More Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell

by Jane Golden, David Graham, Robin Rice

More than twenty years ago, a New Jersey artist started a project for the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network that encouraged young people to paint murals on a few buildings around the city. Jane Golden could not have known that the Mural Arts Program (MAP) would become the nation's largest public art program and a model for programs throughout the country. With more than 2600 murals throughout Philadelphia, the program has brightened the lives of countless residents and tourists while providing a creative outlet for an astounding array of artists. MAP now works with more than 3000 students around the city, engaging them in a curriculum that teaches not only artistic skills but civic engagement and personal responsibility. In this sequel to the bestselling Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell, published in 2002, More Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell shares with the earlier work its beautiful color photography, along with profiles of the artists. between boys who live in a residential facility, a community in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, and men who are incarcerated in a maximum-security state correctional facility. The 1/8 of a mile long mural they created, about balanced and restorative justice, was intended to help the young men give something back to a community they had harmed and help the community wrestle with issues around crime and violence. In the process of creating the mural, it became a life-changing experience for all involved. By recounting this story and the many others behind the works of art, More Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell is as inspirational as it is beautiful.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Coffee Table Books

160 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2002

Reviews

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

a mural i painted is in this book!

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at thirty murals done under the auspices of the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Program and later the Mural Arts Program with Jane Golden being a driving force that managed to work with the various communities of Philadelphia to not only get permission to paint over 2,000 murals on the sides of buildings, concrete highway embankments and spans of wall but enable the communities to come together and thrive.

Originally just a six-week program that was attempting to involve youth and stop the graffiti decorating the city, Golden managed to get several of the taggers to join the mural program along with various artists (several provide stories behind some of their noted pieces), volunteers and the neighborhood residents. This book only focuses on thirty specific pieces - with glorious professional photos included -which recognize respected individuals along with history of the community as well as the hopes and dreams for the future.

It also provides insight into the making of a mural which is not just throwing some paint on a building. It involves negotiations with the building owner. Negotiations with the community itself which means many voices being heard on what they would like to see, with commentary on the artist's design and the diplomacy to make many of them, if not happy, at least content with the projected art. Although it might be a hard choice, I think Common Threads seems to be my personal favorite.

Unfortunately, a couple of those mentioned have been destroyed when the buildings they were attached to were razed. Plans at the time of the book's publishing (2002) were to find a place for at least one - Boy with Raised Arm - to be re-created. The connection between mural and community was just that strong. I hope that the MAP (Mural Art Project) managed to success since it was a lovely piece.

2021-183

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 2006 book follows one from 2002. Unfortunately there is no 3rd volume. There should be, because the mural program his exploded since 2006.

Walk anywhere in Philly and you will see a mural. They are striking. The book has a map showing the location of 32 of those pictured. Since 2006 there have been many, many more. The murals can be endearing, clever, provocative, funny or uplifting.

They are the fruit of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Project (MAP) which meets a number of goals. It has been successful in keeping graffiti at bay. It provides worthwhile activity for high risk and other students and young people in correctional programs. One was a project of a rehab group home.

There is evidence that MAP murals have mitigated blight and have raised the spirits of the neighborhoods. The project has broad community support as evidenced by the number of donors cited.

The book has 10 chapters each with a theme. All but one feature a single artist. That artist may be working alone but is usually leading a group of teens or younger to produce one of these outsized works.

Philly had a few murals before MAP. Most of of them were nostalgic rural scenes. These modern murals have people, modern images and and energy. Many take their content from their neighborhoods. Often the people in them are the local residents.Some have social statements like “The Inmate’s Journey” or a Malcolm X portrait with a quote on the value of education. Some are fanciful with stars, bubbles and fairy tale images. A mural of pets raised funds for an animal refuge: winning raffle ticket holders got their pet’s image on the mural.

It appears house paint is the main material. Some have used have cloth and mosaics. Broken tile and Styrofoam have also been used.. Some use computers for planning.

This is a good book for an introduction to these incredible murals. You learn about the artists that led the projects and something about their creative process. I would have liked more on their content such as how and why it was developed.

MAP has been phenomenally successful in enhancing the city. The book is badly in need of an update.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave me the backstory on some of my favorite Philly murals.

[Lora-Ellen McKinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philadelphia tells the history of the city as a whole and of its ethnic enclaves through its murals. So nice to understand these as works of art and not as public nuisances.