About

How Philly Moves: The Philadelphia Airport Gateway Project

The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program is pleased to announce How Philly Moves, a project that will place an extraordinary and vibrant new work of community-based public art on the parking decks facing Interstate 95 at the Philadelphia International Airport. The nearly 50,000 square foot mural, incorporating the photographic work of and designed by artist Jacques-Jean “JJ” Tiziou, is scheduled to be dedicated in June 2011.

How Philly Moves will transform the airport’s parking garage into a memorable “gateway” to the Delaware Valley region – welcoming daily commuters and the nearly 32 million national and international travelers who pass through the airport each year. Across the top decks of the nearly half-mile-long parking garage, luminous dancing figures will swirl, unified in a rich field of black, giving viewers a first taste of the liveliness that awaits them in the City of Brotherly Love. At 60 m.p.h., the energy of the movement will be unmistakable. The diversity of dance forms and dancers depicted on How Philly Moves – from Philadelphia’s longstanding tradition of tap dance to the traditional Aztec dance brought by more recent immigrants – will celebrate and foster an appreciation for the common bonds that unite all of us through dance.

How Philly Moves, in collaboration with Deputy Mayor for Transportation Rina Cutler, is part of a new initiative by the Mural Arts Program to create stunning and exciting gateways into the city. “I was stuck in traffic on I-95 near the airport one day and took a look at the parking garages. It occurred to me that this was a perfect canvas for a gateway to the City project, so I called Jane Golden to discuss a collaboration. I am excited to participate in a great public art project that welcomes people to the City of Philadelphia and captures the spirit of Philadelphians in a bold way.”

Jane Golden, Executive Director of the Mural Arts Program said, “The How Philly Moves project is a nexus of Mural Arts Program initiatives to transform public space, impact individual lives, stimulate economic development, and generate tourism. Having created more than 3,000 works of public art to date, we have a new interest in creating gateways into the city and providing welcoming points at all entrances to Philadelphia. This project helps build Philadelphia’s international presence and gives us a fantastic opportunity to greet the world with our most creative foot forward.”

“The How Philly Moves project is a workforce development initiative creating arts that are accessible and relevant to as many residents and visitors as possible,” said Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia. “For millions of national and international visitors to Philadelphia this mural will provide a spectacular first impression of our city.”

As artist JJ Tiziou observed, “Because every viewer can see his or herself somewhere among these dancers, this installation will go beyond just providing a beautiful piece of art to the viewers, rather it will awaken viewers to the art in the movement around them and provide them inspiration to go out and create more.”

In the preliminary phase of production on the project, JJ Tiziou brought together over seventy dancers and a team of volunteers to produce an initial series of photographs that served to inform his original design concept for How Philly Moves. On March 5-7, 2010, an additional 60 dancers will be photographed by JJ Tiziou at the Painted Bride Art Center and a selection of these images will be incorporated into the final design of How Philly Moves. Both professional dancers and those who simply like to dance were invited to submit an application to be photographed. The 60 dancers selected will be notified in advance of this three-day event.  If you are interested in participating in How Philly Moves, please see the Frequently Asked Questions and complete the participation form.

Other aspects of the How Philly Moves project include a documentary to be produced by The Big Picture Alliance and a permanent exhibition in the airport’s public space of photographs taken by JJ Tiziou for How Philly Moves.

Artist:

Jacques-Jean “JJ” Tiziou is a photographer specializing in portraiture and movement documentation; he has never encountered an un-photogenic person in his life.  His images are used both in corporate and editorial contexts as well as arts and activism.  Based in West Philly, JJ uses his work to celebrate the beautiful people around him who are working to make the world a better place.  Born in Washington, DC, to French parents, he has called Philadelphia home since 1997.  Samples of his work can be found on JJ’s website.

The How Philly Moves photographic project started in early 2008 during a collaboration between JJ and sculptor James Peniston. Preliminary photo sessions in March of 2008 took place at Studio 34 and the CEC; another photo shoot was held in September 2008 in conjunction with the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe. JJ is thrilled to be able to share this project with the city on a monumental scale at the Airport.

Project Manager:

Judy Hellman
Special Projects Manager
& Director of Art Education
City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program

Lead Muralist:

Jonathan Laidacker

Special Thanks to:

Ana B. Hernández
Anna Drozdowski
Bright Sign Company
Community Education Center
Dance USA Philadelphia
Ellen Reynolds
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
James Peniston Sculpture
Jonathan Laidacker
Kevin Slattery
Michelle Flesh
Painted Bride Art Center
Patrick Reynolds
Studio 34: Yoga | Healing | Arts
Todd Bressi
West Philadelphia Orchestra

Extra special thanks to:

All of the amazing volunteers that made the first photo sessions possible
All of the beautiful photogenic people that JJ has ever photographed
YOU for dancing!

GET INVOLVED:

Participate:
Fill out the participation form.

Volunteer:
That’s also on the participation form.

Sponsor How Philly Moves:
info@howphillymoves.org

Find us on Facebook:
Check out the How Philly Moves page , or join the group.
Also: City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and JJ Tiziou Photography

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