Kathryn Ott Lovell, Colleen Campbell, Sara Hirschler – Fairmount Park Conservancy Mark Focht, Barry Bessler, Chris Palmer, Marc Wilken – Philadelphia Parks & Recreation The Association for Public Art Board of Trustees, Staff, and Members Special thanks to those who helped make Magic Carpet possible: PRESS RELEASE: Philadelphia’s New “Park on the Parkway” Returns for its Second Season This July with New Theme, Public Art Debut, Programming Activities and More.There were resting places, playing places, and activities: chairs, balls, volleyball, badminton, bocce, and miniature golf. Hanging from the trees were brightly colored vinyl globes hung in pendants with ornamental charms and tassels. On the perimeter of the Magic Carpet were oversized buoys, painted with leaf images and embellished with reflective material that was gently animated by passing traffic. “The Lawn” – Around the edge of the Magic Carpet was a textile-like border of diamond shapes. Visitors could explore the giant butterflies and try hopscotch among the pattern of blue circles that bookended Magic Carpet.ĥ. “Sensory Transportation” – Visitors could play in diamond shaped sandboxes filled with brilliant pink colored sand, and a water mister feature provided sensory relief and respite. Also incorporated into this area were oversized game boards and ping pong tables.Ĥ. Bright light and gemstones burst from deep below to challenge the senses.
“Totally out of this World (Light Blast)” – This area featured a trompe l’oeil (or trick of the eye) light blast meteor crater, an optical illusion that was a great photo opportunity for visitors. Many of the umbrellas on the site were painted with diamond forms that placed visitors in the midst of a space that was energized by pattern and movement.ģ. Under foot was an elaborate arrangement of large diamond shaped rondelle forms that suggested a labyrinth network. “The Garden Labyrinth” – This area accommodated food trucks along the perimeter and French café tables, chairs, and umbrellas at the center of the site. Photo Constance Mensh © 2014 for the Association for Public ArtĢ. This area hosted The Oval stage covered with the artist’s signature designs in the vibrant colors that encompass the Magic Carpet experience. “Welcome” – Visitors were welcomed to the Magic Carpet at The Oval with a pathway pattern of blue circles that resembled stylized clouds. Magic Carpet was comprised of 5 distinct areas:ġ. Photo Constance Mensh © 2014 for the Association for Public Art Magic Carpet was featured from July 16 – Augat The Oval, an initiative of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation in partnership with the Fairmount Park Conservancy. The artist’s exuberant design included 3-D illusion art, brilliantly colored sandboxes, oversized game boards, and her signature decorative motifs rendered in vinyl, among other unique attractions. A magical environment of color, pattern, illusion, and movement commissioned by the Association for Public Art and temporarily installed for The Oval’s 2014 seasonįeatured 3-D illusion art, colored sandboxes, oversized game boards, and the artist’s signature decorative motifs rendered in vinyl, among other attractionsĬandy Coated is a multimedia artist whose work brings together installation art, popular culture, fantasy, fashion, printmaking and a passion for vivid colorĬommissioned by the Association for Public Art, artist Candy Coated transformed The Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art into a magical environment of color, pattern, illusion, and movement with Magic Carpet.