The exhibit, Thinking About Flying by Pittsburgh-based artist Jon Rubin, isn't found inside the museum, but on the roof.
A flock of homing pigeons coo and strut about in their rooftop coop. Each bird is ready to leave in a carrying case with visitors who can free the pigeons to return to their home atop the museum.
"By taking a pigeon home, the visitors get to become part of the art project," said Sarah Baie, director of programs at the museum. The art, Baie said, is found in the pigeons' flight, but also in the care provided by visitors and the training process that happens along the way.
Baie said museum visitors have checked out individual pigeons 540 times since the exhibit opened. Pigeons were initially released close to the museum and have been trained to home from greater distances, now up to 30 miles away.
Colene Robinson brought her elementary school-age daughter, Fiona, to the museum to pick up pigeon that she planned to release at her school.
"I don't get why they call it art," said Fiona. "But I think I'll probably learn more once I release it."
To learn more about the exhibit, Thinking About Flying, which continues through the end of April, click here.
(KUSA-TV © 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)