This week, all of Philadelphia’s a gallery, or a graphic tee. October 13–23 marks the seventh year of DesignPhiladelphia, a festival program aimed at giving art enthusiasts a unique view into the design happenings of the city. With over 450 designers participating in events relating to everything from fashion to architecture, you’re sure to find something to get your creative gears turning. Arts scoured the events for our top five.
GANG PRINT RUN Graphic design plays an invariable role in our daily routines whether we realize it or not. On the opening night of the festival, three Philadelphia–based designers — Dan Gneiding, Elyse Ricci and Mikey Burton — whose designs have been featured in Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, the Times and MTV2, will be featured in a gallery exhibition emphasizing that art doesn’t always come in a frame. The range of quirky and beautiful works will open your eyes to the beauty that constantly surrounds you, from that New York Times you just picked up to the tags on your favorite articles of clothing. October 13, 6–9 p.m. Vox Populi 319 N. 11th St., 3rd Floor
BetterBlocksPhilly Opening Celebration BetterBlocksPhilly is taking over the streets with temporarily installed exhibitions to educate residents about neighborhood design ideology and encourage a safer environment for Philadelphian pedestrians (in other words, CALM DOWN, PSYCHODELPHIA DRIVERS). The block party will be set up all week, with pop–up shops, food vendors and musical performances abounding. Munch on some local food and, hey, learn how to make the City of Brotherly Love even more brotherly. October 14, 6–10 p.m. South of South Neighborhood Association, WRT, Brown & Keener 17th to 18th St., Christian to Catherine St.
Anthropologie Workshops There are probably quite a few gals at Penn who wish their lives resembled an Anthropologie catalogue, and with a series of creative workshops hosted at the Center City store location, that wish may become a reality. Anthropologie will host three consecutive hour–long workshops in custom book making, stationary printing and jewelry design. Bonus: you’ll meet a lot of women that remind you of your mother — oh, and you get to keep whatever you create. October 15, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Anthropologie 1801 Walnut St.
Design Bike Tour Satisfy your not–so–inner hipster with a combination of biking and art. Trophy Bikes University City’s 10–mile bike tour of Philadelphia will hit the landmarks of the city’s design. The tour will also swing by some other swanky DesignPhiladelphia receptions. Talk about an entrance. Don’t forget your helmet. October 16, 12–3:30 p.m. (Rain Date: October 23) 30th Street Station 2955 Market St. $5 per participant.
Big Chalkers Can you pass up the opportunity to draw with four–foot–long sidewalk chalks? We thought not. Community art organization Playphilly is hitting the pavement with the goal of making our city a more lively and colorful place. Next Tuesday evening, they’re inviting residents to come out and leave their artistic stamp on the city. In other words, “coloring outside the lines is highly recommended.” October 18, 5 p.m. Cafe Cret, 16th St. and The Parkway
