Your move (1996), a beloved public art installation in central Philadelphia, is taking its final step after the city government announced its intention to permanently remove the artwork.
Installation by artists Daniel Joseph Martinez, Renee Petropoulis and Roger White, consists of oversized sculptures based on playing pieces from popular board games including checkers, chess, Parcheesi, Monopoly, bingo, and dominoes. Its long-standing spot at the foot of Philadelphia’s Municipal Services Building, Thomas Paine Plaza, is about to be renovated and due to the “poor condition of the work” as well as “expensive and ongoing costs associated with its maintenance”, the city opts for permanent removal, according to a announcement did last week.
Works removal began last Friday (May 26), although the city said Martinez, Petropoulis and White had been informed of the city’s intention to yield Your move in July 2022. They did not wish to take over the work, so the city will dispose of it.
The sculpture, which was commissioned for $195,000 and originally featured 45 monumental game pieces, “required extensive, extensive and costly restoration and conservation efforts to address issues of deterioration, graffiti, rust and other forms of damage,” according to the city. statement. At the time of its dismantling, only 34 of the original 45 parts were still on display.
The installation was originally commissioned as part of the city’s Percent for Art program, under which 1% of municipal construction and renovation projects must be devoted to site-specific public art. Similarly, the renovation of Thomas Paine Square will ultimately result in the commissioning of a new public artwork for the redesigned square.
