File this under beauty in unexpected places: The lengthy construction fence that surrounds
Consol Energy Center has been covered by three striking art projects, each a collaboration between professional artists and local children.
The
Sports and Exhibition Authority (SEA),
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA), and the
Pittsburgh Penguins commissioned Pittsburgh artists Leslie Ansley, Gregory Anderson and Ashley Hodder to design temporary public artworks that will be displayed on the construction fence until next summer. Three community organizations and young people from the Hill District and Uptown neighborhoods helped to create the artwork.
"The goal of this project was to elevate the construction fence to be something else," says Renee Piechocki, director of
Pittsburgh's Office of Public Art. "We gave artists and community groups time to plan their lesson plans and enough time for artists and kids to really work on the design development."
At Sunday's unveiling of the finished works, "we had probably 100 people -- kids who participated, their parents, other community members from the Hill," Piechocki says. "You can tell when kids feel like a big deal is happening. … For them it was a really special event." When the construction fence eventually comes down, the works will be returned to the participating communities for display.
A few details: Leslie Ansley explored the history of the Hill District with kids (ages 10-18), eventually creating a mural printed on fabric (more than 600 feet long!) with photos and writing overlaid on a map of the Hill. You'll find it along the Centre Avenue section of the fence.
Ashley Hodder helped kids age 11-15 learn about green design and the new arena's LEED certification. "Sections of this artwork are actually growing," says Piechocki. "She inverted construction cones and planted evergreens in them. … The kids made elements out of recycled construction materials." Check it out along the Fifth Avenue perimeter of the arena.
And Gregory Anderson worked with younger kids (ages 6-8), many of whom get little visual arts training in school, to explore shapes and colors. They created one panel for each child, depicting them graphically in a style that "almost feels like stop-motion animation," says Piechocki. You'll find it along the Washington Place construction fence.
Writer: Melissa Rayworth
Source: Renee Piechocki, Office of Public Art
Image courtesy of Renee Rosensteel