Philly Daydreams

Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit was displayed as a multi-channel installation in the October of 2023. The event took place in the underground Oculus, below Dilworth Park South, City Hall. This space has been closed to the public since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Artist and filmmaker Anula Shetty worked with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, SEPTA, for several months doing research and filming interviews with SEPTA drivers, community residents, local artists, and local activists. In October 2023, @septaphilly riders across the city of Philadelphia encountered an incredible series of QR-activated portraits offering transit riders the opportunity to virtually travel alongside fellow Philadelphians as they told stories of wonder, daydream, and connection. The project was experienced on SEPTA’s Broad Street Line, Regional Rail Lines, select trolleys, and transcript stories could be accessed through short story kiosk dispensers placed across the city. This interactive, multi-pronged public art project highlighted shared transit experiences and stories across the city of Philadelphia.

Philly Daydreams was the first work in a series launched by Forman Arts Initiative and Mural Arts, the Public Works program places artists in Philadelphia government agencies and organizations to develop artwork that forges new connections between the agencies’ work and the communities they serve.

Location Note: Temporary project no longer on view.