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Best Places To View Outdoor Art

by Cecily Kellogg

March 03, 2009

It's going to warm up soon. No, really, it will. Once the spring days start (or even now if you are brave enough to face the chill), you'll want to get out and do some exploring with your kids. Philadelphia is famous for its outdoor art, from the classical to the bizarre and fanciful, so there are plenty of great spots to see art with your little ones. Here are my favorite spots to see art outside.

1. The Abington Art Center. This amazing community art center, housed in a gorgeous Art Deco mansion, also is host to one of the best local contempary sculpture gardens around. With no admission fee and a fairly extensive set of grounds, your kids can learn all about contemporary art and run off some energy at the same time. (Full disclosure: I worked for AAC for several years. That doesn't make it less awesome, I swear.)

2. Center City. Start right at City Hall with the sculptures on the grounds, and then cross over to Center Square (at Broad and Market) to see the massive clothes pin sculpture. This is sure to get the kids talking! Then wander over to 16th & JFK to see Love Park and the famous Love Sculpture, and then head up the parkway to Logan Circle to view the most beautiful fountain you'll ever see (in my opinion). In winter, kids can climb in the bowl of the fountain and see the sculptures up close; in summer, take off your shoes and chill your heels!

3. Fairmount Park. Truth is, Fairmount Park is huge and covers vast swaths of land throughout the city. Best plan is to pick a group of sculptures to see and then head on out. My favorites? The great pieces you can see along Kelly Drive just past Boathouse Row, and of course Chief Ted hidden away in the Wissahickon.

4. University of Pennsylvania. This campus is West Philly is full of famous sculptures like the crazy buttons and the life-size bronze of Ben Franklin. Fun for all.

5. The Calder Foundation. While there is no physical museum yet, you can enjoy several of Charles Calder's fantastical outdoor sculptures. A great addition to an excursion at either the Philadelphia Museum of Art or the Rodin Museum.