Philadelphia is a vibrant city bursting with art in every corner.
From its world-renowned museums, to its cultural street art scene, the city is a haven for artists and art enthusiasts alike. Whether it’s classical masterpieces or contemporary street art, Philadelphia offers a diverse and thriving art scene that continues to grow.
Additionally, late next year, a new art museum will grace the Ben Franklin Parkway. Calder Gardens is expected to open in 2024 and will combine reflection, contemplation, and learning.
Art Meets Elevation
Calder Gardens will celebrate and highlight the art and ideas of Alexander Calder, a native Philadelphian who is considered one of the most innovative and influential artists of the 20th century.
Situated both indoors and outdoors, it will present a rotating selection of masterworks from the Calder Foundation.
Visitors can expect to see mobiles, stabiles, monumental sculptures, and paintings featuring galleries illuminated by natural light.
Furthermore, the pieces will be housed in a structure ensconced in a flowing landscape of native and flowering species.
Calder Gardens will provide the public with a singular place for contemplation and reflection, as well as abundant opportunities for learning and community building through a schedule of inclusive public programs and special events.
The Legacy Continues
Alexander Calder was born in Philadelphia in 1898. He comes from a family lineage of artists whose work has defined and enriched the city for over a century.
A trio of iconic installations by three generations of Calders can be found along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway: at the southeast end, atop City Hall, stands the monumental statue William Penn (c. 1886–94) by the artist’s grandfather Alexander Milne Calder; at the midpoint sits Swann Memorial Fountain (1924) by his father Alexander Stirling Calder; and at the northwest end is Calder’s own 1964 mobile The Ghost, which hangs majestically in the main hall of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Undoubtedly, Calder Gardens brings into the 21st century the continued legacy of an influential Philadelphia family.
“The Calder family is integral to the history and now the future of Philadelphia. I am grateful for the range of partners that will bring Calder Gardens and the amazing art and ideas to the Parkway,” said Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia in an official press release. “This will continue to build upon an ever-growing arts and culture presence in our great city, further enhancing the city’s cultural experiences for visitors and residents alike.”
About The Design
World renowned design firm Herzog & de Meuron and acclaimed landscape designer Piet Oudolf conceived a truly unique design. A description of the innovating design was outlined in the official press release:
Herzog & de Meuron’s almost 18,000 sq ft structure will be sheathed in softly reflective metal cladding that blurs the boundaries between architecture and the natural world—the material and the immaterial.
Departing the busy Parkway, visitors will approach the building along a path that winds through a meadow-like landscape punctuated by trees, arriving at the main entrance on the building’s north façade. Beyond the threshold, a sequence of spaces will reveal themselves below ground level as distinct volumes that will house a constantly changing display of Calder’s most acclaimed works. Large windows will wash the interiors with natural light and frame both the shifting geometries of Calder’s work and views of different gardens conceived as outdoor galleries. A Sunken Garden and Vestige Garden, visible from within the building through expansive glazing that likewise permits visitors outdoors to see into the building’s exhibition spaces. Quiet but theatrical, Herzog & de Meuron’s design has been conceived to amplify the impact of the artworks—to encourage engagement with their kinetic properties by affording visitors many different vantage points—and catalyze discovery and reflection.
The seamless relationship between the built elements designed by Herzog & de Meuron and the gardens envisioned by Piet Oudolf is central to the philosophy of Calder Gardens. The site will be distinguished by its naturalistic four-season garden, intending to create an entirely different experience than all other cultivated, manicured gardens on the Parkway.
Perfection On The Parkway
The new art museum will be situated between 21st and 22nd Streets, across from the Barnes Foundation. Indeed, the 1.8 acre Calder Gardens site will be a sanctuary-like retreat for Philadelphia residents and visitors alike. Moreover it will be a perfect addition to the existing acclaimed arts institutions that line the Parkway.
“Calder Gardens marks a significant step toward realizing a long-held vision to not only create a permanent home for Calder’s artistic contributions in his birth city but also to add yet one more jewel to the already culturally rich Parkway,” said Joe Neubauer, Founder of the Neubauer Family Foundation and lead funder of the initiative in an official press release.
Designer Piet Oudolf asserted his vision for Calder Gardens, “my hope is that people will take the time to stand still and think here, to fully experience these elements together and have an emotional reaction that stays with them long after their visit. It’s not about what you see, but what you sense.”
You can learn more by visiting their website. Stay tuned!