Ep. 56 – Maker Month with local artist Oreen Cohen

iTunes | Spotify | Direct Download Episode 56

Highlights from our interview with Oreen Cohen

It’s week three of Maker Month, our series on local folks who make things for a living. In homage to Pittsburgh’s steelworking past, in this episode, we chat with local artist Oreen Cohen, whose work includes large public sculptures. From listening to a community’s stories to scouring the streets for materials, Cohen explains how she gets inspiration from a particular place. She shares her love of the Carrie Furnaces in Rankin and how it influenced her choice to come to Pittsburgh.

She speaks in detail about her most recent installation at Wightman Park — three sculptures designed in collaboration with her business partner Alison Zapata and the local Squirrel Hill community.

Listen and learn how her family’s history with stained glass has come full circle in her present pandemic projects.

To see more of Oreen’s work

Oreen Cohen’s Website

Instagram @oco.art

What’s the one thing you should know this week?

It’s the dates of the last two Pittsburgh Sandwich Society food truck appearances for the year — Holiday Hot Chicken Night on Dec. 11 and A Very Food Truck Christmas on Dec.18. Both will be at Strange Roots Experimental Ales in Millvale. See Pittsburgh Sandwich Society’s Instagram account for more info or pre-ordering.

Want more local makers?

Week one of maker month on The Slaw featured graphic designer Paul Haggerty. In week two, we met local woodworker Darren Myers.

The audio episode was hosted by Stephanie Brea, recorded remotely, engineered and edited by Epicast Studios. Video by Christian Snyder.