Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

MVP

MVP
Brian McCutcheon, 2019
* statue inspired by Ora Washington
* small standing person, basketball
* inscription:
MVP depicts a young, African American female basketball player, She has just taken possession of the ball and is poised in a decisive moment which will dictate what happens next. The statue represents the power and potential of young girls, exemplifying the pursuit of success through dedication and hard work.
The artwork is inspired by Ora Washington (1898-1971). Ms. Washington was a legendary trailblazing Philadelphian who excelled in basketball and tennis. She played for the Philadelphia Tribunes basketball team from 1931 to 1943 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. A multitalented athlete, she was also the American Tennis Association's National Women's Tennis Champion every year from 1925 to 1937.
Ms. Washington's achievements in the face of racial oppression and its systemic obstacles to equal opportunity embody the narrative of determination triumphing over injustice.
* Smith Playground. Southwest of the Southwest corner, 24th and Snyder.
* 39.925890,-75.187240 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Athletic, Black Lives
* See also:
+brianmccutcheon.com
+wikipedia.org's Ora Washington page