Social
Friday Nights: Pepperpot
When
Fri, Nov 13, 2026 5:00 pm
Fri, Nov 13, 2026 8:45 pm
Where
Main Building,
Multiple locations
Pepperpot soup! Get it hot! Celebrate the musical and culinary traditions of Philadelphia through the story of pepperpot soup, a local dish with its history rooted in the colonial-era marketplaces of this city. V. Shayne Frederick’s presentation highlights the role of African American entrepreneurs in this cultural tradition through a newly commissioned musical performance, historical interpreters recreating the atmosphere of the marketplace, projections of imaginary “portraits” of these unsung chefs, and gallery talks in the American Art galleries.
Organized in partnership with ArtPhilly and in conjunction with the exhibition A Nation of Artists. This program is the second iteration of Pepperpot, which was first organized by V. Shayne Frederick as part of ArtPhilly’s What Now: 2026 festival. It honors the legacy of Philadelphia Jazz Project's visionary Homer Jackson.
Support
Pepperpot was originally commissioned by ArtPhilly as part of the What Now: 2026 Festival with lead support provided by the William Penn Foundation and additional support from the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation. It was conceived in collaboration with V. Shayne Frederick, Lynn Washington, Chef Valerie Erwin, Eric Battle, Chef Omar Tate, Asake-Denise Foye Jones, and Chef Chaz Brown.
Support for Pay What You Wish admission has been generously provided by an anonymous donor and the William Penn Foundation.
Image Gallery
Image courtesy Eric Battle.
Image courtesy Eric Battle.
Image courtesy Eric Battle.