Happy July 4th! Recently, I've made a few trips into Philadelphia to photograph some of the city's beautiful murals. The collection of images below is an extension of an my post from last year (CLICK HERE). In the new images, I have tried to capture each painting within a broader urban landscape (i.e. neighborhood, parking lot, street scene, etc.). This is not meant as an exhaustive list of the city's street art, but a sampling of a few murals in three areas: North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, and Callowhill. Most of these are part of the city's wonderful Mural Arts Program.
While these murals are not the usual red, white and blue associated with independence day, they are uniquely American. Some illustrate parts of our history, some inspire those who are the subject of prejudice and injustice, some honor or memorialize outstanding individuals, some motivate those with day-to-day struggles (i.e. with addiction, crime, etc.). As I view these murals and reflect on the country's events of the past few weeks, I think of the famous Martin Luther King quote:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."
NORTH PHILADELPHIA
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| "Rise" (Part of The North Philadelphia Beacon Project) Mural Artists: James Burns Broad Street and Lehigh, North Philadelphia |
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| "Shine" (Part of The North Philadelphia Beacon Project) Mural Artists: James Burns Broad Street and Lehigh, North Philadelphia |
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| Grover Washington, Jr. Mural Artist: Peter Pagast 2032 N. Broad Street |
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| "Healing Walls: A Victim's Journey" Mural Artists: Cesar Viverons-Herrera & Parris Stancell 3049 Germantown Avenue |
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| "It Has to Be From Here, Forgotten But Unshaken" Mural Artist: Betsy Casanas 3263 N. Front Street
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WEST PHILADELPHIA
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| "A Celebration of Community" Mural Artist: Jane Degenhardt Kutzer 44th and Market St., West Philadelphia |
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| "Calm Consideration of Our Existence" (detail) Mural Artist: Parris Stancell Antioch of Calvary Chapel 4721 Chestnut St, West Philadelphia |
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| "Calm Consideration of Our Existence" Mural Artist: Parris Stancell Antioch of Calvary Chapel 4721 Chestnut St, West Philadelphia |
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| "Downhill River" Mural by Paul Santoleri S. 47th Street (near Pascall Ave.) |
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| "Gateway to University City" Mural Artist: Max Mason 4008 Chestnut St., West Philadelphia |
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| "Wilt Chamberlain" Mural Artist: John Lewis 13th and Vine Street |
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| Mural artist unknown 48th and Woodland Playground (S. 47th St. near Pascall Ave.) |
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| "Transformation" Mural Artist: Eric Okdeh 4040 Market St., West Philadlphia |
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| "The Tuskegee Airmen: They Met the Challenge" Mural Artist: Marcus Akinlana 20 S. 39th Street (near Chestnut St.), West Phila. |
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| "Love Letters: If You Were Here..." Mural Artist: Steve Powers Market Street, West Philadelphia
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