Piece by Piece, Step by Step mural by Kip Herring

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The Sprout Fund is responsible for the creation of more than 50 top quality murals in and around the city of Pittsburgh over the past decade. Curt Gettman, the current Public Art Program Manager for the Sprout Fund, has been a fantastic help to us with compiling information and contacting artists for this project. When we weren’t able to uncover the story behind the design for this one, we contacted Curt. We had found an article in the Carnegie Library clippings file that showed an original design for this piece. We just couldn't locate any information on how it had transformed from the original, whole image to the finished mural that showed large sections missing. Curt gave us the missing pieces to the story (so to speak).

We want a vision of the future rather than a reflection of the past, said the collective voice of the Hazelwood community. And Kip Herring responded with creating Piece by Piece, Step by Step–a great example of a collaborative success between artist and community. The artist was able to give the Hazelwood community exactly what they asked for while working it out in his own distinct style. Herring employs the ancient technique of trompe l’oeil, a French phrase that translates as trick the eye, to create a crumbling wall effect to suggest a new Hazelwood bursting out of the facade of the building. Combining direct references to Hazelwood, symbolic representation of hope and dreams, and artistic flourish, Herring explains, The circular design within the piece is a symbol which represents renewal or rebirth. The three segments represent the three elements air, water and earth, all part of the continual cycle of renewal.

The original design:


Photo provided by the Sprout Fund.

Photo taken as the mural was started:


Photo provided by the Sprout Fund.

The finished mural:


Photo provided by the Sprout Fund.

Summary:

Artist(s): Kip Herring
Address: 5041 Second Ave
City: Pittsburgh (Hazelwood)
Zip Code: 15207
Organization: Sprout Fund

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Twitter: @PghMurals