Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit Oculus Installation

“Philly Daydreams: Stories in Transit,” will be displayed as a multi-channel installation for three days in December. The event takes place in the underground Oculus, below Dilworth Park South, City Hall.

This space has been closed to the public since the onset of the pandemic. Over the past year, artist and filmmaker Anula Shetty has been working with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), doing research and filming interviews with SEPTA drivers, community residents, local artists, and local activists. 

Beginning in October, @septaphilly riders across the city of Philadelphia encountered an incredible series of QR-activated portraits offering transit riders the opportunity to virtually travel alongside fellow Philadelphians as they tell stories of wonder, daydream, and connection. The project can be experienced on SEPTA’s Broad Street Line, Regional Rail Lines, select trolleys. Additionally, transcribed stories can be accessed through short story kiosk dispensers placed across the city. This interactive, multi-pronged public art project highlights shared transit experiences and stories across the city of Philadelphia.

Launched by Forman Arts Initiative (FAI) and @MuralArts, the Public Works program places artists in Philadelphia government agencies and organizations to develop artwork that forges new connections between the agencies’ work and the communities they serve.