Saturday, March 6, 2021
Gauging Impact

There's no denying that we currently live in a data-driven society, from the Big Data that grabs headlines to our own habits of counting "likes" in any given social media post. That said, it's not always the number of impressions that count, but the impression that an experience leaves with an individual.

Our two features this week fall into that latter category.

Conversations About LightPlay is a mini-documentary that we just debuted. It's comprised of interviews with artists and exhibit-goers who offer their reflections of the experience of viewing light- and sound-based artworks at the Carrie Blast Furnaces at night, during a pandemic.

A Tale of Two Ducks is Angela Biederman's latest Birding from Explorer post. In it she shares how the recent appearance of Canvasback and Redhead Ducks in the waters near the Point each resonated differently with her, given the two species' history and habits.

Enjoy!
FEATURED VIDEO
Conversations About LightPlay
Last September, Rivers of Steel presented the LightPlay exhibition at the Carrie Blast Furnaces. During that time, we received incredible feedback from folks who had seen the exhibition, so we decided to capture their thoughts about it. What emerged was a mini-documentary that offered more than testimonials—it shares insights and allows artworks to live on beyond the short run of the show, offering new points of view about what was created, what it means for the historic site, and how it impacted exhibit-goers and artists as well. Take a look!
Canvasbacks and Redheads in Peterson’s Field Guide
BIRDING FROM EXPLORER
A Tale of Two Ducks
They say that birds of a feather flock together, but it turns out that when it comes to migrating waterfowl, it's not uncommon for different species to join up. While February offered a plethora of distinct bird sightings, Angela's latest post takes a deep dive (pun intended—they're both diving ducks!) into understanding the differences between Canvasback and Redhead Ducks. Through her research she uncovered some stories that left an impression on her and shaped her thinking on each. Read more...
Help preserve our region’s industrial and cultural heritage! Your tax-deductible contribution will help ensure that Rivers of Steel can continue to offer vital, engaging, community-based arts, education, and heritage programs for the residents of southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.