Thought some of you would like to read the best Philly Inquirer art story I’ve seen in a dog’s age–a paeon by Peter Dobrin to the ephemeral wheat pastes and stencil art about to be destroyed on the South Street Bridge.
I hope the city is taking to heart to some of the points he made about non-corporate art enterprise, because it seems that the corporate powers that be are developing a strangle-hold on what gets recognized around here, and the city has not done a thing for what Dobrin calls “authentic” visual arts. I would include in authentic some of the work showing in small holes in the wall galleries around Philadelphia. I would add the art billboard on 11th street.
If the city can create a performance corrider with tax breaks and other sorts of municipal support and expenditure, why can’t it figure out a way to offer something similar–a fine arts district with tax breaks and protection from gentrification? I can tell you the authentic guys aren’t looking for overblown, expensive public sculpture at either end, just a way to get people to come there and some financial incentives to congregate galleries for public accessibility. Just add some convenient public transportation and voila! And my guess is, is compared to other civic projects, this would cost maybe a dime or a quarter.
