The Office for People with Disabilities (OPD), in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia, supported the public opening of Flickering Souls: Illuminating ALS, an immersive art installation that invites reflection on disability, lived experience, and community. The exhibition opened on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement at the Parkway Central Library.
The installation was created by Philadelphia-based artist Eric Brunner, who was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) at age 33. After connecting with OPD as a constituent, Brunner was looking for ways to share his lived experience with the public through art. Flickering Souls: Illuminating ALS features 256 illuminated portraits, each paired with an independent light that flickers and gradually extinguishes over time—mirroring the progression of ALS and the loss of motor neurons.
The installation took more than 1,000 hours to create and raises questions about presence, disappearance, and the urgency of awareness. At the same time, it honors the thousands of individuals and families impacted by ALS each year. Through its scale and visual impact, the exhibition encourages visitors to pause, reflect, and engage in conversations about disability, advocacy, and the realities faced by people living with ALS.
OPD supported the planning of the public opening by sharing resources and connecting visitors to information related to disability, accessibility, and community support. This work reflects the City’s broader commitment to inclusion and ensuring that public spaces and cultural experiences are welcoming and accessible to all Philadelphians.
Flickering Souls: Illuminating ALS is free and open to the public at the Parkway Central Library through March 27, 2026, during regular Heim Center hours. Visitors are encouraged to experience the installation and engage in ongoing conversations about disability, awareness, and community.
Why This Matters
Public art plays an important role in building understanding, connection, and empathy across communities. Flickering Souls: Illuminating ALS uses art as a powerful tool to elevate lived experience, increase awareness of disability, and create space for meaningful public dialogue.
For the City of Philadelphia, this work aligns with ongoing efforts to advance accessibility, inclusion, and disability awareness across public spaces and civic life. By partnering with cultural institutions and community members, OPD helps ensure that disability is represented not only as a policy issue, but as a lived reality deserving visibility, respect, and understanding.
