In 1997, a group of young Pittsburgh artists completed a yearlong adventure of personal and artistic growth that forever changed their lives. The Carrie Deer 40’ site-specific salvage sculpture visually embodies Pittsburgh’s abandoned industrial sites’ return to nature. As a collective artistic effort, it is remarkable for the use of on-site materials, exceptional as a work by volunteers, astounding as a work never expected to be publicly seen, and thought-provoking in its mill-like construction process.
This story is a glimpse into the early experiences of the artists who have become leaders in the Pittsburgh arts community. Surviving 15 years on the abandoned site, respected by copper vandals and graffiti artists, the Deer is now the central public artwork of the revitalized site and a breathtaking stop on the Hard Hat Tours.