A sculpture, entitled Point of View, featuring two real-life characters, George Washington and Chief Guyasuta, leader of the Seneca Indians, locked in a moment of historical significance – circa 1770 is being finished at the A.R.T. Foundry in Lancaster, PA for shipment to Pittsburgh where it will be placed along Grand View Ave., on Mt. Washington, across from Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, in what will be known as Point of View Park, overlooking Pittsburgh and the Ohio River Valley. Unveiling ceremonies are scheduled for Wednesday, October 25 at 2:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend. The sculpture is the brain child of local artist, James West who invisioned the creation of the work as a beginning of the 250th celebration of the founding of the City of Pittsburgh. Chief Guyasuta and Washington are depicted sitting eye-to-eye – the space between them charged with energy. Their figures are tense but restrained, their weapons – a pipe tomahawk and a sword – idle at their sides. The statue is the interpretation of a frozen instant of time; a moment in history when these two men actually met along the Ohio River, revisited their past, disagreed on the future, but vowed friendly relations. Their lives and actions had a huge impact on this region and the formation of our nation. These two men had originally been allies, then fought on opposite sides in the French & Indian War. In that critical time before the American Revolution, they disagreed over who would inhabit this highly desirable region. Washington was surveying land for white European expansion, Guyasuta, recalling the Proclamation of 1763 prohibiting white settlement west of the Alleghenies, favored Indian dominion and friendly trade with whites. Pittsburgh in 1770 was the original ‘wild frontier;’ an untamed woodland full of colorful adventurers: soldiers, militia, traders, slaves and freemen, missionaries and a variety of indigenous people. There were fewer than 200 whites living at the Forks of the Ohio where British Fort Pitt stood. In October of that year, Washington dined at Fort Pitt, then traveled down the Ohio and sat overnight in council with his old acquaintance, Guyasuta. Little is known about what was said, but there was no doubt tension as well as mutual respect. And though the two held very different points of view about the fate of the area, they parted amiably. As Pittsburgh readies to celebrate its 250th Anniversary, Point of View and the Point of View Park will promote conversations about our past and our early role in American history. Artist Jim West hopes his sculpture will inspire people to find out more about this era. Dedication ceremonies will include 18th century re-enactors in period dress together with members of the Seneca Nation from Salamanca, NY, and a Musket Salute by the 18th C Militia Drill & Musket Team to help celebrate the dedication of the Point of View Park and Point of View statue. A fundraiser is also planned at 6:30 p.m. at the LeMont Restaurant on Mt. Washington. Those interested in attending, tickets are $75 each or two for $140 and can be obtained by calling (412) 481-3220. The project is under the auspices of the Mount Washington Community Development Corporation (MWCDC) and the City of Pittsburgh.