Association For Public Art

Programs: Acquire and commission public art: the association for public art is dedicated to creating opportunities for artists to respond to the issues of our time, while redefining public space and encouraging public engagement and interaction. Projects carried out in 2017 include:"amor" by robert indiana: on the occasion of the world meeting of families and public papal mass on the parkway, apa partnered with the philadelphia museum of art (pma) to bring the sculpture "amor" by robert indiana to philadelphia for temporary installation on the art museum's steps. Amor, meaning "love" in both pope francis's native spanish and the church's traditional latin, remained on loan through 2016 from the morgan art foundation, courtesy of simon and marc salama-caro. The presentation of "amor" by apa and pma communicated to residents and visitors that philadelphia is a welcoming international city. During fy2017 "amor" was acquired through the collective generosity of the apa, city of philadelphia, the morgan foundation, the philadelphia museum of art, and private donor edith r. Dixon, and permanently installed in sister cities plaza. "big bling" by martin puryear: the apa brought acclaimed artist martin puryear's colossal "big bling" to philadelphia as a temporary installation in june 2017, where it was on view for six months along kelly drive. This was a first-time collaboration with the madison square park conservancy in new york city. The sculpture was commissioned by the madison square park conservancy's contemporary art program, mad. Sq. Art. Rising forty feet high and eliciting many interpretations, "big bling" (2016) was puryear's largest temporary outdoor sculpture to date. The monumental, multitiered wood structure was wrapped in chain-link mesh and anchored with a gold-leafed shackle near the top. Layers of laminated timbers and plywood were stacked together to create a form that is both animal-like and abstract. "big bling" held special significance for philadelphia, as apa had commissioned "pavilion in the trees" in 1993, one of puryear's earliest public works, which utilized similar materials of wood and metal mesh. "pavilion" received additional conservation treatment in 2017 in preparation for the arrival of "big bling. " following de-installation in november 2017, "big bling" was transported to mass moca for future re-installation there. In 2017, the americans for the arts public art network (pan) recognized "big bling" as one of the most compelling public artworks of the previoius year through its "year in review" program. A jury of public art professionals reviewed entries from across the country before selecting puryear's sculpture as one of the best. "cai guo-qiang: fireflies": the apa commissioned "cai guo-qiang: fireflies" by internationally recognized artist cai guo-qiang, a new site-specific work for the benjamin franklin parkway held during fall 2017 in celebration of the parkway's centennial, with major support from the pew center for arts & heritage, and additional support from the john s. And james l. Knight foundation, the national endowment for the arts, and other donors. "fireflies" consisted of twenty-seven luminous, kinetic sculptures in the form of free pedicabs that traversed the parkway at night. Clusters of individually lit handmade lanterns embellished each pedicab sculpture, recalling the artist's childhood memories of traditional lantern festials in his native quanzhou, china. When in motion, the pedicab sculptures gently bobbled, suggesting the light of flickering fireflies. The number 27-as a multiple of nine-recalls the chinese homophone for eternity and celebrates the longevity of the scenic parkway. During the project's duration, two "fireflies" hubs featured a short video by the artist and film about his work. Participants experienced the parkway from a new perspective by riding inside the sculptures as passengers. "fireflies" brought people to the parkway at night and engaged new and diverse audiences. This world premier event was free to the public, connecting parkway institutions from sister cities plaza to the philadelphia museum of art from september 14 - october 8, 2017, thursdays through sundays from 6pm - 10pm. Approximately 100 people worked on the project, and more than 5,500 visitors took rides in the pedicabs, from 25 states/us territories, and 36 different countries. "winter fountains" by jennifer steinkamp: the apa planned and commissioned a major installation by jennifer steinkamp to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the benjamin franklin parkway. "winter fountains" served as the centerpiece of parkway 100, presented by the parkway council foundation. This world premier temporary public art installation redefined the benjamin franklin parkway after dark, illuminating its vast space from sunset to midnight, december 2017 through march 2018. Inspired by the signature fountains of the parkway landscape, "winter fountains" consisted of four glowing architectural domes located along the parkway, featuring animated digital projections inspired by benjamin franklin's research and celebrating the scientific and cultural explorations represented by the world-class parkway institutions. "winer fountains" was made possible with major support from the william penn foundation. "logan memorial" re-installation: the apa donated the "logan memorial" by thomas pym cope to the colonial dames of america in the commonwealth of pennsylvania for its installation on the grounds of stenton (james logan's country home). Originally commissioned by the apa for the loganian library at the ridgway branch of the library company of philadelphia, the bronze memorial had been in storage following its 1960's de-installation when the library company moved out of the building. Stenton plans to install the sculpture in 2018.

preserve public art: the apa's outdoor sculpture conservation program is the longest continuously operating outdoor sculpture conservation program in the nation. During fy2017 over 30 bronze and marble sculptures of historic and artistic significance received treatment. The sculptures were inspected, cleaned, and stabilized to protect them from further deterioration. Special treatments included the removal and reapplication of failed mortar on the base of edward c. Potter and daniel chester french's monumental bronze "general ulysses s. Grant" (1897), and the application of preventative products and protective surface coatings to martin puryear's wooden "pavilion in the trees" (1993). As part of our stewardship, ongoing maintenance emergencies-including storm damage, vandalism, and graffiti-were addressed. In october 2017 apa undertook extensive graffiti and surface debris removal on the granite base and bronze sculpture "thorfinn karlsefni" (1918) by einar jonsson. The apa continues to carry out landscape conservation at the "ellen phillips samuel memorial sculpture garden". Preservation concerns are broadcast through the media, building interest and financial support for conservation through contributors to apa's conservation society. The apa also advises and collaborates with private and public organizations, including philadelphia parks & recreation, the city's public art office, the preservation alliance, and the fairmount park conservancy (formerly fairmount park historic preservation trust) to promote awareness and the need for ongoing care of the city's historic treasures.

interpret and promote public art: public art is available to people in the course of their daily lives, and apa's "museum without walls" is open all day and all night. By this very definition our audience is large and diverse and includes all age groups, as well as pedestrians, motorists, bicyclists and runners. Interpret: to interpret and promote public art, apa's museum without walls : audio program features participants from all walks of life, including artists, educators, curators, scientists, writers, historians, civic leaders and family members - "authentic voices" all with personal connections to the sculptures. This content-rich program is approached through a variety of platforms: on the street by cell phone, audio download, smart phone app and qr code, or on a dedicated website as streaming audio and audio slideshows. During fy2017, the program was further developed and produced, adding to the number of sculptures, voices, stops and interpretive signage. Museum without walls :audio now features over 70 stops with more than 150 voices discussing the sculptures. The presbyterian historical society commissioned apa to create audio and signage for the six alexander stirling calder terra cotta sculptures (1899) that had been conserved and re-installed at their 425 lombard street location. Audio productions were also completed for the evelyn taylor price memorial sundial (1947) by artist beatrice fenton in rittenhouse square, "big bling," "cai guo-qiang: fireflies" (bilingual in english/chinese), and "winter fountains. " work additionally commenced on production of an audio about apa's important role in the developement of the benjamin franklin parkway, featuring architectural historian david brownlee and apa executive director penny balkin bach. Public programs and events: the apa's special projects offer public programs in partnership with other organizations. For example, in collaboration with the bicycle coalition of greater philadelphia, apa hosted two free public art bike tours in west fairmount park and along kelly drive. The tour highlighted "pavilion in the trees and "big bling. " in conjunction with apa, the print center exhibited martin puryear prints: 1962 - 2016, guest curated by ruth fine, and the philadelphia museum of art displayed a recently acquired intaglio print by martin puyear, "untitled (state 1)". Also, students from chad, the charter high school for architecture and design, visited the print center exhibition and then proceeded outdoors to experience "big bling" on site. The apa's 145th annual meeting in june 2017, which also celebrated the arrival of "big bling" to philadelphia, featured the award of apa's esteemed medal of honor to artist martin puryear. The award was given to puryear in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of art and civic design through notable public service. Thousands of people attended the world premier and opening celebration of "cai guo-qiang: fireflies" with a special light and movement performance, choreographed by the artist. For "winter fountains," in the chill of the night, five dessert receptions with hot chocolate welcomed the public at institutions along the parkway. Art ambassadors from apa were on hand to talk to visitors about "winter fountains and the parkway's extraordinary collection of public art. Social media: the apa leads the field of public art in its use of social and mobile media and continues to harness technology to increase our organizational capacity. We have developed a comprehensive social media strategy and have established a robust presence on facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube, google street view, vimeo, and teachertube. We encourage content-based discussion and engagement around public art through photo contests, instameets, takeovers, and by sharing exclusive content, including historic images from our archives. The apa's recently updated website by the award-winning digital design firm bluecadet, received the silver award for design from the national academy of interactive and visual arts, and was nominated for a 2017 "webby" award from the international academy of digital arts and sciences in the "associations" category.