A Revolutionary Idea

Why Philly is filled with so much public art

Joanie on a Pony by Emmanuel Frémiet was originally placed near the Girard Avenue Bridge in 1890. The shimmering sculpture was moved near the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1948. Photo by Jim Murphy, author of Real Philly History, Real Fast.

When residents from “The Philadelphian” — the famed condos at 2401 Pennsylvania Avenue — asked me to develop a program for their annual Art Show in October 2022, I jumped at the chance.

Little did I know how much I’d learn during my research.

The first thing I asked myself was: “Who started Philly’s 1 Percent for Art Program?” From my tour guide training, I knew it began in 1959, but that’s all I knew.

It turns out Michael von Moschzisker, a Philadelphia lawyer who was head of the Redevelopment Authority, really got the ball rolling.

Others also get an assist

Von Moschzisker credits at least some of the idea to noted architect Louis Kahn, and assistant district attorney Raymond Speiser, who was also counsel to Artists Equity.

At some point, one or both men told him about a funding program in Vienna, Austria, that required “some sort of fine arts be included in the building.”

Later, Von Moschzisker couldn’t remember what year the conversation took place. But he liked the idea and during his chairmanship said, “I really became interested in pushing this.”

In 1962, TIME magazine highlighted von Moschzisker’s very local argument to promote his percent for public art idea.

He said: “The most famous meeting place in Philadelphia is the statue of the eagle in Wanamaker’s. And the most memorable outdoor object to whole generations growing up in center city has been the goat in Rittenhouse Square.”

He was right then … and he’s still right.

The Redevelopment Authority voted to begin the Percent for Art Program in March 1959. City councilman Henry Sawyer introduced similar legislation for city projects that passed that December.

Since then, over 650 sculptures, memorials, photographs, paintings and more have been commissioned through Philadelphia Percent for Art Programs.

In 1984, the city created its revolutionary Mural Arts Program, too, placing over 4,000 colorful artworks all around the city in the past 38 years.

I’m not sure most Philadelphians realize how fortunate we are to have so much public art available to view on a daily basis.

Let’s give thanks … to a Philadelphia lawyer

Nor do most of us know it’s due to the unknown efforts of a now-deceaased Philadelphia attorney named Michael von Moschzisker

Now his secret it out. Please pass it on.

Interesting Oddity:

Philadelphia’s Association for Public Art, originally the Fairmount Park Art Association, just celebrated its 150th Anniversary. Established in 1872, it was the first public organization in the country to “promote and foster the beautiful” when industrial and commercial interests threatened to ruin the city’s character. Check out the self-guided tours on its great website: www.associationforpublicart.org.