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By now, it's no secret that plans are unfolding on a variety of fronts in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War, which determined the course of Pittsburgh, the region and the country.

The effort, dubbed "Pittsburgh 250," actually has spanned three years. A two-year build-up prior to the anniversary year was intended to gather momentum heading into the 2008 celebration.

As part of that momentum, the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators began planning an exhibition more than a year ago that would address the anniversary of the naming of our much-maligned yet beloved city.

From the "smoky city" that author O. Henry once described as the "low-downest place on earth" and a New York writer as "hell with the lid off," to the two-time winner of "America's Most Livable City," Pittsburgh has many stories to tell, with many twists and turns along the way.

"Pittsburgh Recast," on view at the Senator John Heinz History Center in the Strip District, features the work of more than 50 members of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators that does just that.

Established in 1997, the group is the fourth-largest society of illustrators in the United States. In preparation for the exhibition, members were invited to develop an image or series of images relating to any story that has its roots in Pittsburgh, from headlines, personal experience or a theme arising from personal interest and investigation.

The story had to span a period of time and/or highlight a provocative moment or a turning point. The story was to incorporate Pittsburgh, one of its neighborhoods or a local institution as an integral environment to its unfolding.

Illustrators need a story, after all, to practice their art, and participating illustrators were encouraged to consider whether change enshrines the past or corrodes it, and what impact the ghosts of the past might have on progress. They were asked to shift focus to examine the sweeping panorama, the minute details, or the influence of one upon the other. And they were expected to weigh the counterpoint to their perspective and to define their point of view.

Thus, many issues were tackled, ranging from the demise of the steel industry to the return of the mayfly to the three rivers. Altogether, the works are an imaginative mix of narrative styles and perspectives.

Some works take on a historical perspective from a sentimental viewpoint. Current society president Rick Antolic honors Ambridge and its legacy with oil paintings depicting the American Bridge Co. and Old Economy Village; while Mark Bender pays homage to legendary boxer Billy Conn, otherwise known as "The Pittsburgh Kid," with an acrylic-on-wood-panel painting of the same title.

Others look at Pittsburgh's present, such as John Blumen's digital piece "New Heat," which illustrates Pittsburgh's transformation from its foundation of heavy industry to its current technological industries, incorporating imagery that references Pittsburgh's frontier past as well as an unknown, hopefully bright future.

And some look directly to that future. Such as Frank Harris' "Robot Andy," in which an iconic image of one of Pittsburgh's most famous native sons, Andy Warhol, is combined with robot parts, making for the perfect pop android.

As Harris writes in his statement: "Robots and Pittsburgh are forever entwined! The Robotics Institute and Carnegie Mellon University are making robots better, smarter and more useful every day."

Still, the most intriguing works combine all three notions. Yelena Lamm's acrylic-on-canvas painting "Spring in Pittsburgh" show's yesterday's steelworker recast as Mr. Fixit to America's "most livable city," sprucing up Pittsburgh homes of Victorian, Edwardian, Tudor Revival, and Arts and Crafts architecture. And Ilene Winn-Lederer's "Renaissance III, ca. 1985" looks at the past and the future, depicting a knight in shining armor and business suit. She says she got the idea after attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for PPG Place in 1984 but didn't illustrate it until recently. That is, in her own words, "the story of a city with a long memory preserved in the vision of a dynamic future."

Although Pittsburgh's story will continue to be written, it's that story which makes these works all the more compelling. The illustration art form is narrative in nature. It tells a story, expresses a point of view, and educates and informs the viewer. Illustration is an applied art that enhances a message, raises awareness, interprets the world around us and challenges the viewer to consider new ideas.

"Pittsburgh Recast" offers the viewer a visual glimpse into our past, an understanding of where we are now and a look at the possibility of where we are headed.

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