When Henri Matisse visited the Barnes Foundation (Philadelphia), in September 1930, he wrote that “it was the only sane place to see art in America”. Indeed Albert Barnes had made sure to collect the best of the Avant-garde art of its time, with the goal to educate people and teach how to appreciate art in terms of visual relationships.

The Barnes Foundation is carrying on the legacy of Albert Barnes with the challenge to maintain and renew the interest for its world famous collection. Their current initiative Let’s Connect, organized by Shelley Bernstein (Deputy Director of Audience Engagement and Chief Experience Officer at the Barnes Foundation) in collaboration with Mural Arts Philadelphia, is perfectly in line with this goal.

“Monument Lab” is bringing temporary art installations to Philadelphia public squares and parks this fall. The project will include sculptures, performances, projections, and murals, addressing topics such as equality and social justice, opioid addiction and recovery, and recycling and sustainability.

Walking in Center City soon after joining the PennDesign faculty five years ago, Vancouver-born artist Ken Lum happened upon a blue and gold historical marker recognizing Billie Holiday, a jazz legend and Philadelphia native. Then he saw a bronze statue of John Wanamaker, a noted Philadelphia businessman, on the eastern skirt of the grounds of City Hall.