check out the program

Walk & Talks

Saturday, June 21, 1:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

Walk & Talks are led by local experts and explore the many public art collections within walking distance of the hotel. These tours are free of charge and return to the hotel in time to attend a late afternoon session or simply relax before a night of fun in Philadelphia.

Walk & Talk 1: Philadelphia Public Art Conservation Projects

Margot Berg, director of public art for the City of Philadelphia will lead us on a tour of conserved public art projects in downtown Philadelphia. Beginning at the Washington Monument across from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, hear about some of Philadelphia’s public art conservation projects as you explore projects like Eakin’s Oval Plaza, City Hall, and take a walk down the Ben Franklin Parkway.

Walk & Talk 2: Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority Public Art Projects

Susan Davis, director, Redevelopment Authority Public Art Program (the first 1 percent for public art program in the United States) will lead a walking tour of public art projects in Center City, including works by Claes Oldenburg, Ned Smythe, Alice Adams, Diane Burko, Larry Kirkland, and Ming Fay. Artists Alice Adams and Diane Burko will be present to discuss their projects. An optional extension of the tour (by subway to the University of Pennsylvania campus) includes two recent projects by Dennis Oppenheim and Andrea Blum, as well as projects by additional artists.

Walk & Talk 3: Pennsylvania Convention Center Public Artworks

The Pennsylvania Convention Center maintains a unique collection of contemporary art, including 18 site-specific installations. The collection ranges from a beadwork necklace by Joyce Scott to the colossally scaled cirque, CIRQUE by Judy Pfaff. Consulting curator Judith E. Stein, part of the team that chose the art in 1993, will lead a tour to survey approximately 70 works.

Walk & Talk 4: SEPTA Art in Transit Program

This tour will begin in Center City, where we will board the subway for visits to six stations along the Market-Frankford Subway Elevated Line, one of the city’s busiest transit lines. Independent Public Art Curator and Consultant Marsha Moss will lead this excursion to view work by artists Barbara Grygutis, Richard Goloveyko, Joseph Brenman, Jeff Schaller, Peter Hahn, Alex Messinger, Tomek Pietka, and Gordon Huether—many of whom will greet us as we arrive at the station.

Walk & Talk 5

Take a self-guided public art walking tour along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway or around center city using the Fairmount Park Art Association's map of 100 selected works of public art in Philadelphia. An interactive map with more information about each work is available on the association’s website.