Association For Public Art

TO COMMISSION, INTERPRET, PROMOTE AND PRESERVE PUBLIC ART IN PHILADELPHIA."

ACQUIRE AND COMMISSION PUBLIC ART: THE ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC ART (APA) 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. A RECIPIENT OF THE NATIONAL PUBLIC ART NETWORK AWARD FROM THE AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS (AFTA), THE APA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS INNOVATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS, EXEMPLARY COMMITMENT, AND LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC ART. DURING THE SECOND YEAR OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN FY2021, THE APA CONTINUED TO ADAPT TO THE CHALLENGES OF REMOTE AND HYBRID WORK, AND BUILD UPON ITS EXISTING ROBUST OFFERINGS OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMS AND DIGITAL WEBSITE CONTENT. WORK AT THIS TIME INCLUDED INSTALLING THE SCULPTURE "MAJA" BY GERHARD MARCKS IN A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PARK BEARING ITS NAME, HOSTING NANCY BAKER CAHILL'S AUGMENTED REALITY "LIBERTY BELL" INSTALLATION, REFLECTING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE MESSAGING AND MONUMENTS, ASSISTING WITH THE MARIAN ANDERSON SCULPTURE PROJECT, AND PLANNING FOR APA'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.MAJA PARK AND SCULPTURE INSTALLATION: THE APA COLLABORATED WITH PHILADELPHIA PARKS AND RECREATION ON THE DESIGN OF MAJA PARK, A NEW URBAN PARK AT 22ND STREET AND THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY TO FEATURE THE SCULPTURE "MAJA" (1942) BY GERMAN ARTIST GERHARD MARCKS. THE APA PURCHASED THE SCULPTURE IN 1949 FROM ITS 3RD SCULPTURE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AT THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART. THE SCULPTURE STOOD ON THE MUSEUM'S EAST TERRACE UNTIL 1992, WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO STORAGE. AN IMPORTANT MODERNIST ARTIST, MARCKS WORK WAS DECLARED "DEGENERATE" BY THE NAZIS, WHO BARRED HIM FROM EXHIBITING, AND DESTROYED MANY OF HIS SCULPTURES. REGARDLESS OF SUCH ADVERSITY, HE CONTINUED TO WORK, AND THE GERHARD-MARCKS-HAUS MUSEUM WAS LATER FOUNDED IN BREMEN, GERMANY. CONSTRUCTION FOR MAJA PARK BEGAN IN OCTOBER 2020, AND FOLLOWING YEARS OF STORAGE, THE SCULPTURE WAS INSTALLED THERE IN THE SPRING AND DEDICATED ON JUNE 23, 2021. PRIOR TO INSTALLATION THE BRONZE SCULPTURE RECEIVED CONSERVATION TREATMENT BY ADAM JENKINS CONSERVATION SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDED LASER CLEANING OF THE SURFACE TO REDUCE GREEN STREAKING, AND THE APPLICATION OF A PROTECTIVE WAX COATING TO HELP UNIFY ITS VISUAL APPEARANCE. A VIDEO DOCUMENTING THE TREATMENT PROCESS FEATURING THE CONSERVATOR AND APA'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR WAS PRODUCED BY GREENHOUSE MEDIA AND POSTED ON THE APA'S WEBSITE AS PART OF THE INTERPRETIVE AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS ABOUT THE SCULPTURE. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDED COMMISSIONING DR. PAUL JASCOT FROM DUKE UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE THE ESSAY "GERHARD MARCKS AND THE NAZI CONCEPT OF DEGENERATE ART, AND ENGAGING DR. ARIE HARTOG, DIRECTOR OF GERHARD-MARCKS-HAUS AS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE APA'S VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING IN MAY 2021. A MUSEUM WITHOUT WALLS SIGN AND AUDIO PROGRAM WERE PRODUCED ABOUT THE SCULPTURE, FEATURING DR. HARTOG, DR. JASKOT, AND APA TRUSTEE AND PUBLIC ART CRITIC PATRICIA PHILLIPS. ADDITIONALLY, A SERIES OF FREE OUTDOOR CONCERTS, "MONDAYS WITH MAJA," WERE PERFORMED AT THE SITE IN SEPTEMBER 2021 BY MEMBERS OF THE MUSICIANS UNION, SPONSORED BY MAJA PARK COLLABORATING PARTNERS APARTMENT INCOME REIT CORPORATION (AIR) AND PHILADELPHIA PARKS AND RECREATION."LIBERTY BELL" BY NANCY BAKER CAHILL: THE APA WAS A HOST PARTNER FOR THE AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) WORK "LIBERTY BELL "BY ARTIST NANCY BAKER CAHILL, LAUNCHED ON JULY 4, 2020 BY THE ART PRODUCTION FUND IN FOUR OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY--AN IDEAL ART PROJECT FOR COVID-19 TIMES AS IT COULD BE VIEWED IN A PUBLIC SPACE WHILE ADHERING TO SOCIAL-DISTANCING GUIDELINES. A VIRTUAL TALK AND Q&A, "AUGMENTED REALITY, ACTIVISM, AND PUBLIC ART," WAS HELD IN OCTOBER, 2020 FOR THE DESIGNPHILADELPHIA FESTIVAL FEATURING THE ARTIST, THE ART PRODUCTION FUND, AND APA'S ASSISTANT CURATOR. THE AR WORK WAS ON VIEW THROUGH JULY 2021 AT EAKINS OVAL LOOKING TOWARD THE FAMOUS FRONT STEPS OF THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART. MESSAGING & MONUMENTS: DURING FY 2021 APA CONTINUED TO REFLECT ON THE ONGOING RACIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT AND PROMOTE EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSIVENESS--A DIRECTIVE IN APA'S STRATEGIC PLAN. IN ADDITION TO POSTING A POSITION STATEMENT EXPRESSING BLACK LIVES MATTER SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT, ONGOING EFFORTS INCLUDE EXAMINING AND AUDITING OUR WEBSITE, DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE MESSAGING STRATEGIES, AND UPDATING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES, INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS, PROGRAMS, COMMISSIONS, AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES.MARIAN ANDERSON SCULPTURE PROJECT: IN 2021 THE APA'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOINED A TASK FORCE OF ARTS AND CIVIC LEADERS TO GUIDE THE CURATORIAL PROCESS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS FOR THE COMMISSION OF A SCULPTURAL MEMORIAL TO FAMED OPERA SINGER AND CIVIC RIGHTS ICON MARIAN ANDERSON AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC ON SOUTH BROAD STREET. THE MARIAN ANDERSON STATUE WILL EXPAND PHILADELPHIA'S LIMITED COLLECTION OF SCULPTURAL MEMORIALS TO WOMEN AND BE THE FIRST OF A HISTORIC BLACK FEMALE FIGURE IN THE CITY'S HISTORY. THE APA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES TO PLACE MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS IN PHILADELPHIA. 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION PLANNING: THE APA WILL CELEBRATE ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2022, AND IS DEVELOPING PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL ALIGN WITH APA'S STRATEGIC PLAN AND BUILD ON ITS LONGEVITY, CREATIVITY, AND EXPERIENCE RELATED TO THE FOUR MISSION-DRIVEN AREAS OF ACQUIRING AND COMMISSIONING, PRESERVING, PROMOTING, AND INTERPRETING PUBLIC ART IN PHILADELPHIA. DURING 2021 PLANNING FOR A MAJOR NEW SCULPTURE COMMISSION CONTINUED, INCLUDING SECURING AND UNDERTAKING WEIGHT LOAD TESTS AT A PARKWAY SITE, NEGOTIATING A PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL AGREEMENT, MAKING STAKEHOLDER CONNECTIONS, AND PREPARING FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES. THE APA ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE RESTORATION OF MARK DI SUVERO'S 40' HIGH "IROQUOIS" (1983-1999) LOCATED AT THE END OF THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY. PLANNING FOR THE RESTORATION ENTAILED DEVELOPING A SCOPE OF WORK, IDENTIFYING A CONSERVATION PROFESSIONAL AND SUBCONTRACTORS, AND PREPARING FOR THE TEMPORARY REMOVAL OF THE SCULPTURE TO AN INDUSTRIAL PAINT FACILITY.

PRESERVE PUBLIC ART: THE APA'S COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT AGENDA FOR 2021 INCLUDED OUTDOOR SCULPTURE CONSERVATION, SPECIAL CONSERVATION TREATMENTS, LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION, AND DIGITIZATION OF APA'S HISTORIC ARCHIVES.OUTDOOR SCULPTURE CONSERVATION: THE APA'S ANNUAL OUTDOOR SCULPTURE CONSERVATION MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IS THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING OUTDOOR SCULPTURE CONSERVATION MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IN THE NATION. DURING FY 2021 OVER 30 BRONZE, METAL AND STONE SCULPTURES OF HISTORIC AND ARTISTIC SIGNIFICANCE RECEIVED TREATMENT. THE SCULPTURES WERE INSPECTED, CLEANED, AND STABILIZED TO PROTECT THEM FROM FURTHER DETERIORATION. SPECIAL CONSERVATION TREATMENTS: SPECIAL TREATMENTS IN 2021 INCLUDED REPLACING NAILER BOARDS AND MISSING BENCH SLATS FOR JOHN KINDNESS' "THE LABOR MONUMENT" (2010) IN SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA, PROVIDING RENEWED SURFACE TREATMENTS FOR THREE STONE SCULPTURES, CLEANING STEPHEN BERG AND TOM CHIMES' "SLEEPING WOMAN" (1991), AND REPAINTING ROBERT MORRIS' "THE WEDGES" (1970) ON KELLY DRIVE. AS PART OF OUR STEWARDSHIP, ONGOING MAINTENANCE EMERGENCIES--INCLUDING STORM DAMAGE, VANDALISM, AND GRAFFITI REMOVAL--WERE ALSO ADDRESSED. LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION: THE APA OVERSEES LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION AT THE "ELLEN PHILLIPS SAMUEL MEMORIAL SCULPTURE GARDEN." THE APA'S CONTRACTORS PROVIDED MUD CLEAN UPS AND LANDSCAPE RESTORATION FOLLOWING FLOODING FROM TROPICAL STORM IDA IN 2021. ARCHIVES DIGITIZATION: IN 2021 THE APA BEGAN WORK WITH INNOVATIVE DOCUMENT IMAGING (IDI) AND WEBSITE DESIGNERS BLUECADET TO DIGITALLY SCAN OUR HISTORIC MINUTE BOOKS DATING FROM 1871-1973. THESE DOCUMENTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED PORTAL ON APA'S WEBSITE, SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE IN 2022 ALONG WITH DIGITAL SCANS OF APA'S ANNUAL REPORTS FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD. AS THE ONLY SOURCE OF ITS KIND, THE HISTORIC MINUTE BOOK COLLECTION WILL BE THE FIRST DIGITAL ARCHIVE TO OFFER A SEARCHABLE HISTORY OF THE BEGINNINGS OF THE PUBLIC ART FIELD IN THE U.S.OVERALL 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 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.INTERPRETATION: 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 ON A DEDICATED WEBSITE AS STREAMING AUDIO AND AUDIO SLIDESHOWS. DURING FY 2021, THE PROGRAM WAS FURTHER DEVELOPED, ADDING TO THE NUMBER OF SCULPTURES, VOICES, STOPS AND INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE. MUSEUM WITHOUT WALLS: AUDIO NOW FEATURES OVER 76 STOPS WITH MORE THAN 190 VOICES DISCUSSING THE SCULPTURES. PUBLIC PROGRAMS & EVENTS: THE APA OFFERS PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. IN RESPONSE TO EXPANDING ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS DURING COVID TIMES, THE APA CONTINUED TO DEVELOP ITS ROBUST OFFERING OF "DEEP-DIVE" MATERIAL, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-GUIDED VIRTUAL TOURS AND TALKS, AND CREATED A NEW LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER POSITION. IN OCTOBER 2020 IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MILLES MUSEUM IN STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, THE APA COMPILED A "DEEP-DIVE" WEBSITE AND EMAIL POST ABOUT CARL MILLES' POPULAR "PLAYING ANGELS" (1950) SCULPTURES IN FAIRMOUNT PARK. OTHER COLLABORATIONS IN FY 2021 INCLUDED CREATING AN INTERACTIVE "MONUMENTAL TOUR" PHONE APP WITH KINDRED ARTS HIGHLIGHTING ADJACENT AND RELATED LOCAL PUBLIC ART TO ACCOMPANY THEIR TOURING EXHIBITION OF SCULPTURES BY BLACK ARTISTS. THE TEMPORARY EXHIBITION WAS DESIGNED TO CHALLENGE COLONIAL IDEAS OF POWER, COMMUNITY AND INCARCERATION AND WAS LOCATED AT VARIOUS PUBLIC SITES ALONG THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY AND THE CHERRY STREET PIER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PHILADELPHIA PARKS AND RECREATION. THE APA REPEATED THIS STRATEGY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MANN CENTER AND FAIRMOUNT PARK CONSERVANCY FOR COMPOSER ELLEN REID'S SOUND PIECE "SOUNDWALK" IN FAIRMOUNT PARK. A SELF-GUIDED PUBLIC ART TOUR AROUND UNIVERSITY CITY WAS ADDITIONALLY CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY CITY BUSINESS DISTRICT IN WEST PHILADELPHIA.DURING FY 2021 THE APA'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PARTICIPATED AS THE CLOSING SPEAKER FOR THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM'S VIRTUAL SERIES ON MONUMENTS, DELIVERING "THEN AND NOW: MONUMENTS, MEMORIALS AND PUBLIC ART." OUR "KIDS OUTDOOR SCULPTURE FUN GUIDE" REMAINED AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR FAMILIES TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT USING THEIR HOME EQUIPMENT. THE APA'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES ALSO APPROVED THE CREATION OF A NEW LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER STAFF POSITION TO OVERSEE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND HELP EXPAND APA'S AUDIENCE. THE SEARCH FOR THE POSITION BEGAN IN THE FALL FY 2021, WITH AN APPOINTMENT ANTICIPATED IN EARLY 2022.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, AND VIMEO. 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 RESPONSIVE WEBSITE DESIGNED BY THE AWARD-WINNING FIRM BLUECADET, RECEIVED THE SILVER AWARD FOR DESIGN FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF LNTERACTIVE AND VISUAL ARTS, AND WAS NOMINATED FOR A "WEBBY" AWARD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF DIGITAL ARTS AND SCIENCES.