Everything you need to know about Rock The Vote’s #TruthToPower exhibition, opening Monday!

Behind-the-scenes photos from Install Days 3, 4, and 5 (see photos from Install Days 1 & 2 HERE)…

One of two pieces Philly-based yarnbomber, Ishknits, is installing for the show: “This headline was found on a popular woman’s magazine. No part of a woman’s body has been left untouched by society’s incessant need to reduce our worth, authority, and attention to our bodies alone.”

Titled ‘Gun Country‘, this piece by sculpture artist Michael Murphy is best captured in video!

WHAT IS ‘TRUTH TO POWER’?
#TruthToPower is a large-scale art exhibition and event series presented by Rock the Vote, #Cut50, and The Rail Park that will pop-up in Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention. The exhibition will include rooms of over 200 pieces of eye-popping and evocative art from some of the world’s most prolific artists (Shepard Fairey, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Ron English, and Banksy to name a few) as well as some of Philly’s most talented artists (Ishknits, Brooks Bell, Amber Lynn, and more) addressing major social and political issues — including police brutality, gun violence, criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, and access to jobs and a living wage… Truth to Power is not only THE political event of this election season, but one of the biggest art events to happen in Philadelphia in (at least) a generation! And I’m not overstating that.

In addition to the exhibition, there will be several incredible live events. Those will include an opening night performance by Andra Day, a series of panels and performances — with participants including Senator Cory Booker, Shailene Woodley, Van Jones, Ben Jealous, Neera Tanden and others — throughout the convention and a closing night concert with surprise musical guests to be announced next week. Actress and activist Rosario Dawson will also live-stream her My Peoples program from the Truth to Power exhibition throughout the convention.

WHO’S HELPING TO PUT IT TOGETHER?
Rock the Vote, the largest nonprofit and nonpartisan organization in the United States driving the youth vote to the polls.

#Cut50, a national bipartisan effort to smartly and safely reduce America’s incarcerated population by 50 percent over the next 10 years.

The Rail Park, three miles of continuous park space that will one-day connect Fairmount Park with Center City, running from Brewerytown to Northern Liberties.

And while a full list of partners lives here (this really is the work of a small army!), there are a few more people/organizations that I’d like to call out specifically: Branded Arts, Task Force, Cosmo Baker, Arch Enemy Arts, Sedso, Little Giant, Arts & Crafts Holdings, and J2… But again, so many people are helping to make this happen, I encourage you to click here and check them out!

HOW IS STREETS DEPT INVOLVED?
I’m proud to say that I’m working with #TruthToPower as an official Media Parter!

HOW CAN YOU SEE THE ART EXHIBITION?
The art exhibition is free and open to the public Monday (7/25) through Wednesday (7/27), from 11:00am – 7:00pm… Just get in line at the door!

The address is 990 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123 (Directions)

WHAT ABOUT ALL THE PANELS?
Information on how you can see one of the (many) panel discussions will be released HERE, and live-streamed HERE!

AND THAT CLOSING NIGHT PARTY?
It’ll be hosted at the Fillmore in Fishtown… More details will be released about it HERE soon!

Now, some more behind-the-scenes photos from Install Days 3, 4, and 5…

‘Just Sayin’‘ (a piece also in a photo at the top of this post) is a tongue-and-cheek response to the lack of acknowledgment of white privilege in the United States by artist Ti-Rock Moore. From afar, the white neon sculpture is intended to resemble the Ku Klux Klan cross.

Installation by the incredible Tatyana Fazlalizadeh!

A GIGANTIC wheatpaste by WK in the event space.

Titled, ‘And Counting‘, the tags in this piece by gilf! represent the names and of the 617 Americans killed by police this year… so far.

This installation by We Are All Homeless is the result of buying signs from people experiencing homelessness for the last two decades.

An installation that quite literally speaks for itself, this is the work of Silk Graffiti artist, Aubrie Costello, who I just highlighted on this blog last week!

Hope to see y’all out at Truth to Power next week, and as always follow me on Snapchat (StreetsDept, or find my Snapcode HERE) for live updates, of which there will be MANY!