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Fairmount Arts Crawl Coming This Weekend!


Philadelphia has quite the reputation when it comes to art history and the artistic community that has helped shape its past. Whether it’s the copious amount of murals adorning the urban landscape, the stunning collection of masterpieces that hang in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or the increasing number of talented street artists who are moving into the city and claiming it as their own, there are constant opportunities available to artists and locals alike to take in home-grown art in any medium.

Fairmount Art Crawl ad

Fairmount Art Crawl/ Sponsored by Fairmount CDC

If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for local art, we have just the event for you: On Saturday, June 4th, the neighborhood of Fairmount will transform into an eclectic celebration of creativity called The Fairmount Arts Crawl — an annual event that provides an avenue for artists and residents to appreciate the best arts that Philly has to offer. The event attracts more than 4,000 visitors to the Art Museum Area neighborhoods of Philadelphia each year.

What can you expect from this year’s Arts Crawl? The free indoor/outdoor festival will transform the Fairmount Avenue business corridor into a showcase of local artists and performers, who will set up shop in the neighborhood’s streets, restaurants, businesses, shops and bars. According to the event’s webpage, the Arts Crawl features “emerging and ground-breaking artists in a range of media including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and mixed-media.” The festival will feature more than 40 exhibits in total, including family-friendly craft-making activities, face painting, and sidewalk chalk art.

Fairmount Arts Crawl Map

The Fairmount Arts Crawl began 12 years ago when local artists wanted to find a way to show off their artwork — whether it be drawing, sculpting, photography, you name it — to others in the community. Year after year, the event grew until planning was handed over to the Fairmount CDC. The community organization, with the help from many folks in the neighborhood and arts community, has helped amplify the Arts Crawl into the marque community event it is today.

“It is a reliable event that happens every year,” Kevin Moran, Fairmount CDC’s executive director, said. “It is pretty unique to Fairmount. [The Arts Crawl] combines artists and stores in the community. The nature of the crawl itself is a very cool laid back atmosphere.”

Local businesses who are hosting showcases during the Art Crawl include Bar Hygge (1720 Fairmount Ave., highlighting work from Andrew Case), Bridgid’s Restaurant & Bar (726 N. 24th St., featuring the mixed media work of Gerard Curtis), Fairmount Framing (754 N. 25th St., showcasing work from Project HOME), and WellPoint Oriental Medicine (2014 Fairmount Ave., featuring the landscape work of Susan Shipley).

Local vendors will also be selling their wares on the sidewalk in front of Eastern State Penitentiary. These vendors including 5one7 Designs (jewelry), Black Ink Art (surreal mixed media artwork by Jon & David Swartz), Chandra Clark Designs (hand painted and designed shoes, custom journals, and wearable art), and Project HOME-HOME Made (handmade candles, soaps, unique artwork).

In addition to the artist showcases and vendor tables, there will be several programmed events occurring throughout the Arts Crawl as well. The Philly Art Center (2501 Olive Street) is hosting the Philly Art Center Extravaganza, featuring fun, colorful art-making stations that will flow from the Fairmount studios all the way around the block. Two free dance lessons will be provided by LifeSport Fitness (2112 Fairmount Avenue) — Come for Latin Club dancing at 2PM or Argentine Tango lessons at 3PM. Live pottery demonstrations will also be held at Neighborhood Potters (2034 Fairmount Avenue) where those in attendance can watch instructors shape and mold beautiful pottery before your eyes.

The Arts Crawl celebrates non-visual artwork as well: There’s a full set of live musicians ready to perform on Saturday at Bishop’s Collar (24th and Fairmount), starting with Josh Maddux at noon. The lineup includes other local songwriters such as Jeremiah Stone (12:30), Giada J (1PM), Dave Masterson (1:30), Jakki Roberts (2PM),  Brian Mullins (2:30) and Rowland Adamoli & Jake Millstein (3PM). The music culminates in an open jam session at 3:30 PM.

The day isn’t just about celebrating the arts for actual artists, but also about getting the community involved with the creativity: Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program will be at 1640 Fairmount Avenue tasking those in attendance to help create a sidewalk mural at the intersection.

The Fairmount Arts Crawl will run from 12-4PM on Saturday, June 4. If you stop by Eastern State Penitentiary you’ll also be able to catch representatives from Spirit News and chat about the stories that you want to read in upcoming editions of our newspaper. We can’t wait to see you there! 


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