"Patterns of Meaning" event hosted at EIC

“Patterns of Meaning” event hosted at EIC

Energy Innovation Center was proud to host “Patterns of Meaning” event by Chip Barletto and Cory Bonnet (a Pittsburgh based oil painter and preservationist)on October 14.

The event showcased a collection of foundry patterns and blueprints dating back to the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. This phenomenal display was recognized not only locally but the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but also nationally by Forbes.

The preservation and restoration of this collection will take countless hours. Artist Cory Bonnet, “The acquisition of this collection has been the most overwhelming and humbling milestoneof my career; as an oil painter, preservationist and LEED AP. I feel an enormous responsibility to restore, preserve and exhibit the collection using my paintings/sculptures to tell the story of the workers and innovators that sacrificed so much to build the infrastructure – the foundation – of so much we take for granted. They built our cities, the country and world. They thought big. This is an opportunity to inspire people to think big. They accomplished so much with a fraction of the technology we enjoy. I believe recognizing what worked in the past and pulling it forward, combining those ideas with the advantages of today’s technology and innovation is the path forward. “

Significant time and resources will need to be invested to protect and preserve the collection.  To learn more about the project or to contribute to the effort to preserve and share this historic collection, please visit here.