In Center City, Philadelphia, visitors encounter monuments, statues, and sculptures that shape the history and the art of the city. Here are a few images that might catch your eyes while strolling through downtown Philly.
A man is seen walking by “The Clothespin” statue located at the Centre Square Plaza on 15th St. and Market St. in Center City, Philadelphia on Feb, 15. “The Clothespin” was created by Claes Oldenburg in 1976. Oldenburg linked this sculpture to “The Kiss” made by Constantino Brancusi. A family is photographed standing under the “Love” sculpture on Feb. 15. This sculpture is embraced by Philadelphians and visitors alike for its representation of brotherly love that Philadelphia stands for. The sculpture was created by Robert Indiana in 1970, and it’s located at N. 15th St. and JFK Blvd. across the street from City Hall in Love Park.Created by Alexander Milne Calder in 1892 and topped on Philadelphia’s City Hall the same year, the William Penn statue is an eye-catching sculpture. The statue is 584 feet above street level and was at one point the highest statue in the air due to the “gentleman’s agreement” which stated that no other buildings could be taller than the brim of William Penn’s hat.A man takes a photograph with “A Quest for Parity: the Octavious V. Catto Memorial” on Feb. 15. This statue was created by Branly Cadet in 2017 to remember Catto for being a dedicated civil rights activist who broke down barriers of social injustice. Over 140 years after his death, this monument was unveiled on the apron of Philadelphia’s City Hall. The statue is located 1400 S. Penn Sq.This sphere sculpture titled “World Park: Orders and Perspectives“ was created by Ned Smyth in 1995. This mosaic globe is meant to represent the world and its culture. This statue is located at 12th St. and Filbert St. near the Marriott Hotel, across the street from the Reading Terminal Market and was photographed on Feb. 15.The “OY/YO” sculpture created by Deborah Kass represents a common greeting “YO” on one side and “OY” a popular Jewish phrase on the other. This statue is located 101 S. Independence Mall East outside of Philly’s Jewish History Museum. This photograph was taken on Feb. 15.The “Chinatown Friendship Gate” created by Sabrina Soong in 1984, is a gate at the entrance of Philadelphia’s Chinatown created in the Qing Dynasty style. This gate represents a commemoration of friendship between Philadelphia and the Tianjin culture of Philadelphia. This gate is located at 10th St. and Arch St. in Chinatown and marks the entrance to Philadelphia’s Chinatown.
