logo
  • News
    • Northside Community Meetings
    • Community Calendar
    • Elected Officials
    • Features
    • Local Business
    • Public Safety
    • Sports
  • Arts + Culture
  • Real Estate
  • Classifieds
  • Marketplace
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • News
      • Northside Community Meetings
      • Community Calendar
      • Elected Officials
      • Features
      • Local Business
      • Public Safety
      • Sports
    • Arts + Culture
    • Real Estate
    • Classifieds
    • Marketplace
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
New mural captures the heart and spirit of Troy Hill community
Arts + Culture, Editor Picks, Event Coverage, Latest Northside News, Troy Hill
admin, on
July 12, 2018
New mural captures the heart and spirit of Troy Hill community

“Everyone belongs in Troy Hill.”

By Chloe Burkart

On Thursday June 28, Troy Hill residents gathered at a block party hosted at Scratch Food & Beverage in conjunction with Troy Hill Citizens (THC) to celebrate the completion of the community’s new map mural. The BYOB event was packed with neighbors enjoying music and hamburgers and hot dogs fresh off the grill. The artwork, created by artist Brian Gonnella, extends across the side of the restaurant and depicts every road, business, and landmark in Troy Hill. Children craned their necks upwards to point out familiar places on the map and shouted in excitement when they located their homes.

The mural’s vibrant colors and cartoon-like character speak to Troy Hill’s lively spirit and warm personality. It represents the unity, acceptance, and diversity that makes this neighborhood and the Northside so special. The words, “Everyone belongs in Troy Hill,” fly across the top of the mural as a reminder that no matter who you are, where you come from, or where you’re going, there’s a place for you in Troy Hill.

Gonnella, a native Pittsburgher, has been creating art professionally for about a decade. He received his bachelor’s degree in English writing and film studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Since then, he’s been nationally recognized for his artistic talents. He drew inspiration for the Troy Hill mural from a week* spent working for the Painted Desert Project on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona. Influenced by the importance of the Navajo land to the natives, Gonella shifted away from creating the imaginative landscapes he’s known for and began conceptualizing more realistic representations of spaces.

“These pieces are meant to be reflections of the community in a way that they want to be seen. That’s the utility value. The [Troy Hill] mural is rooted in the nostalgia and whimsical animation of old 16-bit video games. The interpretation of their space in such terms creates a sense of magic,” Gonella said.

Funding for the mural was generated with a Go Fund Me campaign started by the Vice Chair of THC, Patrick Duffey. In two months, members of the community raised over $1,000 which went towards the materials and supplies necessary to create a mural of this size. After hours spent studying Google Maps and completing the preliminary sketch, Gonella began working on the wall. He completed the map in about two weeks with 10 or 12 hour work days.

“Work days for this were long, but rewarding,” he said.

Gonella received nothing but positive support and encouragement throughout the mural making process. Members of the community often stopped by to check on his progress and search the map for recognizable landmarks.

“Lots of thumbs up, lots of honks, and compliments,” he said. “Some people with more to say than others, but all of it, always positive.”

Throughout the unveiling event at Scratch, people admired Gonella’s representation of their beloved neighborhood.

“I want it to feel like an essential part of the neighborhood, like a mirror in a house,” he said.

This style of cartoonish landscape mural is the first of its kind in Pittsburgh, but Gonella has created a few others which are scattered around the country. To see more of his work, check out his Instagram: @briangonellaisboring.

*Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that Gonnella spent one year at the Painted Desert Project. He actually spent one week there. We apologize for the error. 

Donate today to help support the Northside community newspaper's mission to provide hyperlocal coverage for our neighborhoods, neighbors, and their future.

Related Posts
Real Estate Transfers March 12 to March 18
News, Real Estate, Real estate transfers
Real Estate Transfers March 12 to March 18
Allegheny City Central Martha Hyman to JMT Investments LLC at 1327 Reddour St. for $105,000. PinRe Holdings L.P. to TMSAZ 1510 LLC at 1510 Monterey St...
March 21, 2023
Real Estate Transfers March 5 to March 11
Features, News, Real Estate, Real estate transfers
Real Estate Transfers March 5 to March 11
Allegheny City Central North Side Assoc. to Neuman Investing LLC at 215 Alpine Ave. for $195,000. East Deutschtown Quadvestors LLC to Richard Ryan II ...
March 20, 2023
Real Estate Transfers Feb. 26 to March 4
Features, News, Real Estate, Real estate transfers
Real Estate Transfers Feb. 26 to March 4
Allegheny City Central Coast Properties LLC to Thomas Weinlandt and Kendall Post at 1219 Veto St. for $368,600. Brighton Heights FOF Properties LLC to...
March 20, 2023
Real Estate Transfers Feb. 19 to Feb. 25
News, Real Estate, Real estate transfers
Real Estate Transfers Feb. 19 to Feb. 25
Allegheny City Central Mark Fleischer to James and Amie Sparks Ball at 1202 Sherman Ave. for $400,000. Edward Villella to Louis Kroeck and Sarah Chath...
March 20, 2023
The Northside Chronicle’s Summer Youth Guide 2023
Arts + Culture, Local Business
The Northside Chronicle’s Summer Youth Guide 2023
The Northside Chronicle's Summer Youth Guide 2023 features programming, organizations, and resources for families to provide a healthy summer full of ...
March 2, 2023
The Northside Chronicle’s Wedding Guide
Arts + Culture, Local Business
The Northside Chronicle’s Wedding Guide
The Northside Chronicle's 2023 Wedding Guide of services, venues, and unique photography locations to check out when planning your wedding.
February 3, 2023
e-Edition
Northside Neighborhoods
Northside Guides
FORMS + SUBMISSIONS
Events Letters to the Editor News Tips
POLL
MOST READ
Northside Business Briefs: March 2023
Business, Chateau...
Northside Business Briefs: March 2023
March 15, 2023
Bicycle Heaven reopens after flood damage Bicycle Heaven, the Northside’s bicycle museum and bike repair shop, reopened in late February following flo...
this is a test
The recovery of Waltmire Pharmacy
Business, Editor Picks...
The recovery of Waltmire Pharmacy
March 13, 2023
By Veronica Rodriguez | Staff Writer In the early morning of July 14, 2014, a Waltmire Pharmacy employee woke up to see his workplace on fire. Accordi...
this is a test
Yinzburgh! Comics March 2023
Arts + Culture, Features
Yinzburgh! Comics March 2023
March 11, 2023
this is a test
Northside Baseball, Softball readies for spring season
Editor Picks, Features...
Northside Baseball, Softball readies for spring season
March 8, 2023
The Northside Baseball and Softball Association (NBSA) in Brighton Heights’ season starts this March, and as the spring nears, the organization is gea...
this is a test
Northsider’s new book explores Pittsburgh’s historic ballparks
Arts + Culture, Editor Picks...
Northsider’s new book explores Pittsburgh’s historic ballparks
March 6, 2023
Like many people, Mark Fatla found himself with little to do during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with so many public venues shut down. As such,...
this is a test
Neighborhood Community Development Fund
Northside Leadership Conference
Donate

The Northside Chronicle

thenorthsidechronicle.com
Phone: (412) 321-3919
Email: [email protected]

About Us

Stay tuned with us

Copyright ©2022 Northside Chronicle. All rights reserved.