It was an upbeat day, as we headed into the city to meet with a community-based group for Mural Arts-Philadelphia. We were on a mission to discover how this program works, including tips on funding, organizing, and "people-powering." The welcome was warm as we entered a room alive with activity. We joined the volunteers who were painting on parachute cloth, which had been cut in sections and coded by the color of paint. The sections were destined to become a unified, huge mural on the side of a building.
The Mural Arts program was started in 1984 as an anti-graffiti and restorative effort to adorn Philadelphia buildings with public art. It has effectively transformed the negative energy associated with graffiti into a positive energy that fuels an art form which has become a unique part of Philadelphia's identity.
We think that a mural, strategically placed, could greet people entering Runnemede, for art is a universal language and communicates visually. Consider how such a mural could involve our community, instill pride, and attract newcomers to our borough!
