Funeral for a Home: Waste Management and Revolution Recovery Tour

Philadelphia in 2014 is a daily witness to the construction of new homes and the demolition of long decaying structures. The vacant lots and new facilities left in their wake are evident enough, but what of the tons of materials and debris that result from these processes? Join Temple Contemporary's staff as they explore the "wastestream" of contemporary Philadelphia and tour the facilities of Waste Management and Revolution Recovery. Revolution Recovery is an up-cycling company committed to the repurposing of demolition and construction materials throughout the region.

This programming was developed in conjunction with Funeral for a Home, supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. Under the stewardship of Temple Contemporary, Funeral for a Home will celebrate the life of a single row home before it is razed. The chosen home, one out of 500 already slated to come down next year, will receive a "funeral" to mark its passing: a free public event that will include a procession of local residents and clergy, youth orchestra and gospel choir performances, and a remembrance service at which neighbors can pay their respects. Funeral for a Home serves as a direct response to years of widespread demolition in North Philadelphia, in an effort to generate critical thinking, discussion, and action around issues of housing redevelopment and preservation.