Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Re-dedication of the Blvd of the Allies
Sunday was a historic day for Pittsburgh, PA. We are celebrating our city's 250th birthday this summer and started off with the re-dedication of the Boulevard of the Allies. I was lucky enough to be part of the event where we honored our veterans and our allies. There were dignitaries representing our allies from France, Russia, China, and so many more countries attending the ceremony, not to mention veterans from WWI. It was impressive.
The subject of soldiers and war is a difficult one and when I was asked to donate a painting to the veterans, I challenged myself to paint something about WWI that would not become a typical war painting? I did struggle with this concept until I remembered how much I loved that Doughboy statue, which stands at the entrance to Lawrenceville where Penn Avenue and Bulter Street split. My family passed by it every Sunday on our trip to Grandma's house on the North Side and I have always loved this statue. I would stare at it as long as it was within viewing range. (Who knew that when I grew up I would become a sculptor?)
I went to the statue and took photos for reference and found I am still in awe of it. Everything about the statue was masterfully done and every angle works.
Still struggling with what exactly to paint I had a conversation with Clark Rogers, the director of the National Flag Foundation. I was going to paint the flag in the background but as we talked about the coming event and how it was planned to release doves at some point I decided to paint doves instead. By coincidence, I has incorporated doves into a sculpture for a competition recently. During the research for that competition I was admiring the way a local painter handled the subject of doves so beautifully.
My final painting is of the Doughboy statue surrounded by doves... a symbol of hope and peace, as relevant now as it was then, maybe even more so.
The painting was well received and will be displayed in the City County Building. Wow, what an honor!
Sunday was an exceptional day for Pittsburgh, we were in our glory and at our finest. It was a wonderful, (though unexpected) day for me personally as well.
The subject of soldiers and war is a difficult one and when I was asked to donate a painting to the veterans, I challenged myself to paint something about WWI that would not become a typical war painting? I did struggle with this concept until I remembered how much I loved that Doughboy statue, which stands at the entrance to Lawrenceville where Penn Avenue and Bulter Street split. My family passed by it every Sunday on our trip to Grandma's house on the North Side and I have always loved this statue. I would stare at it as long as it was within viewing range. (Who knew that when I grew up I would become a sculptor?)
I went to the statue and took photos for reference and found I am still in awe of it. Everything about the statue was masterfully done and every angle works.
Still struggling with what exactly to paint I had a conversation with Clark Rogers, the director of the National Flag Foundation. I was going to paint the flag in the background but as we talked about the coming event and how it was planned to release doves at some point I decided to paint doves instead. By coincidence, I has incorporated doves into a sculpture for a competition recently. During the research for that competition I was admiring the way a local painter handled the subject of doves so beautifully.
My final painting is of the Doughboy statue surrounded by doves... a symbol of hope and peace, as relevant now as it was then, maybe even more so.
The painting was well received and will be displayed in the City County Building. Wow, what an honor!
Sunday was an exceptional day for Pittsburgh, we were in our glory and at our finest. It was a wonderful, (though unexpected) day for me personally as well.
Labels: boulevard fo the allies, doughboy, painting dedication
# posted by Susan Wagner @ 3:08 AM 
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