The art-centric
Destination Frankford initiative has been active since early spring with a mission of reclaiming, rediscovering and reanimating the formerly industrial Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood of Frankford, primarily through a process known as creative placemaking.
Thanks to a grant from
ArtPlace America -- a national association that supports placemaking projects -- Destination Frankford was able to transform a vacant and dilapidated neighborhood storefront into the
Destination Frankford Gallery.
Two of the three exhibitions scheduled to take place in the pop-up gallery have already happened. The first,
Reclaim, featured art constructed from items reclaimed by the
Dumpster Divers of Philadelphia. The second,
Rediscover, was a photography show featuring work exploring the city's often overlooked urban terrain.
According to Ian Litwin of the
Philadelphia City Planning Commission, the
Frankford CDC "wanted to keep the energy we built around the gallery going," so the opening reception of the gallery's third and final show might prove to be the project's most important event yet.
That reception will kick off at noon on June 28 and feature the unveiling ceremony for a pop-up park in the vacant city-owned lot adjacent to the gallery. The temporary space will host film screenings, art shows and live music events.
The show itself, appropriately dubbed
Reanimate, will run every Saturday through July 26, and feature work from the
Philadelphia Sculptors organization.
Unfortunately, Destination Frankford's
previously announced plan to install a trio of sculptures by artist
Christine Rojek in Womrath Park won't be happening, but Litwin promises "we are exploring ways to keep the gallery or some sort of community in the building going."
Writer: Dan Eldridge
Source: Ian Litwin, Philadelphia City Planning Commission