Saturday, October 21, 2023 | |
Industrial Tours of the Carrie Blast Furnaces will conclude for 2023 on November 4. | |
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Reflections
Each year, after the Festival of Combustion, it seems as if our event season is just about over. In reality, the festival is just the kickoff for the fall finales. Each of the programs we are sharing today will be the last one offered during the 2023 season.
With the heat of summer over for now, it may actually be the best time of year to take an Industrial Tour of the Carrie Blast Furnaces, and with the soft light of autumn, it is also a great time for a Photo Safari at Carrie.
Earlier this year, we launched a few different blacksmithing workshops. Many of them filled quickly, so we're excited to mention that we do still have spots open for next week's three-day Bladesmithing workshop and the three-and-a-half hour Forged Bottle Opener session. Additionally, we're happy to extend our introductory offer for the three-day course. Details below.
Next week, we'll be hosting the closing reception for Gledaj! The Gaze of Maxo Vanka on October 26 and the final Homestead Live Fridays event for 2023.
All year long, we've been featuring our partners who work to make Homestead Live Fridays the experience that it has become. For our last segment, we are highlighting our community collaborators. Read about how the event really is a celebration of community.
It's a bittersweet time of year. But that doesn't mean that there is nothing to look forward to—as the glorious colors of autumn fade, we will bring you even more stories and community news. Today's featured story, which has us visiting the Carnegie Library of Homestead as it prepares for its 125th anniversary celebration, is a great example of just that!
Thank you to all the folks who joined us for this year's Festival of Combustion. It was the largest and most well-attended event yet, supported by artists, makers, our nonprofit partners, and you! If you attended, we welcome your feedback. Please take this post-event survey and help us improve for next year.
That's about it for today. We hope to see you in the coming weeks!
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"Mr. C." peruses a coffee table book of Matthew Brady images from the Civil War at the Carnegie Library of Homestead, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary on November 4, 2023. | |
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Carnegie Library of Homestead at 125 Years!
Friday, October 27, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m., Homestead Business District
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2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929. Of those, more than 1,600 were in the United States, but the Carnegie Library of Homestead is unique among them!
With their 125th anniversary celebration right around the corner, we decided now was the perfect time to dig into the history of this venerable institution and see what they are up to today!
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Community members gather at the Amity Harvest Garden during a Homestead Live Fridays event. | |
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FEATURED STORY
Homestead Live Fridays—A Celebration of Community
By Gita Michulka
| As the Homestead Live Fridays season comes to a close, we're also wrapping a series of articles that has profiled our community partners and their roles in the event. In today's story, we focus on the Steel Valley Accelerator, the Amity Harvest Garden, and ACORN ANEW—and we chat with Homestead Borough managers to get their take on it. | |
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HERITAGE TOURS
Industrial Tours of the Carrie Blast Furnaces
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through November 4, 2023
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Did you know that more people visit the Carrie Blast Furnaces each year to experience the Industrial Tour, as compared to any other event or program offering? It's no wonder—each tour guide brings something special to the experience. During this two hour tour, you'll learn about the iron-making process, the workers and their roles, and more about the history and culture of this National Historic Landmark site. Since the majority of each tour is outside, the season ends on November 4. Sign up today! | |
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BLACKSMITHING WORKSHOP
Bladesmithing 1
A three-day workshop, October 23 – 25, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Carrie Blast Furnaces
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Spend some real time with the forge! Focused on forging techniques, this three-day workshop features the instruction and extended shop time needed to produce a sharp-edged tool made from high-carbon steel. Learn the fundamental skills required to forge a blacksmithing knife with scroll handle from a single piece of steel. After three sessions, you'll leave with your very own hand-forged knife!
Introductory Offer: Use the discount code BLADE1 to save $50 when you register!
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EXHIBITION
Gledaj! The Gaze of Maxo Vanka Closing Reception
Thursday, October 26, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., The Bost Building
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Join Rivers of Steel and the Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka for a public reception in the Bost Building’s upper gallery. Sign up for the free event. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Read more about the exhibition in this article from Belt Magazine, "Maxo Vanka's Radical Gaze."
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The Amity Harvest Garden decorated for Halloween. Image courtesy of Jennifer Miller. | |
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SERIES
Homestead Live Fridays—Schedule of Events
Friday, October 27, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m., Homestead Business District
| Located in multiple venues throughout Homestead’s Eighth Avenue business district—and at street-side pop-ups along the way, Live Fridays features local performers, art exhibitions, and activities each evening from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Grab a drink or bite to eat and check out some of the region’s best local live music. See what's happening in October! | |
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OPEN SESSION
Photo Safari
Sunday, November 5, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Carrie Blast Furnaces
| The Carrie Furnaces are undoubtably a photographer's muse. The form and texture of the structures cater to seasonal scenes with the soft lighting of autumn, and with the addition of an array of colors in The Iron Garden area, now is an excellent time to capture unique perspectives of this National Historic Landmark site. Take advantage of this opportunity to photograph the Carrie Blast Furnaces with only a few other photographers around. | |
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METAL ARTS WORKSHOP
The Doodle Bowl Experience
Sunday, November 5, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Carrie Blast Furnaces
| A crowd favorite, no matter the season, The Doodle Bowl Experience is a social workshop (BYOB encouraged) that makes it easy for anyone to become a metal artist! Carve your designs into a preformed mold and then watch as your functional work of art is cast from molten aluminum by Rivers of Steel's foundry crew. This is the last one offered in 2023 and only a few spots are still available. | |
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METAL ARTS WORKSHOP
Hot Metal Happy Hour: Forged Bottle Openers
Thursday, November 16, 5:30 – 9:00 p.m., Carrie Blast Furnaces
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Join us for a Hot Metal Happy Hour at the Carrie Blast Furnaces.
This three-hour, hands-on event is an excellent introduction to blacksmithing. Work with hot steel to create your own custom bottle opener! In the process, you’ll learn basic blacksmithing techniques including slitting, drifting, punching, bending, and more. At the end of the session, put your handiwork to the test when you crack open an ice-cold bottled beverage to toast your accomplishment!
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THINGS TO DO IN THE RIVERS OF STEEL NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
Sunday Fun Day: Industrial History & Art
October 29, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
| Rivers of Steel is excited to celebrate history and art with our partners at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Stop by on Sunday, October 29 to learn about their industrial art collection in the McKenna Gallery and watch an aluminum hot metal pour, courtesy of Rivers of Steel's metal arts crew. Carve a custom created scratch mold that will be cast in aluminum, live on site! | |
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THINGS TO DO IN THE RIVERS OF STEEL NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
The 125th Anniversary Celebration of the Carnegie
Library of Homestead
November 3, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., Carnegie Library of Homestead
| Raise a glass to the Carnegie Library of Homestead! The library is celebrating 125 years of service with a cocktail reception on Friday, November 3, including pairings of classic novels matched with classic cocktails. The evening includes unique entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, and special remarks at 7:30 p.m. | |
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.
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