Tag: City Hall

bookmark_borderOccupy Philly Year Two – The Fight Continues

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by Anonymous

Occupy Philadelphia Year 2
Occupy Philadelphia Year 2

PHILADELPHIA, PA — On September 17th, 2011, the first tents went up at Zuccotti Park in the financial district of New York City. What resulted was an international insurgency of activists committed enough to proclaiming the message of social and economic equality that they would: give up their lives to camp in a public park, educate the people about crimes being committed in their names from Oakland to Chicago to Kalamazoo, erect tent cities (reminiscent of the Hoovervilles of old) and serve as public reminders of Wall Street greed and corrupt government. The world had been occupied.

On October 6th of that same year, Philadelphia took up the call. In the past year, we have taken our message of economic justice, social equality, and a fair economy to the streets, to the the banks and to City Hall. From protests to sit-ins to National Gatherings, we shone a spotlight on the plight of everyday Philadelphians and beyond. We have experienced setbacks in the form of police aggression and political games, but rest assured that we have not been, nor will we be, silenced.

As year two begins, we call on our fellow Philadelphians to Fight the Power. Big bankers and political puppets still mold our city in their image even at the cost of our families and communities. We must not allow big money backed special interests to destroy our communities for their own profits. We must not let politicians sit idly by, pacified by their concern for campaign contributions and let it happen. It is time the people of Philadelphia rose up against corruption.

We invite you to join us on October 6th, 2012 at City Hall at noon. Together we will send a message all over the city of Philadelphia: that the people have come for their due, and we are not going anywhere until justice and equality run uninhibited through the streets.

Occupy Wall Street? Occupy Yourself
Occupy Philadelphia 2011
More Occupy Philadelphia

bookmark_borderThe Philadelphia Sketch Club's 150th Anniversary Exhibition at City Hall

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JOIN US
Thursday, September 2nd,
City Hall 5th floor, NE corner
5-7 pm
in celebration of:

The Philadelphia Sketch Club’s
150th Anniversary Exhibition at City Hall

John Ennis, “Reservations”, oil on canvas.

Philadelphia – The City of Philadelphia’s Art In City Hall exhibition program introduces an exhibition by the Philadelphia Sketch Club in celebration of it’s 150th anniversary. 120 paintings, drawings, photographs and prints adorn the 5th floor corridor near the Offices of City Council and the balcony overlooking Council Chambers. The exhibit runs from September 2nd – October 22, 2010 and is located on the fifth floor, North corridor of City Hall. Visitors should sign in at the NE corner visitor’s entrance and take the elevator to the fifth floor. A reception open to the general public is scheduled for Thursday, September 2nd , from 5-7 pm.

The Philadelphia Sketch Club’s 150th Anniversary Members Exhibition at City Hall celebrates the 150th anniversary of America’s oldest artists club. The Sketch Club was founded on November 20, 1860, by six former students of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) who wanted to improve their skills at illustration. From these early meetings it became apparent the artists benefited from social exchange, seeing the works of others, mutual encouragement and a unique camaraderie. The Club’s membership soon included many painters, sculptors, print makers and art critics who would make their mark on American art history. Important early members included A. B. Frost, Thomas Moran, Edward Moran, Daniel Ridgway Knight and Howard Roberts. In the mid-1870s Thomas Eakins taught life classes at the Sketch Club and used that experience to become an instructor at PAFA when they opened the Furness building in 1876. It was during this time that Eakins painted Philadelphia’s most important painting, The Gross Clinic. In 1912 N. C. Wyeth held his first solo exhibition in the Sketch Club’s gallery. These are but a few of the important highlights from the Club’s history. Linked by their location on the 200 block of South Camac Street to the Plastic Club, an early women’s art club, both clubs remained single gender organizations until 1990. Today, over 50% of the Sketch Club’s members are women. The Club continues today with the same zeal as it did in its early days to fulfill its mission to support and nurture working visual artists, the appreciation of the visual arts, visual arts education and the value of the visual arts to the community.

This exhibition, supported by Art In City Hall and the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, presents a comprehensive look at art being produced by contemporary Philadelphia Sketch Club members. The exhibition is part of a number of 150th anniversary celebratory exhibitions arranged by the Sketch Club at important venues to include the National Constitution Center, Brandywine River Museum, Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Berman Museum of Art, James A. Michener Art Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Woodmere Art Museum and the Free Library of Philadelphia. You can learn more about the Sketch Club at www.sketchclub.org.

Art In City Hall is a collaborative effort between the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and the arts community. It is supported by an independent Advisory Council made up of arts professionals and private citizens. Since the program began in 1984, over 2000 emerging artists have shown their talents in the hallways of City Hall through juried group exhibitions based on specific themes. In addition to these exhibitions, the program also displays artwork from Philadelphia’s schools, other city agencies, local non-profits, and community arts organizations. For more information, visit: www.phila.gov/artincityhall or join us on www.Facebook.com.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=200049&id=106611054824&saved#!/album.php?aid=200049&id=106611054824&ref=mf

The mission of the Office of Arts Culture and the Creative Economy is to improve access to the arts for both residents and visitors and to expand arts education for young people. The Office also coordinates with relevant City agencies to unify the City’s arts efforts, oversees all the City’s arts programs, and serves as a liaison between the City’s many cultural institutions. Furthermore, the Office supports the growth and development of the City’s arts, culture, and creative economy sector, by promoting public and private investment. In addition to the Office’s focus on the nonprofit arts sector, it also focuses on the many aspects of the larger arts and culture industry including individual artists, design industries, music clubs and other entertainment ventures.

PRESS CONTACTS ONLY:
Tu Huynh, 215-686-9912 September 2010

bookmark_borderCelebration of Student Art in Philadelphia City Hall

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JOIN THE OFFICE OF ARTS, CULTURE AND THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
IN CELEBRATION OF STUDENT ART IN CITY HALL
SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 4-6 PM
THE ART GALLERY AT CITY HALL, ROOM 116
EAST PORTAL MARKET ST. ENTRANCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

A-PLUS ART
Annual City Hall Celebration of Student Art

Philadelphia, PA – The Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, in collaboration with The School District of Philadelphia’s Office of Comprehensive Arts Education presents “A-Plus Art”, a student art exhibition featuring some of the best works from Philadelphia’s public schools. The exhibition is located in the newly renovated Art Gallery At City Hall, Room 116 East Portal Market St. entrance. It runs thru October 1st. A reception is scheduled for September 29, from 4-6 pm.

“A-Plus Art” is a selection of some of the best art from students in Philadelphia’s public schools. Each year, The School District of Philadelphia organizes an exhibition of approximately 1,500 works of art at the School District Administration Building on North Broad St. 44 pieces were chosen by an independent panel, including group projects from grade K – 12 from a number of schools in all areas of the city. Each participating student will receive a Mayoral Certificate of Artistic Achievement.

The exhibition recognizes quality arts education as vitally important to the critical development of our youth. Dr. Dennis Creedon, the Director of Comprehensive Arts Education, and Tessie Varthas, Content Specialist-Art Education were instrumental in the organization of this exhibition.

Gary Steuer, Chief Cultural Officer and Director of the Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy:
When I was a young public school student in New York City MANY years ago, I exhibited in a similar show of the best work by public school students. I still remember the pride and optimism it gave me as a young artist. I am honored to now be able to pass on that experience to this very talented group of students, and I wish them great success!

The new Art Gallery At City Hall was created by the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy to further enliven City Hall with arts and culture. The exhibitions highlight the work of Philadelphia arts and cultural organizations, including an annual exhibition of student art. As Gary Steuer notes, “It is a tangible representation of the value this City places on its arts, culture and heritage community, and will bring the power of the arts to the many City workers and visitors who pass through City Hall every day.”

The mission of the Office of Arts Culture and the Creative Economy is to improve access to the arts for both residents and visitors and to expand arts education for young people. The Office also coordinates with relevant City agencies to unify the City’s arts efforts, oversees all the City’s arts programs, and serves as a liaison between the City’s many cultural institutions. Furthermore, the Office supports the growth and development of the City’s arts, culture, and creative economy sector, by promoting public and private investment. In addition to the Office’s focus on the nonprofit arts sector, it also focuses on the many aspects of the larger arts and culture industry including individual artists, design industries, music clubs and other entertainment ventures.

PRESS CONTACTS ONLY:
Tu Huynh, 215-686-9912 August 2010
artincityhall@phila.gov