Reflecting Revenants- Recalling Black Life in the 7th Ward

Reflecting Revenants: Recalling Black Life in the 7th Ward was a temporary outdoor installation that paid homage to the vibrant history of Philadelphia’s former 7th Ward as a center of African American culture and community. Using decals and banners, artists Amelia Carter and Beth Naomi Lewis skillfully merged candid archival photographs of Black residents between early- to mid-20th century with the present-day landscape of the Ward, conjuring an ethereal “energetic imprint” that transcends time. This immersive experience unveiled these images organically, adorning surfaces of buildings across the Ward, evoking a spectral presence. Reflecting Revenants offered a unique and introspective journey into the historical heartbeat of the 7th Ward, reviving its memory for the next generation.

Archival material for this project was supplied by the Philadelphia City Archives, Charles L. Blockson Afro American Collection and Special Collections Research Center at Temple University Libraries, Cheyney University and the Philadelphia Library Company.

Location Note: Installations were located throughout Philadelphia’s 7th Ward, including:

-538 Lombard St
-506 Delancey St
-513 Delancey St
-518 Delancey St
-Black and Nobel, 422 South St
-Greene Street, 700 South St
-807 Bainbridge St
-Randall School Condos, 915 Bainbridge St
-1132 Lombard St
-340 S 12th St
-The Church of St. Luke & The Epiphany, 330 S 13th St
-Rex at the Royal, 1524 South St