show at Panza Gallery July 2018
Here is his palette
thanks Bill for commemorating the important Pittsburgh landmarks that mean so much to Mark and Erika and their children.
You can still see the “Scenes of Sharpsburg” between 5-8 PM through February 28th at Roots of Faith, 800 Main St., Sharpsburg.
Steve and I went to the reception Saturday night.
There’ s a wonderful article about the artist and his work by Tawnya Panizzi at TribLIVE.
Artist Bill Pfahl
Artists Susan Middleman and Joan Brindle. Classmates reunited at Susan’s Opening Reception Friday night.
Class of 1965- they met as freshmen at Carnegie Tech
(now Carnegie Mellon University) Pittsburgh PA
Joan and I were art teachers in the Pittsburgh Public Schools and then Joan was my Art Supervisor. We became friends. That’s how I got invited to her friend Susan’s Art Opening Reception at Gallerie Chiz. The large oil paintings on paper are Susan’s art work.
I met the artist Susan Middleman through Joan.
Hosted by Gallerie Chiz owner/director Ellen Chisdes Neuberg who provided the space for connections. I knew she was the gallery owner as she came to introduce herself. I was inquiring if her plate held a sweet or a savory.
I thought it might be a chocolate or a meatball but it was a baby bella mushroom.
Ellen sported a cool purple outfit, unique art jewelry and turquoise glasses. Plus she wasn’t carrying a purse. Ellen and one other person would have been selected “best dressed” if I were from the paper.
Glass and found objects artist Elizabeth Fortunato showed her work at the art opening reception this evening, too. The show is open through October 10th.
The title is Waiting for the Rain to Stop
The white embroidered dress is from Hey Betty! Vintage Clothing down the street (5890 Ellsworth Avenue)
Piano accompanied a jazzy singer which added to the life of the party
Anna is eight years old today. I remember going to the hospital in the dark, and then watching the sunrise over the Monongahela River from the window. Then I went to school after she as born and everyone was so happy for our family. It was a happy day. Here is a portrait of her with Murphy the Airedale when she was one. It hangs in her bedroom.
And a recent photograph of Anna and Murphy….
The artist of the painting , Alison Zapata, is a new mother herself and paints wonderful pet portraits. Her website is here
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.
Tonight we were wrapping presents, stirring up the breakfast casserole for morning, hanging out after early church and Chinese take-out. A tradition Mark continues from late childhood when the only place open in Shadyside was the Chinese restaurant around the block. Matthew is here from Croatia. Laura and James called on the way back from his parents’ home where they had spent Christmas Eve. Said they might drop by or not. They called again. Said they were at the front door. And James came in carrying a huge brown box. He opened it up on the kitchen table and there was a beautiful oil portrait of Laura looking at me, full of life and beauty, painted expertly by her mother-in-law to be, portrait artist Sharon Weaver. I was overcome, felt a lump well up in my throat, not just for the stunning and beautiful painting. I felt intense happiness that she is loved so well by his family. The painting was such an unexpected gift. An heirloom present. A gift of love. I’ll photograph it again in the light of day. Thank you Sharon!
Deborah McLaren’s still life is one I purchased at the PERSAD Celebrate Life Celebrate Art auction at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh last May. The other day I sat at the table, looked up and saw Steve’s additions to the decor. He has been purchasing RITZ crackers frequently since I bought the painting, subliminal influence? I wrote to the artist(http://www.deborahmclaren.com/) for her permission to post the image of her painting along with his props. Steve’s fun additions- the unexpected sight of them in front of the still life- I laughed out loud! How to make life fun!
