Autumn leaves in photographs. Autumn light. We’re waiting for the red, yellow and orange colors to arrive. So far we’ve got mostly brown. Waiting for the frost
The leaves in the photographs give a lot of information to the viewer.
Somewhere in a box of old pics I have a photo of the kids with a backdrop of fake autumn trees and birches. I wish I could find it. It’s corny but fun. These photos have real leaves in them.
so if you’re thinking of taking pictures in leaves get ready. Here’s a link to Autumn in Pittsburgh four years ago
Sunday afternoon was the official dedication of the Gary and Nancy Tuckfelt Keeping Tabs- A Holocaust Sculpture at the Community Day School at the corner of Beechwood Boulevard and Forward Ave. The sculpture is a maze in the shape of the Star of David, created with glass blocks which are filled with six million pop tabs which took almost five years to collect , each tab representing a human life lost in the Holocaust. Many people contributed time, money and effort to the creation of the sculpture and the beautiful surrounding park. Walking into the maze, one is struck by the magnitude of the horror of genocide, the number of victims is hard to fathom but the pop tabs in the glass blocks are a reminder of the millions killed.
The resident artist, Elena Hiatt Houlihan has been with this project since 2002. Pop tabs were being collected since 1996 and Mr. Walter the History Teacher at Community Day School had aquariums filled with them when Elena arrived to help the student teams design the sculpture. Their original artist statement was read by her at the dedication ceremony today.
Elena had been a resident artist at Greenfield Elementary when I was the art teacher there and I remember her talking about the ongoing work of this sculpture and then funding and other circumstances delayed the completion.
It was a beautiful Autumn afternoon and there were speeches and prayers and an 8th grader played the violin. A chill wind and shadows gave one a shudder and reminded those present of the significance of the memorial sculpture. Never Forget.
I went up earlier in the day to photograph the memorial sculpture before all the people arrived.
Receiving a standing ovation, Mr. Walter comes to the podium to speakArtist in Residence Elena Hiatt Houlihan and Social Studies Teacher Mr. Bill Walter who started the collection of the pop tabs when he was teaching the Holocaust to middle school students at Community Day School.
One of the many many, memorial stones and engraved bricks. each representing the accumulation of many donations, small, medium and large. I chose this one to photograph because for the inscribed words about “generations never born”- that message struck me.
This block will be used for educational presentations. I put a tab in and then asked the next woman if I might photograph her doing so and she agreed.
Dovecote, a vintage boutique in Aspinwall Pennsylvania, located on Brilliant Avenue. What a great address. Brilliant!
My friend Vincie and I were shoe shopping at Soothe the Sole on Brilliant Avenue and Holly (at the shoe store) suggested we check out Dovecoteright across the street.
Here’s what we discovered –
The boutique is definitely eclectic and affordably priced. Scroll down for more details. There are vintage items, consignment items, handcrafts, antiques, jewelry, home decor and holiday fun. Sports team theme including black and gold potholders and darling onesies with hand sewn embellishment, adorable ruffles.
The felted Mr. Rogers created by Artist Christine caught my eye, and the Pennsylvania ceramic platter would be cool to serve from at a dinner party.
“If your style is eclectic with a vintage vibe, this is the place for you! We offer a wide variety of vintage & antique home decor items, as well as new & vintage clothing & accessories. From tables and lamps, paintings, and dishes; to jewelry, shoes, candles imported from Spain, gifts, vintage-inspired greeting cards, and more, there is something for everyone in our cozy store. We carry Lindsay Phillips’ line of shoes & sandals (SwitchFlops), as well as Naked Bee’s organic skin care creams & lotions. Need to make space in your closet or sell your unused home accessories? We offer resale and consignment options. Visit our vintage boutique, and then follow us on Facebook for frequent updates!”
A place to take things when you need to downsize! Good to know.
When out of town guests visit, it’s an opportunity to be a tourist where you live and appreciate the sights the city has to offer. We parked and went into Heinz Chapel and I’ve been in many times. Each time you enter you think, hmmm I could be in France, the architecture and feeling of the sanctuary is remarkable. Some of the stained glass windows are seven stories high. I learned that they were all designed by a single artist
“The chapel’s 23 windows were designed by Charles Connick and created at his Boston studio. The windows total approximately 4,000 square feet (370 m2) and contain nearly 250,000 pieces of glass. There are 391 identifiable people in the windows, a large supporting cast of anonymous individuals, and an extensive variety of flora and fauna.”
Here are a few examples of some of the windows
Isaac Newton, John Keats, Emily Dickinson William Shakespeare, Abraham Lincoln and Beethoven to name a few.
I used to watch the curtain blow in the wind. Someone left that top right window open.
For years.
Last week I photographed the window with the moving curtain, wishing I’d had time to video it. Red lights don’t last long enough.
Then last night, the window is gone. Steve was driving. I photographed the missing window with the eerie curtain. And I photographed it again tonight as I was driving over the RD Fleming Bridge again and got a quick shot. Just like that, it’s demolished.
At noon, I met my former teaching colleague and friend Jennifer for lunch. Her suggestion. My first visit to Geppetto Café – Butler Street in Lawrenceville neighborhood ofPittsburgh. Open for breakfast or lunch. It is a delightful place to eat and the service was excellent.
Coffee,latte, espresso, teas, milkshakes (a Nutella milkshake was on the menu) and ice cream. too.
Savory crepes, sweet crepes, eggs, fruit, waffles, paninis and salads. Mmmm. I had the Challah French Toast. Jen ordered The Bonjour pictured below- scrambled eggs and Brie in a crepe with fresh fruit on the side and Applewood Smoked bacon on top. A leaf shaped dish of maple syrup.
Patrons have contributed much of the decor. I didn’t count all the wooden Pinocchiofigures but the owner graciously showed all the items that people have brought in- the books, paintings,wooden Pinocchio puppets and marionettes.
Margaret Welsh wrote a wonderful reviewin City Paper calling Geppetto Café a “European-style breakfast nook.”
How about all these books suspended in net from the ceiling?
A snowboard bench in the front.
P.S. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinocchio_(1940_film) “PInocchio is a 1940 American animate musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Productions based on the Italian children’s novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. It was the second animated feature film produced by Disney, made after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)” Geppetto was the wood carver/carpenter who created the wooden puppet Pinocchio who can” become a real boy”
The perfect beginning to a lovely birthday dinner.
Greens and beans. “Escarole, Northern Beans, Garlic, Shallots, White Wine, & Parmesan”
My friend V and I shared this delicious appetizer. You might have seen it from our last visit to this restaurant on the Southside, Cucina Vitale. Know it’s cash only, BYOB and reservations are necessary for dinner.
Murphy in Pittsburgh 2004
Handstand man Zagreb Park path October 2015
Highland Park 2015
Artist in Residence Elena Hiatt Houlihan and Social Studies Teacher Mr. Bill Walter who started the collection of the pop tabs when he was teaching the Holocaust to middle school students at Community Day School.
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