body
WHEREAS, Maria DeSimone Prascak, a native South Side resident and an integral member of the Pittsburgh community, has been leading Maria's Ideas since 1982 which is located in Johno's Art Studio at 1705 Arlington Ave in the South Side Slopes of Pittsburgh; and,
WHEREAS, Maria produces various types of art, in a broad array of diverse mediums, including custom paintings, house portraits, wall art, murals, all the way to rhinestone airbrushed jackets, one of which was worn by former Mayor Sophie Masloff at a downtown parade; and,
WHEREAS, Maria offers free community painting events and spends hours of her free time guiding and mentoring others, is a positive role model for countless individuals and is consistently unafraid to take on creative challenges; and,
WHEREAS, Maria's art has made a huge mark in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area - Maria has produced over 450 feet of custom murals and art, including in Sarris candies in Canonsburg, PA, the Pittsburgh Zoo, and The National Aviary; and,
WHEREAS, Maria has completed a wide variety of projects beneficial to the Pittsburgh community, including in 2024 when she designed and painted 15 areas at the newly renovated Zoe Atrium at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital in Oakland with murals and positive quotes; and,
WHEREAS, Maria has had a withstanding impact on Pittsburgh sports, including designing and teaching numerous paint classes for The Pittsburgh Penguins as well as teaching classes and corporate painting events for PPG Paints, and was recently hired by Mrs. Rooney to create a live painting for the Steeler's wives' event to begin the season; and,
WHEREAS, Maria routinely engages in meaningful volunteer work, such as teaching paint classes at Little Sisters of the Poor in Brighten Heights for the elderly since 2015 and at the National Aviary since 2017, as well as producing and teaching painting on her Greater Pittsburgh Media Awards-winning Bethel Park Cable TV show; and,
WHEREAS, Maria has been feat...
Click here for full text