Jacque Liu – Public Art Consultant

Permanent Public Artwork: Ava Blitz. Flying Carpet. 2018. Site: Martin Luther King Older Adult Center, Philadelphia, PA. Project Budget: $40,000. Funded through Percent for Art.

Partners: Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, City Council President Darrell L. Clarke’s Office

* More Images Below Text

In 2018, the City of Philadelphia moved the MLK Older Adult Center to a new building. A $4 million new construction project, the center provides older Philadelphians with communal meals, social and recreational activities, educational classes, counseling, volunteer programs, trips, and transportation. The new facility includes an auditorium/multipurpose room, a kitchen and dining area, a fitness room, billiard room, computer lab, and classroom spaces. The space is an energy-efficient and cost-effective facility that furthers the mission of the City’s older adult centers.

Ava Blitz’s Flying Carpet is a site-specific permanent mural made of glass mosaic tile. Each piece reflects and absorbs the light, welcoming visitors. Imagery is drawn from center activities, including billiards, cards, dancing, textiles, and bus trips. The title alludes to the adventures which take place within the center.

I served as the Percent for Art Project Manager on this project.

Selected Press

Cristi, A.A. “Philadelphia's Martin Luther King Older Adult Center Welcomes New Public Artwork By Ava Blitz.” Broadway World, October 10, 2018.