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Picture America in 1805.
At this point, the United States — all 17 of them — had established a working constitution and pioneered a democratic system of government. The country was in its 29th year and settling into adulthood. Americans were not just asking themselves how to build a nation, but how to cultivate it.
“We’re looking at the landscape, and we’re saying, ‘Well, what’s missing?’” said Brittany Lewis, PAFA’s director of community education and engagement. “How are you going to preserve art and culture? We’re going to need not only a museum, but we’re going to need a school, so we can create the works of art that will be hung in the museum.”
Artists like painter and scientist Charles Willson Peale and sculptor William Rush joined forces. They established the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, a space created by creatives for creatives.
“Charles Willson Peale was thinking at the time, ‘I’m an artist and I know that it’s important that America harnesses our heritage, so I’ll start it,’” Lewis said. “When I’m in the historic landmark building, I’m in our rotunda in front of Peale’s — in his museum — I explain to our visitors that this is innovation.”
“This is Peale saying we need a museum in the United States, and so I am going to make one here in Old City.”
Since its founding, PAFA has led the way for future world renowned institutions in our country, like the Philadelphia Museum of Art or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. PAFA recently collaborated with the PMA for its large centennial show, “A Nation of Artists” — highlighting great works from American artists created throughout the last 250 years. The show features loaned artwork from The Middleton Family Collection, including Jasper Johns’ “Flag” paiting.
“I hope that Philadelphians remember that just because we are the first doesn’t mean that we’re the most relevant,” Lewis said. “I need the community to come and visit us and see ‘A Nation of Artists’ and look at it not like an exclamation mark but as a question mark. ‘What is American art?’”
To celebrate PAFA’s accomplishments, the academy is throwing a “Firstival” party this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — celebrating its status as the country’s “first” art school. Attendees can come check out a painted #1 Sculpture from PAFA alum Jon Laidacker and explore the museum. There will also be arts and crafts activities that guests can delve into.
“We’ll have tours of ‘A Nation of Artists,’ so you can see the exhibition,” Lewis said. “Our guides will be there. It’s family friendly. Pay what you wish, and the young people can make takeaway art, so there’s something for everyone of all ages.”
Lewis also encourages Philadelphians to look into PAFA’s educational programming.
“We are also a school,” she said. “So tell a friend that we have our certificate program. We have classes for young people, and even [adults] can come and take a class from printmaking to sculpture to you name it.”
Check out BP’s full guide to all of this year’s Firstivals below.
Completed
Week 1: Successful balloon flight in America (1793)
Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation’s first folk parade (1901)
Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)
Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)
Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)
Week 7: Abolitionist society in America (1775)
Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)
Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America (1688)
Week 10: Flower Show (1829)
Week 11: Women’s medical college (1850)
Week 12: Matchbook (1892)
Week 13: Medical school (1765)
Week 14: Stadium (1895)
Week 15: Circus performance (1793)
Week 16: Botanical garden (1728)
Week 17: Postmaster (1737)
Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
Week 19: Mother’s Day (1908)
Week 20: Hospital in America (1751)
Week 21: World’s Fair on American soil (1876)
Week 22: Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
Week 23: American flag (1777)
Week 24: U.S. Army (1775)
Week 25: Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
Week 26: Paper maker in America (1690)
Week 27: Bank of the United States (1791)
Week 28: Organized baseball team (1831)
Week 29: Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
Upcoming
• American art school (1805)
July 25, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St.
• Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Aug. 1, at Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Zoo in America (1874)
Aug. 8, Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.
• U.S. Mint (1793)
Aug. 15 (location TBD)
• Selfie (1839)
Aug. 22, Love Park, 1501 John F Kennedy Blvd.
• Slinky (1943)
Aug. 29, Philadelphia Art Museum, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Sept. 5, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.
• Continental Congress (1774)
Sept. 12 at Carpenters’ Hall, 320 Chestnut St.
• Naming of the United States (1776)
Sept. 19, Independence Hall
• Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.
• Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.
• The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
• U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.
• Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.
• Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.
• Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.
• Children’s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.
• Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
• Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
• Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.
• Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.
• Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.
Editor’s note: WHYY President and CEO Bill Marrazzo serves as chair of the board of trustees for the Independence Historical Trust.
