KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute® with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program, today announced a new partnership with the Pittsburgh-based Patterns of Meaning Initiative, an innovative program that introduces steel, specialty materials and metal manufacturing to K-12 students through the arts.
“Manufacturing – including steel and metal production – is necessary for the future and depends on new artisans capable of the creativity and innovation it requires,” said Cory Bonnet, Pittsburgh-based artist and Patterns of Meaning founder. “The goal of Patterns of Meaning is to help change the cultural perception of heavy manufacturing from a dying industry to a creative and vital essential human contribution. Ultimately, we want to encourage future generations to pursue industrial trades, a much-needed trend for future workforce development.”
Patterns of Meaning is an unprecedented collection of industrial artifacts, paintings and sculptures honoring the industrial era. Its K-12 initiative is a unique curriculum that combines classroom project-based learning with experiential fine art exhibits, including artwork in steel, glass, ceramics and wood.
The partnership with METAL will be piloted in the Pittsburgh Public School District and surrounding counties. It includes classroom presentations, field trips to Patterns of Meaning Exhibit Hall, and hands-on instruction guided by local faculty for class art projects focused on the metalworking industry. Projects may include drawing, painting or collage for younger students, then progress to more complex projects using computer-aided design, wax models, sand casting and additive manufacturing processes for advanced learners.
By introducing students to the creative and technical opportunities within engineering and sciences through fine art, the initiative will reach students not traditionally tracked for careers in these fields.
Since its kickoff in 2023, METAL—a U.S. Department of Defense-funded program that is developing a skilled trade pipeline to fill gaps in the U.S. metallurgical and manufacturing workforce—has gained significant momentum, including a rapidly expanding network of university hubs that assist with K-12 and adult metallurgical training. Tennessee Tech, University of Alabama and Michigan Tech are the two most recent additions, but the network also includes The Ohio State University, Penn State and the University of Tennessee.
“We applaud Patterns of Meaning for its innovative efforts to transform public perceptions of the steel industry and manufacturing through fine arts,” said METAL National Workforce Manager Lucinda Curry. “Patterns of Meaning engages youth in metal manufacturing, aligning with METAL’s mission to strengthen the future metalworking workforce.”
Visit the Patterns of Meaning Workshop and Exhibit Hall in the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. and for a limited time in Brooklyn, N.Y. Patterns of Meaning recently announced a new partnership with Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, displaying its works in an exhibit entitled “Brooklyn X Pittsburgh: The Industry of Art” in Brooklyn, New York from July 19 to August 24.
About METAL
Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL), led by IACMI, is an industry-driven initiative aimed at providing high-quality, hands-on training in the metalworking and manufacturing sectors. The program is designed to address workforce development needs by offering comprehensive curricula in casting, forging and metallurgy, with an emphasis on automation and modern manufacturing technologies.
About IACMI
IACMI – The Composites Institute® is a national public-private partnership focused on advancing composite materials and process technologies. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Defense, IACMI brings together over 170 members from industry, academia, and government to drive manufacturing innovation and workforce development.
About Patterns of Meaning
The Patterns of Meaning Initiative offers an innovative solution to address the critical challenges facing the manufacturing and steel industries—an aging workforce, difficulty in attracting young talent, and a weak public perception. Recognizing that these industries require new artisans, Patterns of Meaning embarks on an initiative to use fine arts to engage K-12 students by combining interactive, project-based classroom learning with experiential art exhibits featuring large-scale paintings and sculptures from the Patterns collection. To learn more, visit https://patternsofmeaning.org/.
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