Images(5)

No more Pencils, No More Books

Object number2019.49.1

Artist Raymond J. Sokolowski

Date2009

MediumOil paint; Board; Foamcore; Wood; Metal

Credit LineGift of Ray Sokolowski

DescriptionFramed oil painting on board. Rectangular painting depicts a 1950s street scene in the South Side of Pittsburgh. Background is a poultry shop located on the first floor of a two-story red brick row house; there are two windows above the poultry shop's storefront and the interior of the shop is visible through the window and open door. Two bordering rowhouses have people leaning out of the second story windows. Mid-ground is gray sidewalk with, from viewer's left to right, fire alarm box, pigeons, fire hydrant, mother with young child and baby in baby carriage, black cat, group of young boys flipping baseball cards, young girl pushing a tricycle, and white dog urinating on garbage can. Foreground is gray-brown cobblestone street with, from viewer's left to right, two young women riding a bicycle; woman holding duck in bag, man with leashed black dog; and boy in baseball uniform in front of two women. Rectangular textured black wooden frame with interior gold beaded trim. DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (Framed): 24 x 17.625 x 2 in. (61 x 44.8 x 5.1 cm)
Height x Width (Sight size): 18.75 x 12.375 in. (47.6 x 31.4 cm)
SignedText painted in red in the viewer's bottom right corner " "NO MORE TEACHERS / NO MORE BOOKS" / R. Sokolowski 2009".
InscriptionsBlue painted text in the viewer's left second story window of the central rowhouse "ROOM / FOR / RENT".

White painted text above the storefront of the central rowhouse "20 / BEDFORD SQUARE POULTRY MARKET".

Black painted text on store front sign in the viewer's bottom right corner of the window "FREE / Dressing".

Yellow painted text on the back of the boy's baseball jersey in the viewer's right foreground "TIC TOC / BAR".

Reverse of frame has handwritten text around the perimeter:
Near center of the top frame member in red ink "16" ";
Near center of the viewer's right frame member in blue ink "5 3/4" "; and
Near viewer's bottom left corner of the bottom frame member in black ink "24" x 17 3/4" ".

Historical NotesOil painting, scene of South Side, entitled "No more Pencils, No More Books," by Ray Sokolowski. Artist Ray Sokolowski’s memory painting of the streets of Bedford Square focused on people in front of the “Bedford Square Poultry Market” near the Old Marked House in the South Side on the first day of summer in the 1950s. Based on a still existing structure. Ray (a painter and sculptor) and his wife Kathy (a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators), formed Rooney & Ray Arts, Inc. in 2000.

Related institution Bedford Square Poultry Market

Related institution Tic Toc Bar

Subjects