'Interactive' Fred Rogers portrait to go on display at his alma mater

An interactive mixed-media portrait of Fred Rogers will go on display at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary starting in January.

The “Fred Rogers: Just The Way You Are” portrait by Nashville artist Wayne Brezinka has been making the rounds of Pittsburgh area venues, including the Saint Vincent College Fred Rogers Center and WQED, since June.

The portrait will be on display at the seminary’s Barbour Library, 616 N. Highland Ave., from mid-January to mid-May. Rogers, founder and host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” graduated from the seminary in 1962 and was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1963.

“The portrait is making its way around the country, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to host it on campus, the place where Fred Rogers earned his master of divinity degree and prepared for his ordained ministry in children’s television,” said seminary President David Esterline. “Fred’s message of loving all God’s children resonates with his alma mater to this day.”

The 60-by-48-inch painting comprises cut-and-pasted printed paper, collage and mixed media on a wood panel. It includes a handwritten note, two bow ties, a pair of glasses, childhood photos and vintage “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” LPs and audio cassettes.

The title of the piece comes from Rogers’ quote: “There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are.”