Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Tour: Temple Campus

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The Temple Campus tour begins at the Northbound Cecil B. Moore Broad Street Subway Stop , then goes

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]
* Exhibits: Mass Transit
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Richard Fleischner page




Black Rock Mesa
Glenn Zweygardt, 1978
* geometric forms
* Liacouras Walk, just North of Cecil B. Moore.
* 39.979225,-75.156500 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+glennzweygardt.com




Lincoln the Lawyer
Emil Seletz, 1968
* Bust of Abraham Lincoln
* head
* inscription:
Presented by
Emil Seletz, M.D. "32" Sculptor
Josepha Seletz, M.D. "76"
Jimmy Seletz, J.D.
Dedicated to
Marvin Wachman, President
* In front of the Temple University Law School. East side of Broad, South of Montgomery.
* 39.979890,-75.157350 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+latimes.com article about Emil Seletz and his busts of Lincoln
+wikipedia.org's Abraham Lincoln page




Conwell Hall Gargoyles
William Harold Lee (Architect), 1924 (building date)
* small seated people wearing hats
* Both sides of the door. East side of Broad, North of Montgomery.
* 39.980350,-75.157285 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+Gerry Wilkinson's history page on wrti.com with Conwell Hall information
+librarycompany.org's Temple University postcards page
+wikipedia.org's William Harold Lee page




Carnell Hall Gargoyles
William Harold Lee (Architect), 1928
* small heads
* Both sides of the door. East side of Broad, North of Montgomery.
* 39.980425,-75.157075 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+Gerry Wilkinson's Carnell Hall page on wrti.com
+librarycompany.org's Temple University postcards page
+wikipedia.org's William Harold Lee page




Temple Gates
1929 (installed 1960)
* lamp, Temple seal, building
* Gates. Polett Walk, East side of Broad, South of Norris.
* 39.981650,-75.156900 [map] [nearby]




Mitten Hall
William Harold Lee (Architect), 1931
* standing, sitting and horizontal, partial people, musical instruments, sun, moon and stars, telescope, flying horse, castle, symbols
* Pictures have been significantly color altered to show detail. Owls carved at the corners and reliefs on the South wall are not yet pictured.
* West wall. East side of Broad, South of Norris.
* 39.981900,-75.156900 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+Gerry Wilkinson's Mitten Hall page on wrti.com
+wikipedia.org's William Harold Lee page




Triad
Ephraim Peleg, 1981
* geometric forms
* Between approximately 1998 and 2012 the elements in this piece were rearranged. The first picture shows the configuration circa 1998. The second was taken in September, 2012.
* Between Broad and Liacouras Walk. North of Norris.
* 39.983500,-75.156200 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+ephraimpelegstudio.com




Johnnie Ring
Boris Blai, 1958 (installed 1964)
* Statue of and tribute to Johnnie Ring
* small standing person wearing a hat, Bible, sword
* Also listed as "Johnny Ring" including on maps distributed by the University.
* inscription:
"Johnnie Ring was the youth whose example in life and heroism in death provided inspiration that led to the founding of Temple University. In the war between the states he was personal orderly to Captain Russell H. Conwell of the 46th Massachusetts Infantry. The moving forces of his life at that time were his religious faith and his devotion to Captain Conwell. When a surprise Confederate attack routed Union troops, it was Johnnie Ring who raced across a flaming bridge and through enemy gunfire to retrieve from his commander's tent the ceremonial sword presented to the Captain by the city of Springfield. He brought back the sword, but he died that night of his burns as Conwell knelt by his cot in prayer. The incident turned Conwell to the ministry as a life work and later to the founding of Temple University. He vowed to live a life for Johnnie Ring as well as for himself. Eight hours of work a day for Johnnie, eight hours of work for his own. Except for Johnnie Ring, Conwell would never have told America the story of the acres of diamonds, nor would he have built the University that enabled multitudes of young men and women to realize the promise of education." -Russell Conwell Cooney
A lad who didn't die
1861-1958
* West side of Beasley' Walk, North of Polett Walk.
* 39.982575,-75.156525 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Boris Blai page




Temple Owl
Corolfi Studios, 2017
* In honor of Marie O'Connor and Patrick O'Connor
* big owl, Temple T
* Replaced Red Owl
* inscription:
Temple University proudly dedicates this plaza in the heart of the campus in honor of Patrick and Marie O'Connor. Their inspired generosity and distinguished leadership create life-changing opportunities for our students and others. Patrick J. O'Connor joined the Temple University Board of Trustees in 1971 as the youngest trustee in the university's history and served until 1984. He returned to the board in 2001 and was elected chairman in 2009. In 2013 he received an honorary degree from Temple University.
* O'Connor Plaza. Upper Northwest corner of Founder's Garden. Liacouras and Polett Walks.
* 39.981455,-75.155755 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+cozen.com's Patrick O'Connor page




O'Connor Plaza Fountain
Sikora Wells Appel, 2017
* In honor of Marie O'Connor and Patrick O'Connor
* abstract geometric waterfall fountain
* Also the background waterfall for Russell Conwell
* O'Connor Plaza. Upper Northwest corner of Founder's Garden. Liacouras and Polett Walks.
* 39.981390,-75.155690 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+sikora-wa.com
+cozen.com's Patrick O'Connor page




Russell Conwell
Boris Blai, 1968
* Bust of Russell Conwell
* big head
* Conwell and his wife, Sarah S. Conwell, are buried behind the sculpture. The waterfall in the background of the third picture was added in 2017.
* The waterfall is part of the O'Connor Plaza Fountain
* inscription: Russell H. Conwell, Founder of Temple University, 1843-1925
* Conwell's burial site. Lower Northwest corner of Founder's Garden. Liacouras and Polett Walks.
* 39.981350,-75.155700 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+findagrave.com entry for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Boris Blai page
+wikipedia.org's Russell Conwell page




Red Owl
Beniamino Bufano, 1988 (originally installed)
* owl
* Was on the Northeast corner of Founder's Garden. Moved in 2017. The first picture is from the original location.
* Replaced by Temple Owl
* Upper Southeast corner of Founder's Garden. West side of 13th, South of Polett Walk.
* 39.981000,-75.155400 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Beniamino Bufano page




Barton and Beury Hall Walls
John Botkin, David Porter, 1984
* big abstract forms
* Barton Hall, which was on the West side of 13th, was replaced by the Charles Library in 2019, so half of this piece is missing. The third picture is of the Beury half, taken from outside the library in 2021. The artist is listed elsewhere as "John Borkin"
* Wall. East side of 13th, North of Polett Walk.
* 39.981925,-75.154875 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing
* See also:
+porterarchitects.com article about this piece
+porterarchitects.com




Bell Tower
Nolen and Swinburne (Architects), 1965
* big tower, bells
* Polett Walk between 12th and 13th.
* 39.981300,-75.154350 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Nolen and Swinburne page




Hurry
William King, 1980
* two people standing
* North side of Polett Walk between 12th and 13th.
* 39.981500,-75.154200 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's William King page




Bear
Dexter Jones, 1968
* small bear
* East side of 11th, just North of Cecil B. Moore.
* 39.978100,-75.152400 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+woodmereartmuseum.org's Dexter Jones page
+nationalsculpture.org's Dexter Jones Award




Cross
Joseph C. Bailey, 1973
* Symbol of Jesus
* big cross
* Outside Bright Hope Baptist Church. Southeast corner, 12th and Cecil B. Moore.
* 39.977875,-75.154060 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+askart.com's Joseph C. Bailey page
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page


Possible trip extension:Avenue of the Arts (South to Ellsworth-Federal on SEPTA's Broad Street Line )
Possible trip extension:City Hall (South to City Hall on SEPTA's Broad Street Line)
Possible trip extension:Fairmount (South to Spring Garden on SEPTA's Broad Street Line and walk North to Green)
Possible trip extension:South Broad (South to Oregon on SEPTA's Broad Street Line)

See Also

+Temple University
+brighthopebaptist.org
+sikora-wa.com page for their Founder's Garden reimagining
+law.temple.edu