Category: Blog

“Aspinwall” original painting by Carol Skinger  24″ x 31″

“Aspinwall” a painting of the rooftops of Aspinwall from Route 28 is original painting by Carol Skinger. It is a watercolor, gouache & ink painting on 400 lb watercolor paper, $500 framed. It was created for my 10 month solo art show (now ended)  at Cooper Siegel Community Library   in Fox Chapel, PA May 14, 2017- March 15, 2018.

Prints available in two sizes  11″ x 14″ printed on watercolor paper $55. Larger prints suitable for a 16 x 20 frame are $80. To order a print or purchase the original painting  contact me

Larger prints than that could be made.

Where Brilliant Railroad Bridge meets Aspinwall is the beautiful new Aspinwall Riverfront Park which recently received  some awards. Art critic Mary Thomas reports the awards in Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Architect Eric Fisher won the AIA People’s Choice Award for his design re-purposing the  Aspinwall Marina.  AIA awarded this project  a Certificate of Merit in Historic Preservation.

Details of my painting are seen below.

Detail from my full size painting “Aspinwall”

At left the chateaux style yellow brick building is on Maple Avenue in Aspinwall, PA. It  is a former convent of Saint Scholastica Church in Aspinwall built in 1925.  The architect  of the former convent Edward J. Weber was a native of Cincinnati who studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and traveled throughout Europe. He came to practice in Pittsburgh, where he had a number of Roman Catholic commissions, of which this convent was one. Weber clearly loved the medieval period, even writing in 1927 that this was when, “art was at its best.” In this convent, he seems to have been inspired by the 15th century Château du Moulin in the Loire valley, which clearly was the inspiration for Central Catholic High School in Oakland. Information  on the architect thanks to historian Frank Kurtik, Docent at Heinz Memorial Chapel and a former Heinz family archivist. Very near it is Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy (formerly called St. Scholastica School), and Saint Scholastica Church.

Detail from my full size painting “Aspinwall”

The red brick church sitting more or less in the center of the painting  is the Aspinwall Presbyterian Church. Everything but the church’s tower burned down in 1999 and was rebuilt immediately. The sanctuary a KSBA Architects design has a wood-beamed ceiling and interior cross plan with a wide center aisle and holds a 40 pipe Luley type organ.  Four large Hunt Studio designed stained glass circular windows illuminate the sanctuary.

Brilliant Railroad Bridge a truss bridge spanning the Allegheny River beyond, was built in 1904 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of a bypass of the narrow tracks around downtown Pittsburgh. The rail line has been out of use since the Azcon Metals scrapyard on the outskirts of Aspinwall ceased functions around 2010. It connects Aspinwall with Highland Park. On the Aspinwall side it lands at the  Aspinwall Riverfront Park and at the other end is very near Choderwood, a house was built by the Corps of Engineers in 1905. The property is a unique private residence that sits on the Allegheny River at the Highland Park Dam. Choderwood is an “ideal space for individuals planning smaller scale events and gatherings. Perfect for intimate weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, family reunions, special events, birthday parties, corporate retreats, or relaxation.”

D.J. Bryant, a designer at AE7 Planners and Architects, proposed a bike and pedestrian use for the Brilliant Railroad Bridge  an ambitious new idea—the Brilliant Branch Rail-to-Trail—in a July 2017 Next Pittsburgh article.  It would increase connectivity and access to safe, affordable transportation options for several communities in the city. I hope this becomes a reality. Open link for exciting renderings.

An ongoing discussion of road access to a future Riverfront 47 development has activated public involvement and interest and is under discussion.  To clarify things the folks at Aspinwall Riverfront Park created this statement.

Hydroelectric power could be fueling the homes and businesses being developed in the Riverfront 47 project along the Allegheny River in Aspinwall and Sharpsburg by 2020.

The current issues in December 2017 are a new PennDot proposal and gathering public input around entrance and exit isPennDot prosues between Highland Park Bridge and  Route 28.

At far right in the painting is Highland Park Bridge. Approximately 57,000 vehicles use Route 28 in the area of the bridge every day. There are discussions about an improvement to access to the bridge from Route 28.