Romero bust to be unveiled in Monroeville

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Christian Stavrakis’ IndieGoGo campaign is aptly named “Monroeville or Bust.”

When the three-day “Living Dead Weekend” kicks off (pun intended) Friday at Monroeville Mall, it will feature the unveiling of a bronze likeness of the late George A. Romero. The filmmaker, who made Pittsburgh his adopted home, shot much of “Dawn of the Dead” 40 years ago in the mall.

Last winter, Mr. Stavrakis, an artist who lives in Verona, thought someone should honor Mr. Romero with a bust. He consulted some well-known names such as Kazuhiro Tsuji, who would go on to win a 2018 Oscar for his makeup on “Darkest Hour,” as well as sculptors Trevor Grove and Mike Hill.

It became apparent that their services would cost well above the project’s budget.

“The prices were sky high, and that was fair, because these guys are very good sculptors,” Mr. Stavrakis said. “Then it sort of ‘dawned’ on me, so to speak, that I should do it myself because I knew George, and it was sort of a farewell from me, personally.”

Time was not his friend. Mr. Stavrakis works full time selling cigars at Allegheny Smoke Works in Blawnox. He also serves as chief creative officer for Pittsburgh’s Cryptic Pictures film production company.

“My days there are 10 hours long, so when I came home, I sculpted until 3, 4 in the morning, then I passed out, got up and did it again,” he said, laughing.