When artists Fran Hawbaker and Dave Hawbaker designed this mural the first thing they wanted to show was the amazing view from this high vantage point. Observatory Hill is named for the Allegheny Observatory. This astronomical research facility has been located in Riverview Park since 1912, when it was moved here to capitalize on that same high vantage point. The observatory and Riverview Park have both played large roles in the identity of this neighborhood.
Fran Hawbaker had lived in this neighborhood for a while when she was growing up and remembered riding bikes to Riverview Park. The park is one of the largest municipal parks in the area, but at that time there wasn’t a very nice playground available there. Today the 287 acre park offers trails, picnic shelters, and a great playground, so they wanted to highlight that as well.
In addition to Observatory Hill, this neighborhood is also known as Perry North. The mural is located along Perry Highway, and both were named for Admiral Oliver Hazard Perry. Originally this mural had been planned for a location a few blocks away and the owner of that building had wanted Admiral Perry included in the design. When there was a problem using that building for the mural, Dave Hawbaker literally knocked on doors in the area until he found a new location. The owner of this building agreed to let them use the wall and left the design of the artwork up to the artists. They decided to keep Admiral Perry and he eventually became known locally as the Big, Blue Elvis.
The Hawbakers pointed out that the landscape is not a collage, but it’s a contrived landscape where things are placed artistically rather than accurately. By using that technique they were able to include all of the things that make this neighborhood unique and special. There’s a lot of detail in this mural. From a distance or when you’re driving by it manages to portrait the essence of the neighborhood, but when you stop to really look at it you find a lot more.
