Latest news with #MuralArtsPhiladelphia
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
Philadelphia honors Quinta Brunson with key, mural at alma mater that inspired 'Abbott Elementary'
PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia's mayor honored actor and producer Quinta Brunson with a key to the city Wednesday in a ceremony dedicating a separate mural at Brunson's alma mater, which was the inspiration for her show 'Abbott Elementary.' The producer, writer and comedian gazed at the shiny key handed to her by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and quipped: 'Wow! I want to ask the question on everybody's mind: What does it open?' Brunson used the ceremony held at Andrew Hamilton School to celebrate the power of public education, public schoolteachers and music and arts education. Her parents and siblings were in attendance, along with Joyce Abbott, the teacher who inspired the name of the show's fictional school, the 'real life Gregory' and other teachers and classmates. The mural, titled Blooming Features, was created by artist Athena Scott with input from Brunson and Hamilton students and staff. Its brightly colored depictions of real people from the school wrap around the outside of the school's red brick facade. Brunson described taking inspiration from the murals painted along her subway route as a kid, especially when she saw one of her own teachers featured. She said she hopes this mural has the same effect. The actor said she nixed an initial mock-up brought to her by ABC that featured actors from the Emmy Award-winning show in favor of actual community members — because 'that's how you know there is a future.' 'You don't need to see famous people on the wall. You need to see you on the wall,' she said. 'Painted, beautiful. We are beautiful. It makes a difference. It made a difference for me, so I know even if it makes a difference for just one child, that one child matters.' Jane Golden, executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia, said she was thrilled when Brunson featured her organization on an episode of the show. Philadelphia is ranked No. 1 in the nation for its murals. 'When people visit Philadelphia they are struck by the works of art that grace the sides of buildings in every single neighborhood of the city,' she said. 'For us, this is a matter of equity. It's great to have world class galleries and museums — that's wonderful — but the fact that everyone everywhere can walk out the door and see large-scale works of public art that represent them, like the school here, that is awesome.'
News18
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
From Gayborhood to Glory: Why Philadelphia Is a Must-Visit LGBTQ+ Destination
Last Updated: Philadelphia preserves many historically and culturally important sites related to the LGBTQ+ community while building a strong social voice through various local businesses. Philadelphia is known as one of the most LGBTQ+- friendly destinations in the world with a rich history in queer pride, activism, and a thriving community which is integral to the city's cultural fabric. Along with numerous events and celebrations, Philadelphia preserves many historically and culturally important sites related to the LGBTQ+ community while building a strong social voice through various local businesses. Each year, Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community comes together for a series of celebrations, parades, and demonstrations including the Philadelphia Black Pride Celebration in April and Philly Pride 365 events throughout the year. The Philadelphia Pride March and Festival in June is an annual festival featuring live musical performances and a Pride Walk. The event starts with a march to Philadelphia's Gayborhood, where festivities await. Various vendors are stationed throughout, selling art, jewellery, and gifts. The all-day block party also features live performances, LGBTQ+ community resources, and a beer garden. Look out for special events, menus, and more from restaurants, bars, clubs, and attractions around Philadelphia during Pride Month. Pride celebrations in Philadelphia are not limited to June. OURfest – dedicated and inspired by National Coming Out Day – takes place during the first weekend in October. The weekend-long celebration includes the OURfest National Coming Out Parade, which features a giant rainbow flag, floats, displays, and live entertainment. Following the parade, the OURfest National Coming Out Block Party and Festival takes over Philadelphia's Gayborhood. The event includes hundreds of vendors, artists, restaurants, food trucks, and community organizations. This section of Center City is home to numerous LGBTQ+-owned shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs. Along with a charming community feel and those rainbow street signs, you will find rainbow crosswalks throughout the Gayborhood. A great way to learn more about the neighbourhood and Philadelphia's history is to take a Philly Gayborhood and LGBTQ+ History Walking Tour. Along the way, snap a photo of one of the city's LGBTQ+ murals, including Mural Arts Philadelphia's Pride and Progress by Ann Northrup, located at 1315 Spruce Street. LGBTQ+ Businesses When visiting the Gayborhood, make dinner reservations at one of the eateries operated by restaurateurs Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran. The married duo is the heart and soul behind restaurants like Barbuzzo, a Mediterranean spot offering wood-fired pizza and house-made pasta. Philadelphia is also home to many other LGBTQ+-owned restaurants such as Mission Taqueria with a Mexican-inspired menu and the neighbouring Oyster House serving some of the best seafood in Philadelphia. Indulge your sweet tooth with a pastry from Cake Life Bake Shop, a trans-owned bakery in the heart of Fishtown or grab a coffee from One Shot Cafe, known for serving artfully crafted caffeinated drinks in Northern Liberties. Philadelphia also boasts an impressive array of LGBTQ+-owned storefronts, boutiques, and other businesses. Along 13th Street in the Gayborhood, shop for quirky Philadelphia-themed gifts at Open House or head across the street to browse home goods, apparel, and jewellery at Verde. In Northern Liberties, stop by Trunc, a gay-owned, female-owned, Black-owned, and Veteran-owned boutique and gift shop. The Gayborhood is home to numerous culturally significant sites, including Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room, the country's first LGBT-focused bookstore. Philly AIDS Thrift, which now owns Giovanni's Room, has another location that sells used clothing and home goods, with proceeds benefiting local HIV/AIDS organizations. Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ History Before the historic Stonewall Riots energized the modern gay rights movement worldwide, a significant event unfolded in Philadelphia. On July 4, 1965, a group of protesters initiated a pride march in front of Independence Hall. This demonstration was the beginning of a series of protests known as the 'Annual Reminders," which raised awareness that the LGBTQ+ community still did not have basic civil rights. This is often considered the flashpoint of the modern gay civil rights movement. Today, this early display of LGBTQ+ activism is commemorated with a historical marker at the corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets. Other LGBTQ+ historical markers can be found in the city. There is one for Alain Locke, known as the 'Father of the Harlem Renaissance" for promoting African American artists, writers, and musicians. Another one is for Gloria Casarez, Latina lesbian civil rights leader and Philadelphia's first director of LGBT Affairs. And one for Philadelphia Gay News (PGN), one of the most awarded weekly newspapers in the U.S. Learn more about Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community and its history at the William Way LGBT Community Center, which was created to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Today, they offer literary programs, art exhibitions, and over 14,000 books in the centre's library. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 22, 2025, 15:05 IST
Axios
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
New art exhibit at LOVE Park highlights Philly's immigrants
A new art exhibit celebrating immigrants' contributions to Philadelphia is opening at LOVE Park this week. Driving the news: "The Philadelphians," a 360-degree projection including images of the city's past and present immigrant communities, launches Wednesday at the Welcome Center in the park and will remain on display through June 8. The piece was created by the artist duo Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib. Zoom in: Organizers from the Forman Arts Initiative and Mural Arts Philadelphia will also host programs, workshops and panel discussions as part of the exhibit. What they're saying:"Immigrant stories and family history are a part of all our narratives," the artists said in a statement. "They reflect who Philadelphians are today, how we continuously work in communities, civic life, and government to make our city better, and how our roots connect us to the rest of the world." The big picture: Sanctuary cities like Philadelphia face increasing pressure from the Trump administration, which is compiling a list of cities that do not comply with the president's immigration agenda. If you go: The launch ceremony starts at 7pm Wednesday.
CBS News
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
New mural in Philadelphia celebrates Norris Square's Caribbean history
At the corner of Front and Susquehanna, a vibrant new mural project aims to honor the cultural significance of Philly's Norris Square. The mural entitled Nunca Olvides de Dónde Vienes (Never Forget Where You Come From) is part of a CAICU — a public art series through Mural Arts Philadelphia that highlights the Puerto-Rican themed gardens of Norris Square that were born out of the work of community organizers in the 1980s. Unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and block party on Saturday, the mural was a project between CAICU curator Marangeli Mejia-Rabell, Puerto Rico-based artist Celso Gonzalez and muralist Angurria. "What you see is a beautiful celebration of Caribbean life and unity, celebrating history, present and the potential of the future," Mejia-Rabell said. Five artists, including three local artists who had temporary murals, were part of the work. Mejia-Rabell said it was all a result of meaningful dialogue with the community. The mural dedication was followed by a block party with food and music and performances by dance troupe Grupo Alegria. For Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, Saturday's ribbon cutting was a way to celebrate the neighborhood's roots as well as her own. "The mural speaks to the history and culture of the community — the Norris Square community — on a block that I grew up at. My uncle raised all of his family on this block. So the fact that this is here and I am able to join in — to me — is an amazing day." Student tour guides of Norris Square launched by Mural Arts are set to continue throughout the year. "I want to welcome all of the community of Norris Square to our piece that we just finished," said artist Celso Gonzalez. "We are very excited to be sharing with all of the community our work that reflects the nostalgic look back at our community in the Caribbean." To learn more about the tours, visit Mural Arts Philadelphia .
USA Today
27-03-2025
- General
- USA Today
Painting the town: Meet the women behind Philadelphia's famous street art
Painting the town: Meet the women behind Philadelphia's famous street art Over its 41 years, Mural Arts Philadelphia has created more than 4,000 works. Many of the pieces are produced by women, pioneers in an often male-dominated domain. Show Caption Hide Caption Mural Arts Philadelphia's Jane Golden speaks on women muralists Hear from Mural Arts Philadelphia Executive Director Jane Golden as she speaks on the importance and contribution of women muralists to Mural Arts. PHILADELPHIA − The City of Brotherly Love has world-renowned museums showcasing some of the greatest artists in history. The Philadelphia Museum of Art has works by Duchamp, O'Keeffe, Wyeth, Cezanne and others. The Barnes Foundation's collections include paintings by Renoir, Picasso and Van Gogh. And the Rodin Museum has the largest collection of works by the French sculptor outside Paris. But some of the most eye-catching art in Philadelphia isn't hanging on museum walls. It's looming over parking lots, alleyways and side streets and decorating the exteriors of warehouses, soup kitchens, community centers, bodegas and rowhouses. And the city's dazzling street art inspires for another reason: Much is created by women, national pioneers in what is often thought of as a male-dominated domain. Murals "can be very physical on the one hand, but on the other, you have to really have that humility, that vulnerability to put yourself out there," says Jane Golden, executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia, who's been leading the nonprofit since 1984, when it was the Anti-Graffiti Network. Women bring that humility and vulnerability − but also an inner strength and power to the work, she said. As Women's History Month draws to a close, here are some of the women who helped make Mural Arts Philadelphia a national model for public art programs, one that recently won the top spot in USA TODAY'S 10 Best Cities for Street Art. Jane Golden: The leader who took a chance on an anti-graffiti initiative Golden wanted to move back east in 1984 after attending Stanford University and working as an artist in Los Angeles, so she applied for a job with a newly formed anti-graffiti initiative launched by Philadelphia's first Black mayor, W. Wilson Goode. The New Jersey native had learned about more than art on the West Coast: She also learned from mentors such as artist and activist Judy Baca the value of persistence, of not taking "no" for an answer, of finding ways around roadblocks. At the top: Why Philadelphia is USA TODAY's Readers' Choice for street art Over the next 41 years, Golden has seen the small Anti-Graffiti Network evolve into Mural Arts Philadelphia, which has brought more than 4,000 works of public art to the city's neighborhoods. Initially a way to channel artists' energy into a public benefit, Mural Arts now includes more than 25,000 artists, program participants and volunteers working on as many as 100 projects a year. Mural Arts' functions are more than decorative: Its Restorative Justice (incarcerated and post-incarcerated people and crime victims) and Porch Light (homeless people, people in addiction and those facing financial insecurity and disabilities) programs help some of the city's most challenged populations, while its Mural Arts Initiative brings the Philadelphia model to other cities. Murals are designed with community input, and Golden remembered how, in the Anti-Graffiti Network's early days, women who were neighborhood block captains and community leaders were (and still are) indispensable partners, "the ones pushing the boulders up the hills." Golden is proud of the powerful presence female street artists have in the city. "We value equity and we try to be a platform for younger artists to elevate their work, especially artists who aren't classically trained or come from communities where art isn't thought of as a way to make a living," she said. "We want you to look beyond the murals, to see how it resonates deeply with the people who live here," she said. "These murals are the autobiography of Philadelphia. Every mural tells a story. Every person who works on a mural has a story." Nilé Livingston: Asking 'how can I make world a better place?' Nilé (pronounced "NI-yell") Livingston went to Philadelphia's prestigious High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, which counts among its alumni members of The Roots and "Hamilton" star Leslie Odom Jr. But she initially had a hard time finding a job in the arts. Now in her 22nd year with Mural Arts Philadelphia, Livingston said art is male-dominated because "we live in a male-dominated world, that's the default." Her family has lived in West Philadelphia for generations; her grandfather was a prominent architect and her father, a draftsman. Telling the stories of Philadelphians is important to her − all Philadelphians. She pointed to a mural she worked on in the city's Gayborhood, "Finally!" a tribute to the Black queer and transgender women who built the city's Ballroom scene. Before working on it, Livingston noted, "We hadn't seen art that shines light on that community. When we think of those icons, we think of Madonna and Beyonce, but this is more authentic and shows a community on the margins." Before embarking on a new project, Livingston said she'll spend time walking the neighborhood, talking to "the corner historians, the people who have stories you won't find in a public library or on social media because they're not documented in traditional ways. You have to spend time with them to pull out stories. It's a shoe box under their bed, or the fliers they found on a telephone pole. "With each new project, I ask, how can I make world a better place, or shine light on a community, honoring the things they do to maintain their freedom and their sense of pride?" Meg Saligman: A mom of four who scales buildings to create art Meg Saligman has been with Mural Arts going back to its time as the Anti-Graffiti Network. She remembers very well the days when murals were mostly a male art form. "When we started I was probably the one of the few lone wolves," she recalled. "When it comes to street art, we think it's only men who will scale the building and hang off them. "Well, I am a mother of four who scales the building, hangs off it and operates the boom," she said. She even remembers how, as the mother of a newborn, she pumped while on a cage 90 feet in the air while working on one of Philadelphia's most visible murals: a massive draped American flag painted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that can be seen by tens of thousands of motorists daily from I-95, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the PATCO commuter rail line. She also created one of Mural Arts' most ambitious earlier murals, 1997's "Common Threads." Women, she said, bring something different to the art world, and Golden and Mural Arts tap into that: "We intentionally build multigenerational teams and intentionally go for diversity, and that includes women. "Philadelphia is a gritty city, and it's a great city for street art for that reason, and that amps up the quality ... The same thing that makes us rowdy sports fans is what makes us rowdy street artists. When we're in, we're in." Larissa 'Reese' Juelg: Art saved her life A self-described "Army brat," Larissa Juelg, who goes by Reese as a street artist, knows firsthand how male-dominated the street art scene is. She always knew she wanted to be an artist but had no idea how. She started dating a graffiti artist and fell in love with it, but found graffiti artists, almost all men, to be chauvinistic, even misogynist. She endured years of trauma and chaos: Bouncing from home to home, living on the streets, descending into addiction, enduring assaults and abuse. Today, though, she's rebuilding her life and leading her first mural project through Mural Arts' Color Me Back program, which helps people earn same-day paychecks for work and connects them with social services and other supports. "You know how they say cats have nine lives? I think I have one left," she said. She's making the most of it now, though, living in Philadelphia's trendy Northern Liberties neighborhood and embarking on a mural at a SEPTA public transit station in the city's Northeast. Mural Arts, she said, "feels like the first family I ever knew." "It could change anyone's life. I've been doing this for a year and I love this," she said. Joining Mural Arts "is like a dream come true, like redemption. I look forward to Mondays now! How many people can say that?" She wants to use art to create opportunities and hope for other women like her: "I can offer a lot to this program because I've been through the grimmest things. I can be a light to them. Encourage women who I know might be fragile because I was, too. I think it's the reason I'm still alive." Do you want to share a slice of Americana with USA TODAY? Contact Phaedra Trethan by email at ptrethan@ on X (formerly Twitter) @wordsbyphaedra, on BlueSky @byphaedra, or on Threads @by_phaedra
