STEVIE WONDER MURAL
During the summer of 2018, ACH Clear Pathways creative campers installed a mural on the property of Sisters of Charity at Saint Joseph House of Hospitality. This piece celebrates the humanitarian and the music of the visually-impaired Stevie Wonder. This mural celebrates Stevie Wonder’s legacy but also equality, inclusion, and diversity among vast disabilities. Original sketch done by local artist Takara Canty. Installment also done with teaching artist Eric Duffy and Duquesne University Student Alexis Smith on lead at the site.
AUGUST WILSON MOSAIC MURAL
During the summer of 2016, ACH Clear Pathways Creative Campers were introduced to the local most celebrated American playwright August Wilson. Campers learned
about the diaspora of August Wilson plays, life, and history. Students worked with local artist, Takara Canty, and took all ten images of August Wilson’s play covers and recreated them into images on four 8x4 panels to depict his life writings. The materials used were acrylic paint and ceramic with an epoxy resin finish. Campers focused on the decade’s issues, an in-depth discussion, and depiction of why the artwork of August Wilson was compiled the way it was, and how Romare Bearden Langston Hughes inspired him. We are happy to display this piece in the Hill District community right around the corner from his childhood home in partnership with Allegheny Housing Rehabilitation Corporation (AHRCO).
THE GATHERING PLACE GARDEN
ACH Clear Pathways students and local artist Takara Canty planned, designed, and implemented an art installation for Reclaims Central Ambassadors Gathering Space. In 2018, the students reclaimed and recycled materials to decorate, paint, and reuse to beautify the garden. When the weather broke, the K-5 students installed the work themselves onto the site.
MICHAEL JACKSON MOSAIC
In the summer of 2017 ACH Clear Pathways, creative campers and local Artist Bob Ziller with assistance from Eric Duffy created a mosaic to celebrate Michael Jackson’s legacy.
This art piece is installed in the historic Hill District that was once known to be the Mecca of arts and culture also called “Little Harlem.” This piece depicts Michael Jackson’s life
and career and how he changed the face of dance, music, and entertainment. His great humanitarian influence and artistic style are emulated through the carefully picked bright colored ceramic and glass tile. His spirit and legacy will forever resonate through this art piece, but also through his music and the pieces that are hung with music notes that replicate the song “We are the World.”
TEENIE HARRIS MOSAIC
The “Mosaic Camera Man” was created in 2015 by lead
artist James Simon and creative campers from ACH Clear Pathways. The large-scale mosaic pays homage to Teenie Harris, a native of the Hill District of Pittsburgh, and the
Hill’s culture that he captured through his photography. The mosaic depicts a large cameraman photographing a skyline of colorful mosaic and glass houses. Coming from the camera are some of Teenie’s photographs from the Teenie Harris Archive in partnership with the Carnegie Museum of Art.
BASS & MOON
Artist James Simon created a public art mosaic piece called “Bass and Moon in 2013.” The project was created with youth as part of the ACH Clear Pathways creative camp. This public art has been installed on a wall at the corner of Forbes and Gist in the lower hill. The “Bass and Moon” was created out of beautiful colored glass and ceramic tile. The composition depicts a dreamy street scene of music, kids playing basketball, a zebra grazing, and a moon with a bass player. The colorful birds and flowers in the tree and landscape complete this mosaic.