Kara Crombie, Sample Philly (Discovery Phase)

Kara Crombie

 

Sample Philly (2015) 

 

"Every music classroom in Philadelphia should have a drum machine and a sampler."       

– Andrew Butler, Philadelphia Musician

The proposed monument is an interactive sculpture in Franklin Square that functions as a programmable drum machine and sampler, with a sound bank of musical loops drawn from Philadelphia's rich musical history. In recent years, Franklin Square has been developed as a "playtime oasis" containing attractions geared toward family entertainment, such as a carousel and a mini golf course. The monument would not only match this agenda but would also serve as a gateway for children in Philadelphia to become acquainted with the city's musical legacies. In a time when art education has been cut from Philadelphia schools, and tools of musical expression are inaccessible to many children, this monument would provide an outlet for musical creativity. It could also function as the centerpiece for performance events in the city, as well as an archive of the musical experiments created by a future generation of Philadelphia artists.

Credits

Artwork: Kara Crombie

Lead Partner: Penn Institute for Urban Research

Supporting Partners: The City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy (OACCE), Haverford College, Mural Arts Philadelphia, PennDesign, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia Center for Architecture, and RAIR (Recycled Artist in Residency)

Sample Philly was presented as part of Monument Lab: Philadelphia (Discovery Phase, 2015).

Major support for Monument Lab was provided by the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage.