If you’re a fan of art and want to experience what art means to Philly, then you should attend ArtPhilly’s 5-week multidisciplinary arts festival! ArtPhilly is a non-profit organization that “aims to create a movement connecting Philadelphia’s acclaimed arts and culture community.” They have ongoing artistic programming, commission original work, and their main event, the citywide art festival! This year the ArtPhilly festival takes place in venues across Philadelphia from May 27 till July 2. There will also be special neighborhood districts or hubs in Old City, Kensington, Germantown, University City, Kingsessing, Parkside and on South Broad Street.
This year so many different groups have collaborated to help produce this festival, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Theatre in the X and the Asian Arts Initiative. We also can’t forget all the artists and curators involved as well, such as curatorial director Tania Isaac, producer and performer King Britt and Philadelphia Dance Project director Terry Fox.
Each year there is a new theme and this year’s theme, What Now?, was inspired by the nation’s 250th birthday. The goal was to encourage “artists and audiences to harness the revolutionary spirit of America’s Founding Fathers and envision a bold future for our country.”
There are so many different things you can experience during the festival ranging from all different types of art. One type of art they have is visual art and there are so many different projects being showcased. Colette Fu’s “Iron and Paper: Unfolding Philadelphia’s Chinatown” will be showcased at the Crane Community Center. It’s a large-scale pop-up book that encourages visitors to “consider the cultural contributions of Philadelphia’s Chinatown and the future of democracy.” Emily Schreiner and Liz Yohlin Baill are showcasing their project “What can you do while you’re waiting” in multiple areas of the city. It’s a public art takeover using the poster spaces in septa bus shelters to encourage “intergenerational creative conversations about the surrounding vicinity.” These are only a few of the many visual art projects being showcased at the festival.
Another type of art they have is dance, where there will be multiple performances across the city. Urban Movement Arts (UMA) will be presenting “Say Yes, Philly!” in locations all over the city. It will feature “contemporary Black American vernacular forms of dance and music,” and shine a light on “city’s current generation of emergent and mid-career artists.” Martha Graham Dance Company and PHILADANCO! are performing “In Case of Fire, Speak,” at the Annenberg Center. This will be part of the festival’s opening weekend, where dancers from both companies will come together on stage in a piece “that invites us to imagine what an American voice could be at this moment in history.” Once again this is only some of the amazing performances that will be showcased.
We also can’t forget to mention the unique screenings that will be taking place. Walé Oyéjidé and Immanuel Wilkins will be showing “Displaced Flowers; Still in Bloom” at the Perelman Theater at Ensemble Arts. This will involve premier screenings of Walé Oyéjidé’s “The Voyagers,” “Bravo Burkina!” and “Do You See Me,” all accompanied by live scores from Immanuel Wilkins and his quartet. Glenn Holsten will be showcasing his film “Patina Promise” at the John Welsh Memorial Fountain. It is “an energetic and moving celebration of life filmed entirely on location in the streets of Philadelphia.”
There will also be so many opportunities to experience all types of music. King Britt will be hosting “Blacktronika: Philadelphia Now and Then” at multiple locations throughout the city. This is a weeklong series of performances, workshops, and discussions all based around “a celebration of the contributions of innovators of color to electronic music.” The Bearded Ladies Cabaret will be performing “AAAHH!!! WTF Now?!” at the Wilma Theater. Their goal being to “drown out the opposition with rousing renditions of songs that have absolutely nothing to do with fascism.” Both of these performances along with many more are uniquely curated for this amazing festival.
These are only a few of the many categories of art being showcased during the festival for you to experience. I recommend everyone try and attend some part of the festival to learn more about how much art means to Philly and to experience something you may not have experienced before.
To learn more about ArtPhilly What Now? And even get tickets to the events you can visit https://www.artphilly.org/what-now.
