A festive feast for your eyes

Tis’ the season to check out some art. 

Although there aren’t many museums or indoor art galleries open, there are still some ways that art-hungry Philadelphians can feed their eyes on some one-of-a-kind works. For the time being, there are four pop-up limited-time art exhibitions that will ignite anyone’s curiosity, whether if you’re an aficionado or just a curious person. 

Healing Heart Remembrance Wall

This specific exhibition located by City Hall is meant to mirror what this holiday season typically evokes—remembrance and reflection. The city-commissioned piece popped up as part of the Philly Holiday Experience as a dedication to those who lost their lives in 2020. The installation, which was created by local visual artist Ife Nii Owoo, is decorated with 1,900 lights “radiating from the heart to remember and honor the lives lost whose light will never be forgotten.”

Where to find the exhibit: Wawa Holiday Plaza

East Market + Mural Arts Holiday Murals

Works from three local artists will be showcased in Mural Arts latest installation in East Market. The artists used light, sculpture, and 3D patterns to bring this particular exhibit to life, which was inspired by the connectivity of East Market and its colorful holiday décor. Philadelphians will be able to check out the art through the windows lining the site’s Chestnut Walk space. The installation incorporates and fuses pieces by stained glass muralist Justin Tyner, street sculptural artist Nicholas D’Auria (NDA) and pattern muralist Adam Crawford.

Where to find the exhibit: East Market, 1100 Market St

Philadelphia

Kambel Smith is a self-taught local artist who has created sculptural re-creations of some of Philadelphia’s iconic architecture. The sculptures are on display now at the Center City gallery and range from showcases of Independence Hall, the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. The most interesting part? Smith uses materials he found in the trash, including cardboard, foamcore, glue and paint to create his art. Smith says that he uses his art to channel his autism, and that his demonstrates that autism shouldn’t be viewed as a disorder but as a condition that gives people superhuman abilities.

Where to find the exhibit: The Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, 1216 Arch Street

Onomonopoetics of a Puerto Rican Landscape

This new exhibit specifically explores how Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia connect back to the island through sound. Artist Raúl Romero used the sounds of the iconic native frog, el Coquí, to be played throughout El Centro de Oro. According to the release, hearing el coquí will evoke memories for many and introduce the soundscape from Puerto Rico to those unfamiliar. Sculptures referencing the world-famous observatory in Arecibo, PR, will serve as the central station collecting and transmitting sounds. Gallery visitors and people from the community will be interviewed and asked how they connect back to Puerto Rico. The interviews will be available to listen to online.

Where to find the exhibit: Taller Puertorriqueño, 2600 N. 5th St.