There are so many sculptures and murals in Philadelphia, it would be impossible for me to sum it all up in a nutshell. While you are here, walking our streets, you will not be able to avoid it! So if you're interested in what you will see, I thought I would give you a few links to webpages that do a good job of providing more information.
You can't walk two blocks without seeing one of many murals painted on the wall of a building. The Mural Arts Program has been the major force behind the murals all over Philadelphia. Check out their webpage or the database of Philly's murals available here. Every Wednesday and Saturday at 11:00am, the Mural Arts Program conducts a two-hour trolley tour of several murals (there's no way they could get to all of them). The trolley leaves from the Independence Visitor's Center at 6th and Market. There are only two tours a week, so I would advise getting their early to buy your ticket (which is $24 for adults), or even making a reservation. If you are interested, you can find out more about it here.
As for public sculpture, there are the things that show up on postcards-- Robert Indiana's LOVE sculptures near City Hall and on Penn Campus (yes, we have two!), Claus Oldenberg's clothespin (also near city hall) and button (on Penn's campus), Rodin's "Thinker" outside the Rodin Museum, the various sculptures by three generations of Calders-- I could go on and on. But even as an art historian living in Philly for ten years, I didn't know there was a Lichtenstein on our streets, or that the bolt of lightning at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge is by Isamu Noguchi! The best way to get an idea of what's here, whether you want to search by artist, location, or print out a walking tour, is to look at a website like this one.
As with everything in Philly, sometimes the best things are the ones that take a little effort to find. So keep your eyes open-- there's a lot to see!
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
First Friday
I do believe that the convention's dates may mean that some of you are in the city on the first friday of July. If you are, you may want to check out a popular Philadelphia tradition, called (simply enough) First Friday! It is ostensibly a time for the art galleries in Old City to open their doors to an evening crowd, put out some wine and cheese and let everyone take in the work of new local artists. Among the galleries are also theaters, bars, restaurants, and shops... not to mention the artists and students that park themselves on the sidewalk to either display their own art, or to play music, etc. It's a fairly festive time-- so be warned that it will probably be a good size crowd.
If you want to go, the main area of interest is from Market Street to Race Street (Race is 2 blocks north of Market--you can tell there's not much more to see when the crowd thins significantly) on both 2nd and 3rd streets. On 2nd Street BELOW Market there are lots of clubs and restaurants that are usually packed with 20-somethings in their best going out clothes, so you can explore that, too, if you want! The whole thing usually goes on from 5 until 8 or 9pm-- at least, that's when the art galleries close up. Restaurants, clubs, and bars stay open late!
If you want to go, the main area of interest is from Market Street to Race Street (Race is 2 blocks north of Market--you can tell there's not much more to see when the crowd thins significantly) on both 2nd and 3rd streets. On 2nd Street BELOW Market there are lots of clubs and restaurants that are usually packed with 20-somethings in their best going out clothes, so you can explore that, too, if you want! The whole thing usually goes on from 5 until 8 or 9pm-- at least, that's when the art galleries close up. Restaurants, clubs, and bars stay open late!
City Hall
Let's talk about something you can see just a few minutes from the Convention Center: CITY HALL! Each of the four main entrances has its own architectural program, i.e. no two are the same. Apparently you can go up to an observation deck to see the view, but I've never done that.
if you want to take an official tour, go to the tour information center in Room 121 in the east portal.
But if you only have a minute, walk around a bit, and also look up and see if you can spot the statue of William Penn by Alexander Milne Calder at the top of the tower. Billy Penn was the tallest thing in the city for a while, and builders followed an unwritten rule of not going taller than his hat. When Liberty One pushed past, some say ol' Billy put a curse on our professional sports teams, not allowing them to win a championship. We've come pretty close many times, but no one has won, have they? Maybe we are cursed... but lots of buildings have followed suit, and there's no going back now...
It's interesting to note something about the Calders-- three generations of sculptors whose work can be seen up and down the Ben Franklin Parkway. Alexander Milne Calder did William Penn on top of city hall. A.M. Calder's son, Alexander Stirling Calder, was a sculptor for the Logan Square fountain, and A. Stirling Calder's son, Alexander Calder, is the famous Calder of the 20th Century, whose mobile "Ghost" can be seen hanging in the Great Stair Hall of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a collection of his stabiles have ben installed along the south edge of the Parkway between 21st and 22nd streets. To me, this is a cool Parkway legacy. Just a bit of trivia!
if you want to take an official tour, go to the tour information center in Room 121 in the east portal.
But if you only have a minute, walk around a bit, and also look up and see if you can spot the statue of William Penn by Alexander Milne Calder at the top of the tower. Billy Penn was the tallest thing in the city for a while, and builders followed an unwritten rule of not going taller than his hat. When Liberty One pushed past, some say ol' Billy put a curse on our professional sports teams, not allowing them to win a championship. We've come pretty close many times, but no one has won, have they? Maybe we are cursed... but lots of buildings have followed suit, and there's no going back now...
It's interesting to note something about the Calders-- three generations of sculptors whose work can be seen up and down the Ben Franklin Parkway. Alexander Milne Calder did William Penn on top of city hall. A.M. Calder's son, Alexander Stirling Calder, was a sculptor for the Logan Square fountain, and A. Stirling Calder's son, Alexander Calder, is the famous Calder of the 20th Century, whose mobile "Ghost" can be seen hanging in the Great Stair Hall of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a collection of his stabiles have ben installed along the south edge of the Parkway between 21st and 22nd streets. To me, this is a cool Parkway legacy. Just a bit of trivia!
The Ben Franklin Parkway: Museums and the Rocky Steps
Sometime at the end of the 19th century, the city fathers in Philly decided to cut a swath of road starting from city hall and extending to a reservoir that was on the edge of Fairmount Park. They eventually lined it with museums and designed it on a scale befitting the Place de la Concorde-- and now we call it the Benjamin Franklin Parkway! The Philadelphia Museum of Art is now at the far end (built on top of the empty reservoir) and is an icon of the city. Even its stairs are famous, and I bet that there may be an adventurous soul among you that would like to run up them and do the famous Rocky pose at the top-- with both hands held up in victorious celebration! Eye of the tiger!
Let's see... along the Parkway we've got the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute Science Museum (and their King Tut exhibition), The Rodin Museum, The Academy of Natural Sciences,and Logan Sqaure (also known as Logan Circle).
Not far from the Parkway you can find Eastern State Penitentiary (which I love) and the Please Touch Museum (which is really only fun if you're a little kid, or if you're with one).
The Parkway also has a bit of sculpture that's fun to see. Between 21st and 22nd on the southern side of the Parkway you'll see several stabiles by Alexander Calder. Then there's the famous Washington Monument in front of the Art Museum (not like the big obelisk in DC-- the one in Philly is sort of a menagerie of Gen. Washington, bison, moose, people, etc). On a pretty day, it's an excellent walk.
I love the art museum, anyway, so I'd say if you're going there from the convention center area, or vice versa, why not walk? The Phlash, I believe, also drives along the parkway, so that could be a nice way to catch a glimpse of it, too.
Let's see... along the Parkway we've got the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute Science Museum (and their King Tut exhibition), The Rodin Museum, The Academy of Natural Sciences,and Logan Sqaure (also known as Logan Circle).
Not far from the Parkway you can find Eastern State Penitentiary (which I love) and the Please Touch Museum (which is really only fun if you're a little kid, or if you're with one).
The Parkway also has a bit of sculpture that's fun to see. Between 21st and 22nd on the southern side of the Parkway you'll see several stabiles by Alexander Calder. Then there's the famous Washington Monument in front of the Art Museum (not like the big obelisk in DC-- the one in Philly is sort of a menagerie of Gen. Washington, bison, moose, people, etc). On a pretty day, it's an excellent walk.
I love the art museum, anyway, so I'd say if you're going there from the convention center area, or vice versa, why not walk? The Phlash, I believe, also drives along the parkway, so that could be a nice way to catch a glimpse of it, too.
Friday, May 25, 2007
South Street
Has anyone ever heard that old song about where all the people meet? South Street! South Street!
Now we're getting close to my home territory. When I walk my daughter to school in the morning, I like to weave around the small side streets and cozy alleys of my neighborhood, but on the way back home, I like to walk down South Street to see the business there "wake up" and get ready for the day.
South Street used to be famous as a kind of "counter culture" scene, and also a place of "shocking" shops-- tattoo parlors next to erotic stores next to piercing places next to bars next to cheeseteak joints. Its feel is changing a bit, though, and while these places are still there, you also see Starbucks, Adidas, and The Gap, arts and crafts galleries, and restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. Turn any corner and you may find record shops (and I mean vinyl), vintage and boutique clothing stores, natural food groceries, bookshops, fabric stores, and my apartment! You could really walk around there all day, but as no one has that much time to spend, I suggest at least one stroll down South Street in the area of 2nd to 8th street.
If you're up for a longer walk, I would challenge you to come all the way down to where I live and see the "Magic Garden" on South between 10th and 11th streets. Created by local mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar, the "garden" is a point of pride for our neighborhood (called Bella Vista), and there's been a real effort to save this wonderland of recycled materials from falling under a wrecking ball to make way for "development" (South Street is prime real estate for expensive condos these days). If you can't make it down there, though, you'll probably see Mr. Zagar's swirling mirror and tile mosaics peeking out at you from alleys and houses all over the place-- lots of people and businesses on around South St. have asked him to put his sparkling touch on their walls.
Just one little warning: like I said, South Street still retains its racey character in many respects. It is a place of many different people, and it can be smelly, crowded, littered-- and don't forget that the erotic shops have windows that could make you blush! (More likely, though, they'll make you laugh or roll your eyes.) Most of the stores are open by noon at the latest, but the evenings get very wild in the summer. Plan to go in the afternoon if you want to have a relaxed time (once again, this is when the stroller types are there)-- and obviously, go at night if you want to see craziness. Whatever you do, DON'T TRY TO DRIVE ON SOUTH STREET FROM 2nd to 10th St. AT NIGHT! Traffic hardly moves since lots of people are cruising and trying to find parking. It's practically at a standstill all night long. Oh, and I don't think you should eat at Johnny Rockets. Though it has a cute retro theme, the food there made me feel gross after I ate it!
Now we're getting close to my home territory. When I walk my daughter to school in the morning, I like to weave around the small side streets and cozy alleys of my neighborhood, but on the way back home, I like to walk down South Street to see the business there "wake up" and get ready for the day.
South Street used to be famous as a kind of "counter culture" scene, and also a place of "shocking" shops-- tattoo parlors next to erotic stores next to piercing places next to bars next to cheeseteak joints. Its feel is changing a bit, though, and while these places are still there, you also see Starbucks, Adidas, and The Gap, arts and crafts galleries, and restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. Turn any corner and you may find record shops (and I mean vinyl), vintage and boutique clothing stores, natural food groceries, bookshops, fabric stores, and my apartment! You could really walk around there all day, but as no one has that much time to spend, I suggest at least one stroll down South Street in the area of 2nd to 8th street.
If you're up for a longer walk, I would challenge you to come all the way down to where I live and see the "Magic Garden" on South between 10th and 11th streets. Created by local mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar, the "garden" is a point of pride for our neighborhood (called Bella Vista), and there's been a real effort to save this wonderland of recycled materials from falling under a wrecking ball to make way for "development" (South Street is prime real estate for expensive condos these days). If you can't make it down there, though, you'll probably see Mr. Zagar's swirling mirror and tile mosaics peeking out at you from alleys and houses all over the place-- lots of people and businesses on around South St. have asked him to put his sparkling touch on their walls.
Just one little warning: like I said, South Street still retains its racey character in many respects. It is a place of many different people, and it can be smelly, crowded, littered-- and don't forget that the erotic shops have windows that could make you blush! (More likely, though, they'll make you laugh or roll your eyes.) Most of the stores are open by noon at the latest, but the evenings get very wild in the summer. Plan to go in the afternoon if you want to have a relaxed time (once again, this is when the stroller types are there)-- and obviously, go at night if you want to see craziness. Whatever you do, DON'T TRY TO DRIVE ON SOUTH STREET FROM 2nd to 10th St. AT NIGHT! Traffic hardly moves since lots of people are cruising and trying to find parking. It's practically at a standstill all night long. Oh, and I don't think you should eat at Johnny Rockets. Though it has a cute retro theme, the food there made me feel gross after I ate it!
Friday, May 4, 2007
Your Hotel: The Sheraton
For everyone staying at The Sheraton in University City, I think you lucked out! Not only are you about one block away from both a subway (34th and Market) AND a trolley (36th and Sansom) into Center City (if you're feeling adventurous), but there's always a line of cabs waiting patiently outside the front door for anyone who needs one. And the big bonus-- your hotel is caddycorner to a WAWA (36th and Chestnut)!
Wawa (a Native American name for the Canada Goose--you'll see the goose in their logo) is a local dairy/convenience store chain that you'll want to know about. They have drinks, coffee, and snacks if you're in a pinch, but most importantly, their ATM's are FREE. I know most people don't worry about cash anymore-- and it's most likely your own bank will still charge you a fee-- but if you want to avoid the $2 that most ATM's charge up front, find a WAWA and get your money there. They're all over the city. Also, they're open 24 hours-- which was great for me as an undergrad.
Speaking of undergrads, since you'll be in University City in the summer, you won't have to deal with students! Well, some summer students will be there... but I must say, my favorite times at Penn were during the summer, when a kind of sleepy peacefulness settled over campus. I hope you take a little time--maybe an afternoon if you have it-- to explore the area around your hotel a bit, because it has some wonderful attractions that are guaranteed to be less crowded and crazy than the tourist swamps of Center City.
Here's a list of things within a short SHORT walking distance of where you are-- don't be too overwhelmed-- I'll do posts on each of them:
WAWA -- REMEMBER: FREE ATM'S! 36th and Chestnut. 24 hours! They sell ice cream! Coffee! Tastykakes (if you're into sweets!)
Sansom Row shops and the White Dog Cafe-- 1/2 block south of the hotel-- walk south on 36th St and turn left on Sansom OR walk south on 34th and turn right on Sansom. I love the White Dog Cafe Bar Menu--try eating outside, too!
The ICA: Institute of Contemporary Art -- 36th and Sansom-- west side of the street
University of Pennsylvania Bookstore and various shops: 36th and Walnut (2 blocks south of the hotel)
Starbucks (if you feel like going to a chain): 34th and Walnut (2 blocks south of the hotel)
Penn Campus-- "The Green": Walk down 34th or 36th-- cross Walnut. You will be on the main campus area of Penn. You'll start to see the big green lawn areas dotted with trees and crossed with paths. If you stroll around a little there's lots of cool architecture and public sculpture to see. The neo-Gothic Fine Arts Library is a must see for any architecture enthusiast-- more on that later.
The Univ. of Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology-- perhaps one of the most under appreciated museums in the city. It's architecture and collections are awesome, and you don't have to spend all day to see it. And it only costs $8 to get in-- cheap compared to the bigger Museums-- with a reduced admission on Sundays.
Check out my other posts on these (coming soon), or take a look at their websites!
Wawa (a Native American name for the Canada Goose--you'll see the goose in their logo) is a local dairy/convenience store chain that you'll want to know about. They have drinks, coffee, and snacks if you're in a pinch, but most importantly, their ATM's are FREE. I know most people don't worry about cash anymore-- and it's most likely your own bank will still charge you a fee-- but if you want to avoid the $2 that most ATM's charge up front, find a WAWA and get your money there. They're all over the city. Also, they're open 24 hours-- which was great for me as an undergrad.
Speaking of undergrads, since you'll be in University City in the summer, you won't have to deal with students! Well, some summer students will be there... but I must say, my favorite times at Penn were during the summer, when a kind of sleepy peacefulness settled over campus. I hope you take a little time--maybe an afternoon if you have it-- to explore the area around your hotel a bit, because it has some wonderful attractions that are guaranteed to be less crowded and crazy than the tourist swamps of Center City.
Here's a list of things within a short SHORT walking distance of where you are-- don't be too overwhelmed-- I'll do posts on each of them:
WAWA -- REMEMBER: FREE ATM'S! 36th and Chestnut. 24 hours! They sell ice cream! Coffee! Tastykakes (if you're into sweets!)
Sansom Row shops and the White Dog Cafe-- 1/2 block south of the hotel-- walk south on 36th St and turn left on Sansom OR walk south on 34th and turn right on Sansom. I love the White Dog Cafe Bar Menu--try eating outside, too!
The ICA: Institute of Contemporary Art -- 36th and Sansom-- west side of the street
University of Pennsylvania Bookstore and various shops: 36th and Walnut (2 blocks south of the hotel)
Starbucks (if you feel like going to a chain): 34th and Walnut (2 blocks south of the hotel)
Penn Campus-- "The Green": Walk down 34th or 36th-- cross Walnut. You will be on the main campus area of Penn. You'll start to see the big green lawn areas dotted with trees and crossed with paths. If you stroll around a little there's lots of cool architecture and public sculpture to see. The neo-Gothic Fine Arts Library is a must see for any architecture enthusiast-- more on that later.
The Univ. of Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology-- perhaps one of the most under appreciated museums in the city. It's architecture and collections are awesome, and you don't have to spend all day to see it. And it only costs $8 to get in-- cheap compared to the bigger Museums-- with a reduced admission on Sundays.
Check out my other posts on these (coming soon), or take a look at their websites!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)