Pittsburgh Botanic Garden opens new exhibition

Patterns of Meaning by Cory Bonnet is on display in the welcome center of the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden (PBG). The exhibition runs through Feb. 26.
“Cory’s work tells a story of the region’s industrial past as well as the region’s present and future through sustainable practices,” said PBG executive director Keith S. Kaiser. “The garden shares an industrial past of land uses including coal mining. We demonstrate through our gardens and woodlands how the land can heal and how human actions can make that happen.”
Bonnet has been painting history for two decades, from landscapes and historic sites to neighborhood murals. Early on, he incorporated reclaimed materials into his work and earned certification from the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED Accredited Professional in sustainable architecture and planning. In addition, his heritage-themed artwork was recognized with a 2017 Preservationist of the Year award from the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh.
In June 2021, Bonnet and scrap metal dealer/steel museum owner Chip Barletto acquired an enormous collection of wooden foundry patterns and mill blueprints from the late 1890s to early 1900s from a barn outside of Youngstown, Ohio. It was over 10, 26-foot box trucks of materials. They then embarked upon the massive undertaking of moving and cataloging the industrial artifacts.
The challenge with the collection is that it was acquired with the condition that it not be sold off in pieces. So, Bonnet needed to find a way to sustain the collection’s restoration and preservation. He created Patterns of Meaning – an exhibition that honors the story of the workers and innovators who built the foundations of the modern world.
Patterns of Meaning has grown to include the addition of designer Angela Neira, master woodworker/artist Nate Lucas, glass artist Brian Engel, and ceramicist A.J. Collins. Pieces from these artists will be included in the exhibit.
The PBG is located at 799 Pinkerton Road in Collier. While open year-round for outside adventures throughout the 65 acres of display gardens and woodlands, winter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Visit https://pittsburghbotanicgarden.org for tickets or more information.