Celebrating Mural Arts Month in University City:

MAP of Community Treasures

(See larger version of this map, below).

Gateway to University City mural dedication: Left to right: Omar Bialk, Tony Caneris (Drexel; UCD Vice Chair), Jannie L. Blackwell (City Council), Max Mason (Artist), Jim Goldstein (GMAC), Jane Golden, MAP.

Photo credit: Allison Kelsey

Mural Arts Month, now in its third year, is "an opportunity to celebrate and bring awareness to the City's collection of outdoor paintings, the spirit and vitality of Philadelphia's communities, the extraordinary talent and artistic diversity of local artists and the power of art on the lives of our young people," said Jane Golden who founded Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program (MAP) in 1984, as part of the City's Anti-Graffiti Network. Since 1986 MAP has been part of the Department of Recreation where the program also offers art instruction throughout the City.

Ms. Golden is the artistic director of the program that has facilitated the creation of 2000 murals throughout the City--giving Philadelphia more murals per square mile than anywhere else in the country. Most of these murals were conceived and made by Philadelphians. The 2000th mural, located at 1421 Arch Street, is being dedicated October 30 at the closing festivities of Mural Arts Month. It was painted by Peter Pagast, the same muralist who painted a mural inside the UCHS in conjunction with Penn's Center for Community Partnerships. Mr. Pagast also painted Paul Robeson in University City last year. That was the first mural co-sponsored by University City District, in an effort to "highlight cultural, historical and social diversity in University City through public art."

The second mural co-sponsored by UCD was dedicated last week--A Gateway to University City, created by Max Mason with the assistance of Brian Senft--it is a colorful tableau of an animated University City street inspired by Max Mason's 10-year residence in the neighborhood. The house depicted is based on that of Omar Blaik, who lives on 46th Street. The wall space was donated by property owners Amy Orr and John Woodin. Last November, the painting upon which the mural is based was among the paintings exhibited at the Faculty Club's Burrison Gallery.

Other Max Mason murals --which include panoramic views of Blanche Levy Park, Franklin Field and Boathouse Row hang in the New York City Penn Club. They also had their campus debut in the Burrison Gallery, in March 1994, a decade after the artist took his MFA at Penn. Max Mason is currently working on the next UCD and MAP collaboration at 4909 Market Street, a mural that will depict the El subway stop.

 Gateway to University City Mural Dedication: Left to right: Omar Blaik, Jim GoldStein (GMAC), Jannie L. Blackwell (City Council), Tony Caneris (Drekel; UCD Vice Chair, Jane Gorden, MAP.

Photo credit Allison Kelsey


MAP Murals

(CLICK ON THUMBNAILS TO SEE LARGER VERSIONS OF THE IMAGES BELOW)

1

Paul Robeson (1898-1976): Citizen of the World, 1999; artist: Peter Pagast; location: 4502 Chestnut Street; sponsors: University City District (UCD) and Sovereign Bank.

2

A Celebration of Community, 1997; artist: Jane Degenhardt-Kutzer; location: 44th & Market Streets; sponsors: West Philadelphia Enterprise Center and Hunt Manufacturing Corporation.

3

Practice the Phenomenon of Soaring, 1999; artist: Peter Pagast; location: inside University City High School, 36th & Filbert Streets; sponsor: University of Pennsylvania.

4

Katharine Drexel, 1999; artist: Burt Dodge; location: 33rd & Race Streets; sponsor: Drexel University.

5

Boy with Raised Arm, 1992; artist: Sidney Goodman; location: 40th & Powelton Avenue; sponsor: Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

6

Tuscan Landscape, 1994; artist: Patricia B. Ingersoll; location: 32nd & Spring Garden Streets; sponsor: Anti-Grafffiti Network.

7

The Front Porch, 1999; artist: Jon Page; location: 49th & Florence Avenue; sponsor: City of Philadelphia.

8

Passion Flower, 1998; artist: Paul Santoleri; location: 4221 Powelton Avenue; sponsors: Philadelphia Museum of Art and City of Philadelphia.

9

A Gateway to University City, 2000; artist; Max Mason; location: 4008 Chestnut Street; sponsors: University City District and GMAC Mortgage Corporation.

For information about MAP mural tours call (215) 568-5245.


Almanac, Vol. 47, No. 9, October 24, 2000

| FRONT PAGE | CONTENTS | JOB-OPS | CRIMESTATS | Clebrating Mural Arts Month | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE | SAFETY AFTER DARK | TALK ABOUT TEACHING ARCHIVE | BETWEEN ISSUES | OCTOBER at PENN |