Philadelphia, July 2, 2012 – The City of Philadelphia’s Percent for Art Program and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce the completion of a new public artwork in conjunction with the construction of the City’s newest Parks and Recreation site: Hawthorne Park.  At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 5th, the artist will join Mayor Nutter and other dignitaries to officially dedicate Object for Expression in conjunction with the opening of the new park, located at 12^th and Catharine Streets in South Philadelphia.

Object for Expression is a stainless steel sculpture in the form of a lectern, created to encourage impromptu performances and oration.  It was unanimously chosen as the public art piece for the new park by an independent selection panel including members of the Hawthorne community and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.  The concept of this engaging sculpture reflects the musical history of the neighborhood and the fact that Martin Luther King, Jr. made a speech on the site in 1965.

Based in Philadelphia, Warren Holzman is an accomplished sculptor and blacksmith.  He is the founder and principal of Iron Studio, Ltd and is a professor of sculpture at Moore College of Art and Design.  The artist envisioned his piece to be a pulpit for the advancement of progressive ideas and other artistic pursuits.

The Percent for Art Program of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) commissions exceptional and enduring works of site-specific public art by renowned and emerging artists for City buildings.  Philadelphia’s public art collection is recognized as the largest and most remarkable in the world.  Since 1959, more than 300 works of art have been commissioned through the City of Philadelphia’s Percent for Art Ordinance.  Learn more about the OACCE at creativephl.org.

Press Contact:
Margot Berg, Public Art Director
margot.berg@phila.gov
215.686.4596

Photo: Object for Expression, courtesy of Warren Holzman