Regarding the Delaware

Powder coated stainless steel, 2022

Fence dimensions 8’ high x 250’ long

Commissioned by City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and the Office of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy

Installed at the Lederer Pool at the Francis Lederer Recreation Center, Philadelphia, PA

Budget $57,000.

Regarding the Delaware is installed on the fencing surrounding a new community swimming pool in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia. Fishtown is a former fishing village on the Delaware River, and many residents continue to celebrate the neighborhood’s ties to the water.

This installation is inspired by water's ability to camouflage and make the everyday mysterious, as well as the enduring aesthetic appeal of the river's ever-changing surface. Shapes in the water’s surface as depicted in paintings and photos of the Delaware River are mounted on the fence surrounding the pool, activating nearly the entire 250' length of the fence. The arranged shapes resemble camouflage, referencing the camouflaging character of the water's surface. The artwork makes a conceptual link between the pool and the nearby river while also referencing the area's history as a river town. The organic shapes break up the geometry of the fence, add pops of color, and provide some visual screening from the street.