Seeing Philadelphia’s sculpture through a new lens!
In September 2016, the Association for Public Art (aPA) presented Public Art in Focus, a month-long series of photography workshops led by Philadelphia-based photographers. This series was promoted in partnership with the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and supported by Apartment Investment and Management Company (Aimco).
Designed for participants at all levels, eight photography workshops were held near public sculptures at various sites along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Kelly Drive, Center City, and West Fairmount Park. The “focus” of these workshops were Night Photography, Macro Photography, Composition Photography, and Phone Photography.
Photographers leading the workshops included: Chuck Bonfig, Josh Brilliant, Meredith Edlow, Albert Lee, Richard Leung, David Maialetti, Rachael Mae Smith, and Stefan Suchanec.
See below for more information on the workshops that took place.
Public Art in Focus Photography Workshops
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Macro Photography
Participants studied the details of public artworks and learned techniques for macro and close-up photography. The first workshop was led by Stefan Suchanec (@stef.c.photo) and highlighted the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial on Kelly Drive. The second workshop was led by Richard Leung (@rlleung) and hosted at Martin Puryear’s Pavilion in the Trees near the Horticulture Center. Smartphones or cameras could be used for these workshops.
Macro Photography Led by STEFAN SUCHANEC, @stef.c.photo
Tuesday, September 6, 2016, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial, Kelly Drive, south of Girard Avenue Bridge
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
Macro Photography Led by RICHARD LEUNG, @rlleung
Saturday, September 24, 2016, 1pm-3pm
Horticulture Center, 100 N Horticultural Drive
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
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Phone Photography
Participants learned how to master their smartphone camera with Philadelphia-based Instagrammers. The first workshop, led by David Maialetti (@maialetti), took place at Louise Nevelson’s Atmosphere and Environment XII, Jacob Epstein’s Social Consciousness, and Robert Indiana’s AMOR. The second workshop was led by Chuck Bonfig (@chuckseye) and took place at Iroquois Park near Mark di Suvero’s Iroquois and Roxy Paine’s Symbiosis.
Phone Photography Led by DAVID MAIALETTI, @maialetti
Thursday, September 8, 2016, 5:30pm-7:30pm
West Entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
Phone Photography Led by CHUCK BONFIG, @chuckseye
Sunday, September 18, 2016, 1pm-3pm
Iroquois Park, 24th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
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Composition Photography
Participants learned tips and techniques for composing a compelling photograph. The first workshop was led by Rachel Mae Smith (@thecraftedlife) and explored artworks in Dilworth Park. The second workshop was held in Rittenhouse Square, capturing Paul Manship’s Duck Girl, Antoine-Louis Barye’s Lion Crushing a Serpent, and Albert Laessle’s Billy and was led by Albert Lee (@urphillypal). Smartphones or cameras could be used for these workshops.
Composition Photography Led by RACHEL MAE SMITH, @thecraftedlife
Saturday, September 10, 2016, 1pm-3pm
Dilworth Park, 15th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
Composition Photography Led by ALBERT LEE, @urphillypal
Monday, September 12, 2016, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Rittenhouse Square, Walnut Street between 18th and 19th Street
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
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Night Photography
Participants explored low-level light and night photography on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The first workshop, led by Josh Brilliant (@phila_photoarts), was held at Logan Circle near Alexander Stirling Calder’s Swann Memorial Fountain, and the second workshop, led by Meredith Edlow (@medlowminus), took place at the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, highlighting Albert Wolff’s The Lion Fighter and August Kiss’s The Mounted Amazon Attacked by a Panther. DSLR cameras were required for these workshops.
Night Photography Led by JOSH BRILLIANT, @phila_photoarts
Wednesday, September 14, 2016, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Logan Square, Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 19th Street
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
Night Photography Led by MEREDITH EDLOW, @medlowminus
Friday, September 23, 2016, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Front Steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
________________________________________________________________________________
presented by
with support from
Public Art in Focus was promoted in partnership with the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and supported by Apartment Investment and Management Company (Aimco).
In-kind support was provided by Philadelphia Photo Arts Center and PhotoLounge.
Public Art in Focus Photography Workshops
________________________________________________________________________________
Macro Photography
Study the details of public artworks and learn techniques for macro and close-up photography. The first workshop will be led by Stefan Suchanec (@stef.c.photo) and will highlight the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial on Kelly Drive. The second workshop will be led by Richard Leung (@rlleung) and hosted at Martin Puryear’s Pavilion in the Trees near the Horticulture Center. Smartphone or camera can be used for these workshops!
Macro Photography Led by STEFAN SUCHANEC, @stef.c.photo
Tuesday, September 6, 2016, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial, Kelly Drive, south of Girard Avenue Bridge
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
Macro Photography Led by RICHARD LEUNG, @rlleung
Saturday, September 24, 2016, 1pm-3pm
Horticulture Center, 100 N Horticultural Drive
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
________________________________________________________________________________
Phone Photography
Learn how to master your smartphone camera with Philadelphia-based Instagrammers. The first workshop, led by David Maialetti (@maialetti), will take place at Louise Nevelson’s Atmosphere and Environment XII, Jacob Epstein’s Social Consciousness, and Robert Indiana’s AMOR. The second workshop will be led by Chuck Bonfig (@chuckseye) and will take place at Iroquois Park near Mark di Suvero’s Iroquois and Roxy Paine’s Symbiosis.
Phone Photography Led by DAVID MAIALETTI, @maialetti
Thursday, September 8, 2016, 5:30pm-7:30pm
West Entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
Phone Photography Led by CHUCK BONFIG, @chuckseye
Sunday, September 18, 2016, 1pm-3pm
Iroquois Park, 24th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
________________________________________________________________________________
Composition Photography
Learn tips and techniques for composing a compelling photograph. The first workshop will be led by Rachel Mae Smith (@thecraftedlife) and will explore artworks in Dilworth Park. The second workshop will be held in Rittenhouse Square, capturing Paul Manship’s Duck Girl, Antoine-Louis Barye’s Lion Crushing a Serpent, and Albert Laessle’s Billy and will be led by Albert Lee (@urphillypal). Smartphone or camera can be used for these workshops!
Composition Photography Led by RACHEL MAE SMITH, @thecraftedlife
Saturday, September 10, 2016, 1pm-3pm
Dilworth Park, 15th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
Composition Photography Led by ALBERT LEE, @urphillypal
Monday, September 12, 2016, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Rittenhouse Square, Walnut Street between 18th and 19th Street
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
________________________________________________________________________________
Night Photography – *DSLR camera required!
Explore low-level light and night photography on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The first workshop, led by Josh Brilliant (@phila_photoarts), will be held at Logan Circle near Alexander Stirling Calder’s Swann Memorial Fountain, and the second workshop, led by Meredith Edlow (@medlowminus), will take place at the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, highlighting Albert Wolff’s The Lion Fighter and August Kiss’s The Mounted Amazon Attacked by a Panther.
Night Photography Led by JOSH BRILLIANT, @phila_photoarts
Wednesday, September 14, 2016, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Logan Square, Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 19th Street
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
Night Photography Led by MEREDITH EDLOW, @medlowminus
Friday, September 23, 2016, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Front Steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
*THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
________________________________________________________________________________
presented by
with support from
Public Art in Focus is promoted in partnership with the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and supported by Apartment Investment and Management Company (Aimco).
In-kind support provided by Philadelphia Photo Arts Center and PhotoLounge.
CHUCK BONFIG
Instagram: @chuckseye
Phone Photography Workshop, September 18th
A lifelong Philadelphian, Chuck Bonfig grew up a photography nerd with a darkroom in his basement throughout high school and college. That went away with marriage and kids, but was rekindled years ago with the purchase of an iPhone, the discovery of Instagram and the birth of mobile photography. An Instagram Suggested User in 2015.
JOSH BRILLIANT
Instagram: @phila_photoarts
Night Photography Workshop, September 14th
Josh Brilliant is a Philadelphia artist that holds an MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and has exhibited his work both nationally and internationally. He is the Education Coordinator at the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center and is an Adjunct Professor at The College of New Jersey.
MEREDITH EDLOW
Instagram: @medlowminus
Night Photography Workshop, September 23rd
Meredith Edlow is a freelance photographer and videographer in Philadelphia. For 5 1/2 years she worked for Visit Philadelphia, producing photography and destination video content. Currently she freelances in photography working within PR and marketing, shoots for Philadelphia news outlets, including the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer and is adjunct faculty at Temple University. Her work has been published in outlets around the globe, online and in print.
ALBERT LEE
Instagram: @urphillypal
Composition Photography Workshop, September 12th
Albert Lee is a proud Philly native who is passionate about community building, street photography and promoting Philadelphia. His photography work can be seen on visitphilly.com, phlvisitorcenter.com, metro.us/philadelphia. He would love to survive on a diet of phở and chocolate-covered pretzels.
RICHARD LEUNG
Instagram: @rlleung
Macro Photography Workshop, September 24th
An avid nature lover, Richard Leung has been photographing insects and other natural history subjects for over a decade. His photographs have appeared in field guides, academic publications, and magazines around the world.
DAVID MAIALETTI
Instagram: @maialetti
Phone Photography Workshop, September 8th
Philadelphia Inquirer photographer David Maialetti spends most days lugging around cameras photographing the good, bad and everything in between. His mobile photography has earned accolades on Instagram and mainstream media. Forbes.com named him one of “10 Instagram Photographers You Should Follow.” He is also a photography instructor in Gonzaga University’s study abroad program (Italy).
RACHEL MAE SMITH
Instagram: @thecraftedlife
Composition Photography Workshop, September 10th
Based in Philadelphia, Rachel Mae Smith loves do-able DIYS and strives to make crafting easy, colorful and fun over on her blog The Crafted Life. Her work has been featured in Martha Stewart Living, Good Housekeeping, Better Homes and Garden, and more. She believes that given the right set of directions, anyone is capable of making.
STEFAN SUCHANEC
Instagram: @stef.c.photo
Macro Photography Workshop, September 6th
Stefan Suchanec is a freelance photographer based out of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. When he’s not photographing Philadelphia, he works as an HR Business Partner for a technology company.
The public shared their best photos of Philadelphia’s outdoor sculpture in an online contest!
#PublicArtInFocus
Congratulations to our Winners!
Below are the winning photos from our Public Art in Focus series. Thank you to everyone who participated!
The public was asked to submit their best photos of Philadelphia’s sculpture through an online form or by using #publicartinfocus on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook by 11:59PM EST on Thursday, September 28th. The aPA then asked the public to vote for their favorite photos, ONE of which, we announced as the winner! The Association for Public Art’s (aPA) interactive map was provided for inspiration.
Voting and Prizes!
The public could VOTE for their favorite photos online. The top #publicartinfocus image received:
- An aPA membership valid through October 2017
- Their photo matted, framed, and featured at a closing event at Aimco’s Park Towne Place Museum District Residences on Thursday, October 6, 2016 from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Printed provided by Philadelphia Photo Arts Center
- An 8×10 print generously provided by PhotoLounge, a photo lab with products for everyone.
Other winners were selected from our Public Art in Focus Photography Workshops.
Dates for Contest:
September 26, 2016 was the last day to submit entries
September 28, 2016 was the last day to vote
October 6, 2016 was the closing event
Closing Event at Park Towne Place
Thursday, October 6, 2016 | 5:30 pm-7:30pm
The Oar Pub, South Tower of Park Towne Place Museum District Residences
2200 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Free reception and photo exhibit celebrating the Public Art in Focus series
Select photos from the series were on display, including those taken by Public Art in Focus workshop participants and a “People’s Choice” favorite from the #PublicArtinFocus online contest.
