Opening Celebration: An Immigrant Alphabet at Cherry Street Pier

With the support of Knight Foundation, Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is excited that An Immigrant Alphabet will be at Philadelphia’s newest public space, Cherry Street Pier, for the next seven months!

Come out to celebrate the opening of this public art installation created by Northeast High School students in collaboration with artist Wendy Ewald!

Join us between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. for a family-friendly, free event with hands-on art, music, dance and more.

Throughout the afternoon there will be art-making tables, a meet and greet with the Northeast High School students who created #iAlphabet, and interactive stations around the space with special performances and participatory demos every hour!

What is An Immigrant Alphabet?

During Spring 2017, eighteen Northeast High School students reflected on their immigrant journeys through a collaboration with artist Wendy Ewald. The students chose words to represent letters of the alphabet and worked with Ewald to make photographs in the school courtyard. Expressed as an alphabet, the banners were installed around the Municipal Services Building (MSB) in September 2017. Originally intended to be a four month installation, the display and related programming was extended at MSB until July 2018 due to its timely message and ability to inspire civic dialogue and engagement. Now, we are excited to announce that An Immigrant Alphabet is on display for the second time in Philadelphia for a seven month period (November 2018 – June 2019) at Cherry Street Pier!