Gestures W'06_07 FINAL 2.indd - Temple University

02 TYLER GESTURES WINTER 2006
Education in the arts is a two-way street. Whether it is
installing art in a North Philadelphia park or discovering
ancient art in the deep caves of Greece, artistic practices need
to be inner-twined with outside influences. The foundation
of an education is not complete when it is experienced with
walls on all four sides. Each program within the Tyler School
of Art has made it a priority to reach outside of the classroom
and engage students in conversations and situations a
classroom environment cannot simulate.
ARCHITECTURE
The Philadelphia Urban Installation Initiative has been established
through the Tyler School of Art Architecture program to
create and encourage the practice of design and arts installation
in the surrounding north Philadelphia community. The director,
Dianna Nicholas, has been a lecturer in Tyler’s Architecture
program for two years now.
The Initiative has completed two projects in North Philadelphia.
The fi rst project, entitled “A Path in The Village” was completed
by the fi rst-year architecture students in collaboration
with the Village of Arts and Humanities. The Village decided
to restructure their main park and gathering space, Ile Ife Park.
The students used their talents to assist with this process and
designed tiles that would become the border to a more elaborate
refurbishment of all the paths in the village.
The second project was completed in North Philadelphia
adjacent to the offi ces of Asociacion de Puertorriquenos en
Marcha (APM), at 6th and Diamond Streets. In this location a
group of architecture students designed and installed a twoweek
temporary art piece entitled “The Element.” This piece
was made up of a series of functionalities including places to
sit, framing devices, and arches, all of which were intended
to draw attention to the site itself as an outdoor community
gathering place.