Monument Lab

In May, 2015, in the courtyard of Philadelphia's city hall, Monument lab temporarily installed a shipping container turned voting booth in order to solicit real ideas from passersby about what kinds of monuments they would like to see in Philadelphia. In conjunction,

Participating artists:

• Terry Adkins{{Cite web|title=Terry Adkins: Resounding|url=https://pulitzerarts.org/exhibition/terry-adkins/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Pulitzer Arts Foundation|language=en-US}} designed a temporary outdoor meeting place resembling a classroom with benches in order to encourage conversations between people about the matters that bring people together and those that divide them.{{Cite web|title=Monument Lab: an ideas festival in Philly City Hall's courtyard|url=https://whyy.org/articles/monument-lab-an-ideas-festival-in-philly-city-halls-courtyard/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=WHYY|language=en-US}}

From September 14 to November 10, 2017, Monument Lab began a citywide public art exhibition throughout ten Philadelphia squares and parks in collaboration with the Mural Arts Program,{{Cite web|date=2018-08-14|title=How to Make a Monument|url=https://www.americansforthearts.org/2018/08/14/how-to-make-a-monument|access-date=2019-02-15|website=Americans for the Arts|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Monument Lab|url=https://www.muralarts.org/artworks/monumentlab/|access-date=2019-02-15|website=Mural Arts Philadelphia|language=en-US}} continuing the work of their 2015 Ideas Festival in the Philadelphia City Hall Courtyard.{{Cite web|title=Monument Lab: an ideas festival in Philly City Hall's courtyard|url=https://whyy.org/articles/monument-lab-an-ideas-festival-in-philly-city-halls-courtyard/|access-date=2019-04-14|website=WHYY|language=en-US}} The 2017 program was supported by other notable organizations based in Philadelphia, such as the Pew Center for the Arts,{{Cite web|title=Rodin's radical public monuments on display in Philadelphia|url=https://whyy.org/articles/rodins-radical-public-monuments-on-display-in-philadelphia/|access-date=2019-02-15|website=WHYY|language=en-US}} with support for the exhibition provided by the City of Philadelphia Department of Parks, and funding by grants from the William Penn Foundation.

Participating artists:

• Tania Bruguera,{{Cite web|last=Ballin|first=Sofiya|title=Mural Arts 'remixes' monuments with Monument LAB|url=https://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/arts/mural-arts-remixes-monuments-with-monument-lab-20170713.html|access-date=2019-03-18|website=www.philly.com|language=en-US}}
• Mel Chin,{{Cite web|date=2017-10-09|title=Philadelphia public art project ponders the meaning behind monuments|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/philadelphia-public-art-project-ponders-meaning-behind-monuments|access-date=2019-03-17|website=PBS NewsHour|language=en-us}}
• Kara Crombie,{{Cite web|title=Using Philly's signature sounds, artist 'sculpts' music for Franklin Square|url=https://whyy.org/articles/artist-invites-all-to-help-sculpt-music-with-phillys-signature-sounds/|access-date=2019-03-18|website=WHYY|language=en-US}}
• Tyree Guyton,{{Cite web|title=Monument Lab installation in Kensington is a meditation on time|url=https://whyy.org/segments/monument-lab-installation-kensington-meditation-time/|access-date=2019-03-17|website=WHYY|language=en-US}}
• Hanks Haacke,
• David Hartt,
• Sharon Hayes, created a public installation in Rittenhouse square called "If They Should Ask". It consisted of empty monument pedestals with the names of influential women from Philadelphia carved on the bases. The work aimed to speak out about the lack of monuments of women in Philadelphia.{{Cite web|date=2019-05-15|title=If They Should Ask|url=https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/networks-and-councils/public-art-network/public-art-year-in-review-database/if-they-should-ask|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Americans for the Arts|language=en}}
• King Britt and Joshua Mays,{{Cite web|title=Five Monument Lab projects to seek out in Philadelphia parks|url=https://www.timeout.com/philadelphia/things-to-do/monument-lab-philadelphia|access-date=2019-03-18|website=Time Out Philadelphia|language=en}}
• Klip Collective,
• Duane Linklater,
• Emeka Ogboh featuring Ursula Rucker,{{Cite web|title=Art project helps Philadelphia celebrate collective consciousness in monumental way|url=https://whyy.org/articles/celebrating-philadelphias-collective-consciousness-monumental-way/|access-date=2019-03-18|website=WHYY|language=en-US}}
• Karyn Olivier,
• Michelle Angela Ortiz,{{Cite web|title=Paper flowers bring messages of freedom from Berks Detention Center|url=https://whyy.org/articles/paper-flowers-bring-messages-freedom-berks-detention-center/|access-date=2019-03-17|website=WHYY|language=en-US}}
• Kaitlin Pomerantz,{{Cite web|title=NCPC Explores Temporary Commemoration in Philadelphia|url=https://www.ncpc.gov/news/item/29/|access-date=2019-03-18|website=www.ncpc.gov|language=en}}
• RAIR–Recycled Artist in Residency, Alexander Rosenberg,
• Jamel Shabazz,
• Hank Willis Thomas,{{Cite web|title=Black Power Afro pick sculpture takes root at PAFA|url=https://whyy.org/articles/black-power-afro-pick-sculpture-takes-root-at-philadelphia-museum/|access-date=2019-03-17|website=WHYY|language=en-US}} installed a sculpture entitled, “All Power to all people” which consisted of an afro pick standing eight feet tall near Philadelphia city hall.{{Cite web|last=Voeller |first=Megan |title=Philly project expands nationally to ask: Who deserves a monument?|url=https://www.inquirer.com/arts/american-statues-monument-lab-philadelphia-mellon-foundation-20210102.html|access-date=2021-07-12|website=www.inquirer.com|language=en}}
• Shira Walinsky,{{Cite web|last=Marin {{!}} @maxmmarin|first=Max|title=With all the political upheaval over national monuments, Mural Arts' Monument Lab is asking big questions|url=http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/arts/with-all-the-political-upheaval-over-national-monuments-mural-arts/article_b044bb7c-9987-11e7-bfcd-371e61109a2e.html|access-date=2019-03-18|website=PhiladelphiaWeekly.com|language=en}}
• Marisa Williamson.{{Cite web|last=Vadala|first=Nick|title=Mural Arts Philadelphia announces artists, locations for 2017 Monument Lab exhibition|url=https://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/Mural-Arts-Philadelphia-announces-artists-locations-for-2017s-Monument-Lab-.html|access-date=2019-03-18|website=www.philly.com|language=en-US}}

In 2018 the organization partnered with the University of Pennsylvania and startup company Venturi Labs to produce an app which would allow for patrons to better learn about monuments via their phones.{{Cite web|title=Through the Knight grant, a new vision for public art|url=https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/through-knight-grant-penn-contributes-new-vision-public-art|access-date=2019-02-15|website=Penn Today|language=en}} “Over Time” as the app is called, offers self-guided tours around the Philadelphia Art Museum area and allows users to reflect on questions about the monuments and to submit their thoughts through the app.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-01|title=New augmented reality app offers tours of Philly's art museum area|url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/monument-lab-overtime-app-philly-virtual-tour-statues/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=PhillyVoice|language=english}}

In 2019, Monument Lab director Paul Farber and Salamishah Tillet, a professor in African American Studies at Rutgers University, developed an installation project in Newark, New Jersey's Military Park. The project was initiated in response to public discourse around a statue in the park designed by Gutzon Borglum in 1926. Critics of the statue have called attention to Borglum's association with the Ku Klux Klan, and the fact that the granite base of his statue in Military Park was recycled from rock used in a confederate monument in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Tillet and Farber commissioned artists Jamel Shabazz, Chakaia Booker, and Manuel Acevedo to propose public art installations in Military Park.

Participating artists:

• Jamel Shabazz installed his piece "Veterans Peace Project" in October 2019—a large printed image of a Black U.S. military veteran.
• Chakaia Booker designed a monument from wood, tires, and iron, titled "Serendipity."{{Cite web|last=NJ.com|first=Barry Carter {{!}} NJ Advance Media for|date=2019-10-06|title=Fights over statues aren't just in the South. N.J. town doesn't know what to do with war monument.|url=https://www.nj.com/essex/2019/10/confederate-statues-arent-just-an-issue-in-the-south-nj-city-dealing-with-racial-monument.html|access-date=2021-02-25|website=nj|language=en}}
• Manuel Acevedo. In his piece "Cam-Up," placed textile veils on Borgulm's statue.{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Barry|title=Fights over statues aren't just in the South. N.J. town doesn't know what to do with war monument.|date=6 October 2019|url=https://www.nj.com/essex/2019/10/confederate-statues-arent-just-an-issue-in-the-south-nj-city-dealing-with-racial-monument.html|publisher=NJ Advance Media for NJ.com}}

On May 1, 2021, a show entitled, “Staying Power” was installed in conjunction with residents of Northeast Philadelphia's Fairhill-Hartranft and the Village of Arts and Humanities.{{Cite web|last=Kapust|first=Aviva|date=2017-10-17|title=The Village of Arts and Humanities|url=https://www.artplaceamerica.org/funded-projects/village-arts-and-humanities|access-date=2021-07-12|website=ArtPlace|language=en}} Public art installations were inspired by a local residents such as Ms. Nandi. The Village of Arts and Humanities received a grant for "Staying Power" in 2019.{{Cite web|last=aclair|date=2019-10-21|title=Staying Power - GRANT|url=https://www.pewcenterarts.org/grant/staying-power|access-date=2021-08-02|website=The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage|language=en}}

Participating artists:

• Deborah Willis,
• Sadie Barnette,
• Ebony G. Patterson,
• Courtney Bowles and
• Mark Strandquist
• Black Quantum Futurism.{{Cite news|last=Thackara|first=Tess|date=2021-05-03|title=They Are Their Own Monuments|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/arts/design/monument-lab-philadelphia.html|access-date=2021-07-12|issn=0362-4331}}

Monument lab has a series of podcasts in which Paul Farber interviews artists and activists about constructed monuments. These podcasts are available on Spotify, Pulitzer Arts Foundation,{{Cite web|title=Monument Lab Podcast featuring MADAD|url=https://pulitzerarts.org/program/monument-lab-podcast-featuring-madad/|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Pulitzer Arts Foundation|language=en-US}} The Modern Art Notes Podcast,{{Cite web|date=2020-07-16|title=No. 454: Lewis Carroll, Monument Lab in St. Louis|url=https://manpodcast.com/portfolio/no-454-lewis-carroll-monument-lab-in-st-louis/|access-date=2021-08-02|website=The Modern Art Notes Podcast|language=en}} Listen Notes{{Cite web|title=Monument Lab|url=https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/monument-lab-monument-lab-x4nYsBDeSrQ/|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Listen Notes|language=en}} and Stitcher.{{Cite web|title=Monument Lab|url=https://www.stitcher.com/show/monument-lab|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Stitcher}}

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Category:Public art in the United States

Category:Art in Philadelphia