Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Year: 2022

Alpha Sacred Beings (The Origin of Creation)
Marianela Fuentes, 2022
* References to William Penn and Tamanend
* dinosaur, abstract symbolic beadwork
* inscription:
...a monument symbolizing a bridge between two indigenous Nations. This artwork and its concept was created by lead artist Marianela Funetes, whose previous works in her Sacred Beings series have roots with the Huichol or Wixarika indigenous people of Mexico.
The beaded design was created in partnership with artists from the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation. These images tell stories from our region's original people; they are stewards of all the land throughout the Delaware Valley and Philadelphia, or "Coaqannock", and still live here today. The turtle on the crown symbolizes all the land throughout North America. Around the dinosaur's hips is a wampum belt that was given to recognize the friendship treaty under the Sackamaxon Elm between William Penn ("Mikwon"), and Tamanend ("the Affable One"). Along the spine, fire, water, wind, mountain, moon, sun, and stars appear in a set of seven to represent Seven Generations. The four cardinal directions are represented on each limb. Flora and fauna native to our region also appear throughout the beadwork. As with all things, from the tip of the tail to the end of the nose, the monument begins and ends in the stars.
"Inspired by a Parasaurolophus dinosaur that once walked the land in both the Delaware Valley and Mexico, this piece embodies both accurate science and the divine art in one sacred being. Carved by hand in colorful beads telling the story of a time with the symbols of the Lenni-Lenape tribe and the Huichol tribe of Mexico, becoming a bridge between two nations."
Collaborating Artists: Roberta Flores, Leonard D. Harmon, Saul Eleuterio Wiyame, Isidra Rios Xaureme
Parasaurolophus approximate 76.5-73 million years ago
Diet: Herbivore
Height: 4 meters (13 feed)
Length: 10 meters (33 feet)
Weight: 4-5 tons (8,000-10,000 lbs) alpha1-4 (uploaded, need to backup)
Location: North America
* South side of League Island Park at the Navy Yard. 11th and Constitution.
* 39.891050,-75.171000 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+marianelafuentes.art
+wikipedia.org's William Penn page
+wikipedia.org's Tamanend page
+sikora-wa.com page for League Island Park




OY/YO
Deborah Kass, 2022
* idea
* Officially temporarily installed for a year, hopefully longer.
* In front of the National Museum of American Jewish History. Southeast corner, 5th and Market.
* 39.950400,-75.148840 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* See also:
+streetsdept.com article about the installation of this piece
+deborahkass.com
+National Museum of American Jewish History




Penn Presbyterian Park
2022
* trees, stones, seating
* I cannot find any official listing for this work with either a title or artist.
* Plaza. East side of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. West side of 38th, North of Medical Drive.
* 39.958250,-75.197900 [map] [nearby]
* On the Powelton tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified
* See also:
+Presbyterian Medical Center




Regarding the Delaware
Carin Mincemoyer, 2022
* abstract images of water
* Lederer Pool fence. Fishtown Recreation Center. East and South of E. Montgomery and Moyer.
* 39.972220,-75.127475 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: New
* See also:
+artist's page for this piece
+carinmincemoyer.com
+Fishtown Recreation facebook page




Roy G. Biv
Klip Collective, 2022
* abstract rainbow, neon lights
* Wall. Northeast corner, Juniper and Sansom.
* 39.950030,-75.162887 [map] [nearby]
* On the Gayborhood tour
* See also:
+klip.tv




Thomas Jefferson University
Tobi Kahn, 2022
* abstract vertical forms
* Title and year are from the artist's website. The piece itself is unlabeled.
* Northeast of the Northeast corner of Henry and School House Lane.
* 40.021005,-75.192460 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson East Falls Campus tour
* Exhibits: New
* See also:
+tobikahn.com




Tools of the Trade
Virginia Maksymowicz, 2022 (installed)
* tools, map
* inscription:
Tools of the trade is meant to make visible the often invisible role that railroad workers play in building and maintaining Amtrak's infrastructure.
Artist Virginia Maksymowicz commuted on the Amktrak Keystone Service for over 25 years, between her home in Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she taught as a professor of sculpture at Franklin and Marshall College. Maksymowicz credits her time on the train for producing some of her best thinking, including designing, researching, and planning many of her artworks.
At the time Tools of the Trade was created, the artist was working on a series of sculptures involving plaster casts of tools and bones, matephorically relating them to various structures. It occurred to her that Amtrak's national route system is another kind of structure, one that connects north and south, east and west, much like a bodily skeleton connects heat to toe and hand to hand.
Maksymowicz wanted to represent this structure through casts of the type of tools that Amtrak workers might use on the job. She collected vintage tools, railroad spikes and clips; she made silicon molds from them and cast them into lightweight plastic. Casts of spikes and bolts suggest mountains, and S-curved wrenches, calipers and railroad clips signify water.
* North Waiting Room. 30th Street Station. Northeast corner, 30th and Market.
* 39.956030,-75.181675 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* Exhibits: New
* See also:
+maks-arts.com
+wikipedia.org's 30th Street Station page




Weaver's Knot: Sheet Bend
Ball-Nogues Studio, 2022
* big abstract knot
* East side of Columbus, South of Race.
* 39.953050,-75.139750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn's Landing tour
* See also:
+streetsdept.com article about this piece
+ball-nogues.com