Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Content: Machines and Tools

The Claw
* actual mechanical claw
* I have no idea if the placement of this item was intended as art or not, but within the confines of this site I reserve the right to decide what is and is not public art, and to assign titles to pieces that are otherwise unnamed.
* 49th and Botanic.
* 39.937510,-75.206685 [map] [nearby]
* On the Southwest Philly tour

Giant Three-Way Plug, Scale A
Claes Oldenburg, 1970 (installed 2010)
* big electric plug
* In the Anne d'Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden. Anne d'Harnocourt Drive (25th and Kelly Drive to the Spring Garden Bridge).
* 39.966950,-75.181950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Art Museum Grounds tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Claes Oldenburg page
+theolinstudio.com's Anne d'Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden page

Colonial Scene
Harold Kimmelman, 1976
* small fire-fighting equipment, standing people, headgear
* Wall. North side of Grays Ferry between Stanley and 31st.
* 39.939325,-75.194375 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters
* See also:
+hksculpt.com

Globe with Motor
1983
* actual motor
* According to the description in the Smithsonian catalog there were originally metal strips in the form of a globe surrounding the motor.
* 3240 S 78th.
* 39.898750,-75.234000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Southwest Philly tour

Pay Attention
Bob Rivera, 2003
* big scientific equipment, symbols
* Behind a fence but visible from both Poplar and Franklin. A companion piece, Discovery not yet pictured here, is high on the North wall of the building along 8th Street.
* Southwest corner Franklin and Poplar (Franklin is one block East of 8th).
* 39.967515,-75.150000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Northern Liberties tour

Paint Torch
Claes Oldenburg, 2011
* big paintbrush, torch
* lights up at night
* Plaza. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. West side of Broad, North of Arch.
* 39.955350,-75.163200 [map] [nearby]
* On the Convention District tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Claes Oldenburg page
+pafa.org

The Assist
Michael Grothusen, 2011
* big abstract working funnel, actual locust tree
* Commissioned by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia. The funnel will provide extra water to the tree assisting its growth over time. Stainless Steel and Locust Tree. 18 x 24 x 10 Picture provided by and Copyright Michael Grothusen
* Northwest corner, American and Diamond.
* 39.982450,-75.138368 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* See also:
+michaelgrothusen.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

Fireman's Hall Sign
* small sign, fire engine, horse, sitting people, helmets
* South wall. Fireman's Hall Museum. Just East of 2nd and Quarry.
* 39.953230,-75.142850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Old City tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters
* See also:
+firemanshallmuseum.org

The Miner
John B. Flannagan, 1938
* crouching person, miner's tools
* inscription: They searched the earth for treasure.
* Central Terrace Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial. Kelly Drive, past Boat House Row.
* 39.973375,-75.190850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* Exhibits: Labor
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's John Bernard Flannagan page
+ushistory.org's Samuel Memorial tour page

The Hand and Eye of God
J. Wallace Kelly, 1959
* eye and hand, tools
* The title is from the James A. Michener Art Museum's web site. Public Art in Philadelphia says "Titles Unknown."
* Stair Posts. North Terrace Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial. Kelly Drive, past Boat House Row.
* 39.974550,-75.191400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* See also:
+michenermuseum.org's J. Wallace Kelly Page
+ushistory.org's Samuel Memorial tour page

Horses Drawing Fire Engine
John Godfrey, 1964
* small horses, fire engine
* Entrance. Fire station, South side of Market between 21st and 22nd.
* 39.953700,-75.175525 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters

St. Joseph the Worker
Maurice Lowe, 1967
* Statue of Joseph
* small standing person, carpenter's tools
* In front of Barbelin Hall. Saint Joseph's University. City Line, West of 54th.
* 39.995600,-75.238125 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Labor
* See also:
+mauricelowesculptor.com
+wikipedia.org's Saint Joseph page
+sju.edu

Fire Engine
Harold Kimmelman, 1972
* small horses, fire-fighting equipment, sitting person, standing person
* Front wall. Fire Station, North side of Frankford between Decatur and Harel.
* 40.040575,-75.030900 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lower Northeast tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters
* See also:
+hksculpt.com

Benjamin Franklin, Craftsman
Joe Brown, 1981
* Statue of Benjamin Franklin
* standing person, printing press
* inscription:
Presented to the
City of Philadelphia
by
Pennsylvania Freemasons
Dedicated June 27, 1981
by
The Grand Lodge Free and
Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania
* Northwest corner, Broad and JFK.
* 39.953700,-75.163550 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Exhibits: Labor
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org Joe Brown page
+The Electric Franklin

The Triangle Fire
Frank Bramblett, 1983
* fire, clothing manufacturing tools
* Permanently in shadow and not easy to see.
* South wall of the overhang. East side of 4th, North of Chestnut, behind the security grate.
* 39.949475,-75.147250 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* Exhibits: Labor
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire page
+frankbramblett.com

Dr. Hideyo Noguchi
1988
* Partial statue of Hideyo Noguchi
* small head, torso, and arm, beaker
* Was on the South side of Market, West of 36th. Was not there 7/24/2005.
* inscription:
Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, 1876-1928. Born in Fukushima, Japan. Studied at the University of Pennsylvania (1900-1904) and dedicated his life to medical research. He died of yellow fever in Africa.
Donated by District 265 Kyoto-Joyo Rotary Club.
* Exhibits: Medical, Missing, Unidentified
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Hideyo Noguchi page

Kelly Family Gates
Mark Lueders, 2003
* Reference to the work of Charles Addams
* hands, artist tools
* From approximately 2007 to 2010 the gates were deinstalled and propped against the wall, as shown in the last picture.
* Gates. Charles Addams Fine Arts Hall. West side of 36th between Walnut and Locust Walk.
* 39.952800,-75.195000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+theceramicshop.com's about us page
+Charles Addams bio from westfieldnj.com
+Charles Addams bio from toonpedia.com
+upenn.edu Almanac article about the Charles Addams Fine Arts Hall

Campbell Square Arch
Warren C. Holzman, 2004
* partial people, tools, church, ship, train, sun, plants, fish, arch, fleur de lis, sign
* Campbell Square. Northeast side of Allegheny at Livingston.
* 39.986025,-75.103875 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Labor, Mass Transit
* See also:
+ironstudioltd.com

Before, Now, Tomorrow
Erica Loustau, Henry Loustau, 2008
* clock, gears and wheels, moon and stars
* There are two related pieces on the platforms.
* Interior. 52nd Street L Station. Southeast corner, 52nd and Market.
* 39.959800,-75.224700 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Mass Transit
* See also:
+ericaloustau.com
+henryloustau.com
+wikipedia.org's 52nd Street Station page

The Schuylkill Chained, The Schuylkill Freed
William Rush, 1825 (1980 fiberglass casts)
* reclining people, eagle, waterworks machinery
* Roofs. Two of the smaller buildings of the Water Works. Along the river, near the Spring Garden bridge, off Kelly Drive around 26th.
* 39.966350,-75.183600 [map] [nearby]
* On the Art Museum Grounds tour
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+phillyhistory.org 1930 picture of the original piece
+phillyhistory.org another 1930 picture of the original piece
+wikipedia.org's William Rush page
+fairmountwaterworks.org

Firefighter Gargoyles
1925 (from cornerstone)
* small crouching people wearing hats and helmets, firefighting equipment
* Was on the Southwest corner, Juniper and Race. Removed from the building 2008 prior to demolition for Convention Center expansion.
* Entrance.
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters, Missing, Gargoyles, Unidentified
* See also:
+Max Buten's page for this piece
+Gargoyle Hunter page for this piece

Philadelphia School of Occupational Therapy Reliefs
1930 (philadelphiabuildings,org says 1935)
* small people sitting and kneeling, tools
* There are 4 identical reliefs, two on each side of the main entrance. The one closest to the corner is pictured.
* Wall. Northeast corner, 19th and Lombard.
* 39.945735,-75.173175 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* Exhibits: Medical, Labor

Curtis Building, Thomas Jefferson University
Horace Trumbauer (Architect), 1931
* standing people, reclining people, medical instruments, headgear, plants, lions, birds, griffins, various medical symbols
* Curtis Hall Entrance. North side of Walnut between 10th and 11th.
* 39.948625,-75.157800 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson Center City Campus tour
* Exhibits: Medical
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Horace Trumbauer page

Spanning the Continent
Robert Laurent, 1937
* two people standing, farm implement, bonnet
* Central Terrace Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial. Kelly Drive, past Boat House Row.
* 39.973275,-75.190700 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Robert Laurent page
+ushistory.org's Samuel Memorial tour page

Roll of Honor
1956
* small head, upper body and arm, hat, police call box
* inscription:
Police Department
City of Philadelphia
In grateful memory of those who gave their lives in performance of their duty
* Courtyard (Southeast corner). City Hall. Market, West of Juniper.
* 39.952250,-75.163325 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

Fireman Carrying A Hatchet
Dexter Jones, 1967
* small standing person, helmet, hatchet, stairs
* Wall. Boudinot Street and Hart Lane.
* 39.993635,-75.122870 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters

Spring Gardens Fence
2001 (approximate)
* plants, birds, springs, sign
* Fence and gates. Spring Gardens. Around the block bounded by 18th, 19th, Wallace and North.
* 39.966200,-75.168750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fairmount tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified
* See also:
+thespringgardens.org

Old St. Mary's Bench
* small standing people, sitting and kneeling people, sports equipment, tools, water, plants, horse, horn, fish, umbrella, hats
* Medallions are set into the curved brick back of the bench.
* Just South of Old St. Mary's. West side of 4th, South of Locust.
* 39.945375,-75.148475 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Unidentified, Black Lives
* See also:
+oldstmary.com
+wikipedia.org's St. Mary's page

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 Trollope page
+wikipedia.org's Mark Twain 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

City Seal
1925 (from cornerstone)
* small seal of the city, standing people, ship, plow, scroll, food
* Was on the Southwest corner, Juniper and Race. Removed from the building 2008 prior to demolition for Convention Center expansion.
* Wall.
* Exhibits: Missing, Unidentified

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

United States Custom House
Ritter and Shay (Architect), 1932
* people sitting and kneeling, face, farming, navigation, and artist tools, ship, buildings, rope, ox and bison, staff, food, birds, globe, plants, dolphin border
* Whole building. South side of Chestnut, West of 2nd.
* 39.948300,-75.144185 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn's Landing tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Ritter and Shay 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

The Alchemist
Donald De Lue, 1940
* seated person, furniture, headgear, alchemy equipment
* Above the entrance. Chemistry Laboratories Cret Wing. North side of Spruce, West of 33rd.
* 39.950510,-75.192050 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* See also:
+sculptor.org's Donald De Lue page
+wikipedia.org's Donald De Lue page

Firemen
Gerd Utescher, 1964
* small group of people standing, some partial, hatchet, hats
* Wall. West side of Richmond, North of Kirkbride.
* 40.001275,-75.065950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lower Northeast tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters
* See also:
+askart.com's Gerd Utescher page

City Seal
Dexter Jones, 1966
* big seal of the city, standing people, ship, plow, scroll, food
* Entrance. Municipal Services Building. North side of JFK between Broad and 15th.
* 39.953900,-75.164420 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour

Firemen in Action
Harold Kimmelman, 1976
* small standing and running people wearing helmets, fire-fighting equipment
* Wall. Northwest corner, 6th and South.
* 39.942075,-75.152400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lombard-South tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters
* See also:
+hksculpt.com

Horse Team and Pumper Making A Run
Harold Kimmelman, 1978
* small seated person, partial person, hat and helmet, fire-fighting equipment, horses
* Wall. West side of 2nd, North of York.
* 39.987575,-75.135825 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters
* See also:
+hksculpt.com

Freedom
Zenos Frudakis, 2000
* small people standing, parts of people, tools, cat
* Wall. South side of Vine, West of 16th.
* 39.957975,-75.166000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* See also:
+zenosfrudakis.com

Dewey's World
Paul Santoleri, Jennie Shanker, 2006
* big abstract idea, books, hands, machines and tools, plants
* Created with the Mural Arts Program and students from the James R. Ludlow School.
* Walls. Ramonita G. de Rodriguez Library. Southwest corner 6th and Girard.
* 39.970200,-75.146675 [map] [nearby]
* On the Northern Liberties tour
* Exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+paulsantoleri.com
+muralarts.org pdf about Jennie Shanker's experience at Norris Homes
+freelibrary.org's Ramonita G. de Rodriguez Library page

The Tuskegee Airmen: They Met the Challenge
Marcus Akinlana, 2009
* big goggles, parts of people, hats, tools, 2D (painted) airplanes
* Wall. West side of 39th, North of Chestnut.
* 39.955950,-75.200025 [map] [nearby]
* On the Chestnut 29th to 40th tour
* Exhibits: War, Black Lives
* See also:
+artist's page for this piece
+akinlana.com
+Marcus Akinlana's facebook.com page

Finding Home
Kathryn Pannepacker, Josh Sarantitis, 2011
* big idea, hands and partial standing people, loom, headgear
* inscription: in visible dignity
* Wall. North side of Ludlow across from St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. East side of 13th between Chestnut and Market.
* 39.951450,-75.161275 [map] [nearby]
* On the Convention District tour
* See also:
+joshsarantitis.com
+stjohnsphilly.org

Mosaic Icons
* icons: cross, envelope, paw print, building, tree, bus, paintbrush, book, bicycle, shopping cart
* Fence. Northwest corner, 34th and Brandywine.
* 39.963600,-75.191650 [map] [nearby]
* On the Powelton tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified, Mosaic, Mass Transit

1822 Chestnut
1870 (approximate year of building)
* plants, fruit and nuts, birds, crouching person, artist tools
* Entrance. South side of Chestnut, East of 19th.
* 39.951700,-75.171350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry

Fidelity Bank Building
1928
* reclining people, heads, standing people, headgear, hammer, artists tools, quill and scroll, dragons, ship, weapons, lion, tree, donkey, sun, sundial
* inscription:
Libertas Americana, 4 Juil 1776
Non sine diis animosusinians 17 Oct. 1777 - 19 Oct. 1781
Fugio. 1787, Mind your business
Value me as you please
Masathusets
* Whole building. East side of Broad between Sansom and Walnut.
* 39.949675,-75.163925 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building

WCAU Building
Harry Sternfeld (Design Architect), 1932
* radio waves, face, lyre, book, radio microphone?
* Over the entrance. South side of Chestnut between 16th and 17th.
* 39.951310,-75.168190 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuilding.org's Harry Sternfeld page

Hose Team In Action
Harold Kimmelman, 1971
* two people, one standing, one kneeling, helmets, firehose
* On the wall. Engine Company 28. Southwest side of Ontario between Belgrade and Miller.
* 39.988900,-75.099975 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters
* See also:
+hksculpt.com
+firemanshallmuseum.org's Engine 28 page

Fire Rescue Scene of Infant
Rebecca Rose, 1986
* small people standing, carried, helmets, fire-fighting equipment, parts of building
* Wall. South side of Snyder just West of 4th.
* 39.922225,-75.153775 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Philly tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters

The Tuttleman Center
2001
* partial people, seated people, ball of yarn, cat, cell phone and calculator, cooking utensils, movie equipment, chinese characters, flower, food, masks, musical instruments, pencil and paper, sand, shells, sports equipment, water
* This is only a representative sampling of the art.
* North wall. Southwest from School House Lane and Henry Ave..
* 40.019400,-75.192375 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson East Falls Campus tour

Widener Building
Horace Trumbauer (Architect), 1914
* horizontal angels, globes, Philadelphia seal, ship, plow, bundles of grain
* also on the North end of the building
* Entrance. North side of Chestnut, West of Juniper.
* 39.950800,-75.162950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Gayborhood tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Horace Trumbauer page

Rodin Museum Gateway
1929 (year of building)
* seated and reclining people (cherubs, unfinished headless person), head scarf, scales and other tools, plants, musical instrument
* inscription: This architectural fragment is a reproduction of parts of the old Chateau Dissy re-erected by Auguste Rodin at Meudon, France near the studio where most of his work was done.
This replica of the Rodin Memorial at Meudon was chosen by Jules E. Mastbaum for the gateway to the Museum.
* Entrance. Rodin Museum. North side of the Parkway between 21st and 22nd.
* 39.961600,-75.174400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+rodinmuseum.org

Irish Memorial
Glenna Goodacre, 2002 (opened late 2003)
* small group of people standing, lying and sitting, grave stones, crosses, shovel, part of a ship, luggage, cane, hats
* Was on the Southeast corner, Front and Chestnut. Moved late 2023 through early 2024. Pictures are from the original location.
* inscription: (excerpt)
Remembrance
The hunger ended
but it never went away
It was there in silent memories,
from one generation
to the next,
The time to take away
the silence has come,
to commemorate,
to mourn what was lost
to celebrate what survives -
without apology or fear.
We have it in our power
not only to remember
what took place but to relive it...
To find in the hungry and lost,
not a different race...
but the faces of our ancestors...
An image of ourselves.
-Peter Quinn
* Southwest corner of Foglietta Plaza. Northeast corner of Spruce and 38th Parallel Place.
* 39.944500,-75.143825 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn's Landing tour
* Exhibits: Favorites, Moved
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Glenna Goodacre page

Independence Building Reliefs
1925
* Relief medallions of Athena and Hermes
* small sitting, kneeling, standing people, angel, helmets, Independence Hall tower, machines and tools, papers, scrolls, and books, ship, cornucopias, symbols and allegories
* Best viewed from the North side of Walnut
* Entrance, North and West walls. South side of Walnut, East of 5th.
* 39.947415,-75.149200 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Athena page
+wikipedia.org's Hermes page

Bruce S. Marks Scout Resource Center
1929
* logos, insignia, and mottoes, lion's head, shields, stars, birds, bison, tools, tent, anchor, torch, flowers
* inscription:
Youth Prepared Safeguards the Nation
Founded MCMX
This house dedicated to the training
of boys for youthful citizenship. Was
built by the Boy Scouts and their friends.
Erected MXMXXIX
On my honor I will do my best
to do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the scout law.
* Whole building.. Southeast corner, 22nd and Winter. One block South of the Parkway.
* 39.958850,-75.175300 [map] [nearby]
* On the JFK North tour

Dancing Children
Henry Mitchell, 1968
* small people dancing, sitting, hats, bench, baby carriage, knitting needles, dog
* Above the entrance. Cobbs Creek Recreation Center. West side of 63rd at Locust.
* 39.957965,-75.248125 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+cantonartcollection.com's Henry Mitchell bio

The Tableau
1986
* Representations of Adam, David, Eve, Isaiah and The Magi
* groups of people, standing people, furniture, sitting people, headgear, staffs, crutch, tools, Earth, sun, moon, planets, stars, water, buildings, plants, lion, lamb, food, serpent, symbols
* Includes a representation of the City Hall William Penn
* inscription: A series of 8 Sculptured Murals commissioned by Monsigner Charles V. Devlin, PA, in 1986.
The first half of the tableau tells a story via excerpts from biblical history from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus Christ:
I. Creation
II. Expulsion from the Garden of Eden
III. The Prophet Isaiah prophesying the Messiah
IV. King David
V. The Three Wisemen of the Epiphnany
The second half depicts the mission of St. John the Evangelist Church and how we can all continue the mystery of God's love by caring for the needs of:
VI. The sick
VII. The homeless and needy
VIII. The imprisoned
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was naked and you clothed me, ...I was ill and you comforted me, in prison and you came to visit me."
* North side of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. East side of 13th between Chestnut and Market.
* 39.951300,-75.161300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Convention District tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Adam page
+wikipedia.org's David page
+wikipedia.org's Eve page
+wikipedia.org's Isaiah page
+wikipedia.org's Magi page
+stjohnsphilly.org

Philadelphia Firsts
George Greenamyer, 1998
* Portrayals of and references to John Bartram, William Camac, Mary Cassatt, Rebecca Cole, Thomas Eakins, John Fitch, Benjamin Franklin, Francis Hopkinson and Betsy Ross
* small standing people, building, tiger, boat, fish, fire, medical and fire-fighting equipment, flag, plant
* inscription:
First American Zoo
1874
The first animal and Dr. William Camac, founder
First American museum and art school
1805
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Thomas Eakins and Mary Cassat
First American volunteer fire company
1736
The union, founded by Benjamin Franklin
First American botanical garden
1728
Bartram's Gardens
John Bartram with Franklinia alatamaha
First American steamboat
1785
John Fitch, inventor
First African-American to graduate from the Women's Medical College
1867
Dr. Rebecca Cole
First American Flag
1777
Betsy Ross, seamstress
Francis Hopkinson, alleged designer
* On top of a pole outside 1515 Arch (aka One Parkway).
* 39.954900,-75.166100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters
* See also:
+greenamyer.com
+wikipedia.org's John Bartram page
+phillymag.com article about the zoo that mentions William Camac
+wikipedia.org's Mary Cassatt page
+wikipedia.org's Rebecca Cole page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Eakins page
+wikipedia.org's John Fitch page
+The Electric Franklin
+wikipedia.org's Francis Hopkinson page
+ushistory.org's Betsy Ross page

Black Bottom Memorial Wall
Andrea Zemel, 1999
* map, heart and hands symbol, standing people, sitting person, bulldozer, houses, weapons, flag
* a collaborative project with Penn and University City High School students, it was located on the West side of 36th, North of Filbert, on the Southeast corner of the High School, which was torn down in 2015
* inscription:
The Black Bottom was a predominately African American community that once existed between 32nd Street and 40th Street and between Walnut Street and Lancaster Avenue. Within these boundaries was a community based on loyalty, trust, and respect. It was born of economic adversity but based on love. Their love was for their community and its members and they cared for each other as family. Everyone was helpful to one another. The children were raised together. With pride in their hearts and pride for their community prejudice was a stranger to the people of the Black Bottom. The walls of the community were torn down to make way for "Urban Renewal." However the sense of community was planted in the hearts of the members proving that a community can thrive even in a field of barren ground. Resistance did not prevent their neighborhood from being physically destroyed but resistance preserved it in their memories even today. The community still meets every year on the last Sunday in August for the Black Bottom Reunion at Fairmount Park. It is the largest neighborhood gathering in the history of Philadelphia.
We were like a big family, close together until the bulldozers of urban renewal came around. They tore down our neighborhood - but not our spirits! The Black Bottom still is home in our hearts.
We fought to protect our neighborhood and our country.
* Wall art.
* 39.957425,-75.194200 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing, War, Black Lives, Mosaic
* See also:
+iliad.nyc's Andrea Zemel page