Celebrating a Year of Connection, Creativity, and Industrial Heritage
As 2025 comes to a close, we are grateful for the partners and educators who helped Patterns of Meaning grow and make an impact this year. Together, we continued to connect the past to the future by linking the region’s industrial legacy to the creativity and curiosity that inspire the next generation of makers and manufacturers.
Below is a look back at the major milestones that defined our year.
Introducing Over 1,000 Students to the Patterns Initiative
In partnership with METAL, we expanded our hands-on learning programs for K–12 students across Western Pennsylvania. More than 1,000 students engaged with industrial artifacts, participated in art-and-design–based classroom programs, and explored how creativity connects to modern casting and forging. Field trips and in-school experiences reinforced their understanding of real-world processes and the skills that support a future-ready workforce.
This work included our inaugural Patterns of Meaning Initiative programs in Avonworth and McGuffey School Districts, as well as at Arise Classical Academy and Watermark Academy. Across these schools, students discovered how art, engineering, casting, and forging intersect and how these skills can shape opportunities within their own communities.
Expanding Nationally Through Brooklyn × Pittsburgh
In July, Patterns artists participated in Brooklyn × Pittsburgh: The Industry of Art. This collaboration brought Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage into conversation with New York’s creative community. Through the exhibition and artist talks, participating artists explored the ties between historic manufacturing centers and the role of creative reuse in contemporary art. They also examined how shared industrial narratives shape place-based storytelling. This milestone marked an important step in bringing Patterns’ mission to a national audience.
Cory Bonnet in WQED’s Documentary Steel Links
WQED featured Patterns Director Cory Bonnet in Steel Links, a documentary examining Pittsburgh’s resilience, ingenuity, and industrial past. Cory highlighted the stories embedded in salvaged foundry patterns and the cultural and historical significance of creative reuse. He also showed how these artifacts remain relevant to today’s workforce and creative communities. His contribution offered viewers a deeper understanding of how industrial heritage continues to inspire contemporary practice.
Hosting Earth Day and Sustainability Events
Patterns also supports sustainability initiatives through community programs that highlight the connection between materials, the built environment, and creative reuse. In 2025, we hosted two events that brought this work to life .Building for a Greener Future, a Pittsburgh Earth Day program, emphasized sustainable design, material reuse, and conversations among artists, architects, and environmental leaders. Zero Waste Conversations at the Exhibit Hall and Workshop focused on circular economy principles and creative waste-reduction approaches. They explored how industrial materials can be reimagined through art and education. Together, these events strengthened community understanding of how environmental responsibility, industry, and creativity converge in meaningful ways.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we enter the new year, we are excited to continue sharing the stories, materials, and connections that unite art, education, and industry. Our work will deepen hands-on learning opportunities for students and elevate interpretations of regional industrial history while exploring new ways to bridge heritage with future workforce pathways.
Thank you to everyone who supported us this year. Your belief in this mission fuels the work ahead, and we look forward to building, imagining, and creating together in 2026.