PHILADELPHIA – (September 4, 2014) – Hosted by Asian Arts Initiative, the second annual Pearl Street Block Party (Sat., Sept. 27, 1-5 p.m.), will bring together visual art activities and displays, live performances and a community meal to celebrate a shared vision for the further revitalization of Philadelphia’s Chinatown North neighborhood. The event is free and open to the public and will be held Saturday, Sept. 27 from 1-5 p.m. on the 1200 block of Pearl Street (one block north of Vine Street) in Philadelphia.
Organized in partnership with local artists and community stakeholders, the block party will highlight the rich diversity and vibrant artistic community of Chinatown North. A range of participating organizations who share the Pearl Street alleyway as a “backyard” include churches, a homeless community shelter, contemporary art galleries and loft apartments, and restaurant/food vendors including Chinatown tofu makers and a soon to be completed high-end gastropub.
Interactive artwork by Asian Arts Initiative’s Social Practice Lab artists-in-residence and additional local artists and community groups will be on display. The Barnes Foundation, Callowhill Neighborhood Association and Friends of the Railpark, the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, High End Car Stereo, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society are among participants from the cultural community joining the scene. Taking the stage with music, dance and other performances are DJ John Morrison, the Philadelphia Suns, the Philippine Folk Arts Society, Hip Hop Fundamentals, Swiftlessons (guitarist Rob Swift), Community Bollywood Dance Project, Kaleid Theater, and Philadelphia Young Playwrights.
The newly opened “Neighborhood Workshop” exhibition will be on view in Asian Arts Initiative’s galleries. This group show from Philadelphia-based artists working in multiple disciplines examines the immediate neighborhood. Participating artists include Colette Fu, Meei Ling Ng, José Ortiz-Pagán, Yangbin Park, Erin Bernard, Laura Deutch, Lee Tusman, Kathryn Sclavi, Katya Gorker, Sarah McEneaney, Dave Kyu and Scott Kip. (Details on “Neighborhood Workshop”-related events held through the fall are listed below.)
Building on the community-driven schematic designs for Pearl Street introduced by landscape architectWalter Hood at last year’s block party, visitors will experience a number of multi-disciplinary projects created by Asian Arts Initiative’s Social Practice Lab artists-in-residence.
As part of his Social Practice Lab appointment, artist Rick Loweof Houston’s Project Row Houses will present his progress and share community input on a revitalization project for the transformation of Pearl Street. Based on creating opportunities for local residents to share the alley as an engaging space for quality time, Lowe’s project drives a larger vision for Chinatown North.
Attendees will find site-specific work from Social Practice Lab artists: the planter installations “Grow Food Where You Live,” by sculptor and urban farmer Meei Ling Ng, a Social Practice Lab artist who hopes to inspire neighborhood residents to build community by growing food together; Scott Kipand Dave Kyu, inspired by Philadelphia’s iconic letter billboards, team up to create “Sign of the Times,” a large-scale message board for Chinatown North and Callowhill neighborhood stakeholders to share their sentiments with each other and the wider city.
The block party will culminate with an outdoor community meal on Pearl Street at 5 p.m., set on the tables and chairs constructed under Hood’s direction at last year’s event. The menu for the meal will be sourced from a mix of Chinatown and Chinatown North restaurants. An invitation and ticket is required for the meal. Contact Nancy Chen, Public Programs Manager via email at nancy [dot] chen [at] asianartsinitiative [dot] orgto request an invitation or for more information.
The Pearl Street Block Party and Asian Arts Initiative’s Social Practice Lab are made possible with support from ArtPlace, The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, Surdna, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Education Foundation of America, the William Penn Foundation, and the Samuel Fels Fund.
Event Details
Pearl Street Block Party
WHEN: Block Party Activities: Saturday, September 27, 1-5 p.m.
Community Meal: Saturday, September 27, 5 p.m.
WHERE: Pearl Street between 12th and 13th streets; access via Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine St.
For more information,call 215-557-4055 or visit www.asianartsinitiative.org
Exhibition:Neighborhood Workshop
September 5 – November 22, 2014
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Opening Reception and MakeFest: Friday, Sept. 5, 6-8 p.m.
First Friday Open House and MakeFest: Friday, October 3, 6-8 p.m.
Design Philadelphia Event: Visions for the Chinatown North/Callowhill Neighborhood, October 15, 6-8 p.m.
Closing Reception and MakeFest: Friday, November 7, 6-8 p.m.
Philadelphia-based artists working in multiple disciplines will use Asian Arts Initiative’s gallery as a workshop space to explore and construct work that connects to our immediate neighborhood and the communities that comprise our diverse city. Join us for First Fridays for a series of live artist-led workshops and demonstrations.
About Asian Arts Initiative’s Social Practice Lab
Asian Arts Initiative’s Social Practice Lab commissions and supports the work of creative individuals and organizations in our neighborhood of Chinatown and Chinatown North in Philadelphia. The goal of our Social Practice Lab is to allow for experimentation in a process that combines artistic excellence and innovation with building relationships, encouraging neighborhood development, and effecting positive change within the community. The 2014-15 roster of Social Practice Lab artists-in-residence includes established Philadelphia artists Scott Kip, Dave Kyu and Meei Ling Ng, along with nationally recognized Houston-based artist Rick Lowe.
