Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Conrad Benner

@streetsdept.bsky.social

4.7K followers 510 following 680 posts

Founder/Editor of StreetsDept.com, exploring the Art of Philly’s Public Space (EST. 2011) • Curator at #StreetsDeptWalls & Mural Arts Philadelphia • Host of Art Outside podcast from WHYY/ NPR! ❤️📸🎨🎧🏳️‍🌈

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · Apr 10

Philly was recently named the “Best City for Street Art.” And if you’re interested in learning more about this dynamic world, I’d love to invite you to check out my podcast with WHYY called, Art Outside!

13 46 320

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 22h

Featuring 16 murals painted by 16 internationally acclaimed street artists, this district of murals in Copenhagen has been called one of the largest open-air galleries in Northern Europe!

1 8

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 1d

Nearly done posting the videos I’ve created about my 10-day trip to Copenhagen this August. But one of the biggest things that is sticking with me is just how different a place can look and feel when its third spaces are actually invested in. From public transit to parks to street infrastructure.

18 93 390

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 2d

Friday night, Philly remembered hitchBOT on the 10th anniversary of its fateful visit to our fair city.

3 11 53

Reposted by Conrad Benner

Jenn. @missjennifer.bsky.social · 4d

🔥🔥🔥

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 4d

1/3 Philly-based artist Mark Loughney is on a mission to draw portraits of people who support criminal justice reform. The project started while he was serving a prison sentence, where he drew portraits of his fellow inmates.

2 4

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 3d

More about Emeyewhisky’s hitchBOT sign in tomorrow’s video. Go Birds! 🦅

2 6 38

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 4d

3/3 You might remember Mark drew a portrait of me a few months ago (video in my feed). His most recent portrait is of Philadelphia’s current District Attorney Larry Krasner.

1 2

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 4d

2/3 This work resulted in a mural, “Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study of Mass Incarceration” that’s currently on display at Eastern State Penitentiary.

In recent years, the project has extended to include portraits of people outside who also support reform.

1 1 2

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 4d

1 9

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 5d

And the exhibition featured Jessie Hemmons (Ishknits), Joe Boruchow, Kristin Smith, Nom Now, Get Up, Amberella, and LIES in Phila.

14 years later and I'm still at it. Love you, Philly!

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 5d

So, we organized a show with a handful of the street artists I had documented that year–and painted a mural on the gallery's north facing wall (now covered up). That incredible mural was by Yis Goodwin (NoseGo)–the first mural I ever curated, but far from the last.

1 7

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 5d

14 years ago this month, I curated my first exhibition, "Streets Dept Presents." This took place just 10 months after the launch of Streets Dept in 2011, when the good folks at PhilaMOCA invited me to celebrate the surprising success of the blog.

1 20

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 6d

And we’re sold out! ❤️🥂

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 6d

There’s only a few tickets left for this special guided walking tour that I’m co-hosting with Jane Golden this Mural Arts Month! Don’t wait: fareharbor.com/embeds/book/...

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 6d

There’s only a few tickets left for this special guided walking tour that I’m co-hosting with Jane Golden this Mural Arts Month! Don’t wait: fareharbor.com/embeds/book/...

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 6d

I have a video about it on my page!

1 1

Reposted by Conrad Benner

The Philadelphia Citizen @thephilacitizen.bsky.social · 7d

Artist Sam Heimer has made a career out of making joyfully macabre, darkly nostalgic, illustrations in a bid to celebrate All Hallows Eve All year long.

Art for Change: Sam Heimer The Halloweenist

Sam Heimer made a career out of making joyfully macabre, darkly nostalgic illustrations in a bid to celebrate All Hallows Eve all year long

thephiladelphiacitizen.org

3 6

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 7d

You really can’t go wrong with any of the galleries, but here’s four to add to your list next time you visit!

1 3

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 7d

As I’ve talked about many times– I even wrote an op-ed about this for The Philadelphia Inquirer some years ago–Old City First Fridays is where my interest in art blossomed in my early 20s! And it’s always what I recommend folks check out if you don’t know where to start exploring Philly‘s art world.

1 2 28

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 7d

Video about Sophie Roach’s new Old City mural coming soon!

5 65

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 8d

Thank you!!

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 8d

Originally painted by artist Arturo Ho in 1996 for the 125th anniversary of Chinatown, Philly’s “History of Chinatown” mural has been reimagined by artist Chenlin Cai and moved one block away!

Video interview with Chenlin coming soon!

1 3 15

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 8d

Honored to be receiving an award this week from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations!

3 3 68

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 9d

Did you know there’s a de facto, artificial mountain in the middle of Copenhagen that you can ski down? Come explore CopenHill!

2 5 46

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 10d

“The Habitable Skin,” is an insect bridge in Copenhagen’s Meatpacking District. It’s an art installation that’s interactive–for species other than humans. But it’s inviting us humans to envision a future where cities can live in better harmony with insects and animals to foster more biodiversity.

3 36 140

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 11d

Installs will be up for at least a week. And the hanging artwork with be up through October: search Jinxed store for store hours.

Conrad Benner @streetsdept.bsky.social · 11d

Support Local Artists! Streets Dept’s Eric Dale just got a sneak preview of “The Family Room,” Presented by Step Outside Show and Jinxed!

Opens tomorrow, Saturday, September 27th from 5 to 10 PM (1915 Washington Ave)!

3 8 41