63° 
Release Date: Wednesday, July 13th 2011
Diamond Diamonds Opening Reception and Artist Talk - Thursday, July 14
For Immediate Release - July 13, 2011
Contact:
Brooke Fornalczyk
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
412-325-0161(office)
bfornalczyk@downtownpittsburgh.com
Renee Piechocki
Office of Public Art
412-281-1770 (cell)
publicart@pittsburghartscouncil.org
City of Pittsburgh’s newest work of public art is celebrated
PITTSBURGH- The Office of Public Art and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) are co-hosting an opening reception for Diamond Diamonds, a new work of public art by local artist Carin Mincemoyer, on July 14, 2011 from 6 – 8 p.m. The work is located on Market Street, connecting the renovated Market Square with the Cultural District. The event is free and open to the public. The artist talk is scheduled from 6-7 pm on the 4th floor of the Buhl Building. Lemonade and diamond shaped cookies custom made by Prantl’s Bakery will be served at the reception from 7 – 8 p.m. The reception will be on Market Street between Fifth Avenue and Market Square.
About the Public Art
Diamond Diamonds is Ms. Mincemoyer’s first public commission. The two parts of the illuminated sculpture, made of steel, acrylic and LED lighting, are mounted on City of Pittsburgh light poles on opposite sides of Market Street. The blue steel structures reference the molecular form of the diamond crystal. Suspended within this framework, the popular image of the gemstone appears as individually lit, brilliant-cut diamond shapes in Plexiglas. “I picked the diamond theme to reflect on the Square's past and to play on the idea that much like a diamond is often the focal point in piece of jewelry, the Market Square area has been a center of activity for Downtown Pittsburgh. I really hope that Diamond Diamonds will become a beacon that draws people from the Cultural District and other parts of Downtown to the Square,” says Ms. Mincemoyer.
Market Square, a hub of civic and social activity in Pittsburgh since the mid-1790s, was called the "diamond," a common Scotch-Irish term for the shape of the public square when oriented to north on a compass. Forbes Avenue was once Diamond Street, and for many years Market Square was the home of the Diamond Market buildings.
The artwork is intended to activate the street during the day and night, as well as enhance the pedestrian experience between the triangle park at Three PNC and the newly renovated Market Square, making a strong connection between the Cultural District and Market Square. Diamond Diamonds is a temporary work that will be part of the streetscape for up to ten years. “An active and engaging street is an essential component for a vibrant urban environment. Diamond Diamonds draws on the history of the area to enhance one of the gateways in to Market Square. We hope passerby’s are surprised to see an interesting piece of art on a typical street light and hope to continue similar projects that make Downtown Pittsburgh a unique experience for workers, residents and visitors”, said Jeremy Waldrup, President and CEO of the PDP.
“We are committed to public art projects that improve Downtown’s streetscape and further our City’s Third Renaissance,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said. “This exciting project in particular will connect one vibrant area of Downtown to another, further improving Market Square’s successful renovation.”
“Carin's sculpture is a nice addition to the range of public art in Downtown Pittsburgh. It's successful on many levels, but comments we have received reveal that people enjoy that it references the history of Market Square, but is a contemporary work of art. Not all works of public art need to be on a large scale. Small scale interventions, when done well, are also compelling”, said Renee Piechocki, Director, Office of Public Art.
The impetus for PDP’s commission was the Streetscapes Study prepared for the Downtown Living Initiative by the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh. A primary recommendation in this report suggested streetscape improvements to enhance Sixth and Market Streets as they are the primary pedestrian connection linking the residential areas in the Cultural District, First Side, and Market Square. In 2010, PDP implemented improved lighting between the Roberto Clemente Bridge and Liberty Avenue. Through savings on the Market Square renovation, with additional funding from the URA, the City brought Market Street up to date with new infrastructure and streetscape elements. As part of the overall improvements in this district, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership commissioned a work of art to be located on Market Street.
Diamond DiamondsFacts
- The sculpture is located on two existing City of Pittsburgh standard light posts on Market Street.
- Each piece is 5’7’’ tall x 5’7’’ wide x 4’5’’ deep
- The sculpture is made from powder coated steel, Plexiglas, LED lights
- The sculpture includes up to 40 Plexiglas diamonds on each side. The sculpture is lit 24 hours a day with low-energy LED lights.
- Fabricators and advisors include: Keny Marshall and Matt Tuite (welding), American Precision Powder Coating (painting), John Suhrie (engineering), Hal Hilbish (lighting designer), Allegheny City Electric (installation), and Brandon Barber of Laser Lab Studio (laser cutting).
- The budget for the artwork was $19,500. The budget is paid for by grant funds raised by the PDP. In addition to the artist, all of the fabricators, installers, and consultants hired by the artist for this project are located in southwestern PA. More than $15,000 was paid to local companies to create this work of art.
Artist Selection and Design Development Facts
- The project was managed by the Office of Public Art, a partnership between the City of Pittsburgh and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. Lea Donatelli and Renee Piechocki were the OPA staff for this project. (www.publicartpittsburgh.org)
- The Request for Qualifications was advertised nationally. 22 local and national artists applied. The artist selection panel included representatives from Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, City of Pittsburgh, Office of Public Art, local property owners, and arts professionals.
- Carin Mincemoyer’s design was approved by the artist selection committee, Historic Review Commission, and the Art Commission.
About the Office of Public Art
The Office of Public Art is a partnership between the City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council funded by The Heinz Endowments. OPA provides technical assistance and educational programs about public art in the Pittsburgh region. For more information, visit www.publicartpittsburgh.org
About the Artist, Carin Mincemoyer
Carin Mincemoyer is a sculptor and installation artist who currently lives and works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In much of her recent work, she has utilized recycled materials such as Styrofoam and plastic packaging to create works that examine the often contradictory needs and desires that we look to the natural world to fulfill. Mincemoyer received a BFA from Carnegie Mellon and an MFA from the University at Buffalo. Her work has been exhibited at venues including the Rochester Contemporary in Rochester, NY, Dumbo Arts Center in Brooklyn, NY, and Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. She has been an Artist in Residence at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha, NE and the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including a 2007 grant from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, a 2007 Fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and a 2005 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award from the International Sculpture Center. www.carinmincemoyer.com.
About the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) is a dynamic, nonprofit organization comprised of business and community leaders, property owners, civic organizations, foundations and residents who provide energy, vision and advocacy for Downtown Pittsburgh. Working collaboratively with its partners, the PDP strives to create a positive Downtown experience for residents, workers and visitors alike. The PDP’s strategic initiatives include clean and safe services, transportation, housing and economic development and advocacy. For more information, visit www.DowntownPittsburgh.com, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/downtownpittand “like” us on Facebook.
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