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The Barnes Announces Sixth Annual Barnes on the Block with Mural Arts Philadelphia & AFROTAINO

Live music, food trucks, beer garden & art-making activities. Free admission to the Barnes collection & exhibition

Sunday, July 16, 2023, 11 am–5 pm

Philadelphia, PA, July 7, 2023—The Barnes Foundation announces the sixth annual Barnes on the Block, in collaboration with Mural Arts Philadelphia and AFROTAINO, on Sunday, July 16, 11 am–5 pm. Barnes on the Block with Mural Arts Philadelphia and AFROTAINO is presented through PNC Arts Alive.

Taking place on the grounds of the Barnes Foundation, Barnes on the Block is a free block party that encourages neighbors to connect through various forms of creativity. Barnes on the Block features a variety of food trucks and a beer garden by Constellation Culinary Group, plus entertainment and activities for guests of all ages, including family-friendly art making, live music, and dance performances. Throughout the day, guests can enjoy an art and wellness workshop led by Shanina Dionna; crown making and other floral art activities with Marcellus;DJ sets by DJ JAMZ; performances by Batala Philly, TAMEARTZ, and Nasya Gay; and a special closing musical performance curated by AFROTAINO, featuring the Philadelphia debut of Latin Grammy nominee Riccie Oriach.

During the event, guests also enjoy free admission to the Barnes collection and the new exhibition, William Edmondson: A Monumental Vision, the first major East Coast exhibition dedicated to the work of self-taught American sculptor William Edmondson (c. 1874–1951) in decades. Registration is required for collection and exhibition access, and capacity is limited. Free tickets will be available online beginning at 1o am on Thursday, July 13. Register online or on-site for gallery access and a chance to win a free membership to the Barnes. Four winners will be selected by a random drawing. Additional information will be available on the website.

“We’re excited to gather with the community again this summer for the sixth annual Barnes on the Block, spotlighting local artists, makers, and musicians,” says Val Gay, Deputy Director for Audience Engagement & Chief Experience Officer at the Barnes. “A great collaboration with our friends at Mural Arts Philadelphia and AFROTAINO, this year’s Barnes on the Block promises to be a day full of family-friendly fun, with opportunities to find artistic inspiration at every turn.”

“We are thrilled to once again join forces with the Barnes Foundation and AFROTAINO for Barnes on the Block,” says Jane Golden, executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. “This collaborative celebration of art, music, and community is a testament to the transformative power of creativity. Together, we aim to ignite change and foster connections that inspire and uplift our city. Join us as we come together to make a vibrant and inclusive Philadelphia!"

The full lineup of activities is listed below:

  • A variety of food trucks curated by Amy Nasar of GUSTO, AFROTAINO’s arm for exclusive Latinx gastronomic experiences, will be located on 20th Street (between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Callowhill Street). Food trucks include The Munchie Machine, Mom-Mom’s, Los Jimenez Mexican Food, and Helados Chupi Chupi.

  • Beer Garden by Constellation Culinary Group will serve seasonal brews from Philadelphia-based Yards Brewing Co., Two Robbers hard seltzer, wine from Cyrenity Sips Winery, and nonalcoholic beverage options near the Barnes box office on 20th Street (between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Callowhill Street).
    • Beers from Yards Brewing Co. will include Philadelphia Pale Ale, Summer Crush, and Bit Viper (Hazy IPA).
    • Cyrenity Sips Winery, established in September 2022, is the first black-woman-owned small-batch winery and tasting room in Pennsylvania. All wines are manufactured, bottled, and labeled on the premises. A selection of different wines will be available within the beer garden by Constellation Culinary Group.

  • Music and dance performances throughout the day will include:
    • Performances by international samba reggae music project, Batala Philly
    • DJ sets by DJ JAMZ
    • An exploration of the Caribbean roots of limbo with Nasya Gay
    • A celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop through dance and graffiti with TAMEARTZ
    • A special closing musical performance curated by AFROTAINO, featuring the Philadelphia debut of Latin Grammy nominee Riccie Oriach.

  • Morning art and wellness workshop led by Shanina Dionna

  • From noon to 4 pm, art-making demos will include:

Barnes on the Block will take place rain or shine, moving indoors in the event of inclement weather.

SPONSOR
Barnes on the Block with Mural Arts Philadelphia and AFROTAINO is presented through PNC Arts Alive.

ABOUT THE BARNES FOUNDATION
The Barnes Foundation is a nonprofit cultural and educational institution that shares its unparalleled art collection with the public, organizes special exhibitions, and presents programming that fosters new ways of thinking about human creativity. The Barnes collection is displayed in ensembles that integrate art and objects from across cultures and time periods, overturning traditional hierarchies and revealing universal elements of human expression. Home to one of the world’s finest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and modern paintings—including the largest groups of paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne in existence—the Barnes brings together renowned canvases by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, and Vincent van Gogh, alongside African, Asian, ancient, medieval, and Native American art as well as metalwork, furniture, and decorative art.

The Barnes Foundation was established by Dr. Albert C. Barnes in 1922 to “promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture.” A visionary collector and pioneering educator, Dr. Barnes was also a fierce advocate for the civil rights of African Americans, women, and the economically marginalized. Committed to racial equality and social justice, he established a scholarship program to support young Black artists, writers, and musicians who wanted to further their education. Dr. Barnes was deeply interested in African American culture and became actively involved in the Harlem Renaissance, during which he collaborated with philosopher Alain Locke and Charles S. Johnson, the scholar and activist, to promote awareness of the artistic value of African art.

Since moving to Philadelphia in 2012, the Barnes Foundation has expanded its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice, teaching visual literacy in groundbreaking ways; investing in original scholarship relating to its collection; and enhancing accessibility throughout every facet of its programs.

The Barnes Foundation is situated in Lenapehoking, the ancestral homeland of the Lenape people. Read our Land Acknowledgment.

Hours and ticket prices are listed on our website.

ABOUT MURAL ARTS PHILADELPHIA
Mural Arts Philadelphia is the nation’s largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. For over 35 years, Mural Arts has united artists and communities through a collaborative and equitable process, creating over 4,000 artworks that have transformed public spaces and individual lives. Mural Arts aims to empower people, stimulate dialogue, and build bridges to mutual understanding through projects that attract artists from Philadelphia and around the world and programs that focus on youth education, restorative justice, mental health and wellness, and public arts preservation. Popular mural tours offer a firsthand glimpse into the inspiring stories behind Mural Arts’ iconic and unparalleled collection, earning Philadelphia worldwide recognition as the “Mural Capital of the World.” For more information, call 215.685.0750 or visit muralarts.org. Follow on social media: @muralarts on Twitter and Instagram, MuralArtsPhiladelphia on Facebook, and phillymuralarts on YouTube.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

Barnes Foundation: Deirdre Maher, Director of Communications
215.278.7160, press@barnesfoundation.org
Online press office: barnesfoundation.org/press

Mural Arts Philadelphia: Tamara Yvette Day, Account Executive, Signature57
571.435.5304, tday@signature57.com