Fourth of July festivities with Barnes, MoAR, and NLM, and more this holiday

Happy Will Smith Day! This year’s honoring of independence from the aliens features special events from the National Liberty Museum, the Barnes Foundation and Mural Arts Philadelphia, and the Museum of the American Revolution. Then, check out Westport Country Playhouse’s reimagining of Resident Ensemble Players’ Tiny House, a multidisciplinary art exhibit at Da Vinci Art Alliance, Black History Maven talks about the novel Yellow Wife, and a new audio show from Applied Mechanics.

Tiny House

Westport Country Playhouse presents a virtual restaging of Tiny House, an original Resident Ensemble Players production. The comedy tells a story about downsizing, escaping urban life, and fresh starts that all come together at an off-the-grid Fourth of July barbeque in the mountains. Tiny House runs now through July 18.

I love the shit out of you, kid

Da Vinci Art Alliance is hosting I love the shit out of you, kid, a solo exhibition by Maci Kociszewski. Kociszewski, a trans nonbinary artist and a DVAA fellow, will show time-based pieces that poke at capitalism through the use of edible materials, quilting, poetry, and dark humor. The show is open now through July 20, 2021. A virtual recording is also available.

Other Orbits

Applied Mechanics is launching a nine-episode “radio broadcast” about the obscure festivals, slow jams, and scandals of this “cooperative, sci-fi world.” Episode one, titled PlaNet Radio, debuts June 30 and is available to listen through July 31.

Yellow Wife with Black History Maven

Join Black History Maven’s Kalela Williams for a book club discussion on Yellow Wife, a novel about an enslaved woman forced to barter love and freedom while living in the most infamous slave jail in Virginia. The meetup is free and virtual on Thursday, July 1.

Barnes on the Block with Mural Arts

Check out this year’s Barnes on the Block with Mural Arts event on Friday, July 2, at 6pm. Taking place on the foundation’s grounds, on the parkway, and right on 21st Street, the block party features a film screening by BlackStar Film Festival, art-making demos, and live performances by notable poets, including Philly poet laureate Trapeta B. Mayson. Food trucks and a beer garden will also be in tow. The event is free and open to the public.

Celebrating Independence Day with National Liberty Museum

The National Liberty Museum has an assortment of activities and events to celebrate the holiday, including pop-up talks on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, a story hour for kids, and more.

Museum of the American Revolution’s Fourth of July festivities

History buffs will get their fill with a robust list of special exhibits, events, and activities at the MoAR. Explore the work of seamstresses Betsy Ross and Rebecca Flower Young and others, discover rare flags and constitution printings, watch a film on Elizabeth Freeman who fought for freedom from enslavement, and more.

Image Description: A woman in a gray hoodie has what looks like chopsticks positioned in her mouth, resembling the long teeth of a walrus. The colors in the photo, especially the reds, are oversaturated, making it look slightly unnatural or surreal.