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PHL Art at the Airport; Celebrating 25 Years 1998-2023

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Celebrating 25 Years 1998 2023 PHL Proudly Supports Philly Arts Culture 1

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There are very few airports worldwide that have a robust Exhibitions Program and visual arts presence like PHL This is a testament to the airport s support of arts and culture over the program s 25 year history At PHL the Exhibitions Program presents artwork and collections by Greater Philadelphia area artists and art institutions to highlight the region s cultural and historical vibrancy making the airport program a unique opportunity for our creative communities Over the years the exhibitions have truly become part of the airport s identity with more than 20 galleries and more recently the numerous visual arts activations seen throughout all seven terminals The program provides our passengers with a visually engaging place to spend their time it is educational entertaining and a reflection of what the region has to offer artistically culturally and historically The exhibitions are a unique alternative that guests are delighted to experience From an artist s and art institution s perspective it is a great opportunity to have their art and museum collections seen by millions of guests from around the world I am grateful for the ongoing support from airport leadership over the past 25 years who have enabled the program to flourish With its proven sustainability the program will continue well into the future Leah Douglas Director of Guest Experience PHL 1 Cover art Makeba Rainey Their Eyes Were Watching God detail 2022 Copy provided by the Exhibitions Program at PHL unless otherwise noted Having art at the airport enhances Philadelphia sreputationasanartscity acitythatvaluesart craft s andingenuity Ireallylookforwardto seeing theexhibits andtrytocomeearlytoviewthem Really PHL Guest March 13 2001 Syd Carpenter Stand at Ease detail 2001 Ceramic and mixed media Terminal B Philadelphia artist Syd Carpenter has been working with clay since the mid 1970s She began her artistic studies in fine arts as a painter but gradually her focus turned to ceramic sculpture She became interested in the medium s physicality its ability to describe form and texture as well as provide a paintable surface area 2

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Allen Bentley Sensing the Rhythm 2005 Charcoal on paper Terminal F Philadelphia artist Allen Bentley uses the imagery of dance as a visual metaphor expressive of relationships either a rehearsed or an improvised communication of movement Sometimes the communication is subtle like a gesture a touch or a glance At other times it is bold dramatic and full of swirling energy Those shared moments and emotions within the dance are the spirit of Bentley s work 3 Philadelphia artist Don Camp has been photographing portraits of African American men for decades In this series named after Robert Hayden s book of poetry Heart Shape in the Dust 1940 Camp portrays African American males who embody love respect and humanity The portraits are purposefully weathered almost ancient in appearance to reveal their struggle and the underlying wisdom and soul of each man Don Camp Dust Shaped Hearts detail 2005 Photography Between Terminals C and D This airport rocks I had a great time here love all the art I am quite impressed Thanks and keep it up Can t wait to come back PHL Guest September 3 2004 4

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Henry Bermudez Baroque Landscape 2011 Paint and cut paper Terminal E Philadelphia artist Henry Bermudez is known for his large scale paintings primarily made of cut paper Handcrafted with extreme precision the work gracefully combines patterns and representational imagery with abstraction Visually intense Bermudez s complex compositions typically feature undulating lines that wind throughout the picture plane like primordial vines 5 Philadelphia artist Kay Healy is known for her hand drawn hand sewn stuffed fabric cutouts of life sized furnishings In Coming Home Healy based the contents of the rooms on the recollection of four Philadelphians as they each described the furniture and d cor of their childhood homes Leroy Peggy Kim and Frank all grew up in various decades and in different sections of the city Through conversations with Healy she has meticulously replicated each room to capture the individual s nostalgic look back at the objects and furnishings that defined their homes Kay Healy Coming Home 2012 Hand drawn painted and screen printed fabric Terminal E 6

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Colette Fu We Are Tiger Dragon People 2012 Pop up books Terminal D Philadelphia artist Colette Fu has been creatively documenting her ancestral heritage the Yi and neighboring tribes of southwestern China A Chinese descendant Fu who was born in the United States describes herself as completely Americanized yet she struggled with her identity and sense of self Fu traveled to China to experience the rich and varied cultural traditions amongst multiple ethnic groups including her own Yi tribe On her return to Philadelphia she was determined to artistically document the lives of her ancestors to provide a brief portrait of their existence in a small way helping to preserve their identities and ways of life 7 Philadelphia artist Isaac Tin Wei Lin said this installation is like looking into another world a realm where friendly and mischievous cartoon cats parade It is a fantasy filled visual adventure with its overwhelming multiplicity of patterns abstractions and colors Lin has created an optically pulsating world where patterned eight foot tall cartoon cats whimsically roam Lin provided 3D glasses for an immersive viewing experience Isaac Tin Wei Lin Another Dimension 2012 Installation art Terminal E ThetemporaryexhibitisawonderfulideathatIhopemoreairportswilladopt Wonderfulnotonlyforthevisitor butalsoallowingtheopportunityformoreartiststoberepresented Theworkwaswonderfulandgaveourfamily averypositiveimpressionofPhiladelphiaandtheartistcommunity PHL Guest September 1 2010 8

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Philadelphia artist Emily White is known for her sculptural recreations of wildlife White is particularly interested in animals and as she describes creates monuments to them As seen in White s sculpture of an American Bison and Passenger Pigeons the animals are life like as areas are highly realistic yet she reveals how each has been meticulously constructed by exposing much of their wooden infrastructure This juxtaposition of reality versus form creates a definitive and purposeful contrast as the animals appear simultaneously historical and futuristic natural and human made Emily White Constructed Nature 2014 Red oak Finnish birch plywood cast iron and aluminum and handmade uncarded felt Terminal A West 9 10

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Beth Kephart Love A Philadelphia Affair 2016 Photography and essays Terminal D Beth Kephart is known for her writings about Philadelphia Kephart s most recent publication Love A Philadelphia Affair is a collection of essays about her memories and personal experiences It is an insider s perspective about Philadelphia from the everyday commute on SEPTA s rail line to the hushed magnificent galleries at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Here Kephart s essays are each accompanied by a single black and white photograph by the author The photos take you on a memorable literary journey from the city into the nearby suburbs the mountains countryside and to the Jersey shore 11 Philadelphia artist John E Dowell Jr is a nationally renowned photographer printmaker and painter His photographic work has been described as capturing the pulse of cities and agricultural landscapes of America Dowell s landscape imagery both urban and rural documents the artistry of space Whether photographing a city or a field of crops Dowell emphasizes the abundant repetition patterns and cultural associations within each setting In his series Reflections photographed at sunset near Philadelphia s Rittenhouse Square Dowell visually records the city in its reflective windows John Dowell Reflections 2016 Photography Terminal D ThankyouformakingPHLawakeuptotheamazingartistsinourtown PHL Guest March 23 2023 12

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Hua Hua Zhang The Dragon Boat Dream 2016 Shadow Puppetry Terminal C Philadelphia artist Hua Hua Zhang is a classically trained performer and puppet artist Born in Beijing Zhang has been devoted to the wide ranging art form of puppetry She has said that as a puppet artist I believe that puppetry breaks through language barriers Her unique artistry explores puppetry as sculpture and performance Here Zhang s installation is a behindthe scenes view of shadow puppetry The story portrays a dream about a dragon boat that takes the artist around the world over the ocean mountains and clouds Throughout her journey she meets people and animals from many villages while children who carry the boat perform a dragon dance 13 Philadelphia artist Michel Delgado sees chewing gum spots on urban sidewalks as inspiration Delgado has created The Gum Spotting Experience based on the sheer quantity and endless variety of shapes produced by discarded gum Delgado starts by taking photographs creates a silkscreen and handprints the gum shapes and markings using only black ink Delgado paints around the black to reveal a magical narrative that is intuitively informed by the source material Delgado has said that his paintings are triggered from the world I ve been in I paint straightforward narratives stories of my journey and memories of everyday experiences Michel Delgado The Gum Spotting Experience 2017 Photography printmaking paint on paper Terminal F 14

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Conrad Benner is a photographer curator and founder of streetsdept com and streetsdept two platforms that reveal the creativity and breadth of Philadelphia s vibrant street art scene Since founding Streets Dept in 2011 Benner has become an influential advocate for the genre and has been called Philadelphia s foremost curator in street art Benner s work has truly fueled the awareness and popularity of Philly street artists to audiences around the world Conrad Benner Discovering Philly Street Art 2018 Photography Terminal D TheprimaryfocusofStreetsDeptisdocumentingandcelebratingstreetartand graffiti butIdoalsoexploremuralismandotherformsofcommissionedpublicart aswellasarchitectureandcreativepublicspaces Conrad Benner 15 Philadelphia artist King Saladeen has created his largest painting installation to date currently on view at Philadelphia International Airport Saladeen s art is motivational and energetic His paintings are filled with vibrant colors shapes patterns markings and text along with representational imagery that includes his trademark JP the Money Bear The work represents his passion to inspire as he says Dream Big Love What You Do A message evident in this epic four part painting King Saladeen Create Your Gold detail 2019 Paint and spray paint on vinyl Between Terminals C and D Saladeen created this artwork partially in his studio as four paintings scaled to the proportions of the four gallery walls The original paintings were scanned printed on vinyl and adhered on site Over two nights Saladeen painted atop the vinyl to complete his vision It was an amazing performance to watch as he intuitively added more colors shapes and details until it was deemed complete Myinspirationcomesfroma placesodeepwithinthattheonly waytoexpressitisthroughart King Saladeen 16

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Amberella FOLLOW UR HEART detail 2019 Laser cut plastic Between Terminals C and D Philly artist Amberella who also lives bi coastal in Los Angeles is passionate about sharing messages of positivity One of the best ways to publicly share one s creativity is through street art Philadelphia is known for its vibrant street art scene Amberella has made her mark in Philadelphia and throughout the United States with her street art series of 2D hearts reminiscent of the iconic sugar candies popular at Valentine s Day Here Amberella has utilized reflective mirrors so that viewers can see themselves within her heart felt messages IwanttosharethingsthatIthinkareimportantandempowerothers Amberella 17 Lydia Ricci Telling Stories From Scraps 2019 Found materials and glue Between Terminals A East and B Philadelphia artist Lydia Ricci creates tiny everyday objects from scraps materials like cardboard paper and plastic Her work has been described as a miniature magical world from earlier decades like cars of the 70s and 80s an old school TV cassette player boom box and rotary phone While the objects are timeless they show their well loved wear To further inform her mini sculpture Ricci typically activates them using humor filled text and short stop motion animations She builds a context whether through words or stage sets 18

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Philadelphia artist Alloyius Mcilwaine is a painter freestyle artist and entrepreneur who has extensive live painting experience and is a seasoned public artist Mcilwaine is a self taught artist whose style is influenced by graffiti street art comic book art traditional portraiture and abstraction He has said the ability to create something the ability to create anything is a gift from God So I try to use my gift as often as humanly possible Alloyius Mcilwaine Beauty Beneath the Cracks 2019 Digital print Between Terminals E and F I was at the airport for an extra five hours and I was so grateful for the art exhibits I would be delighted to see them in a contemporary art museum I especially enjoyed the art that created an environment to sit in like the rocking chairs and plant wall in It s a Wrap Thank you also for the variety of perspectives especially artists of color I made a note to visit The Colored Girls Museum next time I m in Philly for real PHL Guest December 28 2022 19 Philadelphia artist Symone Salib is a Cuban Egyptian portrait painter and street artist who draws mostly people of color to share their images to make them visible and to highlight the universal connections among all of us Inspired by Philadelphia street artists Salib said that she wanted to contribute to this public space that everyone else is using She is interested in adding her voice and artistic vision to the public art conversation because street art is a powerful means to communicate by creating visual messages of love beautiful imagery or commentaries about current social and political events Symone Salib Para mi familia y para mi 2020 Wheatpaste Terminal F Thank you for Art at the Airport It adds to the beauty of our airport It makes me proud to call PHL my local airport PHL Guest February 5 2019 20

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Kiki Aranita Yarned Snacks Sauces and Tins 2021 Yarn and found objects Terminal B Philadelphia culinary and fiber artist Kiki Aranita has been described by local restaurant critic Craig LaBan as a classics scholar turned food trucker and chef dedicated to sharing Hawaiian flavors has long been one of the more fascinating figures in Philly s food scene Then came COVID 19 and like many creatives Aranita reinvented herself and embarked on making yarn re creations of snacks sauces and tins She says that for her yarn art is so new that I haven t had the time to devise long term goals but one thing that running a restaurant has taught me is that opportunities come when I take next steps 21 BlackStar Projects Philadelphia the premier organization celebrating visionary Black Brown and Indigenous film and media artists marked its 10th anniversary of the world renowned BlackStar Film Festival in 2021 In addition to the acclaimed annual film festival their work includes yearround programming film screenings exhibitions a filmmaker seminar film production lab and a journal of visual culture We prioritize visionary work that is experimental in its aesthetics content and form and builds on the work of elders and ancestors to imagine a new world We elevate artists who are overlooked invisibilized or misunderstood and celebrate the wide spectrum of aesthetics storytelling and experiences that they bring BlackStar Projects 10 detail 2021 Terminal A East BlackStar svisionistocreatea liberatoryworldinwhichavastspectrumofBlack Brown andIndigenousexperiencesareirresistiblycelebratedinartsandculture 22

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Isabela Akhtarshenas Philly s Favorite Things 2022 Digital print Terminal F Philadelphia artist Isabella Akhtarshenas was a troubled teen who moved to Philadelphia in 2015 She said Since I have lived in the city it has turned my life around and unlocked my potential She has expressed her personal love for Philadelphia in the artwork as it represents the lesser known places and happenings No Liberty Bell no LOVE statue no Rocky The imagery features the quirky personality of the city all the things that makes Philly Philly Philadelphia artist Makeba Rainey has created Their Eyes Were Watching God that features portraits of five bird watchers and participants of the In Color Birding Club founded by Jason Hall The club s purpose is to open the world of birding and the outdoors to historically under represented and BIPOC communities in the Philadelphia area The natural world and more specifically the outdoor resources in the Greater Philadelphia area should be accessible and inspiring to ALL of its residents while breaking free from systemic policies that created limitations to these spaces for Black and Brown folk Makeba Rainey Their Eyes Were Watching God 2022 Digital prints Terminal D TheexpressionofdynamismwithintheBlackcommunityisatthecore ofmycreativepracticeandcontinuallyinspiresmetopushmyworkto reflecthowincreasinglyenamoredIamwithus Makeba Rainey 23 24

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Rachel Blythe Udell is a fiber artist who resides in South Jersey part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area Known for using repurposed textiles Udell has described her abstracted forms as inspired by nature flower buds and blooms acorns and gourds trees the woods the mountains rivers streams and the interconnectedness between nature and humankind All of these things are echoed within our bodies like organs and branching arteries and veins capillaries Nature elicits awe Rachel Blythe Udell Hypnagogic Habitat 2023 Found fabric and fiber Terminal A West Imakesculptureandembroiderycollagesfromheirloomclothing yarn reclaimed fabrics andothermaterials Alwaystryingtominimizewaste Ibundletogetherthe scrapsandendsfrommycrochetandembroiderypieces toformnewsoft sculptural bodies Inthisway myworkprocessliterallybegetsnewwork reproducinglikea liveorganism Rachel Blythe Udell 25 Philadelphia ceramist Tia Santana is known for combining hair both human and synthetic hair fibers with clay Santana started this series with the introduction of the 2019 CROWN Act and has said that the work explores ethnic hair and its associations While at the same time the containers celebrate the twists vibrant color locs and coils of our hair the ebony color in our skin the vessels preserve our identity they embrace and retain our individual and shared narrative Tia Santana Vessels for My Hair 2022 Ceramic and hair extensions Terminal D MyworkisametaphoraboutconformingtoWesternbeautystandards specifically blackhairandthesubjectedbrutalitytoachieveidealisticconstructsofbeauty Itis reflectiveofmyexperiencewithidentify Itismyvisiontovocalizethenarrativebias prejudice andlackofequityassociatedwithraceandethnictraits Tia Santana 26

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