Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Tour: Chestnut 29th to 40th

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This tour runs from 29th (aka Schuylkill Avene) and Chestnut to 40th and Chestnut with a couple of small detours North and South and includes a lot of architectural detail and religious content. Starting just South of the Southwest corner of 29th and Chestnut we go

Schuylkill Avenue Viaduct Decorative Barriers
2021
* people sitting, standing, walking and running, plants, clouds, benches, dogs, baby carriages, Schuylkill Banks logos
* Very similar panels repeat the length of the block. The title is from references in PennDot press releases.
* Fence. West side of Schuylkill Avenue (aka 29th Street) between Chestnut and Walnut.
* 39.952375,-75.182415 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Unidentified



Drexel University Main Building Entrance
New York Architectural Terra-Cotta Company, Wilson Brothers and Company (Architects), 1891
* Busts of Aesculapius, Johann Sebastian Bach, Christopher Columbus, Michael Faraday, Galileo, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Alexander von Humboldt, Thomas Jefferson, Michelangelo, Moses, Isaac Newton, Raphael, William Shakespeare and William of Sens
* small heads, standing angel
* These busts in niches go all the way around the inside of the arch, including two that are looking straight down. Moses and Aesculapius are on either side of the angel on the front.
* Entrance. Main Building, Drexel University. North side of Chestnut, just East of the 32nd Street walkway.
* 39.953850,-75.187000 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphia buildings.org's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's New York Architectural Terra-Cotta Company page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Wilson Brothers and Company page
+wikipedia.org's Aesculapius page
+wikipedia.org's Johann Sebastian Bach page
+wikipedia.org's Christopher Columbus page
+wikipedia.org's Michael Faraday page
+wikipedia.org's Galileo Galilei page
+wikipedia.org's Goethe page
+wikipedia.org's Alexander von Humboldt page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Jefferson page
+wikipedia.org's Michelangelo page
+wikipedia.org's Moses page
+wikipedia.org's Isaac Newton page
+wikipedia.org's Raphael page
+wikipedia.org's William Shakespeare page
+wikipdedia.org's William of Sens page



The Study at University City
Shelly Bradbury, 2016
* big glasses, logo sign
* West side of 33rd, North of Chestnut.
* 39.954510,-75.189820 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+thestudyatuniversitycity.com
+shellybradburystudio.com



Wave Forms
Dennis Oppenheim, 2007
* big bells, arch
* Housing complex entrance. Northwest corner, 34th and Chestnut.
* 39.954600,-75.192200 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Dennis Oppenheim page



threshold object
Kennedy and Violich Architecture, 2012
* big abstact books
* the title is from a quote from the architect in an article about this piece
* Sunshade wall. Golkin Hall. North side of Sansom, West of 34th.
* 39.953785,-75.192870 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: New
* See also:
+architecturalrecord.com article about this piece
+kvarch.net



Antillean Couple
Agustin Cardenas, 1957
* big abstract standing people
* Southwest corner 36th and Sansom.
* 39.953850,-75.194780 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Black Lives
* See also:
+upenn.edu's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Agustin Cardenas page



Tabernacle Presbyterian Church
Theophilus Parsons Chandler Jr. (Architect), Henry Christopher McCook, Michael F. Scully, 1884 - 1886
* Symbols of and references to Jesus, Saint John, Saint Luke and Saint Mark
* dragons, plants, partial cherubs and angels, winged lion, winged ox, eagle, sun, candle, fire
* Rev. McCook is reported to have chosen the inscriptions
* inscription:
North Entrance: I am the door.
tower: My Goodness and My fortress. My High Tower and My Deliver. He in whom I trust.
East Entrance: We have seen his star in the East and are come to worship him.
shields:
He is risen.
Lampades multae, una lux.
Christus Exaltus Salvator.
Lux lucet in tenebris
Nec tamen consumebatur.
 * North and East sides. Tabernacle United Church. Southwest corner, 37th and Chestnut.
* 39.954500,-75.196800 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: New, Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+Gargoyle Hunter's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Theophilus P. Chandler Jr. page
+wikipedia.org's Henry Christopher McCook page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Michael F. Scully page
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's John the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Luke the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Mark the Evangelist page



Tabernacle United Church Signs
Lynn Denton, 1999
* signs, religious symbols and imagery, boat, Earth, food, sitting and standing people, birds, plants, musical instruments, sheep, hands, water
* tiles painted by the congregation
* Tabernacle United Church. Southwest corner, 37th and Chestnut.
* 39.954800,-75.196650 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Peace and Love, Mosaic
* See also:
+lynnbdenton.com



Doves
James Frost, 1969 (building date)
* doves
* South wall. University Lutheran. Northeast corner, 37th and Chestnut.
* 39.955025,-75.196310 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Peace and Love



Innovation Plaza
Exit Design, 2015
* References to Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, John Backus, Jean Jennings Bartik, Britton Chance, Rebecca Cole, Eleuthere Irenee du Pont, J. Presper Eckert, Jr., R. Buckminster Fuller, Frances Snyder Holberton, Osagie Imasogie, Alan Kay, Stephanie L. Kwolek, John W. Mauchly, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Frank Piasecki, Judith Rodin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Hubert J. P. Schoemaker, Krishna Singh, Michael Solomonov, Frances Bilas Spence, Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum, Andy Warhol, Judy Wicks and Blanka Zizka
* abstract geometric forms, some internally lit
* inscription:
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." - Alan Kay
"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt
"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." - Andy Warhol
 * Plaza. 37th from Market to Chestnut.
* 39.955645,-75.196295 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+exploreexit.com's entry for this piece
+exploreexit.com
+wikipedia.org's Kathleen Antonelli page
+wikipedia.org's John Backus page
+wikipedia.org's Jean Bartik page
+wikipedia.org's Britton Chance page
+wikipedia.org's Rebecca Cole page
+wikipedia.org's Eleuthere Irenee du Pont page
+wikipedia.org's J. Presper Eckert page
+wikipedia.org's Buckminster Fuller page
+wikipedia.org's Betty Holberton page
+law.penn.edu's Osagie Imasogie page
+wikipedia.org's Alan Key page
+wikipedia.org's Stephanie Kwolek page
+wikipedia.org's John Mauchly page
+wikipedia.org's Marlyn Meltzer page
+wikipedia.org's Frank Piasecki page
+wikipedia.org'a Judith Rodin page
+wikipedia.org's Eleanor Roosevelt page
+wikipedia.org's Hubert Schoemaker page
+holtecinternational.com's Kris Singh page
+wikipedia.org's Michael Solomonov page
+wikipedia.org's Frances Spence page
+wikipedia.org's Ruth Teitelbaum page
+wikipedia.org's Andy Warhol page
+judywicks.com
+wikipedia.org's Blanka Zizka page



Cross
1969
* cross, arch
* Roof. University Lutheran. North of 37th and Chestnut.
* 39.955350,-75.196240 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious



Mary
2021 (installed)
* statue of Mary
* small standing person
* Plaza. East of St. Agatha - St. James Church. South side of Chestnut, East of 38th.
* 39.954850,-75.197815 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page



Saint James
1887 (year of building)
* Statue of Saint James
* standing person, staff
* Carved for the building in Italy. Behind mesh that isn't visible from the street but partially obscures the picture.
* Niche above the entrance arch. St. Agatha - St. James Church. Southeast corner, 38th and Chestnut.
* 39.955000,-75.198250 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's James the Great page



Interfaith Symbol
2016
* symbol
* Just South of the Episcopal Cathedral. East side of 38th, North of Chestnut.
* 39.955550,-75.198100 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Unidentified



Church of the Savior Entrance
Charles Marquedent Burns (Architect), 1889
* Relief featuring Jesus
* small kneeling, sitting, horizontal, standing people, headgear
* According to the Architecture page on the Cathedral site the facade survived the 1902 fire, so I am listing the date for this piece as 1889.
* Entrance. Episcopal Cathedral. East side of 38th, North of Chestnut.
* 39.955717,-75.198085 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Charles Marquedent Burns page
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page



When I was Hungry and Thirsty
Timothy Schmalz, 2017 (installed)
* statue of Jesus
* small sitting person, head covered, chalice and plate, Christian symbolism
* Only one of the casts pictured on the artist's site includes the plate and chalice.
* inscription:
The Hungry and Thirsty Jesus
Matthew 25;35
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...
 * In front of the Episcopal Cathedral. East side of 38th, North of Chestnut.
* 39.955750,-75.198070 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+sculpturebytps.com
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page



Wind Helix
Roy Wilson, 1994
* abstract forms
* The fence used to surround an open space behind the building. The fence was removed around 2007 and the open space was replaced with an extension of the building. In 2009 the fence was put back in approximately its original position, but surrounding the building extension instead of open space. The first picture is from the original context.
* Back of the fence. Northeast corner, 38th and Ludlow.
* 39.955950,-75.198100 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+roywilsonart.com



Hamilton Court Logos
1901 (design date of building)
* small sign, logo, shield, flowers and tree, helmet and crown
* There are 4 identical copies, 2 on each of the buildings. The coordinates are for the eastmost. The 2021 stylized version of the logo does not include a tree at the top.
* Front walls. Hamilton Court. South side of Chestnut, West of 38th.
* 39.955165,-75.199200 [map] [nearby]



Hamilton Court Sidewalk Lights
2018
* sidewalk lights
* Sidewalk. In front of Hamilton Court. South side of Chestnut, East of 39th.
* 39.955200,-75.199500 [map] [nearby]



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]
* Exhibits: War, Black Lives
* See also:
+artist's page for this piece
+akinlana.com
+Marcus Akinlana's facebook.com page



Miller Tower Birds
EwingCole (Architects), 2019
* big birds
* Wall. Southeast corner of the Ronald McDonald House. North side of Chestnut between 39th and 40th.
* 39.955700,-75.200835 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+ewingcole.com



Swain House Busts
William H. Decker (Architect), 1893 (approximate year of building)
* house built for William James Swain
* heads
* Walls. Ronald McDonald House. North side of Chestnut between 39th and 40th.
* 39.955700,-75.201350 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+whyy.org article about the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's William H. Decker page
+findagrave.com's William James Swain page



Sidewalk Symbols
2023 (probable)
* abstract sun, compass symbols
* In a Street View image from April 2023, not in the previous image from November 2020.
* Sidewalk. South side of Chestnut, West of 40th.
* 39.955610,-75.202575 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Unidentified


Possible trip extension:Avenue of Technology (North on the East side of 40th to Market)
Possible trip extension:Penn Campus (in reverse, South on the East side of 40th across Walnut)
Possible trip extension:University City South Medical Complex (across 40th and then South across Locust)

See Also

+drexel.edu
+philadelphiacathedral.org
+hamcophiladelphia.com
+rmhcphilly.org
+saintsaj.org
+tabunited.org
+uniluphila.org