Pittsburgh Innovates

A beautiful and majestic art landscape of magnolias that inhabits the corner of Penn Avenue and Seventh Street, across from Agnes Katz Plaza, received national attention this month at the Americans for the Arts National Conference in Las Vegas.

Tony Tasset’s Magnolias for Pittsburgh was selected by the Public Art Network of Americans for the Arts to be in the 2007 Year in Review. The installation includes two bronze magnolia trees, five live magnolias, and a landscape design.

"It is truly exciting for Pittsburgh to be recognized three years in a row by the Public Art Network for having commissioned some of the most innovative works of public art in the United States,” says Renee Piechocki, director, Office of Public Art. “The Public Art Network is the nation's only service program for the field of public art, so "Magnolias for Pittsburgh" was judged by public art peers, a tough audience! I am glad they agreed that this work is a very significant contribution to the field of public art, as well as simply a magical installation in downtown Pittsburgh."

More than 240 were considered for the 2007 Year in Review. Artist Tony Tasset lives in Chicago where he is a professor at the University of Illinois, School of Art and Design. Pittsburgh projects previously recognized include Jenny Holzer's For Pittsburgh at the convention center (2006), Two Girls Working's Trappings: Pittsburgh public bus installation (2006), Ned Kahn's Articulated Cloud at the Childrens' Museum (2005) and the Freight and Barrell by Steven Siegel commissioned by the Three River Arts Festival (2005).