The Daily Pennsylvanian Features Appointment to Art Commission

The Daily Pennsylvanian featured me in an article discussing my appointment to the Philadelphia Art Commission. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design, I was appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney to serve on the Commission, making me one of its youngest members and the only Black man on the panel at the time.

In the article, I shared my excitement about the appointment, noting the significance of having a voice on the Commission that represents younger, diverse perspectives. My role on the Commission involves overseeing the approval of public art and architecture projects throughout the city, a responsibility I take seriously as I advocate for more equitable and inclusive approaches to public space.

I also highlighted the importance of the Commission’s work in shaping the cultural and physical landscape of Philadelphia, emphasizing that the decisions made by the Commission impact how communities see themselves and are represented in public spaces. This aligns with my broader research and professional interests in placemaking, equity, and the intersection of art and urban design.

READ: http://www.thedp.com/article/2021/09/matthew-miller-philadelphia-art-commission-weitzman

Featured in Philadelphia Magazine: “What If Urbanists Ran the City?”

In the Philadelphia Magazine article titled “What If Urbanists Ran the City?” I was featured as part of a discussion on innovative approaches to urban design and public engagement. The article highlighted two of my ideas: rethinking public art and gamifying zoning reform.

I proposed that instead of spending large sums on one-off art installations that may become outdated — like the Rizzo and Columbus statues — we could create an “Urban StoryCorps.” This initiative would involve installing and programming interactive media in neighborhoods, similar to Eastern State Penitentiary’s “Hidden Lives Illuminated” or Michelle Angela Ortiz’s recent projection in the Italian Market. The goal would be to ensure that monuments evolve with demographic diversity and that neighborhoods have a say in how they’re represented.

I also addressed the often inaccessible nature of Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment meetings, describing them as “forensic focus groups, tokenist therapy sessions, or sideshows for the charismatic naysayers… cloistered and jargon-filled and inhospitable to casual observers and everyday people.” To make these processes more engaging and democratic, I suggested turning to gamification. By transforming these meetings into online workshops that are free and productive, we can engage the everyday people who live with the outcomes of these decisions. I noted that urban planning games like SIM-PHL, currently being developed by Drexel University with support from the Knight Foundation, have the potential to democratize and energize public participation in urban planning.

READ: https://www.phillymag.com/news/philadelphia-urbanists/

Quoted in Bloomberg CityLab’s “The Accidental Occupation of Seattle” Article

In a Bloomberg CityLab article for their Justice column, I was quoted discussing the historical context and implications of the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone in Seattle. The journalist connected the protest zone to historical precedents, and I offered a comparison to Resurrection City, the 1968 encampment on the National Mall that was part of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign. I noted that, “Like the Resurrection City tradition, CHOP City radically gestured toward a more communal way of life in direct protest to the surrendered police state upon which it is being constructed.”

I highlighted the innovative approach of the CHOP/CHAZ organizers, who employed a “more tactical, temporary, & transgressive ‘placetaking’ method” compared to historical movements. However, from my research perspective, which focuses on Black urbanism, I observed that the Capitol Hill protest, despite beginning as a protest for Black lives, falls short of the criteria for Black urbanism. I pointed out that “Black urbanism requires three elements — civics, stories, and space — to produce Black belongingness,” and I expressed concern about “whose spatial imaginary is being listened to” in the context of the Capitol Hill protests.

Read here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-18/what-s-next-for-seattle-s-police-free-protest-zone

Profiled by University of Washington Newspaper “The Art of Black Urbanism” Show

In an article by The Daily UW titled “The Art of Black Urbanism: Creating Space to Be Seen,” I was featured as part of a discussion on the concept of Black urbanism during an event hosted by the University of Washington’s Department of Urban Design & Planning in honor of Black History Month. The event explored the intersection of visibility, Blackness, and space, particularly how these themes are reflected in our work as photographers.

During the discussion, I shared my perspective on Black urbanism, stating, “What I hope to provide with Black urbanism is a counterweight that allows us to see that Blackness is beautiful and celebratory and poetic. Those principles are weaved into the art.” The event highlighted the importance of creating pro-Black spaces and acknowledged the contributions of Black urban planners, artists, and designers.

I also discussed my background, growing up in a family of creators, and how that influenced my journey into the arts. My pursuit of digital anthropology at the University of Southern California shaped my approach to photography, which I see as a blend of anthropology and documentary work. “That program taught me to think like an anthropologist and act like a documentarian. A lot of the projects in that exhibit have that documentary impulse. I started to tell stories from where I could,” I explained. This process led me to develop the concept of Black urbanism, which guides much of my work today.

The article also touched on the experiences of other participants, such as Rycheal, who shared her story as a Black queer woman and art director, and how photography serves as a medium for visibility and expression of Blackness.

READ: https://www.dailyuw.com/news/the-art-of-black-urbanism-creating-space-to-be-seen/article_e84a5500-2b57-11e9-8daa-d382ba8b47d6.html