Mystery or Micracle On Craig Street

For several years we have admired a couple 'steel entry doors' on Craig Street the doors are very well designed - older - colorful - and have what looked like BLENKO rondel in the middle. The doors were a mystery, a beautiful mystery that beckoned each time we have occasion to walk Craig Street. Saturday while walking and deciding where to eat, a gentleman was standing in front of the door - he was taking measurements of a window. We started to talk about the 'entry doors' he told me" he grew up in Weirton, West Virginia, played football -perhaps he knew my grand dad as he said he was friends with a HUMMY Homburg from the Island- ,he married the love of his life (who recently passed) he has 2 wonderful daughters, terrific grandchildren, loved Pennslyvannia - particularly Pittsburgh, and Somerset. Mr. Cantini showed me photos of his many artist creations - gave me the addresses in Pittsburgh to see his work. I told him about Blenko Glass and the wonderful vivid colors, he told me he was familiar with HUNT GLASS in Pittsburgh. It was a 'Magical Meeting', a mystery solved, I felt like a Miracle Took Place On Craig Street !
NOTE: The following is from webmaster Steve & Wiki about my new friend Virgil Cantini

Virgil D. Cantini
Born
1919Italym
Nationality
Italian-American,U.S. Resident since 1930
Field
Enamelist, Sculptor
Training
Manhattan College,Carnegie Mellon University,PhD, Duquesne University
Works
"Man" sculpture (1965)
Awards
Time Magazine "Hundred Leaders of Tomorrow" (1953)Guggenheim Fellowship (1957)
Virgil David Cantini (1919 - ) is an enamelist,sculptor and educator. He has many large scale works throughout the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Professor Cantini has been a long time member of the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, formerly chair of the Department of Art,[ now Professor of Studio Arts, Emeritus.[ As an artist, he is known for innovation with enamel and steel. He has received both local and national recognition for his work, including honorary awards, competitive prizes and commissions, and a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1957.

My camera died on the way home from PA, so it may be a few days before I can get my personal pics of Mr. Cantini uploaded. Here are a few images of his works around pictures taken from the web.

Joyful People Fountain in East Liberty section of Pittsburgh

Outside Law Building Univ Of Pitt
Mr. Cantini dedicated this sculpture, titled Space, to Chancellor Litchfield, who served from 1956 to 1965.
Duquesne University
In the late sixties Mr.Cantini traveled to Ecuador to teach artwork as a means for people there to support themselves. While there, Cantini had the people make this tapestry and others like it (there is one of a bull in his home) using his designs.