The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) will celebrate the completion of its new civic space, Lenfest Plaza, with PAFA’s Party on the Plaza on Saturday, October 1, 2011. The celebration will culminate at sunset with the inaugural lighting of Paint Torch, a sculpture by world-renowned American artist Claes Oldenburg.

PAFA’s Party on the Plaza will feature activities and entertainment for all ages. The afternoon Family Arts Festival will include free art activities and other kid-friendly entertainment from noon until 6:30 p.m. PAFA will offer complimentary admission to the Historic Landmark Building and free museum tours; the museum’s doors will remain open until 6 p.m. As evening descends, visitors are invited to witness the sunset Paint Torch lighting ceremony. Entertainment and a variety of food vendors will be on-site throughout the day. Torch Club, a patron cocktail reception and dinner inside PAFA’s Hamilton Building will kick off later in the evening, followed by a late-night dance After Party on the plaza. Lenfest Plaza is currently under construction through the summer. Complete event programming will be announced soon. Visit www.pafa.org/lenfestplaza for up-to-date information on plaza construction and detailed event information.

The installation of Oldenburg’s towering 53-foot high sculpture in the form of an illuminated paintbrush will make Philadelphia home to four large-scale public sculptures by the artist, more than any other city in the world.

PAFA will present works by other artists in a second space on the plaza for rotating displays. At the event, PAFA will unveil Grumman Greenhouse, a sculpture crafted from a decommissioned U.S. warfare aircraft by PAFA alumnus and Philadelphia artist Jordan Griska.

“We look forward to welcoming the community to Lenfest Plaza to celebrate this new civic space and the works of public art that will enhance the city’s landscape,” says David R. Brigham, PAFA’s President and CEO. “The opening of the plaza gives PAFA an extraordinary opportunity to provide a new arts-focused gathering place that will invite visitors to our museum and school, while enhancing PAFA’s role as a cultural destination for regional and national visitors.”

Read the full press release announcing the opening of Lenfest Plaza.

Downloads

	Download the Press Release as a PDF document: "Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts’ Lenfest Plaza to Open With “PAFA’s Party on the Plaza” Saturday, October 1"	137.76 KB
	PAFA's Historic Landmark Building	752.93 KB
	Lenfest Plaza perspective; Rendering courtesy of OLIN	1.24 MB
	CO-9996 Claes Oldenburg, Paintbrush, 2010, Pencil, colored crayon, 40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm), Collection Claes Oldenburg, Photo courtesy the Oldenburg van Bruggen Foundation Copyright 2010 Claes Oldenburg.	3.11 MB
	Claes Oldenburg in his studio; Photo: D. James Dee	1.38 MB
	Hamilton Landmark Building North Elevation with Oldenburg Sculpture	551.7 KB
	Groundbreaking ceremony for Lenfest Plaza, February 2, 2011; Photo: Sean Tucker	621.49 KB
	Groundbreaking ceremony for Lenfest Plaza, February 2, 2011; Photo: Sean Tucker	614.12 KB