Bass Man With Moon by James Simon

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

Another incredible addition to the community by James Simon. Mr Simon has often worked with local kids to create fun, whimsical, beautiful pieces of art, but never with kids as young as the ones he mentored this time.

This piece was done as part of the Summer Art Camp for ACH (Amon Cashmere Harris) Clear Pathways. ACH Clear Pathways is a non–profit organization named in tribute to a 7 year old boy that died from a heart condition. His mother, Tyian Battle, has created an organization to engage, teach and give direction to the other children in the community through performance and visual arts. This particular Summer Art Camp was funded by McAuley Ministries, and that allowed ACH Clear Pathways to bring in an expert to work with the kids.

Instead of a project that these 5–12 year old kids might take home to hang on the refrigerator, this time they helped create real art. The kind that people will stop to admire for years to come and that these kids will feel a sense of accomplishment from.

James Simon looked at his canvas – the side of Rose Reilly’s house – and saw a big, vertical space perfect for a bass player. He offered the suggestion and the only request he received was to include at least one child in the design. Mr Simon designed the mural with the bass player, a boy, two zebras and a full moon. The boy is on a skateboard with a basketball and wearing his cap backwards.

Over the course of about two months, James Simon showed 25 kids how to break the tiles and lay out the colors to create the images. They helped him glue pieces in place with the design on the floor. Later, when the separate sections of the mural were complete, Mr Simon attached them to the building. The children wouldn’t see the whole picture until the end.

Tyian Battle looked at the finished mural and was surprised to see the boy wearing his cap just like her son did and doing the things that he enjoyed doing. She had not told Mr Simon that her son enjoyed skateboarding and basketball or that he always wore his cap like that.

When we asked about the zebras and what their significance was, we got James Simon’s usual response to those questions: ...because I liked it. He especially liked the psychedelic zebra, as he described it. Why the upside down zebra? I made a mistake he joked. I think if you want to find symbolism or deep meaning in these, you’re looking at the wrong art. James Simon’s works are all about fun and things that he likes.

Ladies of Gist St by multiple artists

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

These ladies are the start of a new series of cut out figures in Art on Gist St. Although James Simon is not the artist for any of these, he is the man behind this outdoor gallery in Uptown, and he said he likes the idea of adding more figures like these. He showed us one that’s literally still on the drawing board.

Artist John Fleenor is working on this newest one.

Of the three ladies currently on the street, the center figure is the only one so far, that we know is based on an actual person. Artist B. Richardson created this cut out of another artist – Frida Kahlo. The lady on the left was done by Alyssa Clifford, and the one on the right by Bonnie Gloris.

Mr Simon hasn’t titled this series, but we decided to give them the unofficial name of The Ladies of Gist Street until he does. Cut Out Figures just didn’t seem good enough. We’re looking forward to seeing new additions to the series.

Update:
Jan 2013

Someone from Artsy.net contacted us with some more information on Frida Kahlo. They’ve assembled a page that includes information on her biography and other links you might find interesting.

Accordian Player Sculptures by James Simon

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

Another of James Simon’s sculptures displayed outside his studio on Gist St. This small scale version of an accordion player reminded us of Liberty Avenue Musicians the way the accordion fits right under his chin with his tie on top. This smaller musician has some great additions with colorful detailing on the tie and the accordion.

In 2015 we noticed this guy now has a friend:

Two Dogs, Fire Hydrant, Red Pop Machine by multiple artists

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

James Simon is the force behind the Art on Gist Street Project. On his web site he explains what the project is about:

The paintings and sculpture are adding color, style, and narrative to this decayed urban environment by changing the reputation of Gist Street from a place where prostitutes do business, to an "art street" where people slow down to see what's new.
We hope to continually transform the visual atmosphere of this depressed, at-risk neighborhood with a diverse range of accessible high quality public art.

This piece is actually a composite of three pieces by three artists.

Two Dogs sculpture by James Simon was the first artwork placed here. From photos we’ve found on line it seems the neighborhood kids fell in love with the concrete schnauzer and dachshund immediately.

In June of this year (2013), the Dachshund was (gasp!) dognapped. Happy to report that it was returned about a week later. WTAE reported that two teenagers returned the artwork with a broken paw, claiming they found it at a party. Mr Simon is reported as saying that he won’t press any charges. We’re just very happy the statue was returned and apparently we were not the only ones. We found this sign on the utility pole next to the artwork when we rode up to confirm that the statue was back in his usual place:

The statue was returned with a cracked front paw.

Artist Justin Blair apparently felt that the dogs needed their own Fire Hydrant and added that element to the scene.

Adding a little more interest to the landscape on the wall of the auto body shop is Barbara Richardson’s clever The Red Pop Machine. Look closely. The pop is all artist–branded for the Gist Cola company.

Mr Simon explained to us that there used to be an actual pop machine at this location, but it became a nuisance so the auto body shop removed it. The painted version filled in the visual void without the noise and problems that came with the real machine.

In 2015 the building got a face lift and the Pop Machine disappeared. They did manage to save the Fire Hydrant. Then a really cool, metal bench by James Simon appeared, along with a kind of scraggly bunny.

Three Pigs mural by Alyssa Clifford

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

These three, little pigs were gracing the corner of Tustin St at Gist St. underneath the Portrait of Antoine. Last time we rode down Gist St to see if there was any new art we noticed that two of the pigs have gone missing. The one on the far left was the only one still hanging out there.

UPDATE: Rode by here toward the end of March...and then there were none. The three little piggies are now gone.

Ride in the Sky by Laura Jean McLaughlin

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

Although this is a Sprout Fund mural, it’s also a part of the Art on Gist Street project. Laura Jean McLaughlin’s Ride in the Sky provides the north anchor point for the outdoor art gallery that James Simon has developed in this neighborhood.

Travelling Band and Artists on Town by Luis Castellanos Velui

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

An internationally known Mexican artist, Luis Castellanos Valui, came to Pittsburgh to contribute this installment of art for the Art on Gist Street project. The artwork hangs on the outside of the Association of the Deaf Club, and Mr Valui worked with them to decide on the design.

In a Puerto Vallarta travel guide, they describe Senior Valui as a painter who infuses his Latin American roots with the traditions of tropical jazz and cafe culture. They also spoke about this piece of art:

Valui says the painting, which depicts a band on bicycles flying over a city, will incorporate American Sign Language into the composition, at the request of association. "There will be sign language for the words 'peace,' 'imagine' and 'I love you,' " Valui says.

Post Gazette writer Diana Nelson Jones spoke with Mr Valui while he was in town creating this piece and when she asked him the name of the muse flying along side the musicians he said Her name is ‘The Muse’. The muse is all the women, of course.

Curt Shaw with TribLive also interviewed the artist and in his article Mr Valui explained that the mural would: ...feature a filmmaker, musician, writer and dancer in addition to the traveling band floating above the city. I hope people enjoy this mural, because it’s honoring the city because of the beauty of this place.

More photos are available here.

Oaxacan Dinner by Jean Foss

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

Oaxacan Dinner was the first installment of art for the Art on Gist Street project. James Simon brought in Jean Foss who was living in Oaxaca, Mexico at the time, to kick off the project.

Rather than just murals painted on bare walls, most of the art on Gist Street is framed. Mr Simon’s vision was of an art gallery with quality artwork displayed, so the pieces are framed appropriately.

Insect Murals by Alyssa Clifford

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

You’ll find them on a dumpster, the sidewalk and on steps. Alyssa Clifford created an assortment of insects as part of the Art on Gist Street project.

Baby Kong by James Simon

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

This started out as a duo: Bananas and Baby Kong. Two works of art by two different artists combined to create a great piece. James Simon did Baby Kong, a gorilla sculpture peeking over a fence. Originally Kate Bechak added Bananas – a mural of a huge mound of bananas piled outside the gate. They went together like peanut butter and jelly.

Over the years, Bananas became a victim of the weather and in 2015 it was replaced. While the new mural includes a banana, Alejandro Fiez did not try to duplicate what had been there. We haven't found the title for the new mural yet.

They're all part of the Art on Gist Street project.

Portrait of Antoine by John Fleenor

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

Portrait of Antoine is part of James Simon’s Art on Gist Street project. John Fleenor painted this portrait of local Gist Street resident Antoine Lynn. We were told that Mr Lynn did readings for the Gist Street literary reading series (also started by Mr Simon) and is a well known local resident.