Neighborhood Tapestries
Date2025
Artist
Rosabel Rosalind
(American, born 1996)
Mediumvinyl mural
ClassificationFine Art
SubclassificationInstallation
Credit LineCurated by Elizabeth Chodos, CMU Johnson Family Public Art Curator.
Object number2025.06.05
DescriptionCMU alumna Rosabel Rosalind’s The Neighborhood Tapestries were created for the Margaret Morrison Street Neighborhood Commons at Carnegie Mellon to illustrate the timeless act of gathering, collaboration, and recreation.
The designs reference the color, composition, and narrative richness of medieval tapestries, which were displayed in communal settings to provide both aesthetic charm and physical comfort in otherwise austere environments. Much like their medieval counterparts, these murals weave together a story of community and celebrate the multifunctional nature of the Neighborhood Commons, a third place on campus designed to foster rest, creativity and social exchange.
The title, The Neighborhood Tapestries, acknowledges both the purpose of the Neighborhood Commons and Pittsburgh’s iconic cultural figure, Mister Rogers, whose tagline, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” serves as a cheerful embodiment of community care. Rosabel draws on this ethos, embedding dynamic figuration and hidden gems into the murals that invite viewers to imagine themselves as participants in this collective tapestry.
By combining historical references with contemporary motifs, Rosabel’s murals transform the Neighborhood Commons into a space of warmth and belonging—reflecting the richness, vibrancy and diversity that define the Carnegie Mellon community.
The designs reference the color, composition, and narrative richness of medieval tapestries, which were displayed in communal settings to provide both aesthetic charm and physical comfort in otherwise austere environments. Much like their medieval counterparts, these murals weave together a story of community and celebrate the multifunctional nature of the Neighborhood Commons, a third place on campus designed to foster rest, creativity and social exchange.
The title, The Neighborhood Tapestries, acknowledges both the purpose of the Neighborhood Commons and Pittsburgh’s iconic cultural figure, Mister Rogers, whose tagline, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” serves as a cheerful embodiment of community care. Rosabel draws on this ethos, embedding dynamic figuration and hidden gems into the murals that invite viewers to imagine themselves as participants in this collective tapestry.
By combining historical references with contemporary motifs, Rosabel’s murals transform the Neighborhood Commons into a space of warmth and belonging—reflecting the richness, vibrancy and diversity that define the Carnegie Mellon community.
On view
Location
Margaret Morrison Neighborhood Commons (5128 Skibo Dr.)
Archille Giammartini (1912), Nicholas Fairplay, Bruce Lindsey, Paul Rosenblatt (1980s)
1912–1995
