A Bodhi Wind Original

Here is my friend Vincie in my living room, holding a Bodhi Wind original portrait painted in 1965,  She had just picked it up from the framer’s where Jennifer Panza had helped her select the frame and matting. Vincie brought it in and we unwrapped it so I could admire the framed portrait.  I’d gone with her to help get it framed, weeks ago.

It’s a really good story.

Five years ago last April, I posted about the Extraordinary Art of Bodhi Wind  

In that post I wrote about my friend Steve reading an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette by Joe Smydo about what to do with the artwork of an artist who had passed away. When he read the article, he kept asking me if my friend Vincie knew Bodhi Wind since he’d graduated from her alma mater, Perry High School.  After a couple of weeks of him asking if I had checked with Vincie if she knew Bodhi Wind,  I finally remembered to ask her.  “Vincie, Steve has been on my case to ask you if you knew a Bodhi Wind who graduated from Perry High School who was an actor in LA”.

Steve had mentioned the murals Bodhi Wind painted for the Robert Altman film 3 Women  No, she didn’t know him.

(Here is a NYTimes article about The Man Who Painted Robert Altman’s 3 Women by Jennifer Dunning. )

So a few days later the three of us are in the car and it comes up again.

Steve is determined.  Asks Vincie himself.  Turns out I messed up by asking about an actor when I should have inquired about an artist.

When we got home, Steve got on the computer upstairs and called Vincie to come and read the article.  And there was the missing clue.  Bodhi Wind had changed his name.  For more information it said to contact his mother Mrs. Kuklis.  Vincie said, yes, she knew him.  Yes, Vincie and Charles (Chip) Kuklis not only went to High School at Perry together but they were classmates in elementary school.  Steve was insistent that she must have known him and not only did she know him but they were very good friends in elementary school, too.

This past August, Vincie and her friend Maribeth were attending their 50th Perry High School Reunion. Over the reunion weekend, the two of them went to visit Mrs. Kuklis at her home.  Her granddaughter helped show them her Uncle’s artwork but before they looked at the work,  they sat in the living room.  Vincie said that Chip had painted her portrait when they were in high school.  Mrs. Kuklis said “I have it.”

Not only did his mother have the portrait he painted of Vincie in high school,  Mrs. Kuklis had set in out on a special chair for Vincie to see, and Mrs. Kuklis asked Vincie if she would like to have it. Oh my!

What a gift!

Vince wth the original portrait of herself, painted by her childhood friend- Bodhi Wind/Chip Kuklis.  You can see his signature and the date 1965 

Panza Gallery a Perfect Host

The show is over but I wanted to share a good portion of it online for those who weren’t able to come to the gallery.

Thank you Panza Gallery for inviting me to show People at Work. 4CE55AA8-B5EF-45E6-B36B-D132F371DB7A

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The opening – July 7th         Photo by Laura D3B73690-1FCF-4B87-B0E7-72BB694F3E90

Neonatal Nurse storyboard with grandson Charlie

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Father Dave Urban

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Pizza Shop Manager
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Carpentry Teacher. Nephrologist
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Sophia at Ritter’s

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Orthodox Priest

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Alaska Railroad Conductor
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Cotton Candy Vendor

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Zamboni
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Dwayne Dolphin Trio

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Shillelagh Maker

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The Family gathered in July 14th

 

A474CEEE-828B-4747-920F-19E1FEC9141A“Play is the work of the child” Maria Montessori 

Tessaro’s Storyboard

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Sports Photographer

The Closing was July 27th

Mary Thomas’ article in the Post-Gazette http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/art-architecture/2018/07/25/Ruth-Hendricks-People-at-Work-Panza-Gallery-Eric-Crosby-Andy-Warhol-Foundation-fellowship-Eric-Shiner/stories/201807180009

 

Tawyna Panizzi article in the Trib

https://triblive.com/local/hamptonshaler/13790388-74/retired-pittsburgh-teachers-people-at-work-photos-on-display-in-millvale

Printing done by Tom Underiner of Pixel River Images

What My Friend Texted Wednesday Morning

July has been a busy and satisfying month with the People at Work Show exhibiting at Panza Gallery. There was a well attended opening three weeks ago and now tomorrow (Saturday 7/28) the closing reception is at six.

Early Wednesday morning, my good friend Vincie texted me this photo she took when she opened her morning paper. What a happy way to start my day. It just felt great! Mary Thomas wrote a nice article (with four color photos) about the People at Work Show in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

V sent me the online version when it became available (link below )

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/art-architecture/2018/07/25/Ruth-Hendricks-People-at-Work-Panza-Gallery-Eric-Crosby-Andy-Warhol-Foundation-fellowship-Eric-Shiner/stories/201807180009


Later in the day, I received another text from From Vincie. Her cousin Paula had texted her the photo below saying “Great article about Ruth in the Post-Gazette today”

Very thoughtful of them both. Thanks Vincie and Paula.

It’s been a nice feeling to have good friends and family who cheer me on and encourage me.

Aphrodite at Ritter’s Diner came to see her People at Work portrait. Her photo was in the newspaper, too.

This is a good time to thank Panza Gallery Owner Mark Panza who (2 years ago) invited me to show my People at Work series and who hung the show beautifully.

Also thanks to his wonderful daughter, Jennifer Panza, whose generous help was essential in making the show a success. And a grateful nod to her fiancé J for getting the beer and ice.

(Mark Panza on left, photo taken by my son Mark)

Thanks to artist Carol Skinger, fellow member of Pittsburgh Society of Artists Guild, who tutored me about publicity for the People at Work Show.

And special thanks to Tom Underiner of Pixel River Images for making me shine by printing my work expertly, using the archival pigment on the Hahnenmuhle rag paper.

Bernie Pintar was the official greeter and encouraged gallery goers to sign the guest book.

More Family Came to Millvale to see the Show – Guest Blog

Thanks for all the good wishes in accomplishing nine years of blogging and starting year ten. I’ve posted 3,235 times which averages 359 times a year.

More family came to Millvale to see the People at Work show today which was really nice. They drove in from Virginia, Ohio and West Mifflin. We gathered back at my house for dinner.

And a photography classmate of mine came with his wife to Panza Gallery at the same time. Andrew Wagner and I took a few classes together at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild. He’s a loyal blog follower, too, having photographed many similar subjects throughout his career- in FILM!

Andrew once said my blog was like a Kodak Carousel slide show and you never knew what the next slide would be. He offered to take a photo of the family at the gallery this afternoon and he took it on my camera so I have the photos right away. Thank you for coming and always being so supportive to me in my photography efforts.

Here are the photos Andrew took today.

Uncle Frank and Maura look at Vintage Car Restorer storyboard featuring Uncle Frank.

Photo credit to all three photos –Andrew Wagner

The People at Work Show is a Go

THE PEOPLE AT WORK SHOW IS A GO!

Millvale suffered from the heavy rains and the Main Street looked like a river flowing right through the center of town. The roads were closed Thursday.  Anyone watching the local news, wondered if the opening of my People at Work Show,  scheduled for Saturday 7/7 at 6 PM, could still happen. And the answer is yes. Clean up crews worked feverishly to get the town ready for business.

Hope to see you there for the opening reception Saturday night. Panza Gallery  115 Sedgwick Street Millvale PA.

Regular gallery hours are W TH F 10-5 Sat 10-3

You’ve seen some people at work on the blog already.

 

 

Meet A. Boss, Master Optician

Meet Al Boss of A-Boss Opticians in Braddock PA. It’s a family owned business.  That’s his father up above the eyeglass frames, Albert A. Boss (1917- 2009) who established A-Boss Opticians, Inc. in 1971.

Mr. Boss was able to put new lenses into my current frames AND I ordered a new pair of glasses that I’ll pick up on Tuesday.  Since I wear glasses all day, everyday, it’s crucial for me to have glasses that work well.  Reasonable prices and great customer service.

I heard about A- Boss Opticians at two separate art events.  One time a woman at an art opening downtown was wearing some really cool glasses,  She told me how A -Boss will put lenses into vintage frames.  Hers were from Paris.  They do repairs, too.

AlBoss Optician Blog

People at Work Show at Panza Gallery opening July 7th at 6

Press Release for People at Work Show

 

 

Pittsburgh Photographer Ruth E Hendricks has been photographing people at work for the past several years. Two years ago, gallery owner Mark Panza invited her to show her People at Work.  He followed Ruth’s daily blog and enjoyed seeing the People at Work series.  

This July 2018 she will have a solo show at Panza Gallery, featuring 60 portraits of People at Work. A retired Pittsburgh Public Schools Visual Arts and Photography teacher, she showed the photographs to students so they could see a variety of job possibilities.  Students’ awareness increased seeing that there are jobs where people  bake cookies, change tires, capture squirrels and sell bicycles to name a few.

Named Best New Artist at PERSAD Art For Change in 2008 , Ruth also received first place in the Downtown Living Exposed Exhibition. Best Color Photography in Bucks Gallery of Fine Art, Best Regional Work in The Pittsburgh Technology Council 15 Minute Gallery Exhibition, and was a finalist in the Photographer’s Forum Magazine 29th Annual Spring Photography Contest.

Her photographs have been shown in New Orleans Photo Alliance– New Orleans LA, Center for Fine Art Photography- Fort Collins CO, 1650 Gallery– Los Angeles CA, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center-Ft, Myers FL and A. Smith Gallery-Johnson City TX, Sirani Gallery – Pittsburgh PA.  Her images have been shown at Pittsburgh’s Silver Eye Center of Photography in The Looking Glass Exhibition and Self Portrait Silver Eye at 30 shows.

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Pittsburgh Photographer, Ruth E. Hendricks, upcoming solo show- People at Work; Primarily Pittsburgh will be shown the month of July at Panza Gallery, 115 Sedgwick Street, Millvale PA 15209

The Opening Reception is Saturday July 7, 2018 from 6-9 PM and Closing Reception is Saturday July 28, 2018 6-9 PM. In addition, the 60 portraits of People at Work can be viewed during Panza Gallery’s regular gallery hours W-Th-F 10-5 and Sat 10-3 

Contact info: rutheh(at)gmail(dot)(com), https://rutheh.com/

PHYSIQUE/Construction of the Human Form

Knitting Hands

Genoeffa’s Knitting Hands

(One of my two photographs that was selected to be part of the show)

Pittsburgh Society of Artists PHYSIQUE/ Construction of the Human Form.

Opens June 9th and runs till June 29th, 2018Panza Gallery

Opening Reception Saturday June 9 6-8 PM

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Artist’s Choice Show Opening at Panza Gallery

Pittsburgh Society of Artists

Artist’s Choice Show Opening at Panza Gallery in Millvale PA

At Panza Gallery Saturday night.  What a crowd!

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It’s good to get out.  Steve went with  me.

I volunteered to photograph the event which was a great way to meet the artists and art appreciators who attended.  I am posting just a few now.

 

 

Our host Mark Panza

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Patty Hill

IMG_3053Marian Phillips

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A few of the artists with their work

IMG_3023The mayor of Millvale, Vincent Cinski, with his wife, the First Lady of Millvale

Me

Meet Rodney Burrell- Editor-in-Chief of LOCAL-Pittsburgh and arts/pgh LOCAL

 

IMG_3025Meet Brian Crawford  The River’s Edge  Station Manager “serving the communities along the Allegheny River”

IMG_3126Tony Cavalline and Carol Skinger

IMG_3143Jennifer Panza

Love that purse you got in Wisconsin!

(If I missed anybody’s proper spelling of name, let me know)