About Barnes West
Serving West Philadelphia with artistic programming and opportunities since 2018, Barnes West is designed to enrich lives and communities through shared art experiences and access. Building upon the Barnes’s community engagement work and HopePHL’s (formerly People’s Emergency Center) LoLa 38 creative placemaking initiative, the Barnes and community organizations present multifaceted arts programming to connect West Philadelphia residents with art in their own neighborhoods. This collaboration brings West Philadelphia residents, business owners, and artists together in celebrating culture, creativity, and community voice—highlighting lifelong appreciation of, and participation in, the arts and cultural life of our city.
What’s On
We’re proud to announce the West Philadelphia artists chosen for our 2023 Everyday Places Artists Partnerships. Learn more about the artists and their programs taking place across West Philly this fall:
Elicia Epstein at Neighborhood Bike Works
Multidisciplinary artist Elicia Epstein leads workshops with West Philly bike shop Neighborhood Bike Works to encourage residents to celebrate what they love most about their community and their bikes. Her project centers around portraiture of community members with their bikes and banner making for a group ride and parade.
Isaiah Reese at the Silk Tent and Ultra Silk Gallery
Artist and florist Isaiah Reese leads flower arrangement and botanical workshops at the Silk Tent and Ultra Silk Gallery. This series of entry-level floral design classes provides accessible opportunities for West Philadelphia residents to engage in a new art medium.
Meghan Tranauskas at Dyke+ ArtHaus
Artist and ceramics educator Meghan Tranauskas hosts ceramics workshops at the Dyke+ ArtHaus, with the goal of leading community members in exploring vessel making. Tranauskas will address forced displacement and gentrification and encourage community members to embrace full ownership over the objects they create. Register for workshops.
Pili X at Freedom Greens + Gardens
Photographer, community organizer, and music producer Pili X leads a series of photo walks focusing on historical and contemporary documentation of West Philly neighborhoods. Pili X will also guide community discussions about land sovereignty, access, forced displacement, and the environment, in partnership with Get Fresh Daily’s Freedom Greens + Gardens.
About Everyday Places Artist Partnerships
Bringing art to everyday places, for everyday people.
Barnes West conceived Everyday Places Artist Partnerships in 2021 to provide West Philadelphia residents with spaces to engage with multidisciplinary artistic projects that offer inspiration and promote hope and healing. This year’s cohort of artists will partner with “everyday” locations in the neighborhood—including public parks, civic centers, and community organizations—to build interactive, participatory projects that engage with the business or site and residents.
Everyday places such as restaurants, parks, and service organizations are key locations in neighborhoods that foster community. Through Everyday Places Artist Partnerships, Barnes West aims to highlight the intersection of art and community to create a space where residents can drive art created and experienced right where they live.
In the News
- “West Philly voices are being amplified through Barnes partnership” —Philadelphia Tribune
- “This New Arts Initiative Is Welcoming West Philly to Write a Poem Together” —Philadelphia Inquirer
- A Celebration of Philadelphia’s Diverse Creativity” —Al Día
Watch
Learn more about Everyday Places Artist Partnerships:
Past Everyday Places Artists:
Anssumane Silla offered free drumming and dancing sessions in Clark Park throughout the summer.
Gigi McGraw created a community art piece with New Africa Center.
Jaime Wiesner created a community quilt at Mantua Civic Association.
Joanna Booth created a community quilt at Mantua Civic Association.
Nikki Brake-Sillá offered free playwriting workshops for community members at Drexel University’s Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships.
Shanina Dionna led expressive healing arts sessions at Malcolm X Park and at Urban Art Gallery.
Yidan Zeng led community quilting and dyeing sessions at University Square Complex, in collaboration with Sankofa Community Farm and Golden Dragon restaurant.
Sponsors
Lead support for Barnes West is provided by the William Penn Foundation. Additional support is provided by PECO and Spark Therapeutics. The Barnes’s community engagement programs are made possible through the Comcast Center for Community Engagement and with endowment support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
Barnes West
Everyday art in everyday places. Our Everyday Places Artist Partnership artists provide free artmaking opportunities in creative spaces in West Philadelphia!
Go Further
William Edmondson:
A Monumental Vision
Experience the enduring relevance of this self-taught American sculptor.
Through My I: Art from SCI: Phoenix
Works created by artists at State Correctional Institute: Phoenix.