Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Content: Barrels, Baskets, Bowls, Buckets, Jugs, Pails, and Urns

Central Terrace Medallions
* small urn, sitting person, plants, snakes, weapons, mirror, clouds, flames, sun, lion, standing person, headgear, books, owl, hand, ship, flag
* inscription: Justitia, Prudentia, Amor Patriea, Abundantia, Potestas
* Central Terrace Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial. Kelly Drive, past Boat House Row.
* 39.973600,-75.190800 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified
* See also:
+ushistory.org's Samuel Memorial tour page




Urns
* small urns, people, standing, sitting, swords and spears
* At the entrances of Rittenhouse Square. South and West of the Southwest corner of 18th and Walnut.
* 39.949975,-75.170950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Rittenhouse Square page
+friendsofrittenhouse.org




Farm Journal Building
1912
* cornucopia, food
* Entrance. West side of 7th, South of Locust.
* 39.946375,-75.153550 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building




Bonwit Teller Building
Bella Abdallah, 1927 (approximate)
* small urns, cats, birds, standing people, seated cherubs, pens and books, mirrors, face, Egyptian headpiece, flame
* Artist attribution is from philadelphiabuildings.org
* Entrance. Southwest corner, 17th and Chestnut.
* 39.951430,-75.169000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building




Ernesta Drinker Ballard Memorial
2006
* In honor of Ernesta Drinker Ballard
* small urn/planter
* inscription:
In honor of
Ernesta Drinker Ballard
1920-2005
Ernesta was the moving force behind the restoration of the Fairmount Water Works and these gardens. Fairmount Park Commissioner from 1981 to 2002 and a founding member of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, she was a civic leader, a feminist, a beloved friend.
"The world is a better place if everyone is included" - EDB 2001
Erected September 10, 2006
* In the gardens of the Water Works. Schuylkill Banks near the Spring Garden Bridge..
* 39.965740,-75.183035 [map] [nearby]
* On the Art Museum Grounds tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Ernesta Drinker Ballard page
+fairmountwaterworks.org




Drexel Mansion Windows
1893 (original date of building)
* small fruit, cornucopias, plants, birds
* Both sides of the entrance. Curtis Institute. South side of Locust, East of 18th.
* 39.948900,-75.170635 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+curtis.edu
+philadelphiabuilding.org's page for the building




University Museum Glass Mosaics
Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co., 1899
* abstract geometrics, flowers, flower pots, bowls, and vases, shrimp, birds, cats
* Walls of the Lower Courtyard. Penn Museum. South side of South, East of 33rd.
* 39.949160,-75.191140 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* Exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Louis Comfort Tiffany page
+penn.museum




Girl with Basin
Edward Fenno Hoffman III, 1960 (date on base)
* small standing person, basin
* accessible when the gate is open, visible through the fence when it isn't
* Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden, South side of the Mutter Museum. East side of 22nd, North of Chestnut.
* 39.953000,-75.176400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+picture of this piece from ilovefiguresculpture.com
+Edward Fenno Hoffman III Papers at syracuse.edu
+ilovefiguresculpture.com's Edward Fenno Hoffman III page
+muttermuseum.org




Grumman Greenhouse
Jordan Griska, 2011
* big real airplane, recycled containers, real plants
* Originally intended as a temporary installation, it remained for 11 years until it was removed in August, 2022.
* inscription:
Grumman S2F Tracker, Polycarbonate, Soil, Recycled Containers, Plants
Plants courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
* Was on Lenfest Plaza. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
* 39.955400,-75.163725 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing, Peace and Love
* See also:
+jordangriska.com
+pafa.org




Demeter and Poseidon
* bas reliefs of Demeter and Poseidon
* big standing people, horses, baskets, fish, food, plants, weapon (trident), crown
* Wall. North side of Spring Garden, West of 18th.
* 39.963540,-75.168850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Demeter page
+wikipedia.org's Poseidon page




Spring Garden Farmers Market Sign
Frank Rushmore Watson (Architect), 1889
* sign, cattle head, cornucopia, food
* Pediment. Union Transfer. South side of Spring Garden between 10th and 11th.
* 39.961520,-75.155360 [map] [nearby]
* On the Northern Liberties tour
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+philadelphiabuildings.org Frank Rushmore Watson page
+utphilly.com




Anthony J. Drexel
Moses Jacob Ezekiel, 1904
* Statue of Anthony J. Drexel
* seated person, chair, pail, books and papers
* Originally just East of 33rd. Moved Summer, 2001 to 32nd Street. In 2011 the building it was next to was torn down and the statue was moved closer to Market, rotated, and enclosed in a large box. The box was removed some time in 2013. The last two pictures are from the first and second locations.
* On the campus of Drexel University. South side of Market, East of 32nd.
* 39.955100,-75.187525 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1959 picture of this piece
+jewishvirtuallibrary.org's Moses Jacob Ezekiel page
+wikipedia.org's Anthony J. Drexel page
+drexel.edu




Warwick Hotel
1925
* small crest, helmet, urn with standing people, goat heads, lion heads, human heads, winged people, birds
* Walls. West side of 17th, North of Locust and North side of Locust, West of 17th.
* 39.948940,-75.169800 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building




The Presbyterian Ministers Fund for Life Insurance
1951 (possible date of building extension)
* small standing people, hats, baskets
* inscription: He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully
* Above the entrance. North side of Walnut, West of 18th.
* 39.950310,-75.171110 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building




The Singing Fountain
* fountain, standing people (including a mermaid), bowl, musical instruments, birds, flowers
* In the middle of the triangle formed by 11th, Passyunk, and Tasker.
* 39.929900,-75.163210 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Philly tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified




Walk Together Forever
statues.com, 2013
* Statue of Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent
* small standing people, hockey equipment, Stanley Cup
* Located in an outdoor seating area. It may be difficult to see up close.
* inscription:
Since their inception in 1967, the Flyers have always done everything possible to put a winning team on the ice. That work ethic was rewarded on May 19, 1974 when the Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins in six games to become the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers then repeated the feat on May 27, 1975 with a six game series win over the Buffalo Sabres.
On both occasions, Flyers greats Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent accepted the Stanley Cup for the Flyers and began the on-ice celebration. Those moments are immortalized with this statue, which honors all of those who made the Broad Street Bullies a legendary part of Philadelphia Flyers history and forever cemented their spot in hockey lore.
* In front of Xfinity Live. Southwest corner, 11th and Pattison.
* 39.904600,-75.169100 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+statues.com
+wikipedia.org's Bobby Clarke page
+wikipedia.org's Bernie Parent page
+xfinitylive.com




Philadelphia and the Schuylkill
* quotes from Charles Dickens, John P. Shelden, Frances Trollope and Mark Twain
* signs, sheep, locomotive, machines and tools, basket and barrel, buildings, maps, plants, food, benches with quotes
* an outdoor history exhibit with artistic elements
* inscription:
benches:
"The Water Works...are no less Ornamental than Useful, being Tastefully Laid Out as a Public Garden..."
-Charles Dickens
"I Passed Along the Pavement by the Pump-House... I went in. I saw Immense Water-Wheels.."
-Mark Twain (1853) Missouri
"The Celebrated Works on the Schuylkill, by which the Water of the River is Raised ...are Beyond Praise"
-John P. Shelden (1825) Michigan
"But interesting[?] and Curious as this Machinery is, it is, In Truth, One of the Prettiest Spots the Eye can look upon."
-Frances Trollope (1830) England
* Schuylkill Banks between the Waterworks and the Spring Garden Bridge.
* 39.965325,-75.183450 [map] [nearby]
* On the Art Museum Grounds tour
* Exhibits: Mass Transit
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Charles Dickens page
+wikipedia.org's Frances Milton Trollope page
+wikipedia.org's Mark Twain page




Philadelphia Maneto
1905 (approximate, installed 2014)
* small standing women, scroll, cornucopia, shield, disembodied hand and arm, scales and plow, ship
* Was at the Fante-Leone Public Pool at Montrose and Darien, which was closed in 2004.
* East end of Cianfrani Park. Northeast of the Northeast corner of 8th and Fitzwater.
* 39.940650,-75.155100 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Philly tour
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+philaplace.org article about the Fonte-Leone Public Pool
+hiddencityphila.org article about the city seal which mentions this version
+myphillypark.org/cianfrani-park




Rebecca at the Well
John J. Boyle, 1908
* Biblical scene of Rebecca
* people standing, head coverings, walking stick, jug, camels
* inscription:
Drink and I will give thy camels drink also.- Genesis XXIV:XIV
I give this legacy for a triple purpose: to ornament the city that William Penn founded, to refresh the weary and thirsty, both man and beast, and to commemorate a fact of sacred story. - Extract from the will of Mary Rebecca Darby Smith
This monument was removed from Twelth and Spring Garden Streets and erected by the Philadelphia Fountain Society 1934
* East end of the Horticulture Center. Horticultural Drive. East of Belmont..
* 39.983625,-75.208700 [map] [nearby]
* On the West Park tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Moved
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's John J. Boyle page
+wikipedia.org's Rebecca page
+myphillypark.org's Horticulture Center page




Africa, America, Asia, Europe
Alexander Stirling Calder, 1920 (approximate)
* standing people, headgear, weapons, bowl or basket
* Gate posts. Lower (East) courtyard of the Penn Museum. South side of South Street, East of 33rd.
* 39.949450,-75.190800 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* Exhibits: Black Lives
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Stirling Calder page
+penn.museum




Women Washing
Dexter Jones, 1968
* three people, one standing, two kneeling, plants, basket, water
* Wall. Lindbergh, Northeast of 58th.
* 39.928310,-75.218950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Southwest Philly tour
* Exhibits: Labor




Edgar Fahs Smith
R. Tait McKenzie, 1925
* Statue of Edgar Fahs Smith
* sitting person, chair, lizard, books, mortarboard, jug or basket
* inscription: Provost, 1911-1920, teacher, investigator, friend. Born 1856 - Died 1928. A tribute of affection from John C. Bell, class of 1889.
* East side of 34th St. at Smith Walk (between Walnut and Spruce).
* 39.951610,-75.192175 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's R. Tait McKenzie page
+wikipedia.org's Edgar Fahs Smith page




Great Seals of Cities and States
Paul Philippe Cret, Leon Hermant, 1926
* big Seals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, standing people, arm, scales and plow, ship, basket, fruit, scroll, horses, eagle
* The Philadelphia and Pennsylvania seals are in Philadelphia. The Camden and New Jersey seals (not pictured) are in Camden.
* Bridge anchorages. Ben Franklin Bridge. West of Columbus on Race and South of Vine on Water.
* 39.954225,-75.140300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn's Landing tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Paul Philippe Cret page
+wikipedia.org's Leon Hermant page
+wikipedia.org's Benjamin Franklin Bridge page




St. Andrew's Society Tablet
1926
* Insignia representation of the first, in memory of the rest: Saint Andrew, Philip Livingston, Thomas McKean, George Ross, James Wilson and John Witherspoon
* small insignia, crown, plants, eagle, arrows, lion, standing St. Andrew with cross
* inscription:
To the Memory of five of its members
who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776
The St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia
organized in 1747
dedicated this tablet 1926
Nemo me impune lacessit
* Courtyard wall. West side of the South Pavilion. City Hall. North side of S. Penn Square at Broad.
* 39.952120,-75.163700 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+standrewsociety.org
+wikipedia.org's Andrew the Apostle page
+wikipedia.org's Philip Livingston page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas McKean page
+wikipedia.org's George Ross page
+wikipedia.org's James Wilson page
+wikipedia.org's John Witherspoon page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page




Central Library Pediments
John Donnelly Company, 1927
* big groups of people, some standing, some sitting, sphinx, pyramid, urn, plant, chair, globe, stylus, scroll, tablet and books, typewriter and printing press
* Pediments. Central Library. North side of Vine between 19th and 20th.
* 39.959300,-75.171100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+freelibrary.org's Central Library page




Penn Mutual Building Doors
1934
* small groups of people standing, sitting, machines and tools, furniture, baskets and jugs, books and scrolls, dogs, flowers, weapons, helmet, head in profile
* Entrance. Penn Mutual Building. South side of Walnut between 5th and 6th.
* 39.947525,-75.150250 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* Exhibits: Labor
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building




Spirit of Transportation
Karl Bitter, 1895
* big group of people, mostly standing, some sitting, horses, sheep, oxen, wagon and carriage, basket of fruit, model train, model boat, model airship
* inscription:
This panel, the conception and work of Karl Bitter, sculptor, was executed in 1895 and placed in the waiting room of Broad Street Station Philadelphia from which place it was removed to this site in January, 1933. The spirit of transportation is represented in triumphant procession of progress led by a little child carrying a model of an airship, a prophetic vision of a mode of transportation to come.
* North Waiting Room. 30th Street Station. Northeast corner, 30th and Market.
* 39.956140,-75.182025 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* Exhibits: Mass Transit
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Karl Bitter page
+wikipedia.org's 30th Street Station page




Stephen Girard
John Massey Rhind, 1897
* Statue of Stephen Girard
* standing person, groups of people, hats, buildings, ship, anchor, plants, barrels, rope, parasol
* inscription:
front:
1750-1831
Mariner and Merchant
back:
Philadelphia's greatest philanthropist
Erected by the alumni of Girard College and the people of this city and commonwealth, 1897
* Behind the Art Museum. Anne d'Harnocourt Drive (25th and Kelly Drive to the Spring Garden Bridge).
* 39.966350,-75.182350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Art Museum Grounds tour
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+phillyhistory.org 1912 picture of this piece outside City Hall
+wikipedia.org's John Massey Rhind page
+ushistory.org's Stephen Girard page
+philamuseum.org




Labour Monument
John Kindness, 2010
* Representations of and quote from Eugene V. Debs, Joe Hill and Karen Gay Silkwood
* partial, standing, sitting and kneeling people, hats, musical instruments, tools, bags and buckets, train, plants
* The title shown is the artist's title. The Association for Public Art lists it as "The Labor Monument: Philadelphia's Tribute to the American Worker"
* inscription:
Eugene V. Debs 1855-1926
1900 Farm Workers "Si Sepuede"
1905 IWW - The Wobblies - "Don't waste your time mourning. Organize." - Joe Hill, 1918
1912 Textile Workers
1968 Sanitation Workers - "I am a man"
Karen Gay Silkwood 1940-74
The worst thief is he who steals the playtime of children
* Center of Elmwood Park. Southwest of 71st and Buist.
* 39.913850,-75.237740 [map] [nearby]
* On the Southwest Philly tour
* Exhibits: Labor, Mass Transit
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Child Labor page
+wikipedia.org's Memphis Sanitation Strike page
+wikipedia.org's United Farm Workers page
+wikipedia.org's John Kindness page
+wikipedia.org's Eugene V. Debs page
+wikipedia.org's Joe Hill page
+wikipedia.org's Karen Silkwood page
+wikipedia.org's Elmwood Park neighborhood page




Packard Building Sign
Samuel Yellin, 1924 (year on sign)
* small standing, kneeling people, tools, scroll, staff, oar, plants, lamps, eagle, lion's head, seashell, urns, griffins, sign
* Yellin is not listed anywhere as the artist for the sign, but he is listed as the metal worker for the building
* West Entrance. Packard Building. East side of 15th, South of Chestnut.
* 39.950650,-75.165650 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.orgs's Samuel Yellin page
+samuelyellin.com
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Packard Building page




Board of Education Building
Irwin T. Catharine (Architect), Jules Melidon, 1930
* Busts of Alexander Graham Bell, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Fulton, Stephen Girard, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, John Marshall, William Penn, William Shakespeare, Thaddeus Stevens and Daniel Webster
* groups of people, people standing, people sitting and kneeling, winged people, heads, books, tablets, scrolls, writing implements, linked BE logo, eagles, scarf, staff, buildings, tools, urns, jugs, ship, hourglass, lamp, light fixtures, plants, sun, globes
* There is artwork on the Winter and 21st street sides and in the courtyard on Winter. More busts, not pictured and not easily visible, are on the East and West sides of the building. The School District no longer occupies the building.
* Building. Southwest Corner, 21st and Winter.
* 39.958900,-75.174150 [map] [nearby]
* On the JFK North tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's page for the building
+wikipedia.org Irwin T. Catharine page
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Graham Bell page
+ushistory.org's The Electric Ben Franklin
+wikipedia.org's Robert Fulton page
+ushistory.org's Stephen Girard page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Jefferson page
+wikipedia.org's Abraham Lincoln page
+wikipedia.org's John Marshall page
+wikipedia.org's William Penn page
+wikipedia.org's William Shakespeare page
+wikipedia.org's Thaddeus Stevens page
+wikipedia.org's Daniel Webster page




Drexel Building
1928
* zodiac signs and symbols, ram, meregoat, bull, winged people sitting and kneeling, crab and fish, lion, musical instrument, scales, scorpion, centaur, weapons, jug, water, headgear, eagle
* inscription: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
* Whole Building. Northeast corner, 15th and Walnut.
* 39.949625,-75.165850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building