LOOK! Public Art Project
The public art project LOOK! on Lancaster Avenue opened Sept. 30 with the unveiling of 16 visual and sound art installations, transforming the storefronts and windows of 13 vacant buildings along Lancaster Avenue. The multifaceted project includes group art shows and public performances in existing galleries and public spaces starting at 34th Street and extending westward to 41st along Lancaster Avenue. More than 200 artists competed to be among the 16 chosen to display their storefront/window installation projects. The project is sponsored by Drexel University in partnership with the University City District, the People’s Emergency Center and University City community arts groups. It is funded in part by a $30,000 grant from the City of Philadelphia’s “Restore Corridors through Art” program. As Drexel embarks on an extensive program of urban revitalization in Powelton and Mantua, LOOK! provides a unique opportunity for West Philadelphia residents to come together in a celebration of creativity and innovation and to promote a sense of civic pride and community spirit. The City of Philadelphia is seeking to revitalize commercial corridors through the arts, and LOOK! will showcase this re-emerging retail zone.
Now through Nov. 30
Lancaster Avenue from 34th to 41st Street
Admission: Free
www.LancasterAvenueArts.com
Mural Arts Month
October marks Mural Arts Month for the City of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program. All month long, visitors are encouraged to participate in exhibitions, mural dedications, tours, public painting and special events highlighting “how art ignites change.” Join the Mural Arts Program during the dedication of the city’s largest mural, the 50,000-square-foot “How Philly Moves” mural at Philadelphia International Airport or grab a paintbrush and help in the creation of a new mural in Center City. Find an open Wednesday in the month to take a public trolley tour through the city to numerous mural arts locations, or show your moves at a rooftop dance party to dedicate the new “How Philly Moves” mural by photographer Jacques-Jean “JJ” Tiziou and muralist Jon Laidacker on Oct. 12. This project has the largest square footage of any of the 3,500 completed murals by Mural Arts Program and is among the largest murals in the country.
Now through Oct. 31
Various Locations
Admission: Free to $25
www.muralarts.org
DesignPhiladelphia — 11 Days of Special Events
DesignPhiladelphia returns on Oct. 13 for a citywide celebration honoring the historic role of design in the region while showcasing the creative innovation yet to come. Once again, the cultural initiative will partner with The University of the Arts for the nation’s largest festival of its kind. From Oct. 13-23, approximately 200,000 people are estimated to explore the world of design during over 150 events held throughout the city. DesignPhiladelphia aims to celebrate and promote Philadelphia as a design capital and destination. Nearly 500 artists, professionals and students alike will be represented in practically every design discipline, including automotive, product and interior design; graphic design; architecture; multimedia and urban planning. Events are to include exhibitions, lectures, workshops and demonstrations to help shine a light on the city’s design scene and history.
Oct. 13-23
Various Locations
Admission: Free to $125
www.designphiladelphia.org
CSI: The Experience at the Franklin Institute
Take on the role of a forensic crime scene investigator during “CSI: The Experience” at the Franklin Institute. Based on the hit television show, the immersive exhibit invites visitors to step into the world of cutting-edge forensic science and employ actual investigative techniques. Visitors will be guided by investigators from the hit show, along with real-life forensic scientists, as they investigate three very different crime scenes, formulate a hypothesis, collect and analyze forensic evidence, and try to crack the case. The highly detailed crime scenes include: “A House Collided,” in which a car has crashed into a home in a quiet suburban neighborhood, but not all is as it seems; “Who Got Served,” in which a young woman has been found dead in an alley behind an old Las Vegas motel; and “No Bones About It,” where a hiker has stumbled across what appears to be a human skull. After investigating the crime scene, visitors will analyze their findings in two interactive labs before answering a series of questions to determine if they have solved the mystery.
Now through Jan. 2
The Franklin Institute at 222 N. 20th St.
Admission: $10 to $25.50
www.fi.edu/csi