April 30, 2015
Philadelphia Museum of Art/for PhillyVoice
An example of the pop-up art installations coming to the region was unveiled Thursday, April 30.
Area residents will find little surprises all over town this spring, summer and fall as the Philadelphia Museum of Art brings its collection outdoors. In collaboration with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the PMA will launch a series of pop-up artwork installations called "Inside Out" in ten local communities.
Each neighborhood that is participating will host up to 12 works of art, faithfully reproduced from the PMA's collection pieces and displayed in period-appropriate frames. Some will be hung on walls, while others will be free-standing structures. The smattering of art in unexpected places will create an everyday museum for residents, encouraging them to interact and engage with art in new ways.
The artists represented range from impressionist Mary Cassatt to contemporary Philly-based painter Moe Brooker. Popular works like Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" and Claude Monet's "The Japanese Footbridge and the Water Lily Pool, Giverny " will be on display, too. Each work will be accompanied by a label with PMA commentary.
The installations will go out in two phases. From Friday, May 15, to Sunday, Aug. 9, installations in Chestnut Hill; Mt. Airy; East Passyunk; Media; Newtown and Haddonfield, New Jersey, will be on display. Then, from Friday, Aug. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 15, Fishtown and Kensington, Ambler, Wayne and West Chester displays will be open.
During each phase, members from the corresponding community ZIP codes are welcome to visit the PMA for free. Those living in Chestnut Hill (19118), East Passyunk (19145, 19146, 19147, 19148), Mt. Airy (19119), Haddonfield (08033), Media (19063) and Newtown (18940) can visit from Friday, July 17, through Sunday, July 19. The free weekend for the second phase of communities has yet to be determined.
"Inside Out" began at the Detroit Institute of the Arts with the support of the Knight Foundation. It was so popular and well-received in Detroit communities that the program quickly expanded to Akron, Ohio. Philadelphia is the third city to participate in the initiative, with more cities to be announced in 2016.
To see the full lineup of spring installations coming to your neighborhood, click here.
