Bakery Square in East End unveils its 3rd public art installation 'I see YOU'
You should see “I see YOU.”
The latest art installation at Bakery Square in Pittsburgh’s East End features images of fourth and fifth graders from nearby Urban Academy and Lincoln Elementary in Larimer.
The third community public art project for Walnut Capital, which operates Bakery Square, was unveiled on Monday.
Led by artist-in-residence Curtis Reaves, who grew up in Braddock and lives in Duquesne, he collaborated with 80 students.
Reaves is nationally known for his poetic abstract work that utilizes photography, recycled materials and technology.
He began with taking pictures of the children and showed them how to use Photoshop to add bold and bright colors. He used a process called dye bonding to adhere the photos on aluminum panels in two outdoor spaces near the courtyard. There’s also a video component displaying each student’s picture.
“I loved working with these students,” Reaves said. “I saw the light come on. They opened up. The title of the installation was inspired by them. I asked them ‘What does the art say to them? And what do they see in the art?’ They embraced me. That was a beautiful part of this process. Each is unique and the images reflect their individuality.”
Ma’Caila Falls, a fifth grader at Lincoln Elementary said it was lots of fun.
“I love how all of the colors came together,” she said as she watched her image appear on a screen in the Bakery Square courtyard. “I like it. It’s amazing.”
Falls’ classmate A.J. Morris said doing the project was inspiring. He said it’s a way to share their art with the community.
“Art is a way to spread out what you create,” Morris said. “We all learned from each other and Mr. Reaves. He is really cool, and he taught me there are no bad ideas in art, and sometimes the smallest details have the biggest impact.”
Reaves said he always wanted to do a project on this large of a scale.
“Keeping public art alive is vital to these students and key to changing our community,” Reaves said. “These kids are our community and this collaboration with youth is what an artist dreams of.”
Unveiling of a new art installation at Bakery Square by artist Curtis Reeves who worked with students from Lincoln Elementary and Urban Academy pic.twitter.com/hwCfCkTkCa
— JoAnne Harrop (@joannescoop) June 13, 2022
A project such as this gives Reaves credibility, he said, and it can be a way to search out other opportunities.
The public art program is part of Walnut Capital’s initiative, “Grow with Walnut. ” Walnut Capital founding CEO Gregg Perelman described it as a developer-led effort to invest in community-inspired initiatives to connect surrounding neighborhoods.
Reaves’ exhibit follows artists Janel Young and Lori Hepner. Young’s inaugural exhibition, “Heroes on the Horizon” is permanently displayed at the entrance of Bakery Square’s parking garage.
Each artist-in-residence works with local school students to create the exhibition, which is displayed for six months and viewed by thousands of passersby.
The program debuted last summer with a call for artists that resulted in nearly 100 global applications.
“There is an energy that you feel when you connect with these kids and see the art they’ve created,” Perelman said. “We want this to be a gathering space.”
Perelman said the feedback for the previous two art installations has been positive. He said UPMC Health Plan will fund the next one.
Calls for artists for the next artist-in-residence will be announced soon. An artist will be chosen to begin in January and look for the unveiling around this time next year.
Dan LaVallee, UPMC Health Plan senior director, said it’s about doing what they can to help youths. Art became an outlet for him when he was 6 years old. His older brother died unexpectedly and his father encouraged his son to draw what he felt.
“I drew a broken heart and a butterfly,” Lavalle said. “I have two kids, ages 6 and 1, and I want them to be able to experience something like this because art can help heal.”
There is power through art, said Wayne Walters, who was named Pittsburgh Public Schools interim superintendent in September. He said this is a life-long memory for these students.
“I know what art did for me,” said Walters, who has a bachelor of fine arts from Carnegie Mellon University who is a saxophone and steel drum musician. “It taught me discipline and critical thinking, and to set goals. Thousands of people will pass by their artwork.
“It such a powerful art form — ‘I see YOU’ … We are PPS.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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