Stephen Antonson Inflatable Sculpture

Inflatable Sculpture Makes Debut at Arts Festival

Andrew Carnegie sculpture floats down Allegheny River

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Three Rivers Arts Festival

Thousands of Pittsburghers will travel downtown to attend this year's Three Rivers Arts Festival, running through June 13, but one will be making the journey in an unusual way.

Andrew Carnegie, famed Pittsburgh industrialist, is watching the festival as an inflatable sculpture on the Allegheny River.

The sculpture's creator, Stephen Antonson, said, "This is Andrew Carnegie coming back to Pittsburgh and looking back at Pittsburgh and seeing what a great city it's become.

"I sort of see him as a goodwill ambassador, coming to Pittsburgh during the festival, looking back at the city and saying, 'This is fantastic,'" said Antonson.

The sculpture quickly began drawing attention as it was towed along the river by boat.

"I saw it from way back. It's just a giant head in the water, so I guess it's hard to miss," said Sarah Kuharick, of Pittsburgh.

The sculpture is, in fact, a larger-than-life version of Carnegie's head, though he was probably never seen like this in real life - the sculpture outfits him with swimming goggles and a snorkel.

Antonson, an alumnus of Carnegie Mellon University, chose Carnegie as his subject because he learned a great deal about the city's history and those who shaped it during his time living in Pittsburgh.

About six months ago, he brought his idea for the inflatable sculpture - the first of its kind - to the Three Rivers Arts Festival's organizers.

"It's been really exciting to see this thing float out into the river and see what I'd imagined this whole time," Antonson said.