“Pittsburgh Streets 1950s” Book Launch with Michael Rosella
This event is now sold out. Join the Italian American Program for a book release celebrating photographer Michael Rosella.
A lifelong photographic artist, Rosella turned his lens to his hometown for his new book, “Pittsburgh Streets 1950s.” This remarkable collection of photographs showcases the images Rosella took while he was a young man exploring Pittsburgh neighborhoods and as a student at the University of Pittsburgh in the 1950s.
Rosella will join Linda Benedict-Jones, photographer, writer, and independent curator, for a conversation on the book and to share insights into his process, compositions, and more.
“The substantial selection of photographs that comprise this book provide insight not only into the way people acted and interacted, not just which carnival or parade they attended, what clothes they wore or cars they drove, but perhaps most importantly into what a young photographer found worthy of examination in a portion of his city, the city of Pittsburgh, halfway through the twentieth century,” shares Benedict-Jones.
Following their conversation, Rosella will participate in a book signing. Copies of the book, “Pittsburgh Streets 1950s,” will also be available for purchase.
Admission
The book launch event is free with advance registration. The event will take place in the Detre Library & Archives, located on the sixth floor of the History Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. with music by John Marcinizyn. The moderated discussion begins at 6:30 p.m.
For additional questions, please contact programs@heinzhistorycenter.org.
About the Author
Michael D. Rosella, DDS, is a lifelong photographic artist whose main concentrations are fine art photography, documentary street photography, and clinical dental photography.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh’s Brushton neighborhood, Michael graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1951 and began undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1957, he received a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Pittsburgh. From 1957 to 1959, Dr. Rosella served as Lieutenant Senior Grade in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps at the Submarine Base in New London, Connecticut. He began his private practice of general dentistry in 1959 and concurrently from 1961 to 1966, he was an instructor of Fixed Prosthodontics and Human Anatomy at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry. After 36 years as a general dentist, Michael retired and volunteered his photographic services in the Department of Visual Communication for Saint Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh.
About the Moderator
Linda Benedict-Jones is a photographer, writer, and independent curator based in Pittsburgh. In 2015, she retired from being the first Curator of Photography at Carnegie Museum of Art. She also previously served as Executive Director of Silver Eye Center for Photography and as Curator of Education at The Frick. From 1999 to 2017, Linda taught courses in the history of photography at Carnegie Mellon University. Before moving to Pittsburgh in 1993, she was Curator of The Polaroid Collection and director of Polaroid’s Clarence Kennedy Gallery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Linda studied at the Creative Photography Laboratory at MIT where she earned a master’s degree in visual studies in 1982.
Marc B. Silverman, Retired Director emeritus faculty member at University of Pittsburgh/Barco Law Library, who wrote the essay on Pitt stadium and the Oakland sports scene for “Pittsburgh Streets 1950s”will share remarks.