Philadelphia's Murals

"Art is a nation’s most precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves and to others the inner vision which guides us as a nation. And where there is no vision, the people perish.”
                                                                                           ~ Lyndon Johnson

Independence Hall - Philadelphia, PA

I lived in Philadelphia for 19 years and I took a lot of things for granted when we lived there. Now I look forward to trips back and immersing myself in all of the cultural opportunities the City of Brotherly Love has to offer.

In the last couple of years, I've started to "collect" photos of the amazing murals that fill the city. Started in 1984 as a way to combat urban vandalism, the Mural Arts Program (the largest public arts program in the US) now boasts over 3,000 murals scattered throughout Philadelphia.

I'm not going to go into detail about the symbolism of these murals, or the collaborations between artists and neighborhoods that went into their creation, as you can find that information elsewhere (a good place to start is the Mural Arts Program website). I just wanted to share some of these beautiful works of art with you.

Building The City - Michael Webb
12th & Moravian Streets

Legacy - Joshua Sarantitis
707 Chestnut Street

Sometimes the shadows from surrounding buildings made photographs a bit tricky, which is a shame especially in this case because this mural was not painted - it's made of glass tiles!

A People's Progression Toward Equality - Jared Bader
S. 8th  & Ranstead Streets

Tree of Knowledge - Micheal Webb
N. 13th & Market Streets

So if you are planning a visit to Philly, along with trying a cheesesteak and seeing the Liberty Bell, check out the city's murals. There's even a two hour guided mural tour you can take. And let me know which murals were your favorites.

(In my research, I've sometimes found conflicting information about the exact location or the title or artist of these murals, so if you notice a mistake here, let me know in the comments.)

More Shell Paintings

"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow..."
                                                                                                              ~ Kurt Vonnegut

Conch shell - oil 5" x 7"

Shells with ink bottle - oil 7" x 5"

My first post and first paintings for 2015. The shells are all from my father-in-law's collection, and the lovely antique ink bottle was a gift from a dear college friend. I just love that color blue.

Happy belated New Year, everyone!