March 1, 2013

11th Street community members who offered their opinions on proposed designs during a Mural Design Review lead by members of the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program on Friday, February 22. Ben Volta, the lead artist for the project, also gave updates on the three different mural locations that have been selected.

At the Design Review, community members were asked to fill out a questionnaire to help draw inspiration for new additions to the murals. The questions included: “What words come to mind when you think of home, community, nature, and health?” and “Can you list and sketch at least 3 items that we should include in the mural?” After brainstorming, Ben led an open discussion with the participants about how to communicate wellness through art, color changes, and different object additions that could give the murals a “homey” feel. Community members also suggested plaques below the murals to exhibit different stories or memories that are tied to the 11th Street area. By the end of the Design Review, Ben gathered a great amount of ideas and considerations for the murals and announced his plans to implement them in a new set of designs.

Communications Officer Rachel Ewing also takes us on an in-depth look at the Mural Arts Program’s Porch Light Initiative at 11th Street Family Health Services of Drexel University in her latest article.