About the exhibition:

Philadelphia Forthcoming: The Endless Urban Portrait examines the histories of Philadelphia’s urban landscape in order to contextualize the contemporary urban experience and envision its possible future. This exhibition draws on the diverse talents and perspectives of artists, designers, and architects from Da Vinci Art Alliance, Jefferson University’s College of Architecture and the Built Environment, and the greater Philadelphia region to investigate the hopes, fears, questions, and possibilities of a ceaselessly evolving society. 

Inspired by Thomas Holme's Portraiture of the City of Philadelphia (1683), the assembled modular display contains dozens of individual sculptural forms creating an expansive urbanesque environment that will be re-arranged each week by guest curators. Images and objects from Jefferson University’s College of Architecture and the Built Environment students, faculty, and alumni will adorn the walls atop an historical wallpaper installation based on the designs from the late 19th century. These works represent a collection of personal interpretations rooted in the city’s architectural past and present, providing a living record of the essential spaces and perceptions of our time.

Lisa Marie Patzer’s hand-crafted light boxes illuminate manipulated scenes from 8mm home-movies engaging yet another facet of Philadelphia's history. The resulting moving images reflect Patzer's exploration of machine learning based on algorithms which identify and extrapolate visual patterns. Used in conjunction, Patzer's software detects and generates images to create unique collages printed on rear lit emulsion film.

The collection of these projects shed new light on a city, steeped in history, standing at the precipice of great change. More than ever, Philadelphia's creative minds are keenly aware of our city's changing physical and political landscape. Philadelphia Forthcoming: The Endless Urban Portrait expresses this collective voice, inspired to give form to the future we wish to see.

Participating artists:

Aaron Kalinay, Andrea Krupp, Andrew Biordi, Andrew Hart, Annie Stone, Arlene Solomon, Bill Brookover, Bill Timmins, Bradford White Fiske, Brooke Lanier, Carol Wisker, Colleen Hammond, Dana Scott, Edna Santiago, Florence Weisz, Gary Grissom, Gloria Klaiman, Gregory Laut, James Strickler, Joann Neufeld, John Bastos, Kit Donnelly, Lauren Frank, Lisa Marie Patzer, Marcie Ziskind, Maria Keane, Marie Bender, Marilyn Stubblebine, Mary Powers Holt, Maryanne Buschini, Monica Kane, Noah S. Thompson, Orlando Saverino-Loeb, Pamela Tudor, Patricia Moss-Vreeland, Robert Moss-Vreeland, Carter Moss Phyllis Anderson, Pia De Girolamo, Rain Jorge, Reyna Howkins, Robert Reinhardt, Robert Zurer, Rosalind Bloom, Ryan Drummond, Samantha Connors, Sandi Neiman Lovitz, and Sarah Bloom