Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit brings stories to SEPTA riders

Celebrating transit workers and riders, Anula Shetty’s Philly Daydreams: Stories In Transit is a new augmented reality public art project exhibited throughout Philadelphia’s transit system presented by Forman Arts Initiative (FAI) and Mural Arts Philadelphia (MAP) in collaboration with SEPTA.

Throughout October, Philly Daydreams will offer Septa riders the opportunity to be virtually accompanied on their journeys by fellow Philadelphians through stories, daydreams, thoughts, and performances that Shetty has filmed. Anyone with a phone can activate the QR-triggered photographs on select trains and travel with a transit story.

Closed since the pandemic, the Oculus in Philadelphia’s City Hall Station will open to present a multi-channel presentation of Shetty’s films. All are encouraged to share their own transit stories at anulashetty.com, formanartsinitiative.org, and muralarts.org.

Images from the Launch Event

Michael Foreman and Jennifer Rice at Anula Shetty's Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit launch, October 5 at Septa's Oculus. Photo by Troy Bynum. Presented by Foreman Arts Initiative and Mural Arts in collaboration with Septa.
Jane Golden at Anula Shetty's Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit launch, October 5 at Septa's Oculus. Photo by Troy Bynum. Presented by Foreman Arts Initiative and Mural Arts in collaboration with Septa.
Jane Golden acknowledges the participant's in Anula Shetty's Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit launch, October 5 at Septa's Oculus. Photo by Troy Bynum. Presented by Foreman Arts Initiative and Mural Arts in collaboration with Septa.
Anula Shetty at the launch of her project Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit, October 5 at Septa's Oculus. Photo by Troy Bynum. Presented by Foreman Arts Initiative and Mural Arts in collaboration with Septa.
Dancer Shaily performs at Anula Shetty's Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit launch, October 5 at Septa's Oculus. Photo by Troy Bynum. Presented by Foreman Arts Initiative and Mural Arts in collaboration with Septa.
Participants in Anula Shetty's Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit share their project posters at the launch, October 5 at Septa's Oculus. Photo by Troy Bynum. Presented by Foreman Arts Initiative and Mural Arts in collaboration with Septa.
Anula Shetty's Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit launch, October 5 at Septa's Oculus. Photo by Troy Bynum. Presented by Foreman Arts Initiative and Mural Arts in collaboration with Septa.
Train displaying Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit posters at the launch, October 5 at Septa's Oculus. Photo by Troy Bynum. Presented by Foreman Arts Initiative and Mural Arts in collaboration with Septa.

Locations to see Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit

The Oculus is located on the west side of City Hall below Dilworth Park South (for GPS) at Septa’s City Hall Station.

To get to the Oculus, you will enter on the west side of City Hall by the fountains and Starbucks. where docents will be there to greet you. You will enter a glass covered stairway and go down the steps, the Oculus is on the Broad Street side by the SEPTA cashier. The location is also accessible by an elevator located near the glass stairwell and the above ground Starbucks.

Rail:

Broad Street Line
Regional Rail Lines

Trolley:

Trolley Route 15

Short Story Dispensers:

*Philly Daydreams Interviews will appear in a transcribed format at these locations

Philadelphia International Airport
Jefferson Station
Suburban Station
SEPTA Headquarters
Parkway Central Library

City Hall Station’s Oculus Display:

Broad Street at Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Public Hours:

Weekdays: October 6, 12 and 13 from 11AM to 2 PM.
Weekends: October 7, 8, 14, and 15 from 1PM to 4PM.

*Philly Daydreams at City Hall Station’s oculus is free to the public

Panel Discussion

Documenting Dreams: Anula Shetty in conversation with Atif Sheikh

October 23 | 5:30-7 pm | Parkway Central Free Library | 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia PA

Join us for a panel discussion with artist Anula Shetty as she discusses the creative process behind Philly Daydreams, a public art project conceived in collaboration with SEPTA. The talk will feature two of the project’s participants, Catzie Vilayphonh and Iris Brown, and will touch on Anula’s history of working with communities and the public, the sensory experience of travel and migration, and daydreaming as a spark for change, imagination, and connection. The discussion will be moderated by Atif F. Sheikh, co-founder of 12G and resident curator.