By Michael Buzzelli
On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the Carnegie Artist’s Showcase was officially opened with live music from the library’s own Ukulele Strum-Along group and light refreshments, cheese, crackers, cookies, and wine.
The artists all from, living or working in Carnegie included local business owners, Phil Salvato of the 3rd Street Gallery, Dave Klug from Double Dog Studio, Eva Trout from Firebox Art Studios all with studios in downtown Carnegie.
Walker Evans, Library Director at Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, said, “Throughout my 14 years working in public libraries, I’ve witnessed countless changes and innovations — some which stick, some which don’t. But one consistent presence I didn’t really expect has been the constant conversation and interaction between public library service and the visual arts.”
Evans and Journalist Bob Podurgiel (a frequent contributor to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Goodness section) planned the retrospective of local artists.
Podurgiel said, “Carnegie has been home to many exceptional artists — for instance, Phil Salvato was selected to exhibit in China several years ago as one of the American artists chosen in a State Department initiative,” Podurgiel, who took a leading role in planning the event, added, “Anthony Vitale is another homegrown artist. The Carnegie Artists Showcase is a tremendous opportunity to highlight the work of Carnegie artists.”
Third Street Gallery owner, Phil Salvato, who recently closed his gallery, was in attendance at the opening. Other artists showed up for the event, including Bernadette Kazmarski , Ron Mahoney Marlene Pendleton, and Dave Columbus.
Dave Columbus offered whimsical artwork that included a scene from “Monty Python’s Holy Grail,” and nerd-centric art that listed a finely detailed diagram of “Star Trek [The Original Series]” which included each actor and the episodes they appeared in. The graphic was meticulously researched.
The late Anthony Vitale’s art included abstracts such as “Metal in Motion” and a realistic falcon in “Falcon at Rest.”
For Carnegie residents, it’s a great way to get to know their neighbors, but it’s also a great selection of fine and fun artwork.
The showcase is free to the public, but donations are gratefully accepted. The showcase is open during regular library hours from Aug. 2 to 16 (Mondays, noon to 7 p.m.; Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
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The Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Ave, Carnegie, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 15106. For more information, click here.
