2011
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Shissler Greenway
The Shissler Greenwayproject links several art pieces in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, from Norris Passage to Impressions of the Delaware and the map wall on the parking lot that were completed in the last 3 years. The goals of this phase of the project were to add complexity and visual interest to the new path that connects a through way from Norris to Palmer Streets to the Recreation Center. The underlying motivation for the imagery is the Delaware River, and the textures, species and effects that this river has on this neighborhood. There are rivers under rivers, moving at their chosen speed, much like the walkers, runners, and bike riders coming and going.
Shissler Greenway is on the Big Green Block, part of the Kensington CDC project for sustainable 19125, that stretches from Norris Street to Palmer park. The first mural off of Norris Street is on the back of Palm Auto Garage, overlooking a new grass baseball field. It is visible from the Market Frankford line, and from the new pedestrian path that cuts through Shissler Rec Center and KAPA Kensington. It consists of a monochromatic splash pattern that activates that corner.
The second component of the project consists of 20 randomly placed bronze medallions. They are 5 inches in diameter, similar in scale to gas and water line caps found in city sidewalks. They are low relief carvings that were chosen from Mural Corps research drawings from the Wagner Institute. There is a compass, two shells, an abstracted leaf (line work), a ripple pattern, and a single cell organism. Each pattern repeats five times on the pathway, and is placed near trees, entrances, and along the edges of the sidewalk.
The third component consists of sidewalk engravings that edge water filtration tree trenches. The engravings are on Palmer Street and work from the center of the sidewalk to the edge of the tree pits. During sunny days, they catch shadow and look like a drawing, but during rain, they catch water and direct it into the tree trenches.
The fourth component is next to the Shissler Rec Center building. It consists of a flow pattern that only emerges during mist or rain. It is called a watermark. It is similar to the glass splash shapes that are on the building, and has a linear overlay, like the aerial map on the parking lot wall.
Shissler Greenway is on the Big Green Block, part of the Kensington CDC project for sustainable 19125, that stretches from Norris Street to Palmer park. The first mural off of Norris Street is on the back of Palm Auto Garage, overlooking a new grass baseball field. It is visible from the Market Frankford line, and from the new pedestrian path that cuts through Shissler Rec Center and KAPA Kensington. It consists of a monochromatic splash pattern that activates that corner.
The second component of the project consists of 20 randomly placed bronze medallions. They are 5 inches in diameter, similar in scale to gas and water line caps found in city sidewalks. They are low relief carvings that were chosen from Mural Corps research drawings from the Wagner Institute. There is a compass, two shells, an abstracted leaf (line work), a ripple pattern, and a single cell organism. Each pattern repeats five times on the pathway, and is placed near trees, entrances, and along the edges of the sidewalk.
The third component consists of sidewalk engravings that edge water filtration tree trenches. The engravings are on Palmer Street and work from the center of the sidewalk to the edge of the tree pits. During sunny days, they catch shadow and look like a drawing, but during rain, they catch water and direct it into the tree trenches.
The fourth component is next to the Shissler Rec Center building. It consists of a flow pattern that only emerges during mist or rain. It is called a watermark. It is similar to the glass splash shapes that are on the building, and has a linear overlay, like the aerial map on the parking lot wall.
Location Note: Murals at 1865 Blair Street and bronze objects along Norris Street are no longer on view. Portions of the project located at Shissler Rec Center may still be on view.
