First Stanza of New Featured Poem by Joy Katz Now Appearing on Greensburg’s North Main Street Bridge as Part of 10-year Public Art Project
GREENSBURG, Pennsylvania (August 13, 2024) — The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is pleased to announce the first stanza of Joy Katz’s poem, “BRIDGE BIRDS OF LEAST CONCERN,” is now on view on the North Main Street Bridge in downtown Greensburg. The poem is displayed as part of the ongoing public artwork, Analog Scroll, by artist Janet Zweig.
Analog Scroll, a 10-year project involving 10 Southwestern Pennsylvania poets, is a site-specific artwork that activates the bridge on North Main Street, engaging both locals and visitors alike. Each poem, displayed line by line, changes periodically until the completion of one poem and the beginning of the next. Analog Scroll uses three-dimensional metal letters held by tracks fastened to the concrete walls of the bridge to display the words contained in each stanza of the featured poem. This installation marks the sixth poem written by a Southwestern Pennsylvania poet in this ongoing public art project.
The title of Katz’s poem, “BRIDGE BIRDS OF LEAST CONCERN,” refers to four birds found in abundance in our region and included within the “least concern” classification, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). To receive a “least concern” classification from IUCN, a species must be experiencing a thriving population and absence of extinction risk. Katz’s vivid descriptions bring these birds to life, from the “fighting machine,” that she characterizes as liking “trash, jokes, a big party,” to the one with hair like a “flamin hot cheeto.”
“Joy Katz’s poem highlights the often-overlooked species that thrive in our environment,” stated Silvia Filippini-Fantoni, Richard Mellon Scaife Director/CEO. “By bringing attention to these resilient birds, the poem reminds us of the delicate balance within our ecosystems and encourages us to reflect on our role in sustaining the natural world around us.”
On creating a poem specifically for Analog Scroll, Joy Katz noted, “I’ve never had my words on a public structure before. The chance to write for a bridge was exciting. It made me think about language in new ways. Interacting with a bridge is a lot different than reading words on a page! Strangers of all ages, especially kids, riding over this bridge—I wanted to make something just for them, something fun.”
Joy Katz, a renowned poet, social practice artist, and essayist, resides in Pittsburgh. She is an active collaborator in the artist collective Ifyoureallyloveme and teaches in Carlow University’s esteemed Madwomen in the Attic workshops. Additionally, Katz serves as an editor at large for Copper Nickel, further contributing to the literary community.
Funding for this project was made possible through various sources, including a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant program award, The Heinz Endowments, Westmoreland County Tourism Grant Program, Community Foundation of Westmoreland County/Revitalizing Westmoreland, Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, Carol R. Brown, The Tomahawk Hill Foundation, and generous supporters of an Indiegogo campaign hosted by the Museum. Technical support throughout the project was provided by Shiftworks Community + Public Arts, the nonprofit formerly the Office for Public Art.
To read the full poem or learn more about Analog Scroll, please visit: https://thewestmoreland.org/bridging-the-gap/.
ABOUT THE WESTMORELAND MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
Western Pennsylvania’s only museum dedicated to American art, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is a place to share meaningful cultural experiences that open the door to new ideas, perspectives, and possibilities. The Westmoreland’s extraordinary permanent collection with its strong focus on the art and artists of Southwestern Pennsylvania is complemented by an impressive temporary exhibition schedule featuring both nationally traveling exhibitions and those organized by the Museum. Additionally, The Westmoreland presents a full slate of community-oriented events. More information is available at thewestmoreland.org and on the Museum’s Facebook and Instagram profiles.
General admission to the Museum is free. The Museum’s operating hours are 10am-5pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. One can find more information on visiting the Museum at thewestmoreland.org/visit.
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