This painting is an entry for the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators' 20th anniversary exhibit Pittsburgh Art of Facts. We were asked to find obscure stories or facts about Pittsburgh and create an illustration about them. Below is the story that I chose.
Did you know that on July 29th, 1932 there was a "mob hit" right here in Pittsburgh?
John, Arthur and James Volpe were murdered at Rome Coffee and Bakery shop on Wylie Avenue at 12:45 p.m. by Guiseppi Spinelli and two unknown assailants. The Volpe brothers supplied alcohol to people during Prohibition.
My late father once told the story of his uncle wanting him to go to Italy to become part of the Mafia. That story always stuck with me. When researching the topic for this exhibit, I remembered that story and wondered if the Mafia was here in Pittsburgh. The title of this piece is a line from The Godfather.
Last year (2016), my dad would have celebrated his 100th birthday. He grew up in Monessen in an Italian neighborhood, born of Sicilian parents. We’d ask him to teach us to speak Italian. He’d say he didn't remember...but then he’d speak to his sisters in Italian when they visited.
A traditional Italian cook my dad made spaghetti and meatballs every Sunday and on special occasions, he made cannoli.
One could say this piece is a unique way of connecting to my dad and my Italian heritage.