Love Park will be without its beLOVEd sculpture for a few more months, according to city officials.
The Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy announced that the famous art piece will return to JFK Plaza after completion of the park’s construction project next year.
“We realize that the return of the LOVE sculpture to the park is highly-anticipated and we are working to bring it back as soon as possible,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell in a statement.
With the holidays around the corner, Lovell added that the city’s priority is preparing for the Christmas Village and the visitors for the winter season. JFK Plaza will have a soft opening for the Christmas Village before it's grand re-opening in the spring.
When the LOVE sculpture returns, it will look different than you remember.
Robert Indiana originally painted it red, green and purple, not the red, green and blue it has been since it was installed for the Bicentennial in 1976. Workers are restoring the piece to its original colors with assistance from Indiana’s representatives.
Margot Berg is the Public Art Director for the City’s Office of Arts and Culture. She said Indiana painted only Philadelphia’s version purple.
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“Singular and unique to Philadelphia, we have even more reasons to love our LOVE and we are thrilled to restore it to the artist’s original intent. The additional time will allow the sculpture’s paint to cure properly so that it can withstand the elements for many years,” Berg said.
Expect a celebration of the LOVE sculpture's return followed by a grand re-opening celebration for the park in Spring 2018.
