Randy Gilson is rag me on his mitt - paint purple , yellow , and green front porch . " Na na na na na na , you are a thumbprint . Na na na na na na , I am a thumbprint , ” the creative person intone like a playground bully , transform the melodic phrase to an ode to individuality . He could n’t be less menacing in his rainbow , paint - covered outfit .

Randy ( he prefers Randy to ' Mr. Gilson ' ) is the illusionist behindRandyland , the wonderland of found object and original picture at the corner of Jacksonia and Arch in the Northside . The murals , like Randy ’s splattered corps de ballet , include every semblance of the rainbow and draw whimsical scenes like a curving road leading to a sunny sky full of enormous butterfly and a full rampart of welcome in dozens of speech communication painted on to the buildings and fencing line the border of the mint . Objects like a neon - painted guard lion , pliant garden swans , tiki torches , and a cherry-red courtship of armor are cautiously placed throughout the center court .

Opened more than 20 years ago , Randyland is a community landmark , a beacon , that has see and led two decades of neighborhood change .

The sign for Randyland in Pittsburgh

Courtesy of Randyland

" I take this empty building and made it a glad house , " say Randy . " A voice , a heart for the biotic community , for revivification , for diversity , for unity . " He pause . " I did n’t know it was going to be this undecomposed . "

Everyone may be a thumbprint , but Randy has depart his home run .

If you do n’t know Randy , there is a solid possibility you ’ve never stepped foot on Jacksonia St. When alfresco , the creative person extends every passer an unself - witting greeting . On my evening sojourn , his train of view is interrupt a handful of times to call to neighbors by name and ask about their days .

The backyard at Randyland

Courtesy of Randyland

" A lot of citizenry could pass each other daily without ever knowing each other , " he pronounce to me . He makes it his mission for that to not bechance on his corner .

Randy started his personal introduction to his neighbor in the other ' fourscore , a decade before he buy the prop that would become Randyland . The streets were riddle with empty lots , and cleaning them up became his priority . Every day , when the Dominicus went down , he ’d go out to tidy up the fleeceable space , pull in building supplies , and contact multitude .

" At first , no one would blab out to me . They thought I was nuts , " he recall . It would be easy to assume as much of a guy cable sorting trash at nighttime . But this was passion .

Backyard decoration at Randyland

Courtesy of Randyland

Randy find out from his mother at an former eld that devote back all you’re able to is not a sumptuousness , but a necessity . His family was homeless three times . He was on welfare until he was 26 . Even still , his mother would bid women from the local shelter over for holidays and make indisputable they had a seat at the household ’s table .

make clean up his street started as an routine of give back . His tenaciousness in do - gooding began to tear away the community ’s reserve about his fictional character . " If we cleanse up , we are aid our parents , our friend , our neighborhood . "

Local children get going to attend with the institution of hundreds of garden in the Northside neck of the woods – gardens that he would rick over to the community once they were polish off . Money to clean up the lots came from Randy ’s own pouch , with partial aid from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy . " The kids would introduce me to parent and grandparents as ‘ the guy cable who ’s making the Northside nice , ' " Randy say . " And when those adult would take , ‘ Who is Mr. Randy ? ’ the Kyd would answer , ‘ Mr. Randy is our friend . ' "

Wall art at Randyland

Flickr/Lee Ann Reiners

Randy is a fountain of motivational phrases and encouragement . A moment of conversation is consanguineal to walking into a way replete with 100 of posters of kittens in visage promising " you may Do It " and " All You Need Is Love . " The nonpayment is to rove eyes at those smug kittens , but it ’s knockout not to take Randy seriously . He is genuine . When he says " you have to dream every daytime , every irregular of your life , " he stool you want to dream .

In 1995 , after building garden for more than a decennary , he get a earphone call about a menage scheduled for demolition . The planetary house had been abandoned . Like many other building in the vicinity , tearing it down seemed an easy localization . But Randy feel compelled to preserve it . " Pittsburgh ’s history is very valuable . "

As a waiter at a local Pittsburgh hotel , Randy ’s resources were thin ( $ 500 cash and a $ 10,000 credit entry limit ) , but he get the appendage of buying the property anyway . finally , this to - be - demolished set became his own . With years of make gardens from found stuff under his belt , he applied this working philosophy of sourcing and using what he finds to create an ever - evolving art experience . He first had to rehab the existing structure to bring it up to a livable criterion . Then , the exterior receive coats of recycled paint , covering every straight inch of available wall space . And 20 years afterward , the property still carry on to change and receive enhancements , maintaining its status as a Pittsburgh gem .

The exterior of Randyland

Courtesy of Randyland

Today , the brilliant - yellowed construction dons a mitt - paint map of the neighbourhood ; old washing soda and street signs ; and silhouettes playing malarky music , verbalise to one another , and portion out a drink . The yard , typically embellish with a large " undetermined " flag , is full of a script - selected , eclectic , and rotate mix of find out objects , from 12 of brilliantly hued lawn chairs to mannequin heads . It is a sept - nontextual matter paradise . Randy also hopes it serves as a reminder that " we are all beautifully complete in our own way . ”

Along with the collection of Randy ’s personal art , like his paintings of expressive faces he dubbed the “ Thinkerers ” and “ treasures ” that come from empty , torn down homes or find on the street , Randy himself is often a mend in the yard and on the street just outside the tall fencing , eager to engage with visitors . And like Randyland itself , he is the face of joy in Pittsburgh .

" I was teach to give what I can to the world , and I just ca n’t get it out of me ! " Randy exclaims . “ I OD’ed on passion ! I ca n’t stop love ! sexual love is liberal ! "

Mannequin heads at Randyland

Courtesy of Randyland

A sojourn to Randyland is also free , and it ’s a gift and a symbolization of positive community of interests action at law and greening in the sort of a colorful imprint on our Steel City . And that ’s a whole heap to love life .

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Decorations at Randyland

Courtesy of Randyland

Randyland in Pittsburgh

Flickr/Lee Ann Reiners