Hidden City Highlights Undercover Treasures

Also in the Shiloh Baptist Church is Like Lambs by Steven Earl Webber. Like Lambs is a ceramic exploration of some classic religious imagery (and some not so classic religious imagery—we're talking a lamb with a great hole in its chest spewing blood into a chalice). Webber's work highlights the many opposing forces that exist within religion by contrasting small, burdened lambs with imposing walls of red goat horns. The overall effect is impressive, but the most interesting facets are in the smaller details such as the few silver horns and the lambs' ear tags.

If religious services at Shiloh were in session, there was little evidence. Mother Bethel A.M.E., on the other hand, was still bustling with patrons dressed in their Sunday best. Here patchwork quilts hang from the balcony, simultaneously complimented and overshadowed by the sanctuary's immense stained glass windows. While all of the elements of Constellation are meant to call attention to the history of Mother Bethel as a stop on the Underground Railroad, the real innovation by artist Sanford Biggers comes in a form visitors can take with them. Biggers has kindly created for us eloquent maps of the night sky layered over Philadelphia streets with Mother Bethel as the North Star and other Underground Railroad landmarks as supporting constellations, and simple muslin quilt blocks printed with its own North Star made of the hulls of slave ships.

Limited editions of another artist's work were also supposed to be available at the Philadelphia Inquirer building on Broad Street. Rumor has it that Aleksandra Mir's witty and ironic newspaper creations were not quite well received by her host venue. A volunteer confirmed stacks of souvenir prints had at some point "mysteriously vanished" from the site. Too bad. Being able to closely examine Mir's quirky juxtapositions in the manner they were modeled after with a morning cup of coffee would have been a treat indeed. The views from the new location on 18th floor are impressive, but mostly irrelevant and distracting. Perhaps that's the point. Luckily the Nancy Pelosi/dominatrix panel alone yanked this Phillyist's attention right back where it belonged. Mir's work outshines any political cartoon in terms of humor and complexity, and personally, I found Newsroom 2009 to be in no way insulting; but rather a vibrant take on the diverse history of women and journalism that more appropriately belongs at the heart of the Inquirer building.

Girard College Founder's Hall (pictured) was first visited but last mentioned. This may be because unlike other Hidden City exhibits where the artists drew inspiration directly from their venues, Steve Roden has apparently chosen a more non-linear route. He has pulled inspiration not from Founder's Hall itself, but from the man who made it possible, merchant mariner Stephen Girard. Roden is obviously intrigued and perhaps a bit distracted by the nautical nature of the founder. One room bares a wooden sculpture meant to evoke the mast and sails of a ship, the other a grouping of wooden shipping crates and water color paintings featuring the names of Girard's fleet. Both rooms also contain audio components that emphasize the silence that has permeated these former class rooms for almost 100 years. The sounds are pleasant enough, still, Roden's nothing but what is therein contained is our least favorite Hidden City exhibit as it feels almost off-topic and fails to take advantage of this unique space as well as it could have.

There are additional free Hidden City installations such as Stan Douglas's film Der Sandman at the German Society of Pennsylvania on Spring Garden Street and Running True by John Phillips and Carolyn Healy at Disston Saw Works in Tacony. There just aren't really enough hours in one Sunday to experience all that the festival has to offer. Good thing there are three more weekends to go. Special music and dance performances start this Wednesday and are listed after the jump. If you've ever wanted to see inside the Metropolitan Opera House or the Royal Theater (without getting arrested), now's your chance.

Ticketed Events:

Re-Sounding
The Royal Theater
15th and South
June 10 & 11 at 8pm
$20 ($15 with student ID)

Revival
The Metropolitan Opera House
Broad and Poplar
June 24-26 at 8pm
June 27 at 2pm and 8pm
$20 ($15 with student ID)

Battle Hymns
The Armory of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry
22 South 23rd Street
June 13 and 20 at 4pm and 6pm
$20 ($15 with student ID)

Hidden City Soiree
The Armory of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry
22 South 23rd Street
June 25 at 7pm
$10 in advance, $20 at the door

Hidden City Bus Tour
Washington Square
Tour Begins at 6th and Walnut
May 30, June 6, June 13, and June 20 at 11:00 AM & 4:00 PM
$30 SOLD OUT!

Disston & Tacony Walking Tour
Disston Saw Works
6795 State Road
June 14 and 28 at 2:30pm
$30

Image courtesy of Hidden City Philadelphia and Joseph E.B. Elliott