Artists and business owners are similar. An artist will pour all their efforts into their art. They do this because within their artwork they leave a little bit of themselves. A business owner will do the same thing. They work hard, they are passionate about their work, and for most artists and business owners their work can be enjoyable and occasionally pay off.

 

I met a business owner and artist on 11^th Avenue in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Bill Moffitt and Joe Servello are business owner and artist. Bill and Joe have been friends since high school. They joined the military in hopes that it would pay for their schooling at Pennsylvania State University. Today they have a joint venture they call “The Servello Gallery of Art.”

The gallery features exclusively the artwork of Servello whose career envelopes painting, sculpture, illustration, scenic design and extensive mural work. His fascination with the simple frame houses and railroad yards of Altoona sometimes brood but innately celebrate the ordinary. His images without shame allow us, with out shame, to celebrate our heritage.

 

Servello has illustrated over 65 books, and his work has appeared also in a number of national magazines. His paintings can be viewed in many public collections, and his murals can be seen in numerous local museums and libraries, as well as the Penn State University in the Keller and Chambers buildings.

 

Servello and Moffitt believed that 11^th Avenue in Altoona was the only place to locate their gallery. They believed that not only could the artwork of Joe be a destination but that they wanted to be connected with the growing trend of relocating in the urban environment that defines Altoona, the downtown. Joe and Bill can remember the days when downtown Altoona was the place to be and they hope to see that resurgence of our heritage materialize again in the next couple of years.

 

I had a lot of fun listening to Joe and Bill’s stories. Please make it a point to stop by and visit their gallery. They would love to meet you. They love watching people appreciate Joe’s work. So if you have an hour stop in at The Servello Gallery of Art.

 

 

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