Turtle Cove Kayak Tour

The Office for Public Art (OPA) is pleased to announce a new series of artist-designed walking tours during the late summer and early fall of 2023. OPA maintains a long-standing history of hosting and organizing walking tours for the public. To further expand this programmatic offering, OPA commissioned four Pittsburgh Creative Corps artists to design and experiment with how tour-goers experience the region’s public realm. The artists for the tours are: Ginger Brooks Takahashi, Erin Mallea, Jason McKoy, and Monica McElwain.

Each tour in the series was conceptualized by the artists and focuses on engaging audience members through artistic practices, participant observations, listening, physical activity, and games.

Turtle Cove Kayak Tour

Artist Monica Cervone McElwain, in collaboration with artist Erin Mallea, will lead two related kayak tours. Each tour focuses on the Allegheny River and its coves and islands.

The first tour will be a kayak trip to a small inlet on the Allegheny River called Turtle Cove. From the launch point, participants will paddle along the river’s edge while listening to the water’s sounds and looking at nearby sights. The tour will then continue onto Turtle Cove itself, where participants will see sculptures and artwork created by the Cove’s visitors; these works have changed over time because of weather or manipulations by others, adding to the artistic nature. Participants will fine tune the site with calmness and focus to look and search for natural and unique findings on the Cove. These findings can be used to add to existing sculptures, create new ones, or be brought back to the marina for an art activity. Before the end of the tour, any non-recyclable trash not used in the sculptures will be picked up and brought back for disposal.

About Monica Cervone McElwain

Monica Cervone McElwain is a mixed-media artist, who is constantly enticed by new materials and very experimental in her artmaking. She has recently been exploring needlepoint in her art as a textural layer that travels throughout. Colors and shapes at first look uncomplicated but then develop intricacies through the use of various layers of line, symbols, textures or patterns. She is an inspiring muralist and loves to create large pieces throughout the city of Pittsburgh. She is a busy momma of three, a roller derby enthusiast and full time elementary art teacher. “I am overall a passionate human being, I surround myself with what I love and want the world to see my art in a colorful and unique way.”

Preparation

Participants should be dressed appropriately for kayaking to Turtle Cove. Participants should wear comfortable, quick drying/ active clothing that can get wet. A hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses are recommended. Wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in and get wet. Participants may want to bring a change of shoes that are safe for walking on trails and uneven terrain.

Public restrooms are available at 10.7 Marina.

Kayak Information

Please note, kayakers should be skilled enough to launch their own kayaks and be able to get back on shore without assistance. Attendees are required to wear life vests, must participate in a short kayak safety training, and sign a waiver before the meeting begins.

Participants may bring their own kayak or rent one on-site at a discounted rate.

Directions and Parking Information

Tour goers will meet at 10.7 Marina located at 314 Arch St, Verona, PA 15147. Please plan to arrive on time for a group briefing on safety and kayak procedures and to ensure that the tour will start on time.

Parking is available at 10.7 Marina.