In-Progress

Our Land, Our Movement

Our Land, Our Movement is a public art project focused on healing our bodies and lands.

Photo by Erin Blewett.

  • location

    Citywide

  • Neighborhood

    Citywide

  • completion date

    September 30, 2023

About the Project 

Our Land, Our Movement is a public art project focused on healing our bodies and lands. Led by artist Marguerite Hemmings, this expansive series engages with communities living in West Philly, Olney and Chinatown who feel disconnected/unsafe/restricted from their bodies and neighborhoods. During the summer and fall of 2023, community members can participate in free workshops by urban farmers and artist organizers, witness performances by teens in public spaces, and attend a dedication revealing new public artwork.

Community Workshops 

Join free workshop series during the month of August! Come participate in any and all of our workshops on herbal medicine, building and shaping, mapping and storytelling, and movement choreographies. No specific experience needed, all ages welcome!

August 2nd – August 31st:

Tuesdays, 5:30PM-7:00PM
Roots Garden at Fisher Park in Olney, 571 West Spencer St

Wednesdays, 4:00PM-7:00PM
Re-Entry Community Farm in West Philadelphia, 4991 Girard Ave

Thursdays, 5:30PM-7:00PM
Inch by Inch Garden in Chinatown, 1024 Ridge Ave

Performances 

Join Our Land, Our Movement’s performance series in collaboration with ReEntry Community Garden, Roots Garden at Fisher Park, and Asian Arts Initiative. Teen participants have been working with Marguerite Hemmings and a team of facilitators/designers to create a three part movement ritual. Witness the performers become a walking mural, painting their neighborhoods with movement and storytelling, using bright fabrics, face makeup, and adornment that reflects their most vibrant selves. FREE

Performance 1
Saturday, September 16, Time: 1:45PM
Re-Entry Community Farm, 4991 Girard Ave
*Rain Date, September 17

Performance 2
Saturday, September 30
Various locations in Chinatown:
1:45PM-2:15PM, Mr. Wish’s, 216 N 10th St
2:30PM-3:30PM, Inch by Inch Garden, 1024 Ridge Ave
*Rain Date, October 1

Performance 3
Tuesday, October 3, Time : 6:00PM
Roots Garden at Fisher Park, 571 West Spencer St

Dedication 

Join Mural Arts, Marguerite Hemmings, and a group of teen artists from West Philadelphia, Olney, and Chinatown as we dedicate Our Land, Our Movement. We will unveil new artwork, screen a video of the project’s performance series, and celebrate with food and music.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Icebox Project Space
1400 N American St


Our Land, Our Movement is Porch Light’s signature project in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disABility Services (DBHIDS). This is the first of a three-part series inspired by the DBHIDS Comprehensive TEC Plan, which works to address trauma, achieve equity and engage community. Hemmings’ project is rooted in addressing trauma, and subsequent signature projects will focus on equity and community.

 

Site Leaders: Malik Henry, Ambrose Liu, Stanley Morgan, Mark Smith, Laurel Sweeney
Builders and Designers: Max Brown, Home Build Collective, Sin Weng
Chaperones: Kaylah Lee, Tykira Mitchell, AJ Wilmore
Installation and Performance Assistants: Tajah Ebram, Caitlin Green, Yvonne Lung, Katie Rose Davis
Teen Performers: Khepri Amunet Wiley, Anthony Brock III, Miranda Gao, Janya Graham, Compton Griffith Bixler, Tysean Holmes, Zaacarra Johnson, Amya Lee, Vivian Ma, Nora Wu, Shirley Zhang

Sponsors 

DBHIDS
Van Ameringen Foundation