On Saturday, October 13th, Wilkinsburg area churches, mosques, and other historic buildings opened their doors for a Sacred Spaces Tour, a project of the Wilkinsburg Temporary Public Art & Placemaking initiative, “Come Over, Come Eat, Come Play”.

Photo Credit: Greg Sciulli

I loved touring the beautiful buildings and seeing how much the parishioners work to sustain the community. Even though many of these churches have few members, they appear to have vibrant and healthy ministries. And everyone we met in the churches (leaders, hosts, ushers) were so very friendly and welcoming! I especially loved the psalm singing at Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church and the hospitality at St. Mark’s AME Church!

– Nancy Balfe, Sacred Spaces Tour attendee

Come Over, Come Eat, Come Play is a multilayered endeavor that includes community engagement, and a survey of historic buildings with a special focus on churches. Artist Jennifer Chenoweth’s work in Wilkinsburg began with community meals, dance parties, and other pop-up events as a way for her to meet residents of the neighborhood, and for residents to meet each other. Chenoweth also drew the local churches on table tops and placed the tables throughout the neighborhood to begin conversations about architecture, culture, and history over meals, meetings, and sometimes games.

This project was produced and organized by artist Jennifer Chenoweth, in partnership with the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation, the Wilkinsburg Arts Council, the Office of Public Art, and Neighborhood Allies in partnership with Preservation Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, Wilkinsburg Historical Society, Pittsburgh Urban Christian School, and the Rotary Club of Wilkinsburg/Rotary Square.

The Temporary Public Art and Placemaking (TPAP) Program is a partnership between Neighborhood Allies and the Office of Public Art. During the pilot, a series of six temporary works of public art have been created in each of our target neighborhoods.