‘to be determined’ Under the Fort Duquesne Bridge
What can be done to the highly-trafficked but underutilized stretch of the Allegheny River trail under the Fort Duquesne Bridge, between downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District and Point State Park? Developed in partnership with a multitude of agencies and area non-profits, Riverlife presents ‘to be determined’, a temporary outdoor urban gallery meant to inspire and ignite discussion.
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Works In This Series
Artist Residency: Camerin “Camo” Nesbit
Fall 2020-Spring 2021
From the artist:
This goal of this residency is to provide structure and intentionality to the efforts that will be continually needed at the Black Lives Matter mural site under the Ft. Duquesne bridge in downtown Pittsburgh. The goal for the engagement through this residency is to devise the best way for the various communities and stakeholders to maintain the site as a destination for healing, strength, and enlightenment.
This residency has two main initiatives: first, an activation of the site through a collaborative mural redevelopment initiative with local muralists; and second, a series of programming and events that incorporate black artists and black community leaders with the goal providing the black arts community with opportunities and representation. The redevelopment of the mural and on-site survey process will be the first steps toward engagement and redevelopment. As the residency progresses, I will be programming events focused on various types of black craft and expression in order to create momentum and wide-spread community buy-in as we envision a more long-term plan for the site.
‘to be determined’: Displaced
Photos by Maranie Staab
On view June-September 2017
From the artist:
We live in a world where nearly 34,000 people are forcibly displaced every day as a result of conflict, persecution and environmental factors.
We also live in a world where these populations have largely become anonymous numbers and statistics — they have become a nameless, faceless and dehumanized “other.”
In 2017 the UNHCR announced that there are more than 65 million displaced persons in the world — more than at any other time in history. Of that number, more than 20 million are refugees, half of whom are under the age of 18.
‘to be determined’: Take a Seat!
On view June 2-11, 2017 during the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival
Take a Seat! is an interactive installation of movable chairs on the riverfront and the latest chapter in Riverlife’s ‘to be determined’ series under the Fort Duquesne Bridge. Twenty-five lightweight movable chairs are equipped with a GPS locator to record their locations and movements under the bridge and into Point State Park.
CAPA Expressions
Debuted June 2016-October 2016
Expressions was a collaborative effort between Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts’ (CAPA) Class of 2016 Creative Writing and Visual Arts majors. During gym class, students walk from school to Point State Park, passing underneath the Fort Duquesne Bridge. They wanted to be able to leave a final “goodbye” present for the neighborhood, leading to a pop-up showcase of visual art and poetry right on the riverfront.
‘to be determined’: Adjutant
Kim Beck
Debuted June 2015
Kim Beck’s Adjutant incorporates images of oversized common weeds using silhouettes in shades of black, gray and white. The mural is inspired after a riverfront scene described by Henry David Thoreau in his 1906 journal: ‘There they stood in the midst of the open river on this shallow and weedy bar in the sun the leisurely sentries lazily pluming themselves as if the day were too long for them. They gave a new character to the stream. Adjutant they were to my idea of the river, these two winged men.’”
Beck’s work was painted by dozens of volunteers over a six-week period on the 750-foot wall underneath the Fort Duquesne Bridge on ramp.
Past Works
Partners
Riverlife is the presenting partner of the ‘to be determined’ series, with support from the Office of Public Art, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Department of City Planning, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and PennDOT.
Development
‘to be determined’ began in 2015 as an effort by Riverlife to beautify the concrete riverfront trail underneath the Fort Duquesne Bridge on-ramp between the Cultural District and Point State Park. Utilizing the 750-foot wall, paved trail and concrete bridge pillars, ‘to be determined’ makes use of the space’s cathedral-like scale to bring art, poetry and activity to this under developed section of downtown riverfront.
The site is also part of Riverlife and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s “ArtWalk on the Allegheny” initiative to bring immersive, engaging works of public art to the Allegheny River between Point State Park and the Strip District.
Initial funding for this project was made possible by the Fine Foundation. “ArtWalk on the Allegheny” received a RADical ImPAct Grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD). Initial funding for the 2020 Fort Duquesne Bridge mural artist residency is provided by Office of Public Art and Riverlife.
