Images(2)

Portrait of Albert Goldsmith

Object number2023.28.2

Artist James Shipman (1953 - 2020)

Date1989-1990

MediumPaper; Ink; Graphite; Adhesive

Credit LineGift of Judith R. Robinson

DescriptionMixed media drawn and collaged artwork. Drawing on fifteen (15) paper envelopes adhered to rectangular white paper. Bust portrait drawing in graphite of a man in three-quarter view facing slightly proper right. Subject is balding, has a mustache and beard, and wears glasses and a collared shirt with necktie. Fifteen (15) rectangular white paper envelopes are glued in a single layer grid (three rows of five) on large rectangular white paper with left and right raw paper edges. The envelopes have handwritten graphite text overall. Some envelopes have a printed return addresses, mailing addresses (sticker label, printed, handwritten), and postage stamps with cancellation stamps. Reverse of paper substrate is undecorated.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 30 x 22.375 x 0.125 in. (76.2 x 56.8 x 0.3 cm)
InscriptionsSix (6) envelopes have printed return addresses including:
"P.O. BOX 7319 / PITTSBURGH, PA 15213 / ...";
"MONROEVILLE / MESSENGER SERVICE / ... / Monroeville, PA 15146";
"NATIONAL / IMPACT / ... / Washington, D.C. 20002";
"Urban League of Pittsburgh, Inc. / Building for Equal Opportunity / ... / Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2064";
"The Community of Reconciliation / ... / Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-2610"; and
"University of Pittsburgh / Third Century Alumni Lecture Series / ... / Pittsburgh, PA 15260".

Six (6) envelopes have printed mailing addresses including:
"ALBERT R GOLDSMITH" / ...";
"Albert Goldsmith / ...";
"ALBERT R. GOLDSMITH / OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY / 1ST UNITARIAN CHURCH--PGH / ...";
"Albert R. Goldsmith / ...";
"ALBERT ROBIN GOLDSMITH / ..."; and
"ALBERT R. GOLDSMITH / ..."

One (1) envelopes have handwritten mailing addresses including :
"Albert R. Goldsmith / ..."

Three (3) envelopes have postage stamps with text "USA / 25 / Yosemite" and one has postage stamp with text "25 USA".

Four envelopes have cancellation stamps with text:
"PITTSBURGH PA 152 / PM / 2 FEB / 1990";
"PITTSBURGH PA 152 / PM / 22 DEC / 1989";
"PITTSBURGH PA 152 / PM / 31 OCT / 1989"; and
"PITTSBURGH PA 152 / PM / 2 NOVE / 1989".

Each of the fifteen (15) envelopes have handwritten graphite text with day of the week and date at the top and scheduling notes below:
"Sunday Nov 19";
"Monday Nov 20 '89";
"Tuesday Feb 6 '90";
"Monday Feb 5 '90";
"Saturday Oct 21 '89";
"Friday Dec 22";
"Thursday Dec 21";
"Saturday Nov 25";
"Sunday Nov 2 '89";
"Thurs Oct 12";
"Friday Jan 26";
"Saturday Jan 27 91";
"Tuesday Feb 13";
"Wednesday Feb 14"; and
"Friday Oct 13".
Historical NotesPortrait of Albert Goldsmith by James Shipman. The image of Albert Goldsmith is mounted on 15 U.S. Post Office cancelled envelopes. Goldsmith was a local teacher at the Pioneer Center for Exceptional Children (as called in 1982) and supporter of the arts. James Shipman is a native of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania and received his degree in fine arts from Carnegie Mellon in 1984. He was both an artist and teacher and was most known for his signature large round ceramic “earth discs”. He started a fine arts company called ShipArt in 1991 and practiced his art for many years out of a large studio space in the Millvale Industrial Park on Route 28. He and fellow artist Ed Eberle operated out of the studio for many years where they collaborated with other local artists such as Robert Qualters, James Simon, and Gary Pletsch. When they had to close that studio due to widening of Route 28 in 2010, he moved into a studio space in Wilkinsburg. James Shipman died by suicide on October 23, 2020. He was survived by his wife Jennifer Bell and daughter Elizabeth.

Related person Albert Robin Goldsmith (1915 - 2008)

Related institution University of Pittsburgh

Related institution Yosemite National Park

Related institution Monroeville Messenger Service

Related institution National Impact

Related institution The Community of Reconciliation

Related institution Carnegie Mellon University

Related institution Pioneer Center for Exceptional Children

Subjects