Site/Sound: Revealing the Rail Park

Celebrating the past, present, and future of the city's historic rail corridor with Friends of the Rail Park and American Composers Forum

artists Carolyn Healy John JH Phillips Erik Ruin Rosie Langabeer Nadia Hironaka & Matthew Suib Eugene Lew

Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • location The Rail Park
  • Neighborhood

    Center City

  • completion date

    October 19, 2019

visit sitesoundphl.org

Site/Sound: Revealing the Rail Park took place over three weeks in October 2019, weaving together audio and visual elements along the historical footprint of the Reading Railroad in Philadelphia. Celebrate the past, present, and future of the rail corridor with public events and installations—a unique collaborative project in partnership with Friends of the Rail Park and American Composers Forum (ACF), Philadelphia Chapter.

Three core installations took place in locations bounded by Vine & Spring Garden Streets and 9th & 18th Streets:

To view the dynamic schedule of performances and public programming, visit the archival site at sitesoundphl.org.

Moon Viewing Platform 

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Moon Viewing Platform by Nadia Hironaka, Matthew Suib & Eugene Lew, October 5, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

Through soundscapes, music, spoken word, large-scale projections, pop-up experiences, films, live performances, special tours, and family programming, Site/Sound activated the Rail Park’s developed quarter-mile of elevated green space while inviting the public to envision the path of the future park and experience its unusual vantage both above and below the cityscape.

Soon/ Now/ Gone 

  • Soon/ Now/ Gone by Erik Ruin & Rosie Langabeer, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Soon/ Now/ Gone by Erik Ruin & Rosie Langabeer, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Soon/ Now/ Gone by Erik Ruin & Rosie Langabeer, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Soon/ Now/ Gone by Erik Ruin & Rosie Langabeer, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Soon/ Now/ Gone by Erik Ruin & Rosie Langabeer, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Soon/ Now/ Gone by Erik Ruin & Rosie Langabeer, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Soon/ Now/ Gone by Erik Ruin & Rosie Langabeer, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Soon/ Now/ Gone by Erik Ruin & Rosie Langabeer, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

Site/Sound was curated by Gene Coleman, Executive Director of ACF Philadelphia and a composer, musician, and director. A 2014 Guggenheim Fellow and the winner of the 2013 Berlin Prize for Music, he has created over 70 works that make innovative use of sound, image, space, and time. Since 2001, his work has focused on the global transformation of culture and music’s relationship with science, architecture, and new media.

Aspect 281 

  • Aspect 281 by John JH Phillips & Carolyn Healy, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Aspect 281 by John JH Phillips & Carolyn Healy, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Aspect 281 by John JH Phillips & Carolyn Healy, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Aspect 281 by John JH Phillips & Carolyn Healy, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Aspect 281 by John JH Phillips & Carolyn Healy, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Aspect 281 by John JH Phillips & Carolyn Healy, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Aspect 281 by John JH Phillips & Carolyn Healy, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

  • Aspect 281 by John JH Phillips & Carolyn Healy, Installation Night 1 for Site/Sound, October 5, 2019. Photo by Dorcas Tang.

Funders 

Site/Sound: Revealing the Rail Park was supported by the William Penn Foundation, PNC Arts Alive, and PECO. Additional funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Partners 

Arts + Crafts Holdings
Community College of Philadelphia
Reading International, Inc.
Rodin Market Partners, LP
SEPTA

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