Philadelphia – Public Art As Playgrounds

This is entitled “White Water” by Robinson Frendenthal.  It was installed in 1978, and the plaque reads  “Installed as a Fine Arts Commitment as required by the Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia.”   So sad, sounds like the really didn’t want it.  Robinson Frendenthal graduated from Penn with a degree in architecture and turned to sculpture almost immediately.  His work can be seen all over Philadelphia.  He died at 69 in 2009.

I don’t find anything outstanding enough about this sculpture to include it as a post in most normal circumstances, but what captured my attention immediately was the group of boys both attempting to ride their skate boards up the side, as well as run up the side.  They were unsuccessful in both attempts, but there is a very shiny spot where it proves many have tried.

I find the climbing onto, or skating onto public art offensive.  However, my husband, a sculptor finds it a marvelous interaction of public and public space.  I assume, that as long as no real damage is done, it is only a matter of opinion rather than the soap box I would like to climb up on.