Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis comprises five large metal sculptures of insects by artist Robert Phillips and a series of seven mosaics by artist Cheryl Levin and City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program Mural Corps youth. The sculptures of butterflies and dragonflies are installed at the southeast corner of Girard Avenue and 33rd Street/Poplar Drive, while the mosaics are installed just to the east along the north and south sides of the Girard Avenue railroad crossing bridge between 31st and 33rd Streets. Located on the border of the Fairmount and Brewerytown neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the goal of this project was to create a permanent, three-dimensional sculptural and mosaic public work of art for the Girard Avenue gateway between Poplar Drive and 31st Street. These works mark an important location along Girard Avenue that serves as a transition from a residential neighborhood to a park setting, a river crossing and the Philadelphia Zoo. It was created in 2006 as a part of the renaissance of the Girard Avenue commercial corridor.

The mosaics feature images of various aspects of the history of the commercial corridor and surrounding neighborhoods, including: a market, shipbuilding, music/jazz, trolley cars, beer/breweries, and the nearby Philadelphia Zoo and Girard College.

A plaque installed at the site reads:

A sculptural and mosaic
Public art project
Dedicated to the community
And its cycles of change

Location Note: Insect sculptures are located at the southwest corner of Girard Avenue and 33rd Street/Poplar Drive. Mosaics are installed along the railroad crossing bridge on Girard Ave between 31st and 33rd streets. The railroad crossing bridge is just east of the site where the sculptures are installed.