Homestead’s first First Friday will feature LED art installation
Come out to Homestead Friday night. Even if you live there.
So invites the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corp., which from 6 to 10 p.m. this Friday launches its first First Friday event along the Monongahela River town’s Eighth Avenue.
At 8 p.m. Friday, it will debut an LED art installation at the Bost Building Gallery at 623 E. Eighth Ave. The artwork, titled “Aggregate,” is by Ian Brill, who programs it to glow in various colors. Also on display at the building is a “From the Vault” exhibition, featuring staff picks from the archives.
And Rivers of Steel will have other places to check out along the avenue on this and future first Fridays, including street art-style exhibition of murals in the former CVS building.
There will be a pop-up exhibition by Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, a ceramic art exhibition at Eberle Studios, live music at Enix Brewing as well as at Pip & Lola’s, live painting at Honest John’s, ax throwing, kids’ workshops, open studios and more.
Other partners include Voodoo Brewing Co., Arts Excursions Unlimited, Carnegie Library of Homestead, School House Studios, Mon Valley Initiative and Sign Creators.
You can get the lay of the land, and a map, by starting at the vacant lot at 330 E. Eighth Ave.
The goal is to breathe some new life into Mon Valley main streets, says Chris McGinnis, director of Rivers of Steel Arts, who explains that this is one aspect of the Mon Valley Creative Corridor. As the events unfold, with different nuances each time, “It starts to change that conversation locally and regionally about what Homestead has to offer.”
And that will help shape events that could be organized for other main streets in the Mon Valley.
Future First Fridays in Homestead will be held on June 7, July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 6 and Oct. 4. Learn more at riversofsteel.com. The Aggregate LED installation will be lit every night this summer, but you’ll only be able to walk into it on those Friday nights.