#Maxo Vanka

[mysterious-secret-garden]

Maksimilijan 'Maxo' Vanka - The Angel mourns the death of Orpheus killed by the Maenads.

[a-briefexposure]

For over a month I have failed miserably to post anything here, proving once again that I can't have good habits. Or at least not yet. Here is something interesting that mostly speaks for itself: a gallery of photographs I took inside Saint Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millave, Pennsylvania (not exactly Pittsburgh, but part of the Diocese of Pittsburgh). These murals were commissioned to Maxo Vanka, a Croatian immigrant artist, in the 1930s. Vanka was the son of aristocrats, though he was born out of wedlock and placed in a peasant home until one of his grandparents found out that he existed and paid for his education in Zagreb. Vanka met Margaret Stetten, a wealthy Jewish New Yorker, while she was doing a tour of Europe; they married and moved back to the US in 1935, as antisemitic sentiment rose. Vanka tried to rebuild his fine arts career and eventually showed work in Pittsburgh, where he caught the eye of the priest of Saint Nicholas. An urban legend (told to me by the friend who took me to this place) says the priest actually dreamt that God ordered to ask Vanka to paint the inside of the church, which was totally white then.

Vanka painted these murals in eight weeks in 1937, which is almost unbelievable. Someone in our guided tour said he was drinking a lot of Coca Cola (apparently it was basically cocaine back then). He returned in 1940 to do the "evil capitalist" one and a couple of others I couldn't photograph very well. The first mural he did was the peasant Virgin Mary, with her broad shoulders and strong hands. Below her Vanka painted two groups: on the left, Croatians in the home country, an idyllic landscape, and dressed in traditional attire; on the right, Croatian immigrants, many of them wearing their work clothes and tools, and one of them holding a miniature model of St. Nicholas itself––a gift of the community to the Virgin. One of the other murals depicts the Crucifixion, and there are portraits of the apostles in the upper walls and ceiling. The vibrant color palette (the royal blue!) and the elongated, expressionist faces and bodies are probably the most immediately arresting elements that stay consistent throughout all the scenes. However, the main attraction here are the anti-war and anti-exploitation murals in which groups of women mourn a fallen soldier in Croatia and a fallen miner in Pittsburgh ("Mothers offer up their sons for war" and "Mothers offer up their sons for labor"). In the first, several women in traditional white funerary dress surround the casket of a dead soldier. In the second, inspired by real events in Pittsburgh, women dressed in black surround the half-naked body of a man––ostensibly the son of one of them––who has died in a mining accident; in the distance we see other workers heading back into the mine to look for survivors. In another wall, a Rockefeller-like figure sits having dinner while ignoring a beggar at the foot of his table. An angel turns their head away in disgust, and a demon extends a bony hand into the scene.

Within the line of sight of churchgoers, so colorful and cinematic, these scenes become part of the wider experience of prayer or worship. I don't recall seeing something like this before. Some scenes (like the evil capitalist with the top hat and the monocle) maybe feel a bit too on-the-nose, but I suppose that's appropriate for the context. In contrast, a couple of these paintings are hermetic in a way that makes you stare. The Angel of Justice, for instance, which is not really "an angel" that we know of by any name (and which mirrors an Angel of Prudence on the wall across, an emblem I love). The ceiling was my favorite parts of the church, painted like literal heaven, in a beautiful blue with lighter patches, stars, and planets. It seems that some of the lighter blues or greenish patches were caused by water damage (because Pittsburgh gets hurricanes, believe it or not), but they actually look beautiful, like nebulae. On the opposite side of Justice is Injustice (again, very didactic), a strangely futuristic-medieval figure wearing a beaked gas mask.

Not a whole lot is known about Vanka's politics, as far as I've been able to search. He's often described simply as a "pacifist." But, of course, these murals clearly express how war disproportionately affects any working class. The tour guide in the church was also unable to tell us if Vanka had had any contact with Mexican muralists, but the timing is perfect and him being in New York for any period of time would make it likely. While these images most likely follow Eastern European mural traditions, to me they have undeniable echoes of José Clemente Orozco --so maybe it was the spirit of the times.

[marko-dwight]

Historic Pittsburgh murals refreshed with new art, virtual reality, and more | Visual Art | Pittsburgh

Historic Pittsburgh murals refreshed with new art, virtual reality, and more | Visual Art | Pittsburgh

click to enlarge Photo: Rob Long-Clear Story “Mary, Queen of Croatia” by Maxo Vanka Croatian-American muralist Maksimilijan “Maxo” Vanka used the walls of St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church as a canvas, forever making the Millvale space a place of both worship and artistic inspiration. The unusual location, while stunning, also makes it challenging to draw audiences in to appreciate the 25…

[strawberrydragon]

Is now a good time to talk about this mural that was painted in a Pittsburgh church?

[zentaku]

Saw the Maxo Vanka murals at Saint Nicholas Church in Millvale, PA last night. Profoundly moving spiritual and artistic experience.

[canaryrecords]

a talk I gave February 14, 2020 St. Nicholas Croatian Church (Home of the Maxo Vanka murals) in Pittsburgh, PA. A few little factual errors. A lot left out that I should have said, particularly naming Harry Kezelian and Harout Arakelian for their work on the Panosian story. What's edited out is an audience member at the beginning telling me to speak more slowly, which is the cause of my having left out a lot of important stuff.

[gthakkar]

Millvale’s History

Millvale has a lot of significant stories and historically important landmarks spread across the borough. A current resident of Millvale had a few stories to share over a drink when I visited Millvale over the weekend –

The mound, which is also called as a “the Berm”, which holds the PA 28 state highway at the entrance of Millvale used to be the location of the Mill, which gives the borough its name. Most of its workers settled in and around Millvale, which gave it a unique cultural setting brought by it’s residents.

The tracks of the railroad or the street car that used to serve the factory are still visible in a parking lot next to the Berm as one gets off the PA 28 and enters Millvale.

Perched on a hill, just across the parking lot, one can see the church of St. Nicholas which holds one of kind masterpiece murals by Croatian artist Maxo Vanka.

Apparently, Millvale was never supposed to exist as it lies completely in a flood plain and all the water run offs from the near by hills flow into Millvale resulting in floods. But due to the mill and the will of it’s residents, the community continues to thrive irrespective of the floods.

Millvale has a natural swale called Girty’s run which collects most of the storm water run offs and flows into the river on the east. This swale was culverted to create two main streets – Grant Ave and Lincoln Ave to connect it to water’s edge.

Lastly, Millvale is home to many cultural and social icons like the Millvale Moose, Mr. Small’s theatre, The gardens of Millvale, numerous craft breweries, restaurants and cafes.

[upgpittstops-blog]

Pitt Stops - Maxo Vanka Murals

Pittsburgh vast culture expands beyond that of the city limits. If you ever find yourself on the other side of the Allegheny river in a place called Millvale, there’s a hidden gem of the art world at the St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church. Maxo Vanka, a croatian painter had completely layered the interior with 25 beautiful murals of christ and catholicism throughout the mid 20th century. Vanka completed these murals in 1937 and 1941 in two stints in America, and his art reflects the turmoil of the age. The murals often depicted men and women in clothing of the age, although the most prominent focal point is how Vanka includes the conflict of WWII into his sprawling artistic magnum opus. He depicts the virgin Mary as a strong and powerful matriarch. The angel Injustice appears in a gas mask, judging the soldiers of the second great war. Nuns lament the death of a miner due to the harsh work environment of the age, in a time where progress waits for no one.

The St. Nicholas Catholic Church was not always intended to house such lively pieces. Vanka took on the project after the church’s total reconstruction after a fire destroyed the structure shortly before his works would inhabit it. Being the first Croatian Catholic parish in America meant that it was a hub for the small Croatian community at the time, and Vanka only served to enrich that community with his works.

[loudlylovingreview]

Kristofer Collins: Acts of Contrition

Kristofer Collins: Acts of Contrition

for Jason Irwin

The bell tower burned down the same year my father busted his right wrist

chasing a wobbly foul ball right off the garage roof near Butler and 62nd

and the bells we hear this evening chiming Vespers first rung

closer to Cincy than Morningside Ave., nearer the whispering

west than to these brown choppy waters that take tugs and all the scrap they haul

concealing them in the shade…

[mickysedota]

January 23, 2019

Therapy today. We talked about if I am getting what I want out of my relationship. The answer is no. But I am getting some things I want. That is I am getting attention from a good human who looks out for the people around him and likes the same things I do.

But I want someone who can commit to me. I want someone who wants to commit to me. I really need that. I don’t feel like he loves me conditionally or wants to be with me on any condition. His decisions are based on his own needs. I still judge my own value based on how much I can bring to the table in a relationship.

I think I confused my young, forest-pixie therapist because she is not in the point in her life where she has to think about these things. She lives in a fantasy world of peer-reviewed psychology dream journals where a person should be able to feel valuable based on their own merit, although she admits that is not realistic. It’s not realistic because the amount of money I am paid will never represent the amount of work I put in anywhere, or the skills I cultivate.

How do I decide how valuable I am? How do I decide what I can bring to the table?

If my partner is satisfied, I am satisfied. But then, do I find myself over-indulging? Over-indulging means I am neglecting my writing.

I over-indulge in order to neglect my writing. I over-indulge because it’s easier to care about someone else’s day to day concerns than it is to delve deep into the nature of my pain. Writing about my pain is how I save the world, so I am literally sacrificing the world for these people I devote my time and effort to. It’s worth it for some of them. Not for others. It’s important for me to decide whom I will sacrifice the world for, if I do.

Or, I should not sacrifice the world. I should find a partner who helps me save it.

None of this is new information. Just re-hashing.

I am disappointed in my therapy. I am having many breakthroughs of feeling reinforced in my own ability to support myself, but it’s not structured. There’s no plan. Does my therapist know what my goals are? I don’t think she does.

I thought I would be able to use my time with this art therapist in conjunction with writing my personal narrative. I’ve put various structures into place. I need to create connections between them to build a structure that can support my goals.

There are many things I want to do in the time I am given and I realize I may not be able to do it all. That’s why I have a short-term goal of working from home to allow me to move in any direction I want to from there. I want to live in Europe for awhile to be closer to Missy and to learn about my heritage and to get out of America. I want to go back to school to study literature or writing.

Does all this prevent me from getting what I want out of a relationship? I want him to eat my pussy but I feel like I need to go to planned parenthood first to check for bacterial infections and I need to make sure it’s shaved. Does this mean I need to take care of my own, legitimate needs first before I ask for it from a partner? Is this about feeling valuable or is this about being realistic and healthy?

The pussy thing, I think I should go to planned parenthood. The commitment thing, I think if he wants me he will commit to me regardless of what I am doing. I am making progress. I am trying real hard. He fits in with what I want and what I can do. I know I want him and I think he needs time to decide. Plus, he doesn’t know what I’ve decided.

Is this about him making commitments to me or me making commitments to myself. How can I say to him: here I am, this is what I am doing: what do you want to do about it. I don’t trust myself to do what I say I am going to do. Because I let down other people in the past by not showing up. That’s why I’ve been having dreams about cheating. Distracted from sacred commitments by basic interests.

Basic needs. My basic needs are met. I can pay rent and feed myself. That has changed my perception of the world and my ability to worry about my future and make commitments.

That’s why I delved into my cnf class and maxo vanka and writing my fiction pieces. Because now I can. I am rusty and that slows me down. I have to remember that my ability to perform these skills is not a reflection of my character. My character is my ability to strengthen these skills now that I have the time and resources. So I can keep these sacred commitments without being distracted by my basic needs.

Eventually the duality between my basic needs and sacred commitments will fade. This is a temporary construct that I am using to better myself. Of course, my relationships are included in my needs and of course I am trying to take care of my basic needs with the skills I cultivate in my higher commitments.

It is scary that I want to use writing to support myself as well as process my complicated brain. Then I will be associating my mental health with my financial stability. No. I will have to discern how to use my writing skills for financial stability from how I use them for mental processing. That’s not very hard. I already know how to discern different types of writing. In fact, I already know how to process my feelings through writing. I do need to cultivate the professional life of my writing. I was unable to do this before because I was in distress about surviving. Unable to think clearly, unable to process things, so I was unable to make the discernment. I can now.

[internshipspring2017-blog]

“Do Good Friday” *Work from Home*

Two. Weeks. Left. 

This week was crazy busy with schoolwork, finals are coming quickly. But I still enjoy doing my intern work for Blender. They have been so kind to me and I’m so grateful I got the chance to learn and grow in such a supportive environment. 

This week Abby was on vacation in Florida so I worked with Chris and Katy on a variety of projects. Our generous boss, Kris gave us Friday off and called it “Do Good Friday” which I thought was very thoughtful. But I did work anyway because I have to hit that 200-hour mark!

I did a media scan of all the press coverage of the Millvale murals of Maxo Vanka for a new client. I drafted social posts for #StrongMomStrongBaby to promote an event hosted by the Alexis D’Achille Foundation. I wrote Facebook and Twitter posts promoting Point Park Connections, which I have friends performing in, that was a fun full-circle moment. I also did some research and found articles for #StrongMomStrongBaby and #FamilyFirstPA.

It is so rewarding to do work that I feel great about. Helping nonprofits and social campaigns get off the ground is definitely something I could do in my future career.

[brainvsheart]

I had a very good weekend that ended with a mega cold and gnarly weather. Maxo vanka murals are stunning, Jean Marc still has the best pastries, and Pamela's is where I finally tried trappeys red devil on eggs. Praying for a blizzard tomorrow so I can lay in bed all day with my cats.

[pedestrianphotos]

[lcaway-blog]

Tina Kukielski writes about Maxo Vanka murals in Millvale, PA. A reminder of what stunning mural work there is around the country. 

[ladonnapietra]

Maxo Vanka, The Capitalist.  I see this image coming in handy a lot over the next several months.  (More awesome images at the link from a WPA-sponsored artist whose murals can be seen in the St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Parish church in Pittsburgh.)