Blogs

Juvenile-In-Justice, by Richard Ross

Artful justice, amid arresting art (in North Philly)

“You may find that the cell is an ideal place to learn to know yourself, to search realistically and regularly the processes of your own mind and feelings. In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one’s social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education …. but internal factors may be even more crucial in assessing one’s development as a human being: honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, purity, generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve your fellow men – qualities within the reach of every soul – are the foundation of one’s spiritual life …. at least, if for nothing else, the cell gives you the opportunity to look daily into your entire conduct to overcome the bad and develop whatever is good in you. Regular meditation, say of about 15 minutes a day before you turn in, can be fruitful in this regard. You may find it difficult at first to pinpoint the negative factors in your life, but the tenth attempt may reap rich rewards. Never forget that a saint is a sinner that keeps on trying.”

Nelson Mandela 1975

Letter to Winnie Mandela from Kroonstad Prison

I want to take septa to Surburban station and go to Franklin Square(the Love Square),that's a tourist attraction I've never been to. I would also spend time in the neighbourhood, just to walk around and see what's in there.

each group can figure to take up to about 20 minutes....

Tuesday, 12/10:
Kelly and Vaughn
Erin, Christina, Rachel and Emma
Elizabeth, Julia, Abby and Sam

Thursday, 12/12:
Esther, Ariana, Faith and Shaina
Caroline, Piper, Marian and Amanda
Erin, Sarah, Maya, Maggie, Lindsey and Kalina

For my final trip into the city, I was thinking of doing two main things: first, going to a Quaker meeting in the morning, then wandering from there to the Masonic Temple and exploring inside. I believe that both of these would encourage me to deep play and to stop thinking things through too critically, really to open myself up to serendipity. The rest of my trip until we meet up at Anne's I'm hoping to leave almost entirely up to serendipity, and to just let the city take me where it will while I explore.

I'd want to go to North Philly to see the North Philadelphia Beacon Project (Broad & Lehigh), a part of the Mural Arts Programs. The mosaic grids are portraits of people -- residence and participants in the program. I can't see the portraits in the photo, so I want to see the mural by myself. I think the portraits will talk to each other and talk to me.

I've always wanted to go to North Philly, the only direction I haven't been to. People say it's the area that you don't go, that you just don't go. But I believe it's not that scary, although I know the area is dilapidated. The mosaic is bright, eye-catching, and hopeful. I believe art can really change something even in that area.

I intend to go to Rittenhouse square and the Rosenbach Museum and Library.  I'll head into the city around noon on the regional rail and spend the hours leading up to our gathering wandering around the area.  I thought (in the spirit of 'play in the city') I might spend some time playing in the park and watching how other people enjoy their city.  After this, I'll go to the Rosenbach Museum, which is quite close to the park itself.  Much like the Barnes, the Rosenbach is a private collection, but this time it is books and other rare manuscripts.  Knowing what we have learned about the value of private collections and how they no longer hold to their original principles, I want to look at this museum as we have looked at other museum institutions.

For my last trip into Philadelphia I plan on visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I had originally wanted to do something unique for my last trip, but even after two hours of research I still felt that this Philadelphia staple would be the perfect place for my last visit into the city. I wanted to visit the Léger exhibit anyways, so everything fits together perfectly. I am interested in comparing my time at The Philadelphia Museum of Art to the time I spent at the Barnes Foundation, and see how the two different environments change my experience with art.

I’ve put a lot of thought into what I want to do this weekend in Philly, and I’ve come up with one conclusion:

I’ve got nothing.

There are so many amazing things I could do for my last trip, like going to what looks like one of the coolest events ever this Thursday, continuing on my mural adventures, or staring at paintings that make me think deep play might be possible. I could even go to the top of City Hall and survey the city like I’m Mufasa and everything the light touches is my kingdom. But, in the end, I know I would probably be happiest aimlessly wandering around the city, stumbling [serendipitously] across murals, spending an hour on a park bench watching people and eavesdropping on their lives,  and thinking more about what my place in Philadelphia is rather than what the coolest thing I can find to do is.