Seneca Public Art Planning Workshop

The Seneca people, who usually refer to themselves as Onondowa’ga:’, inhabited the Pittsburgh area and communities along the Allegheny River long before Europeans came to America. This initiative honors one of the few Pittsburgh streets named for an indigenous entity rather than a colonial name. Drawing on Seneca stories, imagery and traditions, residents will plan and implement creative urban infrastructure to make intersections safer, identify and celebrate our small street and discuss the future of the vacant lots and buildings on the street.

In our kickoff workshop, residents will plan creative urban infrastructure inspired by Onondowa’ga:’ traditions and imagery. 

We will identify a focus project to be the first element of the plan implemented by the end of this year.

This workshop is the first phase of the Seneca Art Plan: Bringing neighbors together to design the future Seneca Street.

We will be hosting indigenous Seneca artists from out of town and organizing a picnic-workshop to be held on Sunday afternoon, August 6th.

In the workshop we will learn about Onondowa’ga:’ traditions and imagery, and their history in our region.
Attendees will then gather around a large printed aerial image of the street on which we can diagram our ideas and work together to decide where art and other improvements to the environment can be installed.

In our next phase, residents will raise the funds for materials we need to install our first focus project. 

The workshop brings together three issues for Seneca Street, in the Soho section of Uptown: 

1. Honoring the Seneca Nation for which our street is named;

2. Using art to address gaps in our urban infrastructure (crosswalks, road signs, parklets, orchards, etc.); and 

3. Increasing social cohesion among residents.