Timed for Women’s History Month, Philadelphia, the City of Sisterly Love, proudly welcomes the #SisterlyLove Project. From March 1 to 31, 2020, original street art will celebrate history-making Philadelphia women at public locations throughout the city. Ten Philadelphia artists created 20 new, temporary works of outdoor art, each memorializing a change maker from Philadelphia’s past or present. The exhibit is curated by Ginger Rudolph and streetsdept.com, presented by Live Nation Philadelphia and supported by VISIT PHILADELPHIA.
The artists of the #SisterlyLove Project, including Nilé Livingston, Symone Salib, Taped Off TV and Marisa Velázquez-Rivas (see below for complete list), represent diverse backgrounds and media.
Said co-curator Ginger Rudolph, “I’m honored to be part of a campaign celebrating the power of Philadelphia women — and doubly honored to help highlight the accomplishments of women who are often left out of the narrative. At the heart of the #Sisterly Love Project is the opportunity for us to share stories that encourage, support and uplift one another.”
Each artist chose two history makers to portray based on the artist’s personal connection to her subject. The subjects themselves, including Anandibai Joshee, Cristina Martínez, Santigold, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Lily Yeh, Patti LaBelle and Tina Fey, span generations, cultures, missions and orientations (complete list below). Works will appear in high-traffic areas and off-the-beaten-path locations from Spring Arts to South Street, North Philly to the Gayborhood, and outside The Met Philadelphia and The Fillmore, when, after installation, they could reach diverse audiences of up to 145,450.
More information is available at visitphilly.com/sisterlyloveproject.
Artists, Subjects, Artworks & Locations:
Here is a list of participating artists, their subjects and the locations where the works appear:
1. Artist: Marian Bailey is a self-taught visual artist who specializes in acrylic and digital portraiture. marianbaileyart.com, @_mcbailey
- Subject #1: Judith Jamison (b. 1943), dancer, choreographer, artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Location: Frankford Avenue & Belgrade Street (Fishtown) - Subject #2: Lily Yeh (b. 1941), founder of The Village of Arts and Humanities and Barefoot Artists
Location: 1124 Spring Garden Street (Spring Arts)
2. Artist: Manuela Guillén is a freelance painter, muralist and digital illustrator who lives and teaches Spanish art in North Philadelphia. manuelguillen.com, @lazy.beam
- Subject #1: Nijmie Dzurinko (b. 1976), Black and indigenous organizer, agitator, strategist and healer
Location: Temple University, 12 Polett Walk (North Philadelphia) - Subject #2: Dr. Anandibai Joshee/Anandi Gopal Joshi (1865–1887), first Indian female physician, graduate of Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania
Location: Onion Building (formerly Arts and Crafts), 10th & Buttonwood streets (Spring Arts)
3. Artist: Hope Hummingbird is a ceramicist and street artist. @hope_hummingbird
- Subject #1: Gloria Casarez (1971–2014), activist for civil rights and marginalized communities, City of Philadelphia’s first Director of LGBT Affairs, executive director of Galalei (queer Latinx social justice organization), co-founder of Philadelphia Dyke March
Location: One Shot Coffee, 217 W. George Street (Northern Liberties) - Subject #2: Mae Reeves (1912–2016), milliner and one of the first African Americans to open a shop in downtown Philadelphia at 1630 South Street
Location: Paradigm Gallery, 746 S. 4th Street (Queen Village)
4. Artist: Nicole Krecicki/Taped Off TV is a stencil artist and co-owner of the South Street Art Mart, a retail consignment store featuring work from more than 100 local, independent artists. tapedofftv.com, @tapedofftv
- Subject #1: Gail Ann Dorsey (b. 1962), session musician (mainly bass guitar), vocalist and songwriter, known for residency in David Bowie’s band, 1995–2016
Location: 1010 Spring Garden Street (Spring Arts) - Subject #2: Tara Lessard (1972–2019), cancer activist and photographer of LGBTQ events
Location: William Way LGBT Center, 1315 Spruce Street (Washington Square West)
5. Artist: Nilé Livingston is an award-winning visual artist and graphic designer whose repertoire spans more than 20 murals in Philadelphia. nilelivingston.com, @nilelivingston
- Subject #1: Jane Golden (b.1953) founder, Mural Arts Philadelphia
Location: East Market, 1100 Ludlow Street, (Center City East) - Subject #2: Patti LaBelle (b. 1944), godmother of soul, actor, pie entrepreneur
Location: East Market, 1100 Ludlow Street, (Center City East)
6. Artist: Nicole Nikolich/Lace In The Moon is a queer, self-taught crochet street artist and installation artist. laceinthemoon.com, @lace_in_the_moon
- Subject #1: Tara Lipinski (b. 1982), former competitive figure skater, youngest Gold Medalist in Olympic Winter Games history, and currently an actor and sports commentator
Location: Starr Garden Playground, 7th & Lombard streets (Washington Square West) - Subject #2: Tina Fey (b. 1970), actor, comedian, author, playwright and producer known for her work in Saturday Night Live, Mean Girls, 30 Rock and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Location: Writer’s Block Rehab, 1342 Cypress Street (Washington Square West)
7. Artist: Monica O is an independent web designer, illustrator and wood burner. monicaodesign.com, @o_monica
- Subject #1: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825–1911), abolitionist, suffragist, poet, teacher, speaker, writer, agent on the Underground Railroad, mother of African American journalism
Location: No. 128 Elfreth’s Alley (Old City) - Subject #2: Lucretia Mott (1793–1880), Quaker, abolitionist, women’s rights activist, social reformer
Location: Behind Tattooed Mom, Kater & Fairhill streets (South Street)
8. Artist: Old Broads is a street art initiative that utilizes humorous depictions of elderly women to challenge the marginalization and stereotypes about aging women. oldbroads.bigcartel.com, @old_broads
- Subject #1: Marian Anderson (1897–1993), internationally famed contralto, singer of classical music and spirituals, best known for 1939 concert at the Lincoln Memorial
Location: The Met Philadelphia, 858 N. Broad Street (North Broad) - Subject #2: Graceanna Lewis (1821–1912), naturalist, illustrator and social reformer, pioneering scientist known for work in botany and ornithology, activist in anti-slavery, temperance and women’s suffrage movements
Location: 1025 Hamilton Street (Spring Arts)
9. Artist: Symone Salib is a Cuban-Egyptian portrait painter and street artist. @symonesalibstudio
- Subject #1: Cristina Martínez (b. 1970), chef, restaurateur (South Philly Barbacoa, Casa Mexico), James Beard Foundation Award semi-finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, activist for undocumented workers’ rights
Location: PIZZA Shackamaxon, 115 E. Girard Avenue (Fishtown) - Subject #2: Santigold (b. 1976), singer, songwriter, record producer, innovator
Location: The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen Street (Fishtown)
10. Artist: Marisa Velázquez-Rivas was born in Puerto Rico, raised in Venezuela and weathered in the U.S., where she’s illustrating and wheat pasting street art messages. @marisa.vr
- Subject #1: Barbara Gittings (1932–2007), activist for LGBTQ equality, co-founder of the Annual Reminders, editor of lesbian publication, The Ladder
Location: Martha, 2113 E. York Street (Kensington) - Subject #2: Nizah Morris (1955–2002), transgender entertainer, honored posthumously by the Morris Home for Trans and Gender-Variant People
Location: Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room (Washington Square West)