On Wednesday, November 15, 2006, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust held a dedication ceremony to present “Magnolias for Pittsburgh,” a public art installation by Chicago-based sculptor Tony Tasset. The installation is situated at the Seventh Street and Penn Avenue Parklet, a rotating public art space overseen by the Trust since 1992, adjacent to Agnes R. Katz Plaza and the Benedum Center in the heart of the Cultural District.
“Magnolias for Pittsburgh” consists of two sculptures of a flowering magnolia tree. Each tree measures 22’ high by 24’ wide, and is cast in bronze from one hand-sculpted replica and realistically hand-painted in urethane enamel. Each tree contains approximately 800 flowers. The trees are set in a setting with five real magnolia trees, ivy ground cover and a curving path running between the trees.
In his artist statement, Mr. Tasset writes: “The intention of ‘Magnolias for Pittsburgh’ was first and foremost to create a public work with an egalitarian aesthetic that appeals to a wide range of the population. I wanted to simply create a little magic, fairy-tale moment in the daily hustle and bustle of downtown Pittsburgh.
“The work has a classic structure with comparisons made between art and nature. ‘Magnolias…’ is meant to have a dynamic relationship with the environment, always looking different as the stillness of the bronzes emphasizes the change of the seasons. Theoretically the trees will almost disappear into nature for a brief time in the spring as the real magnolias bloom.
“In addition ‘Magnolias…’ has several levels of perception. Some people will walk by and not even notice the trees are fake. Some will see the trees aren’t real, but think they were cast from a real tree. And finally the real attentive ones will know or discover that the trees were hand-sculpted.”
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June 27, 2007
Magnolias for Pittsburgh wins national recognition
A beautiful and majestic art landscape of magnolias that inhabits the corner of Penn Avenue and Seventh Street, across from Agnes Katz Plaza, received national attention this month at the Americans for the Arts National Conference in Las Vegas.
Tony Tasset’s Magnolias for Pittsburgh was selected by the Public Art Network of Americans for the Arts to be in the 2007 Year in Review. The installation includes two bronze magnolia trees, five live magnolias, and a landscape design.
"It is truly exciting for Pittsburgh to be recognized three years in a row by the Public Art Network for having commissioned some of the most innovative works of public art in the United States,” says Renee Piechocki, director, Office of Public Art. “The Public Art Network is the nation's only service program for the field of public art, so "Magnolias for Pittsburgh" was judged by public art peers, a tough audience! I am glad they agreed that this work is a very significant contribution to the field of public art, as well as simply a magical installation in downtown Pittsburgh."
More than 240 were considered for the 2007 Year in Review. Artist Tony Tasset lives in Chicago where he is a professor at the University of Illinois, School of Art and Design. Pittsburgh projects previously recognized include Jenny Holzer's For Pittsburgh at the convention center (2006), Two Girls Working's Trappings: Pittsburgh public bus installation (2006), Ned Kahn's Articulated Cloud at the Childrens' Museum (2005) and the Freight and Barrell by Steven Siegel commissioned by the Three River Arts Festival (2005).
Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Renee Piechocki, City of Pittsburgh