Pittsburgh artist's digital illustrations installed at The Terminal in the Strip
When you think of the Strip District, visions of markets and music and cafes enter your mind.
Artist, illustrator and muralist Brian Holderman, of Holderman Art Graphics, set out to capture those images in a larger-than-life scene.
He created a digital illustration showcasing the personality of the Pittsburgh neighborhood where people shop, dine, and are entertained. His works were installed on Friday at The Terminal building along Smallman Street. The area will be host to shops and office space as well as a market.
“The Strip District is such a historical spot in Pittsburgh,” said Holderman, a State College native, who grew up in Mars and lives in Windgap. “It’s definitely the place to go when someone comes in from out of town, and on the weekends it is really a busy place.”
Holderman created the drawings in pencil on an 11-by-17-inch sheet of paper. Then they were scanned, inked and colored digitally.
Friday was the first time he saw the finished product.
“They look good,” he said. “When I drove past it, I was like, ‘There they are. That’s cool.’ I get to be surprised seeing them for the first time. I hope they capture what people think of when they think of the Strip District.”
Holderman is recognized for his big-scale murals, which are brush-to-brick paintings, here in Pittsburgh as well as Indianapolis, Cincinnati and soon to be in Detroit. This was different because it’s a digital illustration, a form well suited for the coronavirus pandemic.
McCaffery Interests, the Chicago-based real estate developer behind the Terminal project, partnered with Holderman, a news release said.
The four large-scale creations were installed along the upper platform of the five-block-long Terminal building. Each is 26 feet wide by 12 feet tall. The timing of the installation of the murals comes as construction of The Terminal nears completion and fencing begins to be removed around the project, according to a news release.
The art is intended to depict the spirit of the Strip District from old-style grocers, street vendors, and produce stands to cafés and shops, said CEO Dan McCaffery.
“We wanted to capture the vibrancy of the Strip District and give folks a glimpse into what they can expect at The Terminal,” McCaffery said. “We knew Brian’s work around Pittsburgh and thought his signature style would be a perfect complement to what we’re building, and the vitality and excitement of all that’s happening in the neighborhood.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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