This past weekend marked the return of TEDxPhiladelphia (which took a hiatus last year, but which plans to return to the city of Brotherly Love every year moving forward.) And with its return came a new addition to the day-long conference: 3 out-of-conference ‘Adventures!’ Luckily enough, I was asked to host one of these 3 Adventures, which I immediately decided I would use to explore and discuss Philly’s thriving street art and graffiti culture.

On what turned out to be a rainy, yet thankfully somewhat warm, Saturday, I took 2 lovely and excited groups of fellow street art/graffiti admirers around Midtown Village and Fishtown in what was titled ‘The Street Art Workshop of the World’ TEDx Walk,’ in honor of this year’s TEDxPhiladelphia official theme of ‘The New Workshop Of The World.’

Over the tours, we explored the works of Joe Boruchow, Kid Hazo, NoseGo, Pussy Division, Steve Powers (ESPO), Miriam Singer, Gaia, How and Nosm, Kenny Scharf, VHILS (the last 5 artists, it should be mentioned, created murals in association with Mural Arts, and the last 4 also in association with Goldman Properties), Freewall Philly, Get Up, Stikman, Le Josh, and many, many more!

What an amazing experience! Both groups were beyond fantastic. Filled with excitement and ready with wonderful questions, somehow not at all hampered by the soggy day. I couldn’t have asked for more, and needless to say this tweet (as well as the kind words from many of the people after the tours) made my weekend…

.@streetsdept gave a phenomenal tour today. What a genuine pleasure. #TEDxPHL14Art http://t.co/X3EA1JRc8O

— Mike Jackson (@alrightmike) March 29, 2014

Check out some of the photos taken by the tours’ participents below, and click on the photos to be taken to their respective Instagram pages for more!

Thanks again to everyone who came out Saturday!

And, in case you were wondering, I definitely plan to do this again – exploring more neighborhoods in Philly and more! Stay tuned…