Electric Street

Mural artist David Guinn and lighting designer Drew Billiau have combined their talents on “The Electric Street,” an illuminated neon mural on Percy Street between Reed and Wharton, down the block from the iconic cheesesteak spots Pat’s and Geno’s, in an alleyway hidden by the unusual curve of the block.

The permanent installation in paint and Low-energy flexineon LEDs is the first phase in turning a neglected block in South Philly’s Passyunk Square into a major civic asset. Low-energy flexineon LEDs bend with the curve of the paint on the 30-by-15-foot wall spanning the backs of two residences. The installation uses more than 200 feet of light, hooked up to a program that Billiau can control from his computer. The project uses artistic intervention to make the block a neighborhood attraction that ultimately enhances safety by attracting pedestrian traffic to a previously under-used public space. The first phase includes two properties and has already become a sensation, attracting nationwide attention. The project will ultimately span the entire block.

Location Note: The project is located on the 1300 block of South Percy Street, between Wharton and Reed, 9th and 10th in South Philadelphia.