The city has almost 4,000 murals
That art causes a change it is easy to see in the past, when you have spent 35 years experiencing how a city weaves communities through graffiti. Far is he year 1984, when the project Mural Arts Philadelphia started engines as part of the anti-graffiti network that operated in the city.
its creator, the artist Jane Golden, tried to convince graffiti artists to invest their skill and know-how in projects that added value to the community without realizing that in 2019 its program would add almost 4,000 murals and would have become one of the hallmarks of Philadelphia. It is not for nothing that this enormous open-air art gallery is known as the world capital of murals.
'Philadelphia Muses'
Through color, its authors, local or from far away, famous or unknown, they have been reflecting the character, concerns and changes in each neighborhood. Discovering them is almost a gesture of trust, as if Philly didn't want to have secrets from anyone and opened its doors to us.
Of course, for that you have to know how to read them. Julie Curson She is retired and dedicates herself, for the love of art (pun intended), to guide visitors on tours of the murals. Armed with documents and photographs, she achieves, through stories of dialogue, collaboration and integration, that we understand the motto of the largest public art program in the country: art ignites change.
And it is that the Mural Arts Philadelphia It is more than just a program to create murals with which to make the city beautiful; it is the union of artists and communities through a creative and collaborative process that begins with a debate to understand problems, concerns and desires; and leads to those works that they transform public spaces, yes, but also the daily life of the neighbors.
believing in equality, justice and the progress of society, This program has three branches in which art, in effect, acts as the engine of change. arteducation base part of that art is an essential component in education and its programs for young people between the ages of 10 and 21 help them discover their talent and potential. Through its classrooms distributed in more than 26 points of the city pass more than 2,000 people a year who, through drawing, painting or photography, learn to express their creativity.
The murals reflect the history, interests and concerns of the city
Restorative Justice, On the other hand, it is a way of learning to deal with the consequences of crimes, trying to bring the perpetrators, their victims, and the neighborhood together to create stronger communities. From helping to paint murals to carpentry and mosaic creation courses, it is what they learn in the workshops young people between 18 and 24 years of age on provisional release. With this, they have an easier time find work, help repair the damage caused and make contributions to neighborhoods.
The mental illnesses and their visibility also have their space Porch Light, the division that organizes workshops throughout the year, community meetings, graffiti days and forums in which health is discussed. All with the clear objectives of promote empathy and reduce the stigma associated with them.
The result of all this is an average of between 60 and 100 new artistic projects every year, Traveler.es has made a selection of which you can consult in this gallery.
An authentic open-air art gallery