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WHEREAS Jorgé Myers is an accomplished artist and life-long resident of the Hill District. Jorgé's unique and abstract art reuses remnants from within the community to create beautiful and inspirational pieces; and
WHEREAS in 1999, Jorgé began to use abandoned buildings as his canvases, and did not stop there. He also started to clean up these abandoned lots, enlisting the help of college students, children, and other community members who shared the common goal of making the Hill District a more beautiful place; and
WHEREAS having stumbled upon his talent by accident, Jorgé sees his art as his way of giving back to the community through beautification and inspiration. Many of his pieces are made from bits and pieces that he collects from within the community, and many are symbolic such as the piece that he created with 280,000 painted dots to pay tribute to the 280,000 people that died in the Tsunami in 2005; and
WHEREAS Jorgé's folk-art style is as well-known in the community as he is. He is known not only for his art, but also for being a community activist and mentor; and
WHEREAS working to evoke a sense of pride in the community, Jorgé has worked to bring many other art forms to the Hill such as the well attended "Summer Jazz on the Hill", and poetry readings; and
WHEREAS Jorgé, both an artist and an advocate, continues to inspire others with his art, and strives to make positive changes in the community that inspires him.
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby wish to honor Mr. Jorgé Myers for his activism and inspiration to the community by declaring December 16, 2008 "Jorgé Myers Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.