Community engagement and social justice
Site-specific and integrated art
2-D art, including murals, mosaic, photography, etc.
Pittsburgh Creative Corps Artist Directory
Monica Cervone McElwain
Primary Discipline
Artistic Practice
Assemblage, including found objects, multimedia
Murals
Painting/works on paper/printmaking
Morphfly, 2019, Nova Color paints and vintage book pages, 18′ x 9′, Boulder Public Library Renovation, Boulder, CO
A Piece of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, 2005, mosaic and Nova Color paints, approximately 40′ x 20′, Sprout Fund Mural, Southside Pittsburgh, PA
Hops, 2020, spray paint, stencil and paint marker, 56′ x 10′, Hop Farm Brewing Company, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, PA
Got Hail?, 2021, acrylic paint, 5′ x 3′, Hail Medic, Denver, CO
Always Right-Sided Up, 2022, wood panel, acrylic, collage, wood burning and encaustic, 20″ x 10″
About the Artist
Themes in my practice unravel from my daily emotions, happenings, reflections and inspirations on my past experiences. I create fantastical visions as silhouettes in a human figure, animal, insect or organic shape but juxtaposed in a quirky way. Vivid color and shape seem simple but develop intricacies through the use of patterns, layers of line, texture and choice of materials. I want the viewer to get lost in my work and discover something new. My day job is dedicated to being an art educator to kindergarten through third graders and a mother of three, but I am motivated and feel strongly to continue to share my art with those around me. As a public artist, I consider collaboration, conversation and brainstorming an important step in public art making. My past experiences working with a community as an artist, a community board member, or an educator has been very rewarding and taught me a lot about how to work well with others. It is crucial to have an open mind, be adaptive, listen and be enjoyable. I embrace any opportunity to pave my art, one public art piece at a time, here in Pittsburgh.
Photo by Lucia McElwain
Web
Provides Fabrication Services to Other Artists
No
Teaching Artist
Yes, ages 5 and up
Joined the Directory
March 2022
Related
PROJECT
Pittsburgh Creative Corps
Designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pittsburgh Creative Corps initiative engages artists and creative workers to activate the public realm while providing economic opportunity.
“Being a public artist has taken me out of my comfort zone while rejuvenating myself and the community I work in. The opportunity to work, get to know, and make a change in a community environment gives me validation as an artist.”
Monica Cervone McElwain
Contact the Artist
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Related
PROJECT
Pittsburgh Creative Corps
Designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pittsburgh Creative Corps initiative engages artists and creative workers to activate the public realm while providing economic opportunity.
