Patterns of Meaning Artists at Rivers of Steel’s Weeklong Iron Intensive

Earlier this month, the Patterns of Meaning artists completed the Weeklong Iron Intensive at Rivers of Steel, held at the historic Carrie Blast Furnaces in Pittsburgh. While our team has worked with cast ceramics and glass, this was the first time we had the opportunity to pour molten iron from a coke-fired cupola furnace.

The Cupola Pour: History Brought to Life

The casting took place during the Festival of Combustion, where we joined the Rivers of Steel foundry crew in tapping, skimming, and pouring molten iron next to the furnace stacks that powered Pittsburgh’s steel industry.

Learn More About Rivers of Steel

Rivers of Steel preserves and activates the legacy of Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage through immersive events, workshops, and educational programs. To tour the Carrie Blast Furnaces or participate in future experiences, visit their website

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