Me in the Pen…
Andrew Wagner
Philadelphia is a great town, plain and simple. I hadn't been in a while so decided to take a quick trip over Labor Day to check in on the City of Brotherly Love.
I got some great tips on things to do and places to check out from Zoey Sless-Kitain Caroline Tiger, aka Design Phan, as well as a bunch of other Philly aficionados and even from our own pages ("Creative Renewal: Finding Inspiration on the Streets of Philadelphia," August/September, pages 26-27). While there is always plenty to see, with the Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival also running from the 4th till the 19th this month there was almost too much to do. And sometimes, when feeling overwhelmed by possibilities, a visit to an old stand-by is just what's needed.
So that's just what I did. After nearly two days of taking in the amazing weather and all the ins-and-outs of the city I made my way through Love Park—where break dancing is back in full force, usurping skate-boarding—and past museum row to the Fairmount neighborhood.
There amongst the otherwise quaint neighborhood stands Eastern State Penitentiary, a ruin that is a must see in Philadelphia.
The once ground-breaking prison (both in terms of design and reform philosophy) has been out of service since 1971 but has been open for tours since 1995. (The self-guided tours are led via headset by Steve Buscemi and are top notch.)
The prison stands as what is now referred to as a "stabilized ruin" lending an even eerier air to the already spooky structure.
But it's not all ghosts and ghouls in the Pen. It is actually a remarkably beautiful building pulsing with history and the art installations strategically placed throughout make a visit not only a historic journey but a cultural one too. So if you ever find yourself in Philadelphia and in need of a time out, let me offer up an unorthodox recommendation: a visit to prison.
An illustration of what prison used to be like before prisoners were separated. Not sure if things have gotten any better actually.
One of my favorite parts of the Pen: as the building deteriorates, it allows you to see how it was originally put together.
A door detail...
And a handrail detail. There is plenty to take in...
Part of Juxtaposition by Matthew and Jonathan Stemler; one of the numerous art installations throughout Eastern State.
Another view of the Stemler's Juxtaposition. "This installation gives new life to fallen material by dividing the cell horizontally with suspended plaster pieces. It provides an area in which to consider the building’s past and present experience in light of material position."
We've been talking about Kohler a lot lately and will be featuring a project installed at the Kohler Arts Center in our soon to be released October/November issue. So, needless to say, this part of Mary Jo Bole's Purge Incomplete installation caught my eye."This installation details the fascinating history of plumbing at Eastern State Penitentiary, a building that had running water before the White House."
More from Purge Incomplete...
