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WHO THE F*&K Approved This: Center City Turned into One Big Ad for Garry Barbara Autoland

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WHO THE F*&K approved this?… Y’all, I’m seriously heartbroken for Philly today.

Overnight it seems, the art that has wrapped the trash and recycling receptacles around Center City for the last few years disappeared, replaced by ads for Gary Barbera Autoland.

What a gigantic step back for Philadelphia. Our public spaces are too damn valuable to be littered with “CHEAP!” ads at every intersection of our city’s most walked streets.

Who is ultimately responsible for this? Mayor Kenny? City Council President Darrell Clarke? The Center City District? The (other) Philadelphia Streets Department? Who do we hold to account?

We can not let this bullshit stand. As I’ve written about in my Purpose Statement, from ads created to convince us to purchase something to colorful murals created to elevate our moods, I believe the butterfly effect is real and what we view/experience in our public spaces affects our behaviors and state-of-mind. And I think Philadelphians deserve much better than these thoughtless ads in our faces as we try to enjoy our city.

This post represents my first flush of frustration about what I saw walking around Center City today. I wanted to write it because I’m sure I’m not alone in this feeling… I will be updating this post as I start to investigate this more. I want to know how this happened. Why this happened. Who let it happen. And how we can quickly turn it around. You have any insights, please comment or email.

6 responses to “WHO THE F*&K Approved This: Center City Turned into One Big Ad for Garry Barbara Autoland”

  1. jeffstroud

    Oh No! Of the car dealer had to pay to place their ads on trash cans etc. It is always about money, follow the money. I stand by your statements, the joy of walking around the city and find fun, interesting, sometimes shocking art brightens the mood! Go get em!

    Reply
  2. Charley Frances

    Do you have any before and after pictures? What the artwork looked like before these ads went up? I don’t live in Philly— I’d be curious to see.

    Reply
  3. Philly Artists Replace ‘Cheap’ Barbara Ads with Art: Announcing #TrashcanTakeover | Streets Dept

    […] Overnight, it seemed, the ads were on hundreds of trashcans in Center City. In June, I wrote about how bummed I was about these ads and the apparent lack of thought on the City’s part […]

    Reply
  4. Janet L Elfring

    I’m also offended by huge ads projected onto buildings on Market Street. Many are beautiful old buildings trashed by moving ads. It is our city and shouldn’t be sold to anyone to defile and promote their business.

    Reply
  5. #TRASHCANTAKEOVER Turns Ads Into Art

    […] movement began, like many do, with outright anger. Conrad Brenner of the Street Dept blog wrote a post in June blasting the city for the ads that seemed to dominate almost every trash can ad space: Gary […]

    Reply
  6. #TRASHCANTAKEOVER Turns Ads Into Art

    […] movement began, like many do, with outright anger. Conrad Brenner of the Street Dept blog wrote a post in June blasting the city for the ads that seemed to dominate almost every trash can ad space in […]

    Reply

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