King, a 52-year-old native of Philadelphia, has studios in Northern Liberties and has been commissioned for such massive steel and light constructions across the country. They are also elegant, vaguely high-tech and European. Each beacon comprises 1,000 squares and triangles of glass. At night the interior is lighted by metal halide lights and during the day, the film reacts to multiple light sources to reflect pure transmitted colors. They are made of black granite, stainless steel, aviation cable and bolted sheets of laminated glass with holographic film sandwiched inside. Some disclosure seems to be in order: King was a South Philly neighbor for years.įirst the Beacons: They are massive, 42-feet high and about 20 tons each. The Beacons made their debut on New Year’s Eve 1999 after a typical Philadelphia brouhaha involving the sculptor, Ray King the Department of Licenses and Inspections, the Office of Arts and Culture, the Streets Department, the Americans with Disabilities Act, several lawyers and a good portion of the arts community. Actually, in South Philly, it is still known as Washington and Broad, demonstrating that neighborhood residents abide by the notion that many are called but few are chosen. No public art in South Philadelphia, however, has achieved widespread acceptance as quickly as the Philadelphia Beacons, the four imposing light towers - one on each corner - at the intersection of Washington Avenue and the Avenue of the Arts. Some of these are in small, semi-private pocket parks, others stand out over the skyline and still others have become symbols of the area. Who has never heard the phrase, "Meet you at the Clothespin?"īut South Philly has its own traditions of public art and architecture. Three generations of Philadelphia sculptors - grandfather, father and son - all named Alexander.Īnother example, although residents may mock it, is a piece of modern sculpture that has made its way into the folklore. As a city, Philadelphia is proud yet passive about its public art.Īt midtown, there’s Calder’s Billy Penn, up the Franklin Parkway at Logan Square there’s Calder’s Swann Fountain and over at the Art Museum hangs the Calder mobile.
0 kommentar(er)
