Jacque Liu – Public Art Consultant

Permanent Public Artwork: Brian McCutcheon. MVP. 2019. Site: Smith Playground, Philadelphia, PA. Project Budget: $13,000. Funded through Percent for Art.

Partners: Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Philadelphia Water Department, City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson’s Office, Make the World Better Foundation, Urban Roots

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In 2019, the City of Philadelphia and the Make the World Better Foundation completed construction at Smith Playground in South Philadelphia, a park that comprises nearly 8-acres. The multi-phased park revitalization project included retrofits and expansion of the existing Rec Building, playground upgrades, resurfaced basketball courts, construction of new multi-sport turf playing fields, outdoor fitness area, walking trail and green stormwater infrastructure.

Brian McCutcheon’s MVP is a bronze figurative sculpture of a 12-year-old female basketball player. It is inspired by the trailblazing Philadelphia athlete Ora Washington (1898-1971). Ms. Washington was a legendary Philadelphian who excelled in basketball and tennis. She played for the Philadelphia Tribunes basketball team from 1931 to 1943 and was inducted into The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. A multitalented athlete, she was also the American Tennis Association’s National Women’s Tennis Champion every year from 1925 to 1937. Ms. Washington’s achievements in the face of racial oppression and its systemic obstacles to equal opportunity embody the narrative of determination triumphing over injustice.

MVP is the first freestanding sculpture depicting an African American girl in the City of Philadelphia. Then Public Art Director Margot Berg stated that MVP reflects the City’s commitment “to commissioning artworks that reflect our city’s diverse communities and histories.”

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

Selected Press

"Philadelphia Unveils Its First Freestanding Statue of An African-American Girl.” CBS News, July 31, 2019.

"MVP.” CBS Evening News Twitter, August 1, 2019.

Cachero, Paulina. “'About time': Philadelphia unveils first statue of African American girl.” Yahoo! Life, August 1, 2019.

Edme, Beaishelle. “Indy artist, athlete make history in Philly.” Fox59, October 16, 2019.

Russ, Valerie. “Philly just got its first public statue of an African American girl.” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 31, 2019.

Merriman, Anna. “City erects its first statue of an African American girl in South Philly.” Curbed Philadelphia. August 1, 2019.

Hatmaker, Julia. “Philadelphia unveils first-ever statue depicting an African American woman.” Penn Live Patriot News, August 1, 2019.

Burwell, Chelsea. “Philadelphia Erects Its First Statue Of A Black Girl, Inspired By 1930s Athlete Ora Washington.” Blavity, August 1, 2019.

BOTWC Staff, “Philadelphia Unveils Its First Statue Depicting an African American Girl.” Because of Them We Can, August 1, 2019.

Rhodes, Brianna. “Philadelphia reveals the city’s first statue honoring groundbreaking Black, female athlete.” The Grio, August 2, 2019.

Moselle, Aaron. “‘It looks like me:’ New South Philly statue meant to inspire young women and girls.” The Philadelphia Tribune, August 8, 2019.

Ozemhoya, Carol. “Philadelphia unveils first statue of an African-American girl.” Our Weekly, August 8, 2019.

Moody, Erica. “12 Cool Philly Public Art Works to Go Out and See Right Now.” City Life, May 2022.

“’MVP’ African-American Girl Statue, Honoring Ora Washington.” Wander Women Project.