Glowing Pedicab Sculptures to Hit the Parkway in 2016


Digital rendering of “Fireflies” on the Parkway, courtesy of Cai Studio.

Digital rendering of “Fireflies” on the Parkway, courtesy of Cai Studio.

It was announced this week that 50 local artists and cultural organizations will receive a total of $9.6 million in grants from the Pew Center for the Arts and Heritage, which means several projects that have been living in the heads of local artists will finally have a chance to see the light of day. Keep your eyes out for announcements from local organizations, including this cool idea from the Association of Public Art (aPA).

aPA, “the nation’s first private, nonprofit organization dedicated to integrating public art and urban planning,” will team with curator Lance Fung of Fung Collaboratives to host the world premiere of New York artist Cai Guo-Qiang‘s Fireflies in the summer of 2016.

If those glowing squares at Eakins Oval tripped you out, you haven’t seen anything yet: Fireflies will consist of 27 “luminous, kinetic sculptures” in the shape of free pedicabs. Spectators can ride in the sculptures as passengers, zooming past Parkway staples like City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. More details will emerge as the project gets underway.

Check out a rendering of Fireflies above. Below is an image of another sculpture by Guo-Qiang, which may be similar to what the glowing pedicabs circling the Parkway will look like. Cool, huh?

Cai Gui-Quiang’s “Dream.” Photo by Tatsumi Masatoshi. Read more at https://www.phillymag.com/ticket/2015/06/16/2015-pew-grants-announced-for-local-artists-and-organizations-2/#A9Ri46COwacyFi6O.99

Cai Gui-Quiang’s “Dream.” Photo by Tatsumi Masatoshi.
Read more at https://www.phillymag.com/ticket/2015/06/16/2015-pew-grants-announced-for-local-artists-and-organizations-2/#A9Ri46COwacyFi6O.99