Starting today, I'll be spotlighting one famous logo's history every other day as a way of sharing something I find fascinating and important to the development of today's logos. People often emphasize the power of words found in literary works, but I prefer to highlight the power symbols have on society and our way of life. So here's the first installment of Design History, and I couldn't think of a better way to start then to talk about Philly's one and only LOVE Park.
The Sign: The product of Robert Indiana, his iconic work LOVE was first created for a Christmas Card for the Museum of Modern Art in 1964 and later was included on an eight-cent United States Postal Service postage stamp in 1973, the first of their regular series of "love stamps." Sculptural versions of the image have been installed at numerous American and international locations. It was first placed in the plaza in 1976 as part of the United States' Bicentennial celebration. It was removed in 1978, but the sculpture was missed and the chairman of Philadelphia Art Commission, F. Eugene Dixon, Jr., bought the sculpture and permanently placed it in the plaza, in 1978. In 1977 he created a Hebrew version with the four letter word Ahava (אהבה "love" in Hebrew) using Cor-ten steel, for the Israel Museum Art Garden in Jerusalem, Israel.
Love Park: LOVE Park is the brainchild of former Philadelphia City Planner Edmund Bacon and architect Vincent Kling. The park is across from City Hall and was designed as a terminus for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The park, which was designed by Vincent Kling, was built in 1965 and covers an underground parking garage. Internationally known professional skateboarders like Bam Margera, Stevie Williams and Philadelphia native Kerry Getz made their names in the skateboarding industry by being identified with their frequent use of LOVE Park's ledges and stair sets.
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