Photo slide show: The artsy side of Gist St

Inbetween Fifth Avenue and the Boulevard of the Allies, in a section called Uptown, sculptor James Simon has helped turn around a  depressed area with his introduction of fun, lively and witty art. That has led to a mini-revival that continues to spread through Uptown. The sculptures are Simon's, while the paintings are by artists he has brought in from as far as Mexico, as well as interns and students. All this sprung from Simon's purchase of three-story brick building, where he houses his studio, on Gist St. after returning to Pittsburgh from Sao Paolo to care for his parents. (Look for the festival in August celebrating this neighborhood.) To read more about James Simon, see this Pop City article.