In November 2024, an extraordinary new public artwork was unveiled in West Philadelphia. The artwork – part sculpture, part soundscape, part shade structure – is a collaboration of artists Nina Cooke John, Yolanda Wisher and Kendrah Butler-Waters, and is a landmark and anchor for uCity Square and the surrounding neighborhoods.

The eastern end of West Philadelphia is full of many neighborhoods — from Mantua to West Powelton, Powelton Village to Saunders Park, Belmont to East Parkside, the vibrant Bottom –as well as a rich history of the Black Bottom. The artists’ vision for Ascendance is to reflect, reference and celebrate the heritage and culture that lives within these neighborhoods. In the spring and summer of 2023, they organized several block party-style events, a common form of gathering, to meet neighbors past and present and to collect audio recordings of their stories as well as of the sounds of everyday life.

The installation is designed to be welcoming to people in all these communities and beyond, as well as to serve as a visual icon and functioning gathering place. It consists of 14 undulating sculptural “ribbons,” meant to energize the space, bring joy and suggest idea of dancing, an art form that has strong roots in this community. The stories and sounds that were collected at the block parties, along with original musical compositions, will be audible in the space at certain times of day and create a multi-sensory experience that evokes memory and place. Finally, the installation includes clay tiles, handmade by community members, reflecting their personal memories of the neighborhood.

This project is made possible through funding by uCity Square’s development team of Wexford Science & Technology, Ventas (NYSE: VTR), and University City Science Center, with art advisory from Mural Arts Philadelphia.

Special thanks to The Clay Studio, 618 Design, Turner Construction, Pennoni Engineering, Quatrefoil Consulting, ZGF Architects, and Keast & Hood for their work as members of the project execution team.