Patterns of Meaning
Date: November 8, 2022 – February 26, 2023
Artists: Cory Bonnet, featuring Nate Lucas, A.J. Collins, and Brian Engle
In late June 2021, Chip Barletto and Cory Bonnet acquired an unprecedented collection of foundry patterns dating from the late 1890’s to early 1900’s and blue prints- thousands of each. The wooden patterns were hand built to exacting specification, then packed in foundry sand to create the molds used to cast steel parts. Massive gears, crankshafts, valves, railcar wheels- just about anything needed to build the infrastructure of the late 1800-early 1900’s industrial world.
“It was all or nothing.” Bonnet said. “For decades people have tried to cherry-pick and buy the best patterns for resale, but she never budged. Chip and I saw that the value in this collection was the scale and completeness of it. It’s worth way more together than sold off piece by piece- it’s the shared heritage of the Industrial Age, every rustbelt town – the stories are in these artifacts.
In addition to Bonnet’s paintings and sculptures, new works of art are being cast from the patterns in glass and ceramics.
Carbon Cycle: An Earth Art Exhibit
Date: Opened October 1, 2021
Artist: W. Gary Smith
Carbon Cycle: An Earth Art Exhibit connects the serpentine line and the circle — two of the most powerful symbols throughout human culture — to tell a story of transformation and rebirth, symbolizing the healing and evolution of the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden’s site from coal mine to garden. This large-scale installation is designed by W. Gary Smith, an internationally known environmental artist.
W. Gary Smith has a simple mission: creating meaningful encounters between people, plants and the natural world. Gary has exhibited works in botanic gardens across North America, including exhibitions in Toronto, Montreal, California, Arkansas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and more. Gary is the author of From Art to Landscape: Unleashing Creativity in Garden Design and lectures frequently on art and nature.
Carbon Cycle: An Earth Art Exhibit opened on October 1, 2021 in the 5-acre Exhibit Garden. For more information about the work of W. Gary Smith, please visit wgarysmith.com.
Carbon Cycle: An Earth Art Exhibit is sponsored by:
