Yeah, we groan when a cheesy commercial with Smokey Bear pops up on the TV. But maybe we’re not considering Smokey—and other PSA icons—in the right way.
Instead of annoying, juvenile or corny, maybe they’re actually art.
That’s the idea behind “Public Service Advertising that Changed the Nation,” an art exhibit running through April 2 at 1622 Chestnut Gallery at the Art Institute (1622 Chestnut St.).
The free exhibit, which runs through Thursday, April 2, presents PSA icons like Smokey, as they have appeared throughout the past 100 years.
And hey, even if you're not sold on the "PSAs as art" idea, this is your chance to relive your childhood. After all: Who can forget McGruff the Crime Dog or D.A.R.E?