Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Nearby 39.958450,-75.167100

List View | Map View

Big Ben at Franklin Town
Alexander L. Generalis, Tom Miles, 1992
* Bust of Benjamin Franklin
* big head, eyeglasses, lightning bolts, arch, kite, implied keys
* The eight seat-sized posts each have a letter inscribed on top, spelling out FRANKLIN.
* Bridge over I-676. 17th and Vine.
* 39.958450,-75.167100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* See also:
+milesstudios.info
+wikipedia.org's Benjamin Franklin page

Mary
* statue of Mary
* standing person, kneeling person, head covering, rosary
* Was in the parking lot on the Southwest corner of 17th and Vine. As of 5/19/2021 the brick pedestals and spotlight are still in place, but the pieces are sitting near the wall further West on Vine behind parked cars (see last picture).
* 39.958125,-75.167450 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing, Religious, Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page
+archphila.org

Epiphany Chapel
Isaac Pursell (Architect), 1898
* standing angel, heads
* As of 11/25/2024 there are several very different histories of this building on the web. I am choosing to believe the Epiphany Chapel section of the wikipedia page for St. Luke and the Epiphany, though I have not yet found any corroborating evidence that Pursell was the architect.
* inscription: Gloria In Excelcis Deo
* Whole building. Saint John Chrysostom. East side of 17th, South of Vine.
* 39.957850,-75.167300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's St. Luke and the Epiphany page
+Gargoyle Hunter page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Isaac Pursell page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Isaac Pursell page
+oca.org's Saint John Chrysostom parish page

Bird
Joseph J. Greenberg, Jr., 1980 (date of building)
* big bird
* Was between 16th and 17th, Race and Vine on the North side of the hotel which was the Wyndham Franklin Plaza and then the Sheraton Center City. Disappeared some time around 2017 when the Franklin Plaza complex was reconfigured.
* Was in the driveway entrance.
* 39.957700,-75.166900 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing
* See also:
+nytimes.com Joseph J. Greenberg obituary

Medallions
Victoria Davila, 1986
* abstract plant forms
* Described as "oak leaves" and "acanthus leaf" on the artist's Natural Forms page.
* Wall. North side of Wood, East of 17th (just North of Vine).
* 39.959450,-75.166750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* See also:
+artist's Natural Forms page with entries for this piece
+victoriadavila.com

Angel Moroni
Karl Quilter, 1998 (original, copy installed 2016)
* Statue of Angel Moroni
* striding person, trumpet
* This piece can be seen for blocks, especially on bright days. The last picture was taken from taken from Logan Square during construction of the Temple.
* Top of the East tower. Mormon Temple. North side of Vine, West of 17th.
* 39.959040,-75.167960 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+article about the installation of this piece at churchofjesuschrist.org
+legacy.com's Karl Quilter obituary
+wikipedia.org's Angel Moroni page
+ldschurchtemples.com's Philadelphia page

Freedom
Zenos Frudakis, 2000
* small people standing, parts of people, tools, cat
* Wall. South side of Vine, West of 16th.
* 39.957975,-75.166000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* See also:
+artist's page for this piece
+zenosfrudakis.com

Video Arbor
Nam June Paik, 1990
* real plants, abstract video and images
* Entrance. East side of Franklin Town Blvd. between Wood and Callowhill (one block North of 17th and Vine).
* 39.959925,-75.167640 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* See also:
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+paikstudios.com
+wikipedia.org's Nam June Paik page

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Crucifixion
1993 (installed? year St. Elizabeth was closed)
* statue of Jesus
* small group of people standing and crucified, kneeling, with headgear
* Was in the parking lot on the Northwest corner of 17th and Race. As of 5/19/2021 the pieces are near the wall on Vine behind a fence and parked cars (see last picture). The crucified Christ appears to be horizontal on the sidewalk. I have no information about the relationship between the statues and St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, or who the three women are.
* inscription: St. Elizabeth Catholic Church founded 1872
* 39.956950,-75.167700 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing, Religious, Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+archphila.org

Diego de Gardoqui
Luis Sanguino, 1977
* Statue of Diego de Gardoqui
* standing person, piece of paper
* A number of different artists' names are listed in various places, but this one seems most likely. In 2012 this piece was moved inside Sister Cities Park, and the Children's Garden was built around it
* inscription:
1735-1798
Envoy of the King of Spain
* Children's Garden, Sister Cities Park, East side of Logan Square. West side of 18th, South of Vine.
* 39.958185,-75.169225 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Favorites, Moved
* See also:
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Luis Sanguino page
+wikipedia.org's Diego de Gardoqui page
+wikipedia.org's Logan Circle page

John Nepomucene Neumann (Cathedral)
1972
* Statue of John Nepomucene Neumann
* small standing person, cross
* inscription:
Born in Bohemia 1811.
Redemptionist Missionary.
Father of the parochial schools in the United States.
Died in Philadelphia 1860.
Fourth Bishop of Philadelphia.
Man of God.
* Outside the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. East side 18th Street, North of the Parkway.
* 39.957840,-75.168900 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's John Nepomucene Neumann page
+ushistory.org page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building

Family Unity
Giuseppe Donato, 1940
* big group of people sitting, dog, dove, books, plants, symbols of justice, law, and peace
* East pediment. Family Court (old building). North side of Vine West of 18th.
* 39.959050,-75.169125 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+findagrave.com entry for Giuseppe Donato
+philadelphiabuildings.org Municipal Courthouse entry

General Galusha Pennypacker
Charles Grafly, Albert Laessle, 1934
* Statue of Galusha Pennypacker
* standing person wearing a helmet, cats, cannon
* inscription:
Galusha Pennypacker
Brevet Major General
United States Army
1844-1916
* North side of Logan Square. Parkway East of 19th.
* 39.958515,-75.169675 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Favorites, War
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1935 picture of this piece
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Charles Grafly page
+wikipedia.org's Albert Laessle page
+wikipedia.org's Galusha Pennypacker page
+wikipedia.org's Logan Circle page

Thomas Fitzsimons
Giuseppe Donato, 1946
* Statue of Thomas Fitzsimons
* standing person, quill
* inscription:
front: Born in Ireland, 1741, died in Philadelphia, 1811. Member of Continental Congress, Signer of Constitution, Member of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Congress.
back: Erected by the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick
* East side of Logan Square. West of 18th, between Race and Vine.
* 39.958000,-75.169290 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+phillyhistory.org 1946 picture of this piece
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+findagrave.com entry for Giuseppe Donato
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Fitzsimons page
+wikipedia.org's Logan Circle page

Jesus, The Bread of Life
Walter Erlebacher, 1976 (installed 1978)
* Statue of Jesus
* small standing person, food
* Also listed as "Jesus Breaking Bread". Originally installed nearer the corner on the large patch of grass. Moved some time between October 2016 and June 2017. The last picture is from the original location.
* inscription: 4th International Eucharistic Congress
* Against the West wall of the house on the South side of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. North side of Race West of 18th.
* 39.957110,-75.168575 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Moved
* See also:
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Walter Erlebacher page
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+ushistory.org page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building

Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
Joseph Sibbel, 1915 (installed)
* Statues of Jesus, Mary, Saint Paul and Saint Peter
* standing people, sword, scroll, key
* Front wall. Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. East side of 18th Street, North of the Parkway.
* 39.957500,-75.169010 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Joseph Sibbel page
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's Paul the Apostle page
+wikipedia.org's Saint Peter page
+ushistory.org page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building

Sister Cities Fountain
Bryan Hanes, 2012
* fountain
* Plaza. South end of Sister Cities Park, East side of Logan Square. North side of the Parkway, West side of 18th.
* 39.957610,-75.169325 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+centercityphila.org's page for this piece
+studiobryanhanes.com
+wikipedia.org's Logan Circle page

Kopernik
Dudley Talcott, 1972 (installed 1973)
* Memorial to Nicolaus Copernicus
* big abstract representation of Earth's relationship to the sun
* Between the Parkway and Race, East of 18th.
* 39.956800,-75.168525 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Dudley Talcott page
+wikipedia.org's Nicolaus Copernicus page

Pope John Paul II
1980
* Commemorative plaque with bust of Pope John Paul II
* small head
* Was on the West side of the circle. Removed during the 2005 renovation and replaced on the East side.
* inscription:
This plaque commemerates the site where his holiness
Pope John Paul II celebrated mass and proclaimed his message of peace and love to the people of Philadelphia and the nation October 9, 1979
Presented by the Philadelphia Chapter, Knights of Columbus October 9, 1980
* Northeast entrance of the circle. Logan Square. 19th and the Parkway.
* 39.958100,-75.170100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Moved, Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Pope John Paul II page
+wikipedia.org's Logan Circle page