Artblog | Public Art

February 19, 2018 by Dave Kyu

Burning public art question, Where could Rizzo go?

In his essay, Dave Kyu looks at various placements for the contentious Frank Rizzo statue, which the city promised to relocate after angry public outcry. Dave ponders three new locations for the monumental sculpture to the racially-divisive former Mayor and Police Commissioner and one new placement at its current location. The relocation of the Rizzo statue is an important civic conversation that continues to need public input. What do you think is the best possible placement for the controversial statue?

November 16, 2017 by Matthew Rose

Art From The Underground

Matthew writes about the wonderful “art show” you see in the underground walkways and along the platforms of the Paris Metro, with large scale posters from Paris’s 130 museums plastered throughout and making the experience a kind of art history lesson on the move.

October 5, 2017 by Imani Roach

Sharon Hayes for Monument Lab

What is an appropriate monument for the current city of Philadelphia? This is the timely and ambitious question that the folks at Mural Arts posed to their 20 selected Monument Lab artists. Imani Roach interviews one of the artists, Sharon Hayes, and reports on her project, installed in Rittenhouse Square until Nov. 19.

September 28, 2017 by Roberta

Memorial to Octavius V. Catto at City Hall brings cheers, songs, and rifle salutes from ancient muskets

In the wake of public art controversies centered on divisive figures of the Civil Rights era, the new Octavius Catto memorial at City Hall is a salve to the nerves and a reminder that good public art, made for today but nodding to the past and with tomorrow in mind, can bring us together and serve the public good.

August 21, 2017 by Roberta

Marianne Bernstein on curating art in public spaces, Part 2

Roberta’s two-part interview with artist and independent curator, Marianne Bernstein, who’s moving to Chicago with her family this Fall, covers issues of curating public space as well as creating a mix of established and emerging artists in the same project and exhibit. It’s a long read but touches on important points about independent curating by an artist.

August 18, 2017 by Roberta

Chicago-bound independent curator Marianne Bernstein on her projects in Philadelphia, Iceland and Sicily

On the cusp of her family’s move to Chicago, Marianne Bernstein talks with Roberta about her two international artist residency projects, Due North (in Iceland) and Due South (in Sicily). Bernstein has made friends and memories here and given lots of artists opportunities to exhibit in her projects. We hear Chicago has artists too, and we’ll be following Bernstein’s work with those artists in coming years. This is Part 1 of a two-part interview conducted via email. Look for Part 2 next week.

June 21, 2017 by Matthew Rose

Graphic Anarchy in the Streets of New York & London

Matthew brings compelling work into focus on the streets of New York and London, two pillars of the international street art scene, with help from photographer friends MJ Moon and Mathilde Denis.

May 30, 2017 by Roberta

Congratulations, Pap Souleye Fall, Kay Healy; Martin Puryear’s ‘Big Bling’ on Kelly Drive for 6 months, Tyler launches Art Therapy program in Fall, Plus a couple great Opportunities and three Artblog events to join

Newsy news today about public art, a new Art Therapy program, some congratulations to artists, awesome opportunities locally and out of state, and a couple of Artblog events you will want to know about.