After a debut in Philadelphia and a stop in Baltimore, the Cai Guo-Qiang: Fireflies pedicabs covered in glowing lanterns are parading through South Florida’s first art and light exhibit, Illuminate Coral Gables.

It is with great sorrow that the Association for Public Art recognizes the passing of Charles E. Mather III, trustee, advocate, and supporter of our organization for decades.

As Chair of the City’s Public Art Advisory Committee, Penny Balkin Bach, the Executive Director of aPA, provided testimony in July in support of the Mayor’s proposal to remove the Columbus Monument from Marconi Plaza.

Presented simultaneously in 6 U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, Liberty Bell is an augmented reality drawing in 360 degrees that offers viewers the opportunity to consider their own experiences of liberty, freedom, and injustice and inequality. The artwork relies on geolocation and requires downloading a free app.

aPA Executive Director Penny Balkin Bach testified before Philadelphia City Council in response to a revised city budget that deals a devastating blow to arts and culture activities in the city.

In collaboration with Vision 2020’s Women 100: A National Celebration of American Women, the Association for Public Art (aPA) is highlighting a number of important public artworks in Philadelphia created by women artists.

Interviewed by Samantha Melamed for Philly.com, Association for Public Art Executive Director Penny Balkin Bach offers some insight into how public artworks are lost or saved in Philadelphia.