Images(2)

St. Joseph

Object number2019.34.3

MediumPaper; Crayon(?); Colored pencil(?); Metallic paper; Ink; Adhesive; Foamcore

Credit LineGift of Frances Gialamas

DescriptionRectangular multimedia photo collage. Central area of artwork is an enlarged printed photographic image of a man bent over an industrial work area with a tool in his right hand. Surrounding the central image are adhered pieces of blue, black, gray, orange and metallic silver/gold paper as well as printed photo images of automobiles, printed text, and steel mill smoke stacks. At viewer's left center is a piece of gray paper with stamped images of Michelangelo's David sculpture. Most of the collage pieces are drawn over using polychrome media, possibly crayon and colored pencil. Collage is mounted on a rectangular white foamcore backer. DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 36 x 47 x 0.25 in. (91.4 x 119.4 x 0.6 cm)
SignedArtist signature in the viewer's bottom right quadrant in black ink "© F V GiALAMAS".
InscriptionsCollage pieces have printed text including "480", "...4...", "Men of iron and steel", "ING52...", "986545 / CODE 9...", and "WHEN WORK DISAPPEARS / Work is not simply / a way to make a / living and support / your family. / It also constitutes / a framework / for daily behavior / because it imposes / discipline."
Historical Notes“St. Joseph” photo assemblage depicting a man working in a steel mill. Multimedia artwork by local artist Fran Gialamas. Fran uses personal and historic photographs that she enlarges, hand colors, and then incorporates other imagery and objects. As she is working, she uses a spray mount that is repositionable so she can change things around as the work progresses. Some images, like Wonder Woman, appear frequently in her work. She has been working with historic photographs since 1987. Working people and specifically steel workers became a frequent theme in her work with the demise of the industry in the region.

Related institution Chatham University

Related institution Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Related person Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564)

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