From South Side to Italy and Back opening at Father Ryan Arts Center on Oct 16!

Ray Sokolowski's From South Side to Italy and Back takes place this Friday, October 16th, at the Father Ryan Arts Center (420 Chartiers Ave, McKees Rocks) from 6:30 to 9 pm. Ray has a really cool collection of work, obviously inspired by his surroundings, and the impressionism that is thrown into his work adds a nice touch of creativity and imaginative quality. The Father Ryan Arts Center says:

In 2006, Ray Sokolowski began his pilgrimage of art on a surprise, month-long vacation to Italy with his wife Kathy Rooney. Having immersed himself in the world's most fabulous living museum, and recently retired from the Carnegie Museum of Art as Installation Specialist, Ray returned to his native Pittsburgh bursting with new material for self-expression. His journey to Italy resulted in his new dedication to his art in the form of two distinct painting series. As it turned out, the process that reflected on the rich tapestry of Italian architecture also triggered deeper memories within the artist of his life in Pittsburgh including his South Side Slopes childhood.

About the Artist: Ray Sokolowski is a painter and sculptor whose work is on display at The Heinz History Center Sports Museum in Pittsburgh, at St. Bonaventure University in New York, at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in Pennsylvania, and in numerous private collections, including Art Rooney, Jr.

Ray is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He honed his meticulous figurative sculpture and painting skills for 12 years as an exhibition artist & sculptor for F. W. Kestle Display & Sculpture Co. in Pittsburgh where he designed arresting retail displays for many distinguished venues. He also worked for 24 yrs. at The Carnegie Museum of Art as Installation Specialist where he contributed to the presentation of fine art works.

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