{"id":34316,"date":"2024-08-13T13:29:04","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T17:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/?post_type=press-release&p=34316"},"modified":"2024-08-13T13:29:04","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T17:29:04","slug":"first-stanza-of-new-featured-poem-by-joy-katz-now-appearing-on-greensburgs-north-main-street-bridge-as-part-of-10-year-public-art-project","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/press-releases\/first-stanza-of-new-featured-poem-by-joy-katz-now-appearing-on-greensburgs-north-main-street-bridge-as-part-of-10-year-public-art-project\/","title":{"rendered":"First Stanza of\u00a0New Featured\u00a0Poem\u00a0by Joy Katz\u00a0Now Appearing on\u00a0Greensburg’s\u00a0\u00a0North Main Street Bridge\u00a0as Part of\u00a010-year Public Art Project\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GREENSBURG, Pennsylvania (August 13, 2024)<\/strong> \u2014 The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is pleased to announce the first stanza of Joy Katz’s poem, \u201cBRIDGE BIRDS OF LEAST CONCERN,\u201d is now on view on the North Main Street Bridge in downtown Greensburg. The poem is displayed as part of\u202fthe ongoing public artwork, Analog Scroll,<\/em>\u202fby artist Janet Zweig.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Analog Scroll<\/em>, 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.\u202fAnalog Scroll\u202f<\/em>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The title of Katz\u2019s poem, \u201cBRIDGE BIRDS OF LEAST CONCERN,\u201d 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 \u201cleast concern\u201d 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 \u201cfighting machine,” that she characterizes as liking \u201ctrash, jokes, a big party,\u201d to the one with hair like a \u201cflamin hot cheeto.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJoy Katz\u2019s poem highlights the often-overlooked species that thrive in our environment,\u201d stated Silvia Filippini-Fantoni, Richard Mellon Scaife Director\/CEO. \u201cBy 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On creating a poem specifically for Analog Scroll<\/em>, Joy Katz noted, \u201cI\u2019ve 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\u2014I wanted to make something just for them, something fun.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em>, further contributing to the literary community.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To read the full poem or learn more about\u202fAnalog Scroll<\/em>, please visit:\u202f\u00a0https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/bridging-the-gap\/.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ABOUT THE WESTMORELAND MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART<\/strong>  
Western Pennsylvania\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s Facebook and Instagram profiles.  
 
General admission to the Museum is free<\/strong>. The Museum\u2019s operating hours are 10am-5pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. One can find more information on visiting the Museum at thewestmoreland.org\/visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GREENSBURG, Pennsylvania (August 13, 2024) \u2014 The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is pleased to announce the first stanza of Joy Katz’s poem, \u201cBRIDGE BIRDS OF LEAST CONCERN,\u201d is now […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-34316","press-release","type-press-release","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/34316"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}