Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Tour: South Philly

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The South Philly Tour covers a large area and includes long stretches with no art at all, but the art is worth seeing, and the tour will take you through a section of the city you might not otherwise visit. SEPTA has good bus service throughout South Philly. You might want to consider using the bus for some of the longer artless stretches or do the whole thing by bicycle. We start at Broad and Morris and then go

Mother and Child (or See the Moon)
Evelyn Keyser, 1968 (Smithsonian says 1964)
* seated people
* Moved to the current location in 2017. Was in a plaza in front of the original Health Center where the new building now stands. Last picture is from the original location.
* In front of the South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center. West side of Broad, South of Morris.
* 39.928975,-75.168875 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+inquirer.com Evelyn Keyser obituary




PSFS Franklin Logo
1924 (year of building)
* relief bust of Benjamin Franklin
* big head, PSFS logo
* inscription:
PHILADELPHIA SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY
CRESCIT EUNDO
1706-1790
* Wall. Southeast corner, Broad, McKean, and Passyunk.
* 39.925460,-75.169250 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+philadelphiabuilding.org's entry for the building
+The Electric Franklin




Sun Arc
Gary Weisman, 1991
* abstract figures, list of months
* visible through the fence
* Plaza. South side of East Passyunk Community Center. Northeast corner, 11th and Mifflin.
* 39.926175,-75.163700 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+garyweisman.net




Bishop Neumann and Southeast Catholic War Memorials
* Statue of Mary
* standing person, flowers, Army, Navy, and Marine insignia, eagle
* The stone lists students with graduation dates from 1955 to 1968
* inscription:
plaque top:
In memory of those who gave their lives
plaque bottom:
1941 World War II 1945
stone top:
In memory of those men who made the supreme sacrifice
Southeast Catholic, Bishop Neumann
stone bottom:
I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith.
Timothy 4:7-8
* East side of Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School. West side of 10th at Moore.
* 39.927150,-75.162200 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page




The Singing Fountain
* fountain, standing people (including a mermaid), bowl, musical instruments, birds, flowers
* In the middle of the triangle formed by 11th, Passyunk, and Tasker.
* 39.929900,-75.163210 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Unidentified




Thunderbolt Jackson
Isaiah Zagar, 2002
* abstract mosaic, partial people
* The artist lists this piece as "Thunderbolt Jackson" but the spelling in the piece itself is "Jaxon"
* Wall. Northeast corner 10th and Dickinson.
* 39.930850,-75.161175 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+phillymagicgardens.org




Stack of Checkers
Charles Fahlen, 1983
* big checkers
* Building entrance overhang. Senior citizen center, West side of Passyunk North of Dickinson.
* 39.931300,-75.162250 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Charles Fahlen page




Phoenix Above Maltese Cross
Sarala Ruth Pinto, 1962
* phoenix, maltese cross
* Wall. East side of 12th North of Reed.
* 39.932600,-75.163885 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters




St. Maron Church Cross and Mosaics
1902 (year of building)
* symbol and mosaics of Jesus and Mary
* three bar cross, standing person, held child, headgear, ship, buildings, clouds, plants, candle
* The upper mosaic says 1997 at the bottom
* Front wall and entrance. Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church. North side of Ellsworth, West of 10th.
* 39.935762,-75.160576 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Mosaic
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page




Hawthorne Center Hands
Lynn Denton, 1997
* hand prints, names
* East Wall. Hawthorne Cultural Center. West side of 12th, South of Carpenter.
* 39.938350,-75.162925 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+lynnbdenton.com




4 Seasons
Mike Smash, 2003
* sun and moon, dragonfly, plants and leaves
* Bottom of the North wall. Hawthorne Cultural Center. South side of Carpenter, West of 12th.
* 39.938550,-75.163000 [map] [nearby]




Object for Expression
Warren C. Holzman, 2012
* In honor of a speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.
* podium
* inscription:
for impromptu performances and oration -
in honor of the neighborhood's musical history
and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s
1965 speech at 13th and Fitzwater Streets
* East side of Hawthorne Park. Northwest of the Northwest corner, 12th and Catharine.
* 39.940650,-75.162700 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+ironstudioltd.com
+wikipedia.org's Martin Luther King, Jr. page




Turtle
Eric Berg, 1978
* big turtle
* visible through the fence
* North side of Fitzwater, East of 10th.
* 39.941060,-75.158475 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+Eric Berg Studios




Philadelphia Maneto
1905 (approximate, installed 2014)
* small standing women, scroll, cornucopia, shield, disembodied hand and arm, scales and plow, ship
* Was at the Fante-Leone Public Pool at Montrose and Darien, which was closed in 2004.
* East end of Cianfrani Park. Northeast of the Northeast corner of 8th and Fitzwater.
* 39.940650,-75.155100 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+philaplace.org article about the Fonte-Leone Public Pool
+hiddencityphila.org article about the city seal which mentions this version




Fleisher Gates
Max Reese
* abstract ironwork
* Samuel Yellin is listed as the sculptor of the Fleisher Gates in the Smithsonian catalog. but the picture of the 1934 gates does not match the pattern of the gates pictured here and Max Reese's obituary says he "designed and built the gate to The Fleisher Art Memorial".
* Gates. Near the back of Palumbo Park on the West side of the Fleisher Art Memorial. North side of Catherine between 7th and 8th.
* 39.939275,-75.155410 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+Max Reese obituary




Fleisher Medallion
1886 (year of building)
* Representation of Jesus and Mary
* small people standing, partial people, winged cherubs, headgear, plants
* Wall. Fleisher Art Memorial. North side of Catherine between 7th and 8th.
* 39.939090,-75.155225 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page




Fleisher Window Grill
Max Reese
* abstract lines
* Front wall. Fleisher Art Memorial. North side of Catherine between 7th and 8th.
* 39.939090,-75.155050 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+Max Reese obituary




Napoli Pizza
Isaiah Zagar, 2011
* big abstract partial people, hats
* Walls. East side of 7th, North of Carpenter.
* 39.937140,-75.154880 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+phillymagicgardens.org




Untitled
Mack Maroshick, 1970
* group of children standing spelling the word cat
* Earlier pictures found on the internet suggest this piece may have been reconfigured since it was originally installed.
* Wall. North side of the Shot Tower Recreation Center. North side of Carpenter West of Front.
* 39.934800,-75.146100 [map] [nearby]




From River to Sea and Back
2014
* small fish sign
* inscription: Alewife, Striped Bass, American Eel, American Sturgeon, American Shad
* Washington Avenue Pier. East of Columbus and Washington.
* 39.932250,-75.140500 [map] [nearby]




Along the Atlantic Flyway
2014
* small bird sign
* Washington Avenue Pier. East of Columbus and Washington.
* 39.932325,-75.140425 [map] [nearby]




Land Buoy
Jody Pinto, 2014
* big pole, stairs
* Washington Avenue Pier. East of Columbus and Washington.
* 39.932300,-75.140400 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+jodypinto.com




Golden Slippers
Harold Kimmelman, 1973
* symbol of mummery
* North of Philip and Manton just South of Federal.
* 39.932750,-75.148000 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+hksculpt.com




Mummer
Ken Clark, 1982
* standing person
* Center of Dickinson Square. 4th and Tasker.
* 39.927650,-75.151650 [map] [nearby]




I-95 Sound Barrier Reliefs
* abstract ship, water, standing mummer, headgear, buildings
* Wall. East side of Front at Morris.
* 39.926400,-75.147200 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Unidentified




The Family
Harold Kimmelman, 1982
* small standing people
* Plaza/courtyard/walkway. Pennsport Mall. East side of Moyamensing between Moore and McClellan.
* 39.925425,-75.150725 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+hksculpt.com




Fire Rescue Scene of Infant
Rebecca Rose, 1986
* small people standing, carried, helmets, fire-fighting equipment, parts of building
* Wall. South side of Snyder just West of 4th.
* 39.922225,-75.153775 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters




Family
Neil Lieberman, 1970 (approximate)
* abstract standing people
* pictures have been retouched to remove some of the white paint
* Wall. Ford Recreation Center. North side of Snyder between 6th and 7th.
* 39.922950,-75.157600 [map] [nearby]




Walt Whitman
Leonard Baskin, 1981
* Bust of Walt Whitman
* head
* In front of Whitman Plaza. 4th and Oregon.
* 39.914700,-75.156260 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Leonard Baskin page
+wikipedia.org's Walt Whitman page


Possible trip extension:Independence Mall (Route 47 bus from Whitman Plaza North to 7th and Chestnut)
Possible trip extension:Old City (Route 57 bus from Whitman Plaza to 3rd and Walnut)
Possible trip extension:South Broad (Route 7 bus from 5th and Oregon to Broad and Oregon)

See Also

+myphillypark.org/cianfrani-park
+tclf.org's Dickinson Square Park page
+eastpassyunkcommunitycenter.org
+Fleisher Art Memorial
+saintmaron.org
+neumanngorettihs.org
+ushistory.org's Shot Tower page
+vsba.com page for the Community Health and Literacy Center
+visitphilly.com's Washington Avenue Pier page