Pittsburgh View – An Extension of Waterways and Working Boats
This piece, Pittsburgh View, may seem like a departure from my typical subject matter. I spent most of my life living in Pittsburgh, PA. While the region directly influenced my Working Boat and Waterways series, I haven’t created much art of the city itself. This painting is one of two on canvas reflecting the beauty of the city.
Ebenezer Bridge is a covered bridge in Washington County, Pennsylvania, near where I used to live. The bridge originally crossed the Maple Creek near Ginger Hill, but was moved to Mingo Creek Park in 1977.
My hometown has gone duck crazy since Devlin Hodges took over as the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In addition to being a professional football player, Hodges is a champion duck caller, hence his nickname, “The Duck”. To join in all the excitement, here is some old but related work.
If you want to learn more about the likable Duck, here’s “Duck Calling with Devlin” on Youtube.
In this artist statement, I explain how my love for waterways started back when I was a boy, and my father would take me with him to the Pittsburgh wharves during his truck deliveries. I came across some old photos depicting that period in time. In this first photo, if you look closely, you’ll see the river and some working boats in the back. I also find the old trucks pretty interesting.
Robert Yonke Art 