About eight years ago, I was at Station Square in Pittsburgh with an old friend. There was an art gallery there that sold lithographs of paintings. A lot of the stuff was rather pricey but pretty to look at. I saw something that really caught my eye, and that was a painting by Paul Rendel called Back in the Burgh. It’s a beautiful view of a US Airways 737 flying into Pittsburgh over the old Three Rivers Stadium. I fell in love with that painting instantly and was also put off by the price. If memory serves me correctly, it was $130 at the time. I knew I shouldn’t spend that much on a piece of art. Pete told me that I’d keep coming back every week to look at it until it was either gone or I’d break down and buy it. Instead, I plunked down the money and bought the piece.
Since I had to order the print, they asked if I wanted to have it framed. The framing would be about the same price as the print. Thinking that was ridiculously expensive, I said I’d get it framed myself. A couple of weeks later, I took that print home and then went to a craft store to have it framed. It turned out to be one of those classic moments where the framing turned out to cost twice as much as the art itself.
That print has been with me in Dormont, Potomac Ave in Pittsburgh, Providence, Boston, and now Salem. The frame is starting to show its wear, and the print has a few wrinkles, showing its age. At some point, I’ll take it back to a craft store to have it reframed when they run a 50% off sale.
This print is now hanging in my dining room in what I call the gallery. I have one wall that has two spotlights, making it the perfect location for this print.
It’s rare for me to get attached to a piece of art, yet this one is exceptional.