Jazz Players by Matthew Alexander

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We spotted this mural going up on the back walls of North Shore Place I and II and contacted the developer to find out more. They connected us directly with the artist, Matthew Alexander, who told us this about the installation:

...the graphic covers an area about 20 feet high and over 200 feet long on the backside of a set of retail buildings that overlook a large tailgating lot for the Steelers and Pirates as well as a freeway.

The North Shore Place I & II mural depicts the shadows of jazz musicians being cast up onto the rear of the buildings. The concept is to show the abstracted depictions of some of Pittsburgh’s most famous jazz musicians: Roy Eldridge, Ray Brown, Errol Garner, and Kenny Clarke, who are playing their instruments in a sort of back–alley, while what remains is their cast shadows.

The limitations I had to work within were set prior to my involvement: 1–2 colors, and silhouettes of jazz musicians. I worked with Rob Dower, an architect with Strada Architecture to complete and approve the design.

You can spot the mural from the Fort Duquesne bridge ramp. It makes the building stand out from the crowd and seems to be a perfect example of how art makes a difference. This very low key, subtle image totally changes the personality of the otherwise plain, brick building and parking lot.

Pittsburgh People by Penelope Jencks

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This is the second sculpture in the city with the name of Pittsburgh People, the first was done by Jerry Caplan and installed in 1984. This version bears no resemblance to the first. They are done in different materials, styles and themes.

Pittsburgh People by Penelope Jencks celebrates the mix of business and arts found in the cultural district.

There are three figures in EQT Plaza. The two musicians are placed together near the street entrance, and the businessman is across the plaza near the building entrance.

While the figures in Jerry Caplan’s Pittsburgh People are modeled after real Pittsburghers, Penelope Jencks often used her children as her models. An article by Wendy Doniger says Her children are now, in various guises, standing, walking, or sitting from Toledo OH to Pittsburgh PA and scattered throughout eastern Massachusetts.

Pittsburgh Jazz History Mural by multiple artists

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This mural is not just a history of jazz greats, it’s a history of Pittsburgh jazz greats! Can you feel your city pride swelling when you realize the breadth of talent that came from our own neighborhoods?

Top left in the mural is Stanley William Turrentine, also known as Mr T or The Sugar Man

Stanley Turrentine and the Penn Incline

To the right of Stanley Turrentine is Ray Brown, a Grammy award winning base musician.

Ray Brown

Below and right of Ray Brown is George Benson, the man that had the first platinum jazz album.

George Benson

David Roy Eldridge or Little Jazz is considered one of the most important virtuoso trumpeters in the history of jazz.

Roy Eldrige

Composer and self–taught pianist Errol Garner was a musical genius, possibly best known for composing Misty.

Errol Garner

Art Blakey started out playing piano until Errol Garner bumped him over to the drums. He found his nitch there becoming an award winning jazz drummer.

Art Blakey

Lena Horne is the only one of this talented group that is not a native of the ’Burgh. She did, however, move here when she was 18 to live with her father for several years.

Lena Horne

The posts in front of this mural are also painted, making them less of a distraction:

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Bass Man With Moon by James Simon

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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.

Accordian Player Sculptures by James Simon

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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:

New Granada Theater murals by George Gist

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George Gist is considered one of the top African American muralists in the country. His three panel mural on the New Granada Theater pays tribute to it’s rich history of jazz.

This once beautiful, lively, keystone to the hill district has certainly seen better days. No one is willing to give up on it yet though. It seems as though any dream of rejuvenating the Hill District will center on the rebirth of the New Granada Theater. To that end, the Hill Community Delvelopment Corporation (who owns the building) is working toward something good here. They have a program to use art (both visual and theater arts) to help pull the community into a process to make change happen. Mr Gist was brought in to help with murals and more.

Listening Through Time by Chris St Pierre

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We got this information on Listening Through Time from Curt Gettman at the Sprout Fund.

Reaching into the Hill District’s rich past and lighting the way to the future, this lively mural depicts a saxophonist symbolically filling Centre Avenue with the energy of Jazz. The Hill Community Development Corporation, the House of the Crossroads, Freedom Unlimited Inc., and the office of then City Councilman Sala Udin collaborated with artist Chris St. Pierre to develop this idea, which draws on the Hill District’s history as home to a vibrant, world–class Jazz scene during the mid–20th Century. Legends Lena Horne and George Benson have roots in the Hill District, and drummer Art Blakey’s family still reside there today. These luminaries lend their spirit and energy to the mural, radiating a sense of hope and promise for the future while connecting to and commemorating the past.

Summary:

Artist(s): Chris St Pierre
Address: 2201 Wylie Ave
City: Pittsburgh (Hill District)
Zip Code: 15219
Organization:

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East Liberty Bus Stop Mural by multiple artists

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This is a long mural that runs along a wall on Ellsworth Ave by Swope St. It's near the Busway stop in East Liberty across from Whole Foods. Multiple artists worked on it and the design changes somewhat. The center portion is comprised of panels done in one style. Those are flanked by musicians on the left (including percussion legend Joe Harris) and dancers on the right, painted in a completely different style and in bolder colors. Then on either end there are abstract panels in yet another style.

photo supplied by Michelle Gregio

photo supplied by Michelle Gregio

photo supplied by Michelle Gregio

Summary:

Artist(s): Robert Qualters, Kyle Holbrook, Kelly Blevins, Ed Rawson, Michelle Gregio
Address: Ellsworth Ave at Swope St
City: Pittsburgh (East Liberty)
Zip: 15206
Organization: MLK Community Murals Project

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Liberty Ave Musicians by James Simon

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A developer fought against the local building and historic preservation requirements that would have put just another look–alike building on this narrow lot. Eve Picker and the architect she was working with, Dutch MacDonald, had plans for a very modern and small building with just three lofts for this space. They wanted it tucked back between the two existing buildings allowing for a small courtyard.

They won their battle and got approval for the building, then set out to make it something special. The ground floor is leased to a deli, so the courtyard provides a great place for residents and customers to sit when the weather’s nice. Here’s where James Simon comes in. Mz Picker was familiar with his work and commissioned him to make a sculpture for the area. Liberty Avenue Musicians not only adds a huge (15 feet high) artistic presence to an otherwise bland section of the Cultural District, but it serves to separate the courtyard from the street. The three figures define the entrance into that courtyard space in quite a spectacular and unique way.

These musicians and their dog rapidly became one of – if not the – most popular public art pieces in the city. They took over a year to make, and are solid concrete.

Summary:

Artist(s): James Simon
Address:947 Liberty Ave
City: Pittsburgh
Zip: 15222

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Twitter: @PghMurals