Experience the Murals

  Definitely the highlight my trip to Pittsburgh, besides visiting family. I also visited the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Mattress Factory, but this was a real buried treasure. The strength, beauty and messages in these murals really do correspond to the murals of the Mexican muralists Rivera and Orozco. I loved the setting and the feeling of history being in the church.It conveys the spirit of a unique community, honoring their religion, their labor, the immigrant experience and the rejection of war and capitalist greed. The murals were painted at the end of the depression and the beginning of WWII and the artist has responded with passion to those difficult times.

  A small group of us were led through Saint Nicholas Croatian Church to view the Maxo Vanka murals there. The docent was very knowledgeable about the church and the artist - some sad but great stories - Vanka's WWI experience and loss of homeland are both strongly in evidence in the murals. I would almost put these somewhere between fine art and folk art in terms of style and motifs. I would never have thought to visit here on my own, so was very glad to have the opportunity to see something very unique in terms of understanding Pittsburgh's ethnic heritage! I would not suggest bringning small children to see the murals since some of them depict war and other brutal scenes.

  Check the website link for hours. Usually have tours on Saturday from 10 to 2 on the hour. They have just installed new lighting and are half way through a 10 year restoration. A lot of emotion as this tells as the murals tell both a Christian and Croatian story. Afterwards, check out one of the 3 breweries in Millvale.