Grit, Flow, Grow

This sculptural artwork can be seen at Anchor Green Garden in Emerald View Park.

About The Artwork

Inspired by the poem "Bread and Roses", OOA's three-part sculpture is a composition of scrap metal and elegant line work that creates a metaphor for the resiliency of women and a symbol of the transformation and growth of post-industrial environments.

"Bread and Roses"

As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day,

A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,

Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,

For the people hear us singing: Bread and Roses! Bread and Roses!

As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men,

For they are women's children, and we mother them again.

Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;

Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.

As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead

Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread.

Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.

Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.

As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days,

The rising of the women means the rising of the race.

No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,

But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.

Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;

Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.

James Oppenheim, The American Magazine, December 1911.

About The Artist

OOA Designs

OOA Designs is a Pittsburgh-based, woman-owned and operated artist collaboration between founders Oreen Cohen and Alison Zapata, established in 2018. They create aesthetic and functional public art that embraces color, forms and nature within their collaborative work. Their art also strives to tell the stories of the community and have meaning to those who see it every day, and they look forward to continuing to share the stories of their City.

Location

The sculptures can be found in Anchor Green Garden, at the top of PJ McArdle Roadway, on Grandview Avenue across from Merrimac Street.

Concept Rendering

The Storyteller

At each Art in Parks location, local storytellers created works to document and expand the narrative of the artists.

Sandra Bacchi's short documentary, The Art at Emerald View Park, tells the story of the Art in Parks program, gives perspectives from the artists and other project partners, and reflects on what public art brings to a community. Watch it here!

Community Meetings

A series of community meeting were held to discuss the new public art installations in Emerald View Park.

July 7, 2022

View a recording of the meeting here.

Nov 4, 2021

View a recording of the meeting here.

This project received a RADical ImPAct Grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD).