Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Exhibit: Labor

Philadelphia Public Art dealing in general with labor, paid and unpaid, and the labor movement.

Pony Express
* horse, sitting person, hat, plants
* Entrance. Nix Federal Building. West side of 9th, South of Market.
* 39.950950,-75.155300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson Center City Campus tour
* Other exhibits: Unidentified
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Nix Federal Building page

Pony Express Rider
* small seated person, hat, horse, plants, mesas
* Over the door. North side of Chestnut,West of 9th.
* 39.949975,-75.156110 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson Center City Campus tour
* Other exhibits: Unidentified

Solidarity
* idea flag sign
* inscription: Teachers Local 3 AFT AFL-CIO
* Front wall. Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. South side of Chestnut between 18th and 19th.
* 39.951660,-75.171100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+pft.org

Masonic Temple Entrance
James H. Windrim (Architect), 1868 - 1873
* big geometric patterns
* Entrance. Masonic Temple. Northeast corner, Broad and JFK.
* 39.953675,-75.163145 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Masonic Temple page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's James H. Windrim page
+pamasonictemple.org

Cowboy
Frederic Remington, 1908
* seated person, hat, horse
* Other side of Kelly Drive past the Girard Avenue Bridge.
* 39.977740,-75.193860 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1910 picture of this piece
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+Frederic Remington Art Museum

Fidelity Mutual Building
Lee Lawrie, 1926 - 1927
* Building renamed in honor of Raymond G. Perelman and Ruth Perelman
* big and small people standing sitting, furniture, weapons, kite, ships, tools and machines, dogs, horses, alligators, elephants, owls, squirrels, buildings, trains, plants, symbols and words
* Originally an insurance building. Donated to the Art Museum by the Perelmans. The pictures here are only a representative sampling of the art.
* inscription:
Pennsylvania side:
In the honor and perpetuity of the family is founded the state. In the nobler life of the household is the nobler life of mankind.
26th side:
He labors best who loves best : the finest work of a man's life is to open the doors of opportunity to those who depend on him.
* The whole building. Perelman Annex. Northwest corner of Fairmount and Pennsylvania.
* 39.967490,-75.179490 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+Max Buten's picture of one of the reliefs
+Another Max Buten picture of one of the reliefs
+wikipedia.org's Lee Lawrie page
+wikipedia.org's Raymond G. Perlman page

Philadelphia School of Occupational Therapy Reliefs
1930 (philadelphiabuildings,org says 1935)
* small people sitting and kneeling, tools
* There are 4 identical reliefs, two on each side of the main entrance. The one closest to the corner is pictured.
* Wall. Northeast corner, 19th and Lombard.
* 39.945735,-75.173175 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* Other exhibits: Medical

Handshake
1934
* big hands
* Former headquarters of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
* Over the entrance. North side of South, East of 22nd.
* 39.945250,-75.177775 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* See also:
+ Reference to the building from library.temple.edu

Mail Delivery
Edmond Amateis, 1934
* standing people, dogs, plants, fruit, mail and mailboxes, sled, truck, hats
* Wall. Nix Federal Building. West side of 9th between Chestnut and Market.
* 39.950550,-75.155400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson Center City Campus tour
* Other exhibits: Black Lives
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Edmond Amateis page
+wikipedia.org's Nix Federal Building page

Penn Mutual Building Doors
1934
* small groups of people standing, sitting, machines and tools, furniture, baskets and jugs, books and scrolls, dogs, flowers, weapons, helmet, head in profile
* Entrance. Penn Mutual Building. South side of Walnut between 5th and 6th.
* 39.947525,-75.150250 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building

The Miner
John B. Flannagan, 1938
* crouching person, miner's tools
* inscription: They searched the earth for treasure.
* Central Terrace Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial. Kelly Drive, past Boat House Row.
* 39.973375,-75.190850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's John Bernard Flannagan page
+ushistory.org's Samuel Memorial tour page

The Ploughman
J. Wallace Kelly, 1938
* kneeling person
* inscription: They broke the land for harvest.
* Central Terrace Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial. Kelly Drive, past Boat House Row.
* 39.973425,-75.190700 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* See also:
+michenermuseum.org's J. Wallace Kelly Page
+ushistory.org's Samuel Memorial tour page

The Slave
Helene Sardeau, 1940
* kneeling person
* inscription: Their bands have broken asunder.
* Central Terrace Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial. Kelly Drive, past Boat House Row.
* 39.973775,-75.191060 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* Other exhibits: Black Lives
* See also:
+Smithsonian archives photograph of Helene Sardeau in her studio
+ushistory.org's Samuel Memorial tour page

The Laborer
Ahron Ben-Shmuel, 1958
* standing person wearing a helmet
* inscription: He wrought miracles
* North Terrace Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial. Kelly Drive, past Boat House Row.
* 39.974425,-75.191400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* See also:
+michenermuseum.org's Ahron Ben-Shmuel page
+ushistory.org's Samuel Memorial tour page

St. Joseph the Worker
Maurice Lowe, 1967
* Statue of Joseph
* small standing person, carpenter's tools
* In front of Barbelin Hall. Saint Joseph's University. City Line, West of 54th.
* 39.995600,-75.238125 [map] [nearby]
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+mauricelowesculptor.com
+wikipedia.org's Saint Joseph page
+Saint Joseph's University

Women Washing
Dexter Jones, 1968
* three people, one standing, two kneeling, plants, basket, water
* Wall. Lindbergh, Northeast of 58th.
* 39.928310,-75.218950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Southwest Philly tour

Dedicated to the American Secretary
Costantino Nivola, 1970
* abstract standing person
* Moved slightly Northeast some time before June 20, 2014, from back against the wall of the building as in the second picture, to up against the sidewalk railing as in the first picture.
* Plaza. South side of Market, between 4th and 5th.
* 39.950250,-75.148000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* Other exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Costantino Nivola page

Benjamin Franklin, Craftsman
Joe Brown, 1981
* Statue of Benjamin Franklin
* standing person, printing press
* inscription:
Presented to the
City of Philadelphia
by
Pennsylvania Freemasons
Dedicated June 27, 1981
by
The Grand Lodge Free and
Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania
* Northwest corner, Broad and JFK.
* 39.953700,-75.163550 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org Joe Brown page
+The Electric Franklin

Pony Express Rider
Arlene Love, 1981
* horse, seated person wearing a hat
* Up on the wall. East side of 5th, South of Spring Garden.
* 39.959600,-75.146800 [map] [nearby]
* On the Northern Liberties tour
* See also:
+Arlene Love interview on Vimeo

The Triangle Fire
Frank Bramblett, 1983
* fire, clothing manufacturing tools
* Permanently in shadow and not easy to see.
* South wall of the overhang. East side of 4th, North of Chestnut, behind the security grate.
* 39.949475,-75.147250 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire page
+frankbramblett.com

Tribute to Nursing
Cathy Hopkins, 1989
* small people, one standing, one sitting
* inscription:
In honor of
Our Nurses
Past, Present and Future
Genorously donated by
Presbyterian's Nursing Alumni
and
Ladies Aid Society
May 6, 1989
* North side of the traffic circle of the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. East and North of 39th and Filbert.
* 39.958740,-75.199000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Powelton tour
* Other exhibits: Medical
* See also:
+Presbyterian Medical Center

Campbell Square Arch
Warren C. Holzman, 2004
* partial people, tools, church, ship, train, sun, plants, fish, arch, fleur de lis, sign
* Campbell Square. Northeast side of Allegheny at Livingston.
* 39.986025,-75.103875 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Other exhibits: Religious, Mass Transit
* See also:
+ironstudioltd.com

Labour Monument
John Kindness, 2010
* Representations of and quote from Eugene V. Debs, Joe Hill and Karen Gay Silkwood
* partial, standing, sitting and kneeling people, hats, musical instruments, tools, bags and buckets, train, plants
* The title shown is the artist's title. The Association for Public Art lists it as "The Labor Monument: Philadelphia's Tribute to the American Worker"
* inscription:
Eugene V. Debs 1855-1926
1900 Farm Workers "Si Sepuede"
1905 IWW - The Wobblies - "Don't waste your time mourning. Organize." - Joe Hill, 1918
1912 Textile Workers
1968 Sanitation Workers - "I am a man"
Karen Gay Silkwood 1940-74
The worst thief is he who steals the playtime of children
* Center of Elmwood Park. Southwest of 71st and Buist.
* 39.913850,-75.237740 [map] [nearby]
* On the Southwest Philly tour
* Other exhibits: Mass Transit
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Child Labor page
+wikipedia.org's Memphis Sanitation Strike page
+wikipedia.org's United Farm Workers page
+wikipedia.org's John Kindness page
+wikipedia.org's Eugene V. Debs page
+wikipedia.org's Joe Hill page
+wikipedia.org's Karen Silkwood page
+wikipedia.org's Elmwood Park neighborhood page

Memorial to Enslaved People of African Descent in the United States of America
2010
* Quotes from Maya Angelou, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, Frances Ellen Watkin Harper and Barack Obama
* enclosed space, ideas
* This piece features an extensive amount of text, including African sayings, symbols, and a list of African countries. Reproduced here as inscriptions are the text of the plaque, and the quotes from named individuals. This memorial does not seem to have an official name. The name used is shortened from the text of the plaque. The plaque simply labels it "Memorial." The National Park Service web site calls it "a memorial to enslaved Africans." Avenging the Ancestors calls it the "Slavery Memorial." The last picture, of the wall with the names of the enslaved people who lived in the President's House, is part of the President's House exhibit and not the Memorial.
* inscription:
"Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States." -W.E.B. Du Bois
"I ask no monument proud and high to arrest the gaze of the passers-by, all that my yearning spirit craves, is bury me not in a land of slaves." -Frances Ellen Watkin Harper
"You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, bought, sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare praying for a dream." -Maya Angelou
"We gave sought to bind the chains of slavery on the limbs of the black man, without thinking that at last we should find the other end of that hateful chain about our own necks." -Frederick Douglass
"It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom... yes we can, yes we can." -Barack Obama
This enclosed space is dedicated to millions of men, women, and children of African descent who lived, worked, and died as enslaved people in the United States of America. They should never again be forgotten. One of two smokehouse rooms in which three enslaved men slept - Giles, Paris, and Austin - once stood in this area. The close proximity to the Liberty Bell Center reminds us that Liberty was not originally intended for all.
It is difficult to understand how men who spoke so passionately of liberty and freedom were unable to see the contradiction, the injustice, and the immorality of their actions. Enslaved Africans and their descendants endured brutality and mistreatment for over 200 years even as their labor build and enriched the nation. The struggle for freedom and political, social, and economic equality continued even after the legal standing of slavery. The devestating effects of slavery continue to affect race relations to this day. Yet, we must continue to strive for the ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.
The African symbols, words, and quotations on the exterior and interior walls speak to the spirit of hope, the resiliance of the human spirit, and the determination of a people to arise out of bondage to freedom.
City of Philadelphia | National Park Service
* Southeast corner, 6th and Market.
* 39.950300,-75.150050 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* Other exhibits: Black Lives
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Maya Angelou page
+wikipedia.org's Frederick Douglass page
+wikipedia.org's W.E.B. Du Bois page
+wikipedia.org's Frances Ellen Watkin Harper page
+wikipedia.org's Barack Obama page