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Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) student Patrick Camut has created a work of art that marries form and function in a distinctly Pittsburgh fashion.

Patrick Camut

In response to a call from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for artists to design sculptural bicycle racks to be installed throughout the Cultural District, Camut used the skills he acquired in CCAC’s welding technology program to create the parking chair to end all parking chairs. His proposal was accepted, and he worked on the project throughout the summer. The finished work will be installed this fall in the 900 block of Liberty Avenue, possibly across from the August Wilson Center.

Camut, an art teacher at Charleroi High School, enrolled in CCAC’s welding program to improve his welding skills for creating metal sculptures. The program has helped him grow in his craft beyond his expectations. He especially appreciates the “real world experience” of his instructors, who teach students how to apply the skills they have learned. One way Camut hopes to apply his skills is by creating more public art that can be enjoyed by all. To date, his unique artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions.

“This program is like a master’s for me. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone,” said Camut, who will graduate this fall with an associate degree in welding technology. “Everything was presented in such an organized way. You could see where you wanted to go, and could see your own growth as you got there.”

The project was something of a collaboration—CCAC Welding instructor Cody Stroud provided guidance and technical expertise; the materials were supplied by the college; and the base plate was drilled at Maxwell Welding & Machine. Camut will have earned several welding certifications by the time he graduates, which will also prove useful in his part-time work repairing the amphibious vehicles used by Just Ducky Tours.

For more information on Patrick Camut and his work, visit patrickcamut.com. For more information on CCAC’s Welding Technology program, ccac.edu.

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