Philadelphia’s City Hall is a central location in The Book of Glads. I walk around it a lot since I live close by. I’ve felt an affinity for it since moving here. As mentioned, we lived in Barcelona for 10 years, and moved to Philly from there. City Hall reminds me of Sagrada FamÃlia. Not the way they look. They could not look more different. But there is such an abundance of features on both. Sculptures, inscriptions, textures, styles. Both are huge projects that show off masterful stone masonry skills. And that kind of stone masonry is a lost art (though it has been revived in Book of Glads).
What does any of this have to do with Keith Herring? Well, I noticed a few days ago, a feature on City Hall that I hadn’t given much thought before. It’s a relief stone carving on multiple facades. Doesn’t this remind you of Haring’s work? He was born in Pennsylvania, a couple of hours outside Philadelphia. And it’s likely he visited City Hall on more than one occasion growing up.
