Arts: Multimedia

A day in training at Philly Parx racetrack

newsworks@whyy.org (Nathaniel Hamilton ) — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

North of Philadelphia, in Bensalem, there is a mile-long dirt track, established in 1974. Then it was called the Keystone Racetrack. Now it is known as Parx Casino and Racing, on 417 acres, with 1,400 stalls for thoroughbred race horses. Throughout the day over 100 jockeys and 300 trainers will ride and train their hopeful winners.

First timers build 'Best Breakdown' sculpture at Kensington derby

newsworks@whyy.org (Kimberly Paynter, @Kpaynter) — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:15:00 GMT

Design enthusiasts from all over Philadelphia turned out to see the 7th Annual Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby and to watch the parade of human-powered sculptures roll through the neighborhood last Saturday. For the finale, spectators watched as the floats barreled through a mud pit one by one, hoping for a crash. Judges awarded builders in categories such as best costume, engineering and best breakdown.

Photographer traces Philadelphia's past through fading ads

newsworks@whyy.org (Peter Crimmins @petercrimmins) — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

There is a ghost economy at work in Old City. Hand-painted advertisements from a different era, faded to the point of hardly being there at all, emerge like apparitions during building renovations.

Twin VW buses bring good energy and 'thumbs up' on the road

newsworks@whyy.org (Kimberly Paynter, @Kpaynter) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

One block from Norris Square Park in Kensington, Lola peeks out of a garage onto Hancock Street. David Perry purchased Lola, a 1982, powder blue Volkswagen Vanagan in 2009 to join Ed, a 1975 Volkswagen Bus he found on an abandoned lot and bought from a neighbor the year before.

A little bird in a big city

newsworks@whyy.org (Emma Lee/For NewsWorks) — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Walking through the glass canyons of Center City, Philadelphia one morning in April, I found this strange little bird lying still on the sidewalk.

I'd become accustomed to finding dead birds at the bases of glass buildings, but this one was still breathing.

What to do? I sat down beside it on the pavement and documented its recovery.

Looking for visual poetry in everyday life

newsworks@whyy.org (Lindsay Lazarski @llazarski) — Fri, 03 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT

"If you're not out there, you're only going to hear about it," has been a mantra for Philadelphia photojournalist Peter Tobia.

For Philly actor, 'Johnny Showcase' is a soul train back to the '70s

newsworks@whyy.org (Lindsay Lazarski @llazarski) — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

If you've never seen Johnny Showcase and the Lefty Lucy Cabaret before, you might wonder: Is this serious?

"It is always playing this line," says backup singer Adrienne Mackey. "Is he [Johnny] the most sexy human being in the world? At first glance, no. But then there is that moment where you're like, maybe he is. Maybe yes."

Magnificent magnolia in Germantown embraces neighbors, graces spring

newsworks@whyy.org (Kimberly Paynter, @Kpaynter) — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood is known to many for its accessible historic sites, but one 150-year-old treasure, a massive magnolia tree, remains hidden from sightseers.

Despite failing sight, N.J. artist and teacher still paints, still inspires [video]

newsworks@whyy.org (Peter Crimmins, @petercrimmins) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:00:00 GMT

In Pat Witt's barn, there are rules.

No cell phones: the 86-year old founder of The Barn Studio of Art in Millville, N.J., has no use for kids glued to texting.

No erasers: Witt takes each new class through a ritual of pulling erasers off the ends of pencils.

"She says there's no such things as mistakes," said 10-year-old Raven Figuero who, with her sister Arwen, has been taking art classes at The Barn for four years. "She takes the erasers off the pencils."

Photos document 200 years of Latino history in Philadelphia

newsworks@whyy.org (Elisabeth Perez-Luna) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:14:37 GMT

About half a million Latinos live in Philadelphia. They don't all come from the same cultures and traditions, but they do share a lot — and it's not just language.

A new book, "200 years of Latino History in Philadelphia," uses photos to tell their stories — stories of family, work, and achievement.