“& SignS of the times” Installation

Lancaster City has had a beautiful spot of green right in the middle of town, right across from an art school (Pennsylvania College of Art & Design), called the ART GARDEN. Sadly, this precious art garden was sorely lacking any art. And despite its central location on a busy corner, sorely lacking much activity. When PCA&D asked if Modern Art could change that for its new president’s inauguration (cleverly dubbed the president’s installation), we sprung into action to create an Installation Installation.

The theme of incoming president Mike Molla’s installation, the “&”, the ampersand, “a symbol of forging, building and deepening connections, marking PCA&D’s re-introduction to the Lancaster community,” was the inspiration for the installation. We wanted to create a piece of work that would draw folks into the garden, invite them to see the possibility, to notice the good and the bad, to encourage them laugh, dance, think, relax, and ultimately to activate the garden to be a PLACE WHERE THE &s HAPPENS.

With less than three weeks to concept, design, gather input and create, we were able to secure a fabricator for a giant reflective ampersand (symbolizing PCA&D & YOU), and make and paint a series of “& Signs” labeling various landmarks in the garden: PCA&D & Neighbors, PCA&D & Things with Wheels, PCA&D & A tree, PCA&D & A Giant Ampersand, PCA&D & El Cielo; PCA&D & a zombie; as well as chalk “& Signs” where anyone could chalk in their own “&”.

On the day of the President’s inauguration, Modern Art worked with an amazing group of creative PCA&D students to install the giant ampersand and the signs, and to come up with ideas for what other types of “&s” could happen in the garden. (They came up with some perfect ones that added even more fun to the garden including, “& a place to tell jokes”, “& knowledge” “& A Place to Photograph”, & relax”) The signs continued to change as the weeks go by, as more and more community members create their own ands.

The giant ampersand became a central beacon of PCA&D’s creative reach into the City it calls home. In the summer of 2020 when the art garden became a hub for gathering, mourning, and protests after the death of George Floyd, Modern Art proposed that PCA&D use the ampersand as a place for creative response. Artists Keisha Finnie, Kaya Hobbs, Kearasten Jordan, Adam Serrano, and Azar Studios transformed the surface of the the ampersand into a new beacon for the Black Lives Matter movement.

We loved this project, and loved even more the bonding, creativity and activism that happened around it. We hope that thoughtful energe will continue to happen as PCA&D strengthens its connection with neighbors and pressing issues that effect our community.

Many thanks to all who helped make this happen: Adam and Alex from TAIT for fabricating our design, Spike from Nimblist, Megan Gallagher from PCA&D, Benchmark Construction, Dan Chambers, Taylor Miles, and to Mike Molla for trusting us as artists.

And thanks to the student who wrote us this note:

“Thank you for the chance to participate in the Art Garden Installation!!! It’s been so cool to see the boards change as the weeks progress. Can’t wait to see how they will change in the future.”