Philadelphia, PA - The “Storefront Artwork Initiative” is a collaboration between The Center City District (CCD) and The Mural Arts Philadelphia (MAP), which will bring original art to a variety of downtown businesses during the health crisis.
Center City District, Mural Arts Announce Storefront Artwork Initiative
The project has selected 24 works of art by 11 artists to be installed over boarded windows of nine high-visibility locations ranging in size from small retailers to large restaurants.
In the last two weeks of April, CCD’s on-street teams painted the boards black – both to cover graffiti and to minimize the potential for recurrence.
The works of art are being painted on 6-by-6-foot panels of parachute cloth and applied with an acrylic gel adhesive to the boards to allow the artwork to conform to different sizes of windows.
“It’s important in these unprecedented times to make sure that Center City is ready to welcome back workers, students and shoppers as this crisis ends,” CCD President and CEO Paul R. Levy said. “A clean, safe and attractive downtown has been our mission since 1991, and this initiative is a way we can temporarily brighten the physical environment, engage local artists, and send the message that through creativity and innovation, we will prevail.”
The artists chosen are all residents of Philadelphia or maintain deep ties to the city: Dora Cuenca, Molly Egan, David Guinn, Jim Houser, Destiny Palmer, Martha Rich, Darin Rowland, Miriam Singer, Gina Triplett, Shira Walinksy and Lauren Cat West.
The locations are Brü Craft & Wurst (1316 Chestnut Street), Eye Encounters (1325 Market Street), Sephora (1714 Chestnut Street), Subway (1319 Market Street), Swarowski (1421 Walnut Street), Tinsel (116 S. 12th Street), Tradesman’s (1322 Chestnut Street), West Elm (1330 Chestnut Street) and Woody’s (202 S. 13th Street).
Joy Franklin
Food and Event Writer
My joy is aimed at food and foodie lovers. I enjoy covering trends, issues, and all things Philly
