The first “We Here” sculpture was installed in a large vacant lot representing 11 rowhome parcels, much of which the Kensington Corridor Trust has planted as a pollinator garden with dozens of native plant species, such as brown-eyed Susans, milkweed and coneflowers.
A path cutting through the meadow-like garden leads visitors to the threshold of Lugo’s giant jar.
The sculpture is meant to be a permanent part of the lot. The land is one of 13 properties owned in trust by the KCT to be maintained for the benefit of the community. Similar to a land bank model, KCT acquires properties along Kensington Avenue and makes them available for rent or lease to community residents and business owners.
By removing properties from the market forces of gentrification, the community-led trust guarantees they will not be sold to developers and their tenants displaced.
Which means Lugo’s 10-foot ginger jar will likely remain in the garden for the long haul.
“Everything in the neighborhood trust is perpetually owned, meaning we can’t legally sell the assets,” said KCT development manager Jasmin Velez. “It’s intentional. We want to maintain affordability in this neighborhood. It’s about ensuring folks in the neighborhood own and have [a] say over what happens in their own community.”
The lot on the 3200 block of Kensington Avenue is fenced, so the public will only be able to interact with Lugo’s sculpture during when KTC opens its lot with public programs.
“We Here” is a colorful totem that can be seen from above by riders on SEPTA’s Frankford El trains, appearing like a garden folly in a wild meadow in the middle of Kensington.
“Roberto is from this neighborhood. It’s really wonderful to uplift artists from this community,” said Velez. “They don’t often get considered with other major artists. So it’s really really cool to have this in our space.”
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