The culmination of a year-long engagement between Monument Lab and Philadelphia-based artists Miguel Horn and Symone Salib, Held: A Monument Lab Residency Exhibition explores belonging and engagement across two distinctive practices. Through the theme of “exchange,” each artist worked with each other, Monument Lab collaborators, and neighborhood partners to explore what it means to create prototype monuments — experimental, smaller-scale versions of big ideas to take with them as they move into the next stage of their public practice.
This exhibition invites audiences to engage with each artwork through acts of physical touch. Whether contributing a written sentiment to Salib’s “The Weight of Patterns” or grasping Horn’s iconic torch in “With Stand | With Hold,” visitors are encouraged to reflect on their personal histories and engage with art through intimate and dynamic ways.
The exhibition is on view December 10, 2024–January 12, 2025. Join us on December 10th, at 6pm EST at Paradigm Gallery for the opening of the show.
ABOUT MONUMENT LAB ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM
The Monument Lab Artist Residency Program launched in 2024 to support emerging public artists in the city of Philadelphia. Through the theme of “exchange,” the program encourages and resources artists to evolve their practice and prepare for future large-scale public art commission opportunities while building stronger relationships within and across the city’s neighborhoods.
Inaugural artists-in-residence Miguel Horn and Symone Salib have been encouraged to experiment with monumental materials and methods; foster neighborhood-based relationships; and join Monument Lab’s growing community of local, national, and transnational monument changemakers. Through this residency, Monument Lab seeks to contribute to the ecosystem of public art practitioners and support emerging artists in growing their bodies of work through place-based relationships.
Lead support for the Monument Lab Artist Residency is provided by the William Penn Foundation, with additional support from the Ogilvie Family Foundation. In-kind support has been provided by Urban Art Projects (UAP). Programmatic partners include Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture and Spiral Q.