Jan 13, 2008 By Frances Borsodi Zajac 6 min read

Madelyn Cindric’s paintings of local attractions such as the Summit Inn in Uniontown, Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington, the bike trail at Ohiopyle State Park and Nemacolin Castle in Brownsville are finding a new audience. The Community Foundation of Fayette County is using the work of the Uniontown artist to grace its recently released 2006 annual report and media brochure.

“I thought it was very nice,’ said Cindric of the final product. “…I’ve received a lot of feedback from people who have seen it. I didn’t realize they would use as many pictures as they did.’

Cindric showed the annual report of which the front cover features small pictures of a cabin at Touchstone Center for the Arts, Fallingwater in Mill Run, the bike path at Ohiopyle and a barn with a Mail Pouch Tobacco advertisement written on it along Route 40 between Uniontown and Brownsville.

Inside are assorted pictures of the swimming pool at Summit Inn, a side view of Nemacolin Castle, a side view of Kentuck Knob in Chalk Hill, the Flatiron Building in Brownsville, Cucumber Falls at Ohiopyle, the gazebo at Scenery Hill, the Summit Inn pool and Mail Pouch barn from the cover, the woods by the Youghiogheny River, a historic 1920s view of Main Street in Uniontown, East Main Street in Uniontown, Fallingwater, the back of Nemacolin Castle, the lake in Brier Hill and another view of a Touchstone cabin.

Clara Pascoe, executive director of the Community Foundation, sought out Cindric for the project.

“I first became aware of Madelyn’s work about 10 or 11 years ago, when I judged an art show in Uniontown. I am pretty sure I awarded her first place,’ said Pascoe. “Since then I have been a fan of Madelyn’s, so much so, that I can recognize her work when I see it.

“Last year, I attended an open house at the Gallery MD in Connellsville and Madelyn’s painting of the Great Allegheny Passage Bike Trail was displayed. I was thinking about ideas for our annual report, and I thought it would be great to feature Madelyn’s work, since she has painted scenes from all around Fayette County,’ Pascoe continued. “I contacted Madelyn and she graciously agreed to let us use her work in our publications. We used the bike trail painting in both our brochure and annual report. Madelyn is a great artist and we have received tons of positive feedback about the brochure and the annual report.’

Cindric, who retired in August after 37 years of teaching in the Albert Gallatin Area School District, started drawing when she was 3 years old.

“I always had an interest in art,’ said Cindric, sitting in her living room with pieces of her work that she pulled out for this interview.

Among them is a painting of the bridge at Ohiopyle that Cindric painted for her husband, Jay, who had been doing a lot of bike riding. Other pieces include old buildings – some she has painted no longer are there. Also intriguing is an abstract oil painting of local woods.

“My mother also had an interest and talent but it was never developed. I remember sitting on her lap and asking her to draw an animal or a girl. I remember being frustrated because I couldn’t draw as well,’ she continued. “My cousin is an artist in Florida. She lived in Harrisburg at the time, and we’d draw and paint. Little did we know at the time, we both have careers in art.’

Cindric went to school in South Union Township, where she enjoyed an art class in the junior high school taught by Veronica Kollar. Cindric said Kollar was instrumental in developing her interest in art. During high school, Cindric took private art lessons from a Uniontown teacher she only remembers as Mrs. Rogers.

After graduating from South Union Township High School, Cindric majored in home economics and minored in art at Mansfield University in northern Pennsylvania. She then earned a master’s degree in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and then an art degree from IUP in 1976.

“When I started teaching at Albert Gallatin, I thought it was unbelievable that they were looking for someone who had art and home economics degrees,’ said Cindric, noting the school hired her while she was finishing her art degree.

Cindric worked at the former German high school until the school district’s three high schools were merged into one and then began teaching art only at the new high school.

In addition to teaching and sponsoring an art club at Albert Gallatin, Cindric also taught at Penn State University, The Eberly Campus, in the continuing education program and Touchstone Center for Crafts as well as did programs for the Uniontown Art Club, of which she is a member.

Through the years, Cindric, who works in oils and watercolors, has been affiliated with various galleries, including Gallery MD, Water Colors Gallery in Pittsburgh, Latrobe Art Center, The Art Warehouse in Hopwood and Finishing Touch in Oakland, Calif.

Cindric always painted a variety of works: florals, landscapes, seascapes, still life and an occasional portrait.

But she began concentrating on local scenes in 2003, when Patrick Daugherty, curator of the Frank L. Melega Art Museum in Brownsville, asked her to consider being Artist of the Pike.

This position features art that reflects the Historic National Road, which is the nation’s first federally funded highway and runs along present-day Route 40.

“I had done a few things in the area and this gave me an incentive,’ said Cindric. “From 2003 to 2005, I drove Route 40 in both directions to see what would be exciting to me.’

Cindric created more than 30 pieces during those two years that were used in the show when she was named Artist of the Pike in 2005. She said she enjoyed doing the pieces.

“I guess I’ve always been a local historian and this is another way to help me be in touch with what’s out there. I learned a lot from talking to people,’ she said. “I’ve met a lot of nice people along the way,’ she said.

And now more people are able to enjoy Cindric’s work through the Community Action’s pieces.

Asked what she likes about art, Cindric replied, “What don’t I like about art? It’s difficult to explain to someone who doesn’t do art. It’s an integral part of your system. It feels like an absence of a part of your life if you’re not doing it. It’s something I feel is a part of my everyday living.’