More Art in Philadelphia

Over our 4th of July holiday weekend I took some photos of some more of the Philadelphia downtown art.  We walk by some of these every day and I have seen them many times but have not always stopped to take photos. So....here are a few more. 

This is another of the Claus Oldenburg sculptures that have found a home in Philly.  It is found on Broad Street and begins what is referred to as  "the Museum Mile" ending at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  It begins at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

The blob of orange paint (which some say is to represent a perfect blob of cheesewhiz which most in who live in Philly include on the famous Cheesesteaks.  (We do not prefer them that way, however, we still love cheesesteaks)

I think I read that this is the first of the famous Oldenburg sculptures that are lighted from within.  The paint blob is 6 feet high.  The brush is at a 60 degree angle, is 5 stories high and weighs 4 tons.  

Walking past the "Paint Torch" as it is called is the installation called "Grumman Greenhouse". 

There are some who do not like this at all.  I was disturbed a bit at first, but then I looked inside.  It truly is a greenhouse with plants growing inside.  The artist, Jordan Griska, graduated from the Academy in 2008 and installed his piece in 2011.  (Interesting that the crashed plane, which is a real Grumman S2F fighter jet narrowly missed his alma mater)  He bought the plane on ebay for very little and then he restored it a bit and then, using origami art, proceded to crumple and crash it as if it has really crashed there.  

Then he he created a perfect greenhouse with heat lights, watering system and sun exposure for plants to grow.  The edible plants he takes to a local projects that help to feed the poor and homeless and then he replants inside the plane. I understand that he checks on the plants routinely. 

He (Jordan Griska) said: "These repurposed finished pieces simultaneously lead the viewer to contemplate the history of  'the thing' while changing the function of the object.  My generation - what do we do with all these parts of post-war conflict?  What is our role in that?"

His artwork gives back to the community.  I like that so I am no longer sad when I walk by the crashed jet even though I do "contemplate the history of the thing" and honor those who flew them to protect our freedom and liberty.