What is “liberty”? What does it mean to be “free”? These are questions and concepts that that we have grappled with at the National Liberty Museum for more than 20 years and ones we asked a diverse group of Philadelphia artists to address in Philly’s Freedom: Artists Speak Out.
From the beginning, we wanted an exhibition that represented the diverse voices of artists from across Philadelphia, a place that is especially meaningful as the cradle of American liberty. We asked them to create art – on canvas, in sculpture, photography, installation or any other way they saw fit—that depicts their unique interpretation of “freedom.” We wanted their personal reflections on things as fundamental as the right to vote, marry, pray or gather, to tougher issues around race, sexuality, and immigration, to the unique challenges and joys of the life of an artist.
We invite you on this journey to explore what freedom means through a diverse collection of stories, reflections, and images from Philadelphia artists. While many of these works are reflected through the lens of large, important events such as a global pandemic and the Black Lives Matter Movement, others are focused on more personal issues around identity, love, and the struggle to communicate and stay connected in a world that continues to be fragmented and divisive.
We hope these pieces continue to encourage dialogue around the concepts of freedom, liberty, and how we, artists and non-artists alike, can work to create a better tomorrow.
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