Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Exhibit: Mass Transit

Philadelphia Public Art in stations and shelters; portraying buses, trolleys, and trains; and/or portraying and memorializing the people who worked on and desegregated them.

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
* Other exhibits: Unidentified, Mosaic

Pennsylvania Railroad Memorial Plaques
* Memorials to William Wallace Atterbury, George Gibbs and John Edgar Thomson
* small heads, trains
* inscription:
1866-1935
William Wallace Atterbury
Tenth President of The Pennsylvania Railroad
Director General of Transportation of American Expeditionary Forces - World War I.
Friend of Labor - Pioneer in collective bargaining
Servant of the American people in war and peace
With courage and foresight he introduced electrification in to the railroad's system
1861 - 1940
George Gibbs
Consulting Engineer
Whose vision and tenacity of purpose led to the development of the
Pennsylvania Railroad's articulated electric locomotive class GG1
placed in operation 1934
and contributed so much to the advancement of the art of electric railroad transportation
1808 - 1874
J. Edgar Thomson
Father of the Pennsylvania Railroad
First Chief Engineer - Third President
He planned the railroad's present system
He left his fortune in trust for the education and maintenance of female orphans of railway employees whose fathers may have been killed in the discharge of their duties
* North Waiting Room. 30th Street Station. Northeast corner, 30th and Market.
* 39.956205,-75.181755 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's William Wallace Atterbury page
+wikipedia.org's John Edgar Thomson page
+wikipedia.org's 30th Street Station 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
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Charles Dickens page
+wikipedia.org's Frances Milton Trollope page
+wikipedia.org's Mark Twain page

Newkirk Viaduct Monument
Thomas Ustick Walter, 1839 (installed 2016)
* obelisk
* The inscriptions are mostly worn away, but are transcribed on Wikipedia
* North end of Bartram's Mile.
* 39.940010,-75.206330 [map] [nearby]
* On the Southwest Philly tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Ustick Walter page

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
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Karl Bitter page
+wikipedia.org's 30th Street Station page

Matthias William Baldwin
Herbert Adams, 1905
* Statue of Matthias William Baldwin
* standing person, scroll and drafting compass
* North side of City Hall. South side of JFK, East of Broad.
* 39.953000,-75.163000 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1936 picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Herbert Adams page
+wikipedia.org's Matthias Baldwin page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

Eagle
1922
* eagle
* Tioga Station entrance. North corner Harrowgate Park. Kensington and Tioga.
* 40.000140,-75.106450 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Tioga Station page

Suburban Station Clock
1930
* clock, sign
* Best observed from the East side of 16th
* 16th Street entrance. Suburban Station. West side of 16th, North of JFK.
* 39.954150,-75.166750 [map] [nearby]
* On the JFK North tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Suburban Station page

PTC Trolley No. 2733
St. Louis Car Company, 1947
* big actual trolley
* Accessible from the concourse when the building is open, visible through the glass when it isn't.
* Interior. Concourse level. 1234 Market. South side of Market between 12th and 13th.
* 39.951850,-75.160850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Convention District tour
* See also:
+youtube video walk around of this piece
+wikipedia.org's PCC streatcar page
+wikipedia.org's St. Louis Car Company page

PTC Bus No. 1312
ACF-Brill Motors Co., 1949
* front of an actual bus
* The original was a 1948 model C-44. This is a reconstruction from a donated 1949 model C-36. Accessible from the concourse when the building is open, visible through the glass when it isn't.
* Interior. Concourse level. 1234 Market. South side of Market between 12th and 13th.
* 39.951800,-75.160825 [map] [nearby]
* On the Convention District tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's J.G. Brill Company page

Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial
Walker Hancock, 1952
* big vertical people (one winged)
* prominently displayed in the movie Witness
* inscription:
front:
In memory of the men and women of the Pennsylvania Railroad who laid down their lives for our country 1941-1945.
back:
That all travelers here may remember those of the Pennsylvania Railroad who did not return from the Second World War.
* East end of the main lobby. 30th Street Station. Northeast corner, 30th and Market.
* 39.955655,-75.181400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* Other exhibits: Religious, War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Walker Hancock page
+wikipedia.org's 30th Street Station page

Emancipation Proclamation Fountain
Gerd Utescher, 1964
* In honor of an act by Abraham Lincoln
* standing person, birds
* During a 2002 site renovation this piece was moved and turned and the non-functional fountain basin was taken out. By 2010 it was completely surrounded by trees. The first picture is from the old setting. The second is from the new setting. The third is a detail with trees.
* Courtyard. Bottom of the concourse entrance on the Northwest corner of 15th and Market.
* 39.952850,-75.165450 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Other exhibits: Moved, Black Lives
* See also:
+askart.com's Gerd Utescher page
+wikipedia.org's Abraham Lincoln page

Commuter Tunnel Mural
David Beck (Architect), Verlin Miller, 1984
* big trees
* The mosaics run two full blocks on both sides of the station.
* Tunnel walls. Jefferson Station. Underground. Between Market and Filbert from 10th to 12th..
* 39.952500,-75.158150 [map] [nearby]
* On the Convention District tour
* Other exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+picture from flickr.com
+whyy.org article about Shirt Corner Plus mentioning David Beck
+nytimes.com article about Philadelphia alleys quoting David Beck
+wikipedia.org's Jefferson Station page

Columbia Subway Plaza
Richard Fleischner, 1986
* abstract architectural elements
* first picture retouched to remove some of the black paint
* Plaza. Northeast Corner, Broad and Cecil B. Moore.
* 39.978900,-75.157000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Temple Campus tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Richard Fleischner page

Chestnut Street Bus Shelters
Pablo Tauler, 1999
* abstract designs, plants
* Some pictures have been edited to make vandalism on the metal illegible.
* Bus shelters. South side of Chestnut, 7th to 17th.
* 39.95035,-75.160290 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+pablotaulerpublicartwork.blogspot.com

SEPTA Towers
Gordon Heuther, 2001
* big abstract forms
* Roof and interior. Frankford Transportation Center. Northwest side of Frankford at Granite.
* 40.023025,-75.077725 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lower Northeast tour
* See also:
+gordonhuether.com
+wikipedia.org's Frankford Transportation Center page

Peacock Light Rail Shelters
Suzanne Reese Horvitz, Robert Roesch, 2002
* peacock feathers
* Also known as Zoo Trolley Stop.
* Shelter. Outside the Zoo. Girard, West of 34th.
* 39.975025,-75.196500 [map] [nearby]
* On the West Park tour
* See also:
+suzannehorvitz.com
+robertroesch.com
+philadelphiazoo.org

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
* Other exhibits: Religious, Labor
* See also:
+ironstudioltd.com

History In Motion
Eric Okdeh, 2004
* big musical instruments, buildings, partial people, plants, groups of people, standing people, sitting people wearing hats, balloon, turtle, tiger, El cars and trolleys
* The extreme horizontal proportion and the level of detail on this piece combined with the slanted sidewalk and number of people hanging around outside make it difficult to capture accurately on camera. The pictures are in order left to right with some overlap on the wider panels. The last picture is a detail to show the level of pixelization provided by the tiles.
* Wall. District Health Center Six. North side of Girard between 3rd and 4th.
* 39.969975,-75.141900 [map] [nearby]
* On the Northern Liberties tour
* Other exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+ericokdeh.com

Metamorphosis
Cheryl Levin, Robert Phillips, 2006
* big and small insects, building (Girard College), elephant, food (including a mug of beer), giraffe, gorilla, partial standing person, musical instrument, plants, ship, sun and moon, tiger, tools, train and trolley, water
* The insects are by Phillips, the mosaics are by Levin and Mural Corps youth.
* inscription:
a sculptural and mosaic
public art project
dedicated to the community
and its cycles of change
* Railroad crossing bridge. Girard between 31st and Poplar Drive.
* 39.975050,-75.187225 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fairmount tour
* Other exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+publicartarchive.org's page for this piece
+cheryllevin.org
+cheryllevin.org's Bob Phillips Gallery

The Class of 1956 Trolley
Gomaco Trolley Company, 2006
* big trolley
* inscription:
The Class of 1956 Trolley is a replica of Peter Witt trolleys that carried generations of commuting students to Penn from all parts of the region and also provided convenient access from campus to cultural and other attractions in Center City, Philadelphia.
With noisy steel wheels and clanging bells, these trolleys created a constant interruption to campus life and were an unforgettable part of the Penn experience. Operated by The Philadelphia Transportation Company (a precursor to SEPTA), Routes 11, 34, and 37 ran through the Penn campus on Woodland Avenue and Locust Street for nearly 65 years. In 1956 they were relocated underground, enabling the University to begin conversion of the campus to a unified and attractive landscape environment. Woodland Avenue and Locust Street became the first pedestrian walkways through the campus.
The Class of 1956 Trolley was fabricated by the Gomaco Trolley Company in October, 2006. The original Peter Witt Trolleys were manufactured by J.G. Brill from 1923-26.
* Entrance. 37th Street T Station. North side of Spruce, East of 37th. .
* 39.951125,-75.196900 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* See also:
+gomacotrolley.com
+wikipedia.org's 37th Street Station page

Autumn Winds
Messinger, Pietka, Hahn, LLC, 2007
* abstract leaves
* Stairs. Huntingdon L Station. Northeast of Kensington, Huntingdon and B.
* 39.989000,-75.127250 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Huntingdon Station page

Church Stop Reflection
Joe Brenman, 2007
* buildings, plants, symbols, abstract images
* Walls. Church L Station. Frankford between Church and Ruan.
* 40.010480,-75.089000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lower Northeast tour
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+inliquid.org's Joe Brenman page
+wikipedia.org's Church Station page

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]
* See also:
+ericaloustau.com
+henryloustau.com
+wikipedia.org's 52nd Street Station page

Clock
2009
* clock
* East side of 30th Street Station. West side of 29th at JFK.
* 39.955600,-75.180950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's 30th Street Station page

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
* Other exhibits: Labor
* 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

Cobbs Creek Constellation
Elisabeth Nickles, 2011
* abstract, mostly vertical people
* Whole structure. 63rd Street L Station. 63rd and Market.
* 39.962700,-75.246765 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+elisabethnickles.com
+wikipedia.org's 63rd Street Station page

Riders
William Daniel Travis, 2012
* small people standing
* Was underneath Market between 12th and 13th. Not there when checked 12/12/2024.
* Both platforms. 13th Street L Station.
* 39.951950,-75.160700 [map] [nearby]
* Other exhibits: Missing
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's 13th Street Station page

Suburban Station
Isaiah Zagar, 2012
* sign, words, standing, running, walking, sitting people, faces, hats, glasses, abstract designs
* inscription:
Welcome to Suburban Station Concourse
Every day in Philadelphia
lips, nose, eyes
Love
hat
shoes
boots
my phone
lost and found
so many places
Talk Radio
Worth Millions
Walkers
Do I have my wallet????
Seeing see
stockings
gaberdine
* Inside. Suburban Station. Underground, North of the Southeast corner of 17th and JFK..
* 39.954275,-75.168075 [map] [nearby]
* On the JFK North tour
* Other exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+phillymagicgardens.org
+wikipedia.org's Suburban Station page

Under the Clothespin
Emilie Ledieu, Miriam Singer, 2012
* small buildings, buses, car and truck, street lights, trees, bicycle, El
* Under (and references) Clothespin
* Concourse level wall. Centre Square. South side of Market at 15th.
* 39.952250,-75.16570 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Other exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+publicartarchive.org's page for this piece
+publicartarchive.org's Emilie Ledieu page
+miriamsinger.com
+wikipedia.org's Centre Square page

Amtrak Logo
2013
* logo
* inscription: 30th Street Station 1933
* Plaza. West side of 30th Street Station. East side of 30th at JFK.
* 39.955860,-75.182950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* Other exhibits: New
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's 30th Street Station page

William H. Gray III 30th Street Station Sign
Calori and Vanden-Eynden Design, 2015
* station renamed for William H. Gray III
* big name, sign
* There is another, less dramatic version on the 29th Street side. The station was renamed in 2019 and the back panel was added to both signs. The first picture is the original.
* Southwest corner, 30th Street Station. Northeast corner, 30th and Market.
* 39.955070,-75.18297 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* See also:
+cvedesign.com (also somehow linked to entro.com)
+wikipedia.org's William H. Gray III page
+wikipedia.org's 30th Street Station page

Nexus
Scott Eunson, Marianne Lovink, 2016
* abstract maps
* Entrances. 40th Street L Station. All four corners, 40th and Market.
* 39.957060,-75.201725 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* See also:
+whyy.org article about this piece
+scotteunson.ca's page for this piece
+scotteunson.ca
+mariannelovink.com
+wikipedia.org's 40th Street Station page

Spring Garden Connector
Cloud Geshen, The Lighting Practice, 2016
* backlit leaves
* Underneath the I95 bridge. Spring Garden L Station. Spring Garden, East of 2nd.
* 39.960515,-75.140375 [map] [nearby]
* On the Northern Liberties tour
* See also:
+lightingpractice.com entry for this piece
+cloudgehshan.com
+thelightingpractice.com
+wikipedia.org's Spring Garden Station page

A Quest for Parity: The Octavius V. Catto Memorial
Branly Cadet, 2017
* Memorial to and statue of Octavius Catto
* big and small standing person, ideas, cube and mirrored orb, steles representing a streetcar and a representational streetcar, buildings, plants, horse, clouds, groups of people, some sitting, hats, guns, baseball equipment
* inscription:
South side of steles, North side of cube:
There must come a change which will force upon this nation that course which providence seems wisely to be directing for the mutual benefit of all peoples.
West side of steles, West side of cube:
Educator Leader Major Athlete Activist
South side of cube: October 10, 1871
East side of cube:
XV
Amendment to the United States Constitution
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
North side of steles:
1839 Born February 22 in Charleston, South Carolina
1854 Becomes a student at the Philadelphia Institute for Colored Youth
1858 Graduates from the Institute for Colored Youth
1859 Chosen as a member and recording secretary of the Banneker Institute, an all black literary society led by Jacob White, Jr. Hired as an English and mathematics teacher at his alma mater. Campaign to desegregate the horse-drawn streetcars in Philadelphia begins.
1863 becomes a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Helps lead a civil war recruitment committee with Frederick Douglas, members of the Union League, and others, which raises eleven regiments of black troops who trained at Camp William Penn in Cheltenham.
1864 Named corresponding secretary of the Pennsylvania Equal Rights League, an affiliate of the National Equal Rights League. Appointed Vice President of the State Convention of Colored People held in Harrisburg. Led civil disobedience protests and lobbied white legislators in Harrisburg to desegregate streetcars.
1865 Co-authored the state Equal Rights League call for voting rights, streetcar desegregation, and the hiring of black teachers for black students in public schools.
1867 Governor signs statewide "Bill of Rights" law desegregating streetcars. Led the Pythians Base Ball Club of Philadelphia to an undefeated season.
1869 Named principal of male students at the Institute for Colored Youth Pythians play the Olympic Ball Club in Philadelphia in the first match between black and white teams. A leader of the unsuccessful effort to integrate the private City Wide Congress of Literary Societies. Helps lead successful Pennsylvania campaign to pass the 15th Amendment which led to thousands of black men registering to vote.
1870 The Union League presents Octavius Catto, Frederick Douglas, and Robert Purvis with a banner celebrating Pennsylvania's adoption of the 15th Amendment at a ceremony on Broad Street. Writes curriculum for new schools for freed former slaves in the District of Columbia. Becomes a member of the original Franklin Institute breaking the color line at the prestigious national forum for advancing American science and technology.
1871 Named an Inspector General with the rank of Major in the Pennsylvania National Guard. Shot to death on October 10, on South Street in the midst of election day riots. He was 32, and one of many black men shot or attacked that day by opponents of the 15th Amendment. As one of Philadelphia's most influential leaders, more than 5,000 mourners attended his funeral and procession down Broad Street.
* South side of City Hall. North side of S. Penn Square at Broad.
* 39.951775,-75.164100 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Other exhibits: Athletic, War, Black Lives
* See also:
+branlycadet.com
+wikipedia.org's Octavius Catto page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

Opposing Forces
Ellen Tiberino, Alvin Tull, 2021
* sun and moon
* Thanks to the @SEPTAPHILLY twitter account for providing the initial information about this piece, including "Tull created a painted mural of natural landscapes, and Tiberino created mosaic parts overlaying it."
* Inside. Back of the ticket office. Suburban Station. Under JFK between 16th and 17th.
* 39.954225,-75.167400 [map] [nearby]
* On the JFK North tour
* Other exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+phillyvoice.com article about Ellen Tiberino
+muralarts.org's Alvin Tull page
+wikipedia.org's Suburban Station page