Category: Allegheny (Page 4 of 11)

Artists rendering of rehabilitated Ohringer Building — Rendering of the Ohringer Arts building by Rothschild Doyno Collaborative.

Historic Tax Credits + Artists + Braddock = Preservation Success

July 7, 2021 / smassey / 1 Comment

There are great examples throughout Pennsylvania – and the country – of historic buildings being repurposed to support, house, and celebrate local and regional arts communities. Two specifically come to mind in Pennsylvania, the GoggleWorks in Reading, Berks County and the Walk In Art Center in Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County. The Ohringer Artist Residences in the former Ohringer Home Furniture store 640 Braddock Avenue in Braddock, Allegheny County can now be added to that list.

Resource Round-up: Resources for LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Pennsylvania

June 23, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 2 Comments

June is Pride Month and an opportunity to recognize, celebrate, and support LGBTQ+ communities. This week’s post is another in our “Resource Round-Up” series, which we occassionally publish during important months as a guide to learning more about the older and historic places and spaces in Pennsylvania that reflect that month’s theme. This one highlights just some sources related to LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

Preservation Success Story: Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka

May 26, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 1 Comment

Continuing our theme of Preservation Success Stories this Preservation Month, we’ll feature short interviews with our 2020 Community Initiative Award winners for the next few weeks.

Last but certainly not least is the Society to Preserve the Millvale Muarls of Maxo Vanka (or SPMMMV for short).

Section 106: Not Always the Preferred Preservation Outcome

April 28, 2021 / Barbara Frederick / 0 Comments

The Section 106 process was created to ensure that federal agencies consider historic properties in the planning process for projects they sponsor.

Approved Markers for 2021

March 31, 2021 / Karen Galle / 2 Comments

Soon fans of Pennsylvania’s historical markers will be braking for 23 new ones. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) recently approved the next batch of new historical markers at their March 2021 meeting.

Artifacts recovered from (36FO0367) including biface (l), phallic object (c), and Meadowood point (r).

The 2020 PASS Report

March 10, 2021 / Noël Strattan / 0 Comments

For the past several years, PA SHPO archaeologists have issued an annual report – known as the PASS Report – detailing the ongoing efforts to record Pennsylvania’s archaeological sites.

Despite 2020’s many challenges, over 280 new archaeological sites were recorded thanks to cultural resource management (CRM) projects and continued contributions from independent research projects, members of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology (SPA), and long-time avocational archaeologists.

Mosaic panel detail with signature plaque (Ricketts 2018).

Virgil Cantini: Saving Cantini’s Mosaics

March 3, 2021 / Guest Contributor / 1 Comment

Last week’s blog post introduced the life and work of artist Virgil Cantini and highlighted the vulnerable position of postwar public art objects and installations, which often require special expertise to understand and articulate their significance for preservation.

This week’s post recounts part of the struggle to save one of Cantini’s largest works of public art, which came dangerously close to disappearing forever.

A technician works on-site at Cantini’s Mosaic Tunnel, 1964. Courtesy: Virgil Cantini Papers and Photographs, c1935-2009, MSS 0722, Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.

Virgil Cantini: A Purpose in Public Art

February 24, 2021 / Guest Contributor / 1 Comment

On a sunny August morning in 2017, a group of Pittsburgh-based architects, historians, artists, students, preservationists and art enthusiasts convened before venturing out with a shared goal; to experience first-hand nearly all public artworks accessible in the vicinity, both indoors and outdoors, created by the late Virgil Cantini (1919-2009).

105th PA Farm Show Scavenger Hunt – Virtual Edition!

February 3, 2021 / Scott Doyle / 0 Comments

In light of the current public health crisis and keeping safety a priority, the Department of Agriculture hosted the 105^th PA Farm Show virtually to celebrate Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry.