The Pittsburgh Light Disco, dreamed up by creator/project director Rasheda Vereen, won our May $1,000 award. This Pittsburgh-themed art installation will be activated by electronic donations to a nonprofit cause. Our $1,000 grant will support the construction and installation of the art project.

Rasheda said about her project:

“The purpose of the project is to bring together the Pittsburgh community in a dynamic way. Inspired by the Pittsburgh Foundation’s Day of Giving and the many Cultural District public art pieces, I am hoping this project will blend some of those Pittsburgh-inspired themes and values of giving, sharing, neighborhood beautification and pride. The Awesome Pittsburgh grant will be a starting point to help bring various collaborators and community members together to bring this project into fruition.”

Pittsburgh Light Disco will be a marquee-type public art installation that will display images of Pittsburgh’s past and present.  The installation will be created to have the capability of accepting donations via mobile or loose change.  When a donation is received, the marquee will light up and display a thank you or play a special musical selection.  The donations will go to support a different nonprofit organization each month.

The Pittsburgh Light Disco will be a collaborative public art piece bringing together various community members, foundations and organization. Although in the initial planning stages, the project plans to bring together a variety of local community, arts and technology organizations to ensure that the project is sustainable and viable.

The project is tentatively scheduled for installation by the end 2012. Rasheda has encouraged interested collaborators, non-profits and partners to contact her at pittsburghlightdisco@gmail.com for more information.