Chinatown North: Asian Arts Initiative Encourages Protest Through Art
Aram Han Sifuentes still remembers the first protest banner she made — the words “Dump Trump” sit emblazoned atop a teal fabric playfully covered in pugs. The fiber artist said she always has extra fabric on hand, and after the results of the 2016 presidential election, she turned to her craft to respond to Donald […]
East Falls: Glassblowing Studio Is All Access To The Public
With the help of over-sized tweezers, a wooden paddle and a 2,000 degree furnace, Nikolaj Christensen and his coworkers at East Falls Glassworks are able to turn molten glass into a masterpiece. Nikolaj Christensen is the director and head glassblower at the East Falls Glassworks. Christensen’s passion for glassblowing began in 2001 when taking an […]
Local Music: Marley McNamara Builds Community Behind The Scenes
Marley McNamara turned her passion for music into a career. McNamara became involved with the Philadelphia music scene through a job tending bar at World Cafe Live. From there, McNamara began booking small shows at the venue. She built friendships with people and started booking shows full-time. McNamara took her music career further and began […]
Center City: The Fabric Museum And Workshop Enriches Art Education
The Fabric Workshop and Museum is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special exhibition: “Process and Practice: 40 Years of Experimentation” which will run through March 25. “Our upcoming exhibit is curated by Susan Talbott, our second ever executive director,” Christina Roberts, the director of education, said. “She thought it would be very interesting in our […]
Immigration: Five Ways To Support Immigrant Communities
Given America’s current political climate regarding immigration, many immigrant communities may feel at risk or even targeted. In a so-called sanctuary city like Philadelphia, immigrants can become active and engaged in community organizing to educate themselves and others about their rights in America. Here are five active organizations that offer educational programs and events for immigrant communities. Asian Arts Initiative […]
Immigration: Artist Mobilizes Immigrant Communities For Social Justice
Ten years ago, Michelle Angela Ortiz hoped to be where she is today – a successful visual artist, skilled muralist and community arts educator. For more than 18 years, Ortiz has been using art as a tool for communication between communities. Through painting, printmaking and community arts practices, Ortiz is able to share the narratives […]
Art: Three Female Muslim Artists Using Work to Express Identity
These three Muslim women are using art in order to express personal and collective identity, and explore issues of location, displacement and personal connection to social contexts in the city. You can find their art featured in galleries, on buildings and throughout the city. Yasmin Nezhad Born and raised in Iran, Yasmin Nezhad has lived […]
Port Richmond: Portside Arts Center Immerses Children In The Fundamentals Of Arts Education
Kim Creighton has been a member of the community since 1989. Over the years, she’s realized the area lacked extracurricular activities and creative outlets for the youth. “There’s no movie theaters, no arcades, no bowling alleys, no skating rinks,” Creighton said. “Nothing to do.” Creighton had a solution to the problem. She was going to […]
Immigration: Using Art to Share the Asian American Migration Experience
Through the power of art, even the most complex stories of immigration and assimilation can be expressed. Located on the 1200 block of Vine Street, the Asian Arts Initiative has linked art and communities since 1993. AAI is a multidisciplinary arts center dedicated to exploring experiences of Asian Americans and bridging dialogue with diverse communities. […]
Immigration: Planting Seeds of Culture to Build Connections Amongst People
Elizabeth Taylor-Mead is a development consultant at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating youth and adults on Arab culture. Through the arts, music and language, the organization hopes to raise cross-cultural awareness and debunk discrimination against Arabs as well as all immigrants living in the U.S. Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture has partnered […]