Patina/Promise

Event Details

What better way to reflect on 250 than by experiencing the legacy of 100? John Welsh Memorial Fountain in West Fairmount Park was built in 1887 to honor of the chairman of the board of finance for the U.S. Centennial Exposition. Now it will host an outdoor screening of Patina/Promise.

Filmed by 25 citizen filmmakers and assembled by Glenn Holsten and artist Majesty Royale-Jackson (@GlitterBoiWonder), and imbued with the spirit of the great city symphony films, this is an energetic and moving celebration of life filmed entirely on location in the streets of Philadelphia. Here is Holsten talking about the project.

Bring a blanket or a chair. Refreshments will be provided, but you are also welcome to embrace the picnic spirit and pack your own snacks.

There will be two showings: June 3 & June 10 at 8:30 p.m.

This is your chance to experience the fountain, located on Avenue of the Republic, before its planned restoration.

For more on the filmmaker, head to his Instagram: @glennholsten.

Project Description

Filmed by Philadelphians, voiced by Philadelphians, assembled by film director Glenn Holsten and artist Majesty Royale-Jackson, and imbued with the spirit of the great city symphony films, Patina/Promise is an energetic and moving celebration of life filmed entirely on location in the streets of Philadelphia. Patina/Promise uses contemporary technologies, such as cell phone cameras and drones, to create a new, fresh version of the city symphony film for 2026. Holsten guided citizen filmmakers through a series of brief workshop training sessions and via footage, interviews and city soundscapes, used images and sound to create an urban self-portrait of our city.