The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently posted two great articles about Pittsburgh’s Little Italy that we are excited to share with you. In the first, “A Bloomfield Ramble“, writer Diana Nelson Jones and the BDC’s Karla Owens join walking group the Ramblers for a stroll down Liberty Avenue.

Diana doesn’t normally shop while walking through neighborhoods, so on this trip she discovered Merante Gifts and Box Heart Gallery, which she called “both treasure-troves of artwork, craft and artifact.” The Ramblers slowed to amblers as they stopped in Bloomfield’s unique shops like Groceria Italiana and the Junior League’s Wear After Shop, and we agree with Diana that she “could probably do all my Christmas shopping next year in Bloomfield’s neighborhood shops.”

In yesterday’s Post-Gazette, we were surprised to read “Ten things to love about Bloomfield, Pittsburgh’s Little Italy“, although what made the top ten will come as no surprise to anyone who lives, works, shops or dines here. Of course the number one spot went to Little Italy Days, Bloomfield’s annual festival of Italian food and culture, and the rest reads like a menu of Bloomfield’s international dining options. Read this article, but not on an empty stomach.

In last week’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article titled “Box Heart Gallery offers blue-chip art exhibit”, art critic Kurt Shaw reviewed Box Heart Gallery’s “The Angel and the Last Child on Earth” exhibition. Shaw wrote that “Bloomfield is not the kind of place you’d expect to find a blue-chip art exhibition”, and praised the “slick, sophisticated, well-polished works that are absolutely moving in every sense”. Gallery owner Nicole Capozzi added that this is the only show in eight years where people have stood and cried while looking at the work.

The Angel and the Last Child on Earth
Artwork by Reinhardt Sobye

For Norwegian photographer Reinhardt Sobye, this is his first solo show in the United States, comprising 14 subtly manipulated digital prints of poverty-stricken children from other parts of the world. Mr. Shaw’s article illuminates some of the meaning and history behind Sobye’s work, and I recommend the read if you are interested in viewing the artwork, which I also recommend. Sobye would probably recommend the same, having written the following response to the article:

The article by Mr. Shaw was terrific good. He illuminated in words what I build into images and thus made the exhibition a great favor regarding the public. He also was accurate with the info about Hertervig and the Megumi Story. I sent the article to my regular gallery (Toho Gallery) in Tokyo where, in September, portraits of her parents will be on display.

I believe the Yokotas (Megumi’s parents) will very much appreciate this attention for their daughter in Mr. Shaw writing. A strange thing…so much shared values of definitions of humanity. There is a common language here. I am proud to be part of such a process.

Also in Tokyo in 1999 “Witness”, people were crying in the exhibition rooms. Then there are no difference between artist and audience…we experience the opposite of individual islands…we become the human ocean.

Marvelous.

Reinhardt Sobye has previously been shown in three international exhibitions at Box Heart, and prints of some of his past work can be viewed at the gallery. Bloomfield may not be the kind of place most people would expect to find world-class art shows, but visitors to Box Heart know to expect differently.

Box Heart Expressions Art Gallery is located in the heart of Bloomfield at 4523 Liberty Avenue, and “The Angel and the Last Child on Earth” exhibit runs until next Saturday, August 16. If you’ve seen the show, let others read your review by leaving a comment on this post.