Contact:
Giavana Suraci
T 215.440.5516
gsuraci@centercityphila.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA (September 11, 2020) – A new, temporary art display, Color Under the Canopy, debuts at Sister Cities Park in Logan Square this evening following a two-day installation. The project was designed and executed by local artist Janell Wysock. Using a loom to knit fabric, she created colorful, eye-catching wraps to decorate some of the park’s most precious assets: its trees.
The public and press are invited to meet Wysock this evening during Live at Sister Cities, a free outdoor concert in the park on the east side of Logan Square. She will bring her loom out for a short demo under one of the decorated trees. The program will begin at 6 p.m. through 7:30 p.m. Wysock is a graduate of the Moore College of Art, located at the southern edge of Logan Square. She was also a member of the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator in 2016 and 2017. Learn more about her artwork and current projects: janellwysock.com
Wysock creates fabrics that are durable, colorful and pleasing to the eye. Inspired by the textures and richness of colors in nature, she wanted to bring those elements into daily life through handmade objects. The wraps were separately knitted in her studio in large sections, then paired with each other to create contrast. When making those knitted panels, Wysock thought about the colors dimensionally. She focused on how they would both envelop the form of the tree and how light will change their appearance throughout the day. Her classic repetition style allows the colors to interact differently horizontally and vertically. The goal is simply to provide delight to the young children and families who frequent Sister Cities Park. The project took 5 weeks to create leading up to the installation.
The Center City District (CCD) is committed to supporting and celebrating arts and cultural education on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, notably hosting a variety of cultural institutions, like the Franklin Institute and Philadelphia Museum of Art, during Parkway Pals, an ongoing program for children to learn and create.
While providing a clean and safe environment is CCD’s primary focus, CCD has been actively programming performing arts in Dilworth Park and Sister Cities Park. Color Under the Canopy was commissioned as part of an effort to instill a sense of optimism during Center City’s recovery efforts. CCD commissioned a number of artists earlier this year to design and install graphics on boarded storefronts and to create banners that are still on display through the downtown.
CCD and the parks’ café operators have implemented increased health safety procedures throughout the park and visitors will be reminded to adhere to all CDC guidelines. CCD staff are all wearing masks. Anyone who feels sick, or has come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days, should refrain from entering the parks. Visit SisterCitiesPark.org to learn more.
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The Center City District, a private-sector organization dedicated to making Center City Philadelphia clean, safe and attractive, is committed to maintaining Center City’s competitive edge as a regional employment center, a quality place to live, and a premier regional destination for dining, shopping and cultural attractions. Find us at www.centercityphila.org and on Facebook and Twitter.