Rejected by the toy industry at first, Barbie is now one of America’s most trusted brands. “She” – the 11.5 inch blonde doll, but also her brand persona – generated worldwide sales of around 1.5 billion US dollars (1.3 billion pounds) in 2022, and has a brand value of 590 million dollars.

Barbie debuted on March 9 1959 at the New York International Toy Fair as Barbie Teenage Fashion Model. Sixty-four years later, the doll continues to be the subject of cultural, sociological and psychological interest. By creating an iconic brand with special meaning for fans of all ages (Barbie is marketed to children aged three and older), toy company Mattel has successfully extended the lifecycle of the Barbie brand for well over half a century.

Barbie is also a polarising figure. The brand embodies the notion of a “double bind”, celebrated as an inspirational role model while at the same time blamed for creating unrealistic expectations of women, particularly when it comes to how they should look.

But while most toys remain popular for only two or three years, Barbie’s long-term success reflects Mattel’s responsiveness and adaptability to the changing cultural and political discourse in society and around this doll. So how has the company done it?

Suggested Reading: Mattel Introduces Barbie With Down Syndrome: Why Is This Move Ground-Breaking?

Barbie Brand

A Barbie Girl, In A Barbie World

Research shows there are many ways to build and sustain brand characters, but Mattel has used a “multiply” strategy for Barbie. This has involved introducing other characters that play supporting roles in Barbie’s “world”.

Over the years, these supporting acts were introduced to portray Barbie’s relationship with friends and family. First there was Ken (1961), Barbie’s boyfriend, then her younger sister Skipper (1964), followed by friends including Midge (1963) and Christie (1968), the first black Barbie character.

The storylines and individual characteristics of these additional characters connect to Barbie’s persona and increase brand visibility. Mattel has also used storytelling tactics such as announcing that Barbie and Ken had officially broken up on Valentine’s Day in 2004 (they got back together in 2011). Such stories resonate with fans’ emotions, sustaining interest in the brand.

These tactics typically work for a while, but how has Mattel sustained true brand longevity for this long? There are many strategies designed to revitalise mature brands. Mattel successfully extended Barbie’s brand to capture new audiences, drive growth and expand into new types of products beyond dolls.

This is a risky endeavour if the brand is stretched too far. But Barbie’s brand has been successfully extended into other profitable categories such as clothes, accessories, cosmetics and entertainment (music, movies and games). And now, after several computer-animated, direct-to-video and streaming television films, Barbie’s first big budget, live action movie will be released in cinemas in July 2023.

Early reports suggest the movie – helmed by Oscar-nominee Greta Gerwig, who also directed Little Women (2019) and Lady Bird (2017) – is likely to be rated PG-13. This is not the “universal” rating you might expect for a film about a popular toy. It hints at another strand of Mattel’s successful Barbie branding strategy: nostalgia.

Life In Plastic, It’s Fantastic

Alongside ongoing efforts to appeal to young girls, Mattel also deliberately targets older consumers. Specific objects – not just toys but clothes, food such as sweets, or even items like vinyl records – can give a physical form to a set of attitudes, relationships and circumstances for people. This evokes a powerful sense of the past.

This kind of nostalgia generates trust and positive attitudes towards a brand, influencing consumer preferences when it comes to choosing between toys.

In addition to the upcoming film, Mattel has attempted to capitalise on the nostalgia Barbie evokes in other ways. It sells more sophisticated designer and limited edition lines of collectible dolls aimed at adult fans, for example. These items are typically sold in speciality or boutique stores, and carry higher price tags than the average doll.

Criticism Of Barbie

As Barbie’s brand has expanded and evolved, the doll has also encountered criticism. Over the years, Barbie went through many transformations to look more confident, and was marketed as having many life options, particularly when it comes to work. There are now Barbie dolls representing more than 200 careers – from astronaut, surgeon, paratrooper, game developer, architect and entrepreneur to film director and even US president.

But critics have argued that these career dolls are a “misfire attempt at inspiring girls”. This negative perception of the brand’s moral vision is linked to the notion that Barbie is rooted in an ideal of femininity that still characterises women by their physical appearance.

Barbie has been accused of promoting unrealistic body standards, stereotyping and objectification of women, as well as having a negative influence on girls’ self-esteem and body image.

So, faced with declining sales and competition from smaller brands offering dolls with more realistic body types (such as Lottie and Lammily), Mattel launched “Project Dawn” in 2016. This included the launch of Fashionistas, a line of Barbie dolls with different body types (curvy, petite and tall) and abilities, skin tones and eye colours, as well as hairstyles and outfits.

But research suggested that young girls aged between three and ten preferred the original tall and petite dolls. They were negative about “curvy” Barbie, and this doll also received intense public scrutiny.

In 2017, Mattel took another significant step by introducing ethnically and racially diverse dolls of different nationalities, including the first hijab-wearing Barbie doll. However, this approach prompted criticism that Mattel was treating race and ethnic differences as “collectible”, and commodifying culture.

Despite this, Barbie continues to be a toy that many children play with. The longevity and iconic status of the doll is a tribute to Mattel’s astute marketing and reinvention efforts. These have helped the brand remain relevant even now, 64 years after it was launched.

Sameer Hosany, Professor of Marketing, Royal Holloway University of London published this article first on The Conversation.

The art world is known to have been divided into two schools: the old- school analog world and the new-age digitally produced one. Rarely have these two crossed paths. What would happen if these two worlds were to collide and cutting-edge technology becomes a way for them to connect and create? Exploring this new, bold fusion is Lenovo India’s exciting new video series, Brave New Art. 

The series, in collaboration with Intel, features an eclectic mix of famed creators. They design immersive pieces of art with the help of Lenovo Yoga laptops. The two-episode series visually brings alive what technology can do to enable these creators to express themselves more creatively. The Lenovo Yoga portfolio empowers such creators with features that provide performance, mobility, and versatility, thereby helping them expand beyond their horizons and see their imaginations come to life. 

The concept of the series is to bring together two creatively diverse artists in one episode. The show has 5-7 minute episodes capturing the behind-the-scenes antics and use of innovative technology in the process of creation. The result is a bold, innovative, and immersive musical experience. The artists featured in the series are Santanu Hazarika (multi-disciplinary visual artist), MC Heam (rapper and producer), Meher Malik (belly dancer), and Prithvi Shetty (graphic designer and music producer). Both episodes are now out on Lenovo India’s YouTube channel and Instagram channels. The series will also be streaming on Disney+ Hotstar in the week of June 05. 

On being part of this series, Santanu Hazarika, an internationally renowned doodle artist and illustrator said, “Through this series, Lenovo has given us a base to work on and build up trailblazing ideas. I commend Lenovo for taking a step forward to empower creators to unleash their creativity. I believe technology plays a big role in helping us artists propagate and create an experience for our audience. I am thrilled to be part of such an interesting initiative and am looking forward to the audience’s reaction.”

Mithun Mukherjee, Executive Creative Director, Kinnect, the creative agency leading this campaign said, “When Lenovo approached us with a creative brief on the Yoga series, we knew there was a lot that we could do. The heart of this campaign is the fact that the creative universe at large is divided broadly into two schools – the analog and the digital. On one side are the unplugged– the brush and the pen, while on the other hand are the electronic producers, the dabblers in AI, and the likes. Considering these schools rarely interact, we conceptualized using Lenovo Yoga as a bridge and making these schools collaborate. Thus, Brave New Art was born. From studying some of the most interesting creators and art exponents to getting them to jam and generate some bold forms of artistic output, there is a lot the viewers can look forward to in the series.” 

Speaking about this campaign, Chandrika Jain, Director- Marketing, Lenovo India said, “Lenovo Yoga is a brand committed to supporting the creators’ association and helping artists transform their inspiration into self-expression. The Brave New Art series will celebrate creators from the world of art and technology teaming up to create a unique, new work of art. Our idea with this campaign is to showcase the endless possibilities that can be achieved with these creators when armed with the right, powerful devices.”

Meanwhile, artists at Stanford are deprived of the same depth of faculty offered to other fields. There are many incredible visiting artists at Stanford — Joshua Redman is a great example. He’s probably one of the (if not the) world’s best saxophonists, and he is sharing his craft with students here. 

But arts hirings like that are not yet institutional. Redman is still a visiting artist, so there’s no saying if he will remain a part of Stanford for future years. What’s needed are more arts professors who are serious practitioners in their fields and have decision-making positions within their departments — and are here to stay. This could mean giving certain current lecturers and guests more power or prominence within their fields. Their permanence and stature will not only allow students to be more confident in choosing to stick with the arts but it has the potential to bring in a multitude of new students who might otherwise be attending arts conservatories.

“I like to think that [the idea of the fuzzies and the techies] is outdated,” said Deborah Cullinan, Vice President of the Arts at Stanford. I asked if there was a possibility that the fuzzies and techies were merging in this new era. “That’s why I do what I do,” she said. “We all need to live creative lives.”

She insisted that artists are welcome at Stanford. “Some [students] are here to be musicians or visual artists or poets or performers, and that is as valid and valuable as those of us that might be here to study computer science or be policy makers.” She added that being an artist here isn’t just about careers, it’s about how you engage with the world. “It’s about how you live that creative life and how you access creativity,” she said. 

Personally, I think a major in interdisciplinary arts could be invaluable for the arts at Stanford. “I think more people need to know there is that kind of demand,” Cullinan said.

Being an artist at Stanford is a student right but it’s also a privilege. As such, it’s important for the school to prioritize funding for arts students who lack resources, just as Stanford does with its STEM students. Otherwise, “we run the risk of Stanford arts being only for ‘the privileged few,’ said A-Lan Holt, director of the Institute of Diversity in the Arts (IDA), who added that racial justice and equity need to be considered in any discussion around the arts curriculum here. 

For the arts to succeed at Stanford, the school needs to have a culture shift. Or perhaps a shift toward culture. 

That means putting resources towards arts faculty who have more of a say in decision-making and increasing career opportunities for artists at every level. Being an artist should be as much a part of Stanford culture as someone wanting to patent an app or train for a Mars mission. What will it take for that culture to change? I don’t have a clear answer but I’m guessing it would take on a combination of improving the current internal system, while also having stronger recruitment for future artists at Stanford in the years ahead.

“I don’t think the arts are ever going to go away,” said John Chowning DMA ’66, founding director of the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). Chowning’s work at Stanford in frequency modulation synthesis was the basis for the creation of so many of the synthesizers that we hear today in almost every song on the radio. “The artistic impulse gets channeled, wherever you are at Stanford.”

Not only are the arts not going away, I believe Stanford has a responsibility to be a beacon on this front. At a time when other universities are struggling to keep their humanities departments, Stanford’s commitment to the arts has the potential to pave the way for thousands of institutions across the country to follow suit — and I know Stanford has the money to do it. 

A year in, I’m finding my way. I’m immersed in the arts dorm community through ITALIC. My peer group consists of the Stanford Improvisors, and musicians from jazz bands, pop bands and even a klezmer band. I’m able to think about music even in my linguistics and religious studies classes. And none of it feels fuzzy to me. I’m designing my way forward, and I guess that’s what it means to be an artist. Stanford may have some room for me after all.

The market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) may have started off volatile from the initial hype; however, with more than $500 million in NFT sales having changed hands in the last 30 days, NFTs aren’t going anywhere. And as more individuals and brands explore this bold new landscape, they’re finding fascinating use cases for weaving NFTs into everyday life.

Take Twitter Spaces, for instance. The audio arm of Twitter has become an attractive place for businesses to begin connecting with their biggest champions. Since Twitter Spaces is also where NFT discussion groups are springing up, companies that want to edge into NFTs and are already on Twitter Spaces can leverage their digital presence to build engaging blockchain-friendly communities.

Really, community is what NFTs are becoming all about. Early adopters of NFTs are defining and growing cultures and subcultures. As a business leader, you may not fully understand where NFTs are headed. Nevertheless, you can’t ignore the fact that they’re part of a fast-moving concept that may appeal to around one-fifth of Millennial and Gen Z consumers. Since these are your future buyers and cheerleaders, you don’t want to ignore the possibility that NFTs could drive stronger connections with them.

This is easier written than done, to be sure. Jumping into NFTs with your marketing team members isn’t something that’s going to happen without some forethought. To ease you into the process of including NFTs as part of your outreach, try these strategies.

1. Prepare for all the costs associated with distributing NFTs.

There’s a misconception about NFTs that they’re somehow just a matter of creating a digital picture. That’s not quite accurate. Yes, they’re digital assets with visual elements. They’re also much more because they require an investment of time and effort beyond just tossing together some intriguing pixels.

Gideon Kimbrell, co-founder and CEO of InList.com, agrees that while NFTs can be minted for as little as $100, succeeding with any NFT initiative can be much pricier. As he explains, “If your current consumer base consists of people who love old-fashioned art and collectibles, for instance, you may have to enlist the help of experts to reach a new, younger demographic of NFT enthusiasts. This can easily turn into a marketing budget of up to $30,000 (or even more) just to get you started with proper brand creation, storytelling and creative direction.”

One way to figure out how much to set aside for your NFT generation and deployment is to find out what other companies are paying. It shouldn’t take long for you to do a little digging to unearth a more realistic cost analysis for your first NFT venture.

2. Weave your NFT into your brand aesthetic.

A huge mistake some companies make with NFTs involves relevance. NFTs are not “build it and they will come” marketing assets. The best corporate-released NFTs have some kind of community connection with the brand.

Take Time Magazine’s TIMEPieces NFT collections. Time releases a special secret word during Twitter or Discord events. Attendees with digital wallets have a specific amount of time to input this password in which Time can airdrop a limited-edition NFT to them. The gamification of this process adds fresh excitement to the experience of involvement with Time online.

Time is hardly the only brand experimenting with connecting its brand with NFT dissemination. New York University professor Arun Sundararajan notes that Nivea and Budweiser have also been successful in captivating target audiences with clever uses of NFTs. Again, your goal should be to make sure the NFT makes sense within the context of what your organization offers and values.

3. Determine which marketplace makes sense for your NFT.

You can’t just email your NFT to users. You must transfer ownership through the right crypto-friendly marketplace. OpenSea is by far the largest of the NFT marketplaces, although Blur is stepping up its game.

How do you know which marketplace to choose, especially if you’re not acquainted with NFTs on a personal level? One suggestion is to work with a marketing consultant or agency that’s already established some traction in the NFT arena for other clients. Another is to just pick one that’s been around and has a strong reputation. Or, you could ask other entrepreneurial and founding peers for referrals.

Be sure whatever marketplace you pick has an audience that reflects your company’s target customer persona. Otherwise, your NFTs won’t have the right appeal.

4. Think creatively when launching your NFTs.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of NFTs is that there aren’t many rules for you to follow. NFT campaigns can be anything you want them to be. You’re not being held to a standard. That’s freeing—and probably a bit overwhelming, too.

This is where doing some research on other companies inside and outside of your industry will be very helpful. See what’s working and what’s causing a stir. You may also want to tap into your employee base to see if anyone within your organization has embraced the NFT, digital wallet, and crypto craze. If so, that person will help you understand more of the NFT and Web 3.0 ecosystem, which can be a little difficult to wrap your head around if you’re not knee-deep in it.

Ultimately, you want your NFT to spark interest and make sense. The only way to do that is to try something and see if it works. You may have to pivot a few times before figuring out what’s right for your business. That’s okay as long as you go into the process with an open mind.

NFTs are uncharted territory for the majority of companies. But so were social media accounts once upon a time. Rather than turn your back on the NFT and blockchain culture, lean into your imaginative side. There may just be a place for NFTs in your corporate marketing and engagement strategy.

DuBOIS — In June 2023, REAKT Fighting Arts & Fitness at 301 Aspen Way in DuBois will celebrate five years of instilling strength and confidence to athletes of all ages.

Lance and Paige Thompson are a powerhouse husband and wife team that runs the gym together, offering a combination of authentic adult and youth jiu jitsu and mixed martial arts classes, as well as women’s only strength and conditioning morning and evening sessions. REAKT coaches aim to also promote team building, family, community and living a healthy lifestyle.

Lance, who has an extensive wrestling background and is a “Renzo Gracie” black belt in jiu jitsu, said prior to opening the gym with his business partner in 2018, he was driving to Pittsburgh to train in Brazilian jiu jitsu and mixed martial arts. He developed more of a passion for jiu jitsu, competing in the sport that he describes is like “a human game of chess.”

While Brazilian jiu jitsu focuses on the concept of “grappling” and ground fighting, and is more similar to wrestling, Japanese jiu jitsu focuses on attacking and joint manipulation, and can be both very physical or laid back, Lance explained.

Shaping youth

There are several benefits when it comes to area youth participating in fighting arts classes, said Lance. Some kids have been going to the gym since it opened in June 2018, including his daughter. One of the biggest benefits, he said, is learning to deal with confrontation and standing up for themselves.

“Jiu jitsu teaches them to trust themselves, and understand their body and what they are capable of,” he said.

It encourages youth to develop skills like confidence, strength, balance and coordination, and is also a social outlet for them. It’s a rewarding feeling to see youth develop a love for the sport, going on to participate in competitions themselves, Thompson said.

Martial arts also teach people how to use their legs effectively, and the use of their bodies to defend themselves, crucial in situations such as crimes against women, for example.

This is something that both Thompson and his wife, Paige, are familiar with, as they are both police officers in the DuBois area. Paige spearheads the women’s fitness section of REAKT, and also started doing jiu jitsu around two years ago.

Thompson said he has used the art of jiu jitsu while on duty.

People of all ages can come in and train, and jiu jitsu moves can be modified depending on the person. Grappling on the mat has also been known to help people with back and knee issues, flexibility, building strength and conditioning.

Thompson and REAKT coaches Scott Rendos and Jason Frawley have traveled all over the country to train and compete in jiu jitsu. One of the gym’s coaches, L.J. Fickenworth, went to Thailand in February to train in muay thai, a form of kickboxing.

REAKT brings many people into DuBois from several areas, including Elk and Jefferson counties, Kane and Indiana, to name a few. People will also come in to train from different states.

The goal has always been to offer something unique to the area, Thompson added.

One could say jiu jitsu “paved the way” for where REAKT is now. It has grown immensely on the fitness side of things, and since incorporating more marketing and getting the word out about what the gym offers, Thompson said.

It’s been fulfilling for the Thompsons to pass down their passions and share hobbies with their three daughters, he said, and REAKT helps them all stay active. It’s comforting, too, that their children will grow up knowing self defense and how to protect themselves.

“As a family, it’s been nice to build this together,” he said. “It’s worth it, to see all of the lives that have been changed.”

It’s important to give back to the community that supports them, Thompson said. They also hold local events, such as the “Ruck and Roll” held the past two years, a “murph challenge” –or CrossFit workout –in honor of Memorial Day and Sept. 11 and sponsoring the CG Johnson Elementary School runners’ group and donating to organizations like the DuBois Jaycees.

REAKT Fitness

With the help of other female fitness coaches, Paige Thompson says it has been “truly incredible” and fulfilling to see how hard the women at REAKT work, and to see the changes in each and every one of them over time.

Paige –who was an athlete in school and now works as a DuBois State Police trooper –said she has been driven to focus on improving her strength and fitness.

“Since opening the gym, I discovered a drive to not only do this for myself, but to also share what I’ve learned, from so many people, and help other women achieve their strength and overall fitness goals,” she said. “It always feels good to do something for yourself, but it means so much more to be an avenue for other women to be successful.”

There is always a coach to help guide people through the workouts and strength training, Lance noted, and the coaches work together. It’s rewarding to see women helping other women.

“We focus on a fun atmosphere where everyone is included,” Lance said. “Our instructors learn everyone’s names. We all laugh and have fun.”

The goal is to keep the overall atmosphere at REAKT warm and welcoming –not intimidating. Whether it’s in fighting arts or fitness, people can improve their skills and overall health in an enjoyable way, training at whatever level they are comfortable with, Paige said.

“The girls in our fitness program have an amazing time with one another, and discover that training with a planned program by our coaches and in a group setting limited to women, leads to a much better experience overall.”

REAKT will only continue to grow in both fighting arts and fitness. It will also be hosting a free class for law enforcement each month, and soon acquire the space next door to the gym, making more room for the fitness activities for women. The goal is to eventually make REAKT a 24/7-accessible gym.

REAKT’s Fighting Arts coaches are Lance Thompson, LJ Fickenworth, Eric Bennington, Jason Frawley, Scott Rendos, Doug Manners and R.J. Fotta, and its fitness coaches are Paige Thompson, Vanessa Lettich, Brielle Johnston and Kimberly Sweitzer.

Visit www.reaktbjj.com and REAKT Fighting Arts & Fitness on Facebook.

Concrete is the canvas for the father-daughter duo who creates images done with chalk — reminiscent of the dad’s first drawings for his little girl and her younger sister in the driveway of the family home in North Huntingdon.

Colorful characters appear to be smiling or laughing. Some have an optical illusion that makes them look three dimensional.

They are bold, bright and fun.

“Chalk art is like life,” said Erik Greenawalt, known as The Chalking Dad, a name given to him by friends and neighbors who saw him drawing in the driveway with his daughters. “It’s beautiful, but messy — and temporary. But the memories last forever.”

They certainly do, said Jaycie Greenawalt, 20, who with sister Jenna, 17, recalled those remarkable years with their dad. The two have traveled with him to chalk art events around the U.S.

“Chalk art has taken me so many places and created so many memories with my dad and my sister,” said Jaycie, who is following in her father’s footsteps as a chalk artist.

Courtesy of Erik Greenawalt

Erik Greenawalt (right) poses with his daughter, Jaycie, next to a piece of chalk art of “The Princess Bride” at a festival in Colorado.

She and her dad are two of the more than 20 artists from 13 states who will be decorating the concrete at the second annual Pittsburgh Riverwalk & Chalk Fest on Saturday and Sunday on the North Shore.

It will include pieces from wildlife to river designs. There will be an area where people can help create art.

Becasue it’s located close to the Andy Warhol Museum, there will be images inspired by the iconic artist and leader in the pop-art movement that imitates popular culture such as a 3D Campbell’s Soup Can and a Brillo Box.

The Pop District and The Warhol Academy are thrilled to join forces with Riverlife and the artists for this year’s Pittsburgh Riverwalk & Chalk Fest, according to Matt Thornton, director of digital marketing for The Warhol Academy and producer for The Warhol Creative.

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review

Jaycie Greenawalt of North Hutingdon works on pop-art donuts Friday, May 26 for the second annual Pittsburgh Riverwalk & Chalk Fest being held on the North Shore. The event is Saturday and Sunday.

Jaycie Greenawalt, 20, a student at Slippery Rock University who will be making pop-art donuts.

“Being part of this event has been a wonderful experience,” she said.

That experience began when Erik Greenawalt, who is self taught, began doing chalk art when he was working nights. He would spend days with his girls. They would ask him to draw princesses, Cinderella and Snow White. He broadened his repertoire to include animals and other designs — including some in 3D so his girls could pose with them.

Courtesy of Erik Greenawalt

Erik Greenawalt (left) sits in the family’s driveway with his daughter Jaycie, then 4, next to a piece of chalk art of Dora the Explorer.

He currently works a day job in finance for Giant Eagle but continues to do the sidewalk art as a hobby. He’s created the late Queen Elizabeth II in a fashionable pink suit and hat, and the late Steve Irwin host of “The Crocodile Hunter” at an event in Australia.

He and Jaycie collaborated on drawing the Georgia Bulldog mascot for an event in Georgia.

An often requested character is Dora the Explorer, which Erik Greenawalt created when the girls were little. It’s still one of Jaycie’s favorites.

She hopes the art form will continue to grow.

“Showcasing art this way also brings it to the people so everyone can see it and experience art, “Jaycie said.

Erik Greenawalt said it’s exciting to welcome so many artist friends to Pittsburgh and to show off Pittsburgh.

Artists use various materials from soft pastels to tempera paint — which is like liquid chalk — and makes the design more vibrant.

Every artist does it differently, Greenawalt said. Some do it free hand. Others used a grid method, which takes a reference drawing and creates even squares on it and then makes a similar grid over the larger drawing.

Chalk art, of course, washes away over time.

Artists started working on their street murals Friday morning.

Onlookers are welcome.

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review

Chalk artist Erik Greenawalt of North Hutingdon works on a three-dimensional image of the late Pittsburgh Steeler Hall-of-Famer Franco Harris on Friday, May 26 for the second annual Pittsburgh Riverwalk & Chalk Fest being held on the North Shore. The event is Saturday and Sunday.

Erik Greenawalt plans to do a 3D piece honoring beloved Pittsburgh Steeler Franco Harris who died in December, two days before he was to be recognized for the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. The Franco image will be 10 feet wide by 20 feet tall.

People will be able to pose with the image.

“I have wanted to do this for several years,” he said. “It will look life-size when you take a photo with it. The magic happens in the camera.”

That same kind of magic he created for his daughters in the driveway all those years ago.

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne by email at jharrop@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Categories:
Editor’s Picks | Lifestyles | Northside | Pittsburgh | Top Stories | Westmoreland