By Linda Varos, freelance writer for web based publications
"The recent flurry of publicity surrounding Pittsburgh's largest scale
digitally designed and created public building mural, commissioned
by The Pittsburgh Steelers, reached Steeler fans around the world
via my web site", says the artist, Kathy Rooney. The detailed mural,
commissioned for The Pittsburgh Steelers headquarters which depicts
the Pittsburgh skyline interspersed with visuals of golden moments in
Steeler history such as "The Immaculate Reception", has drawn
interest from such a wide audience that the artist has received 230,902*
hits on her web site and continues to receive 5 to 10 calls a day from
Steeler fans across the globe expressing an interest in purchasing a
copy of the mural for themselves. As one caller from Evansville,
Indiana put it, "My father wouldn't care about the cost, he would stick it
on the side of his house if he could!"
Tapping into her experience as a seasoned art director with awards
from high tech publishers such as Laser Focus World Magazine and
cover page commissions from Control Engineering and Machine
Design, Rooney parlayed her cutting edge digital graphic design
skills into her dream job, "...translating digital work to large scale
format for corporate and public installations." Her installation of the
Pittsburgh Mural for the Steelers headquarters has broken ground
as the largest scale digitally produced work of it's kind in a
Pittsburgh public space.
With recent public recognition for innovation, Ms. Rooney's life has
become increasingly busier. This has prompted her to join forces
with Carnegie Museum art installation specialist, sculptural artist,
Ray Sokolowski, to form Rooney and Ray Arts, Inc.
Prior to joining the Carnegie, Ray honed his sculptural and fine art
skills as a glassware designer and U.S. Navy ship artist followed by
a creative incarnation as commercial metal sculptor at F.W. Kestle
Display and Sculpture Company. Along with his contributions at the
Carnegie, Ray too has created his own publicity stir by consistently
designing quirky, yet memorable, window displays for Iman B. Fashion
Design Studio in Shadyside, which according to designer Mary
Margaret Stewart in an interview with the Pittsburgh Business Times,
directly contributed to increasing her client base. However, unlike
Rooney's penchant for visual digital expression, Ray's forays into the
digital realm consists of auditory expression through the creation of
symphonic and new age music for cd rom background pieces.
Says Rooney, "We've formed Rooney and Ray Arts to more fully
service the corporate and public client with site-specific art". With
Ray's sculptural and 3-dimension skills, the team offers more than
50 years of combined experience. "We can co-ordinate both two and
three dimensional solutions for property or corporate image marketing.
It is our hope to encourage a new kind of regional renaissance in visual
branding. We'd like to take our clients beyond cutting-edge", said Rooney.
With an individual client roster that resembles "Who's Who in
Corporate America", separately Kathy and Ray have created for
corporate giants such as The Pittsburgh Steelers, The Pittsburgh
Pirates, United Way, The Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Neiman Marcus,
J.Walter,Thompson Agency, Gulf Oil, Mellon Bank, Allegheny Ludlum,
The Heinz Pittsburgh History Center and Eat 'n Park Restaurant
Corporation. With this merger of talent via the newly formed
Rooney and Ray Arts, Inc. a myriad of communication solutions
for corporate, public and private clients, are now available under
one roof.
*Based on Yahoo Domains Statistics Report, 7/8/02; actual number of All Hits
on www.krooney.net.
Services:
Digital Illustration, Informational Graphics, Graphic Design,
Art Direction, Figurative Sculpture, Set Design and Digital Music
Composition.
Mission Statement:
"To create captivating, timeless visual art as a setting
for inspiration and identity."
Contact Info:
You may contact Kathy or Ray at Rooney and Ray Arts, Inc.,
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at: 412-443-1331 or via email
at: me@krooney.net.