Flight Dedication: Part 2

Mural Arts Philadelphia has created a new series of murals titled, Flight, that imagine what it would be like for Black people to fly, imagining freedom, liberation, and transformation. Created by artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, the project features realistic paintings of Black people floating in the air and range from life-sized to gigantic. Each portrait is paired with a short text that poetically describes flying. Mural Arts has partnered with the Philly Student Union and Spak Group to create one of these murals on their building at 501 S 52nd Street. The mural features an educator from the Philly Student Union, floating above the streetscape. In the fall of 2022, Fazlalizadeh met with students and educators from Philly Student Union to discuss the power of flying and what that would mean for them as young Philadelphians. Different from other conversations the artist has conducted, students in this session highlighted that they would want to take their community with them, and not leave anyone behind. With this in mind, the portrait is paired with an original poem by Fazlalizadeh that reads, “As I use my power to travel the skies, I’ll always remember to come back to you.” In this way, the project celebrates individual and collective power, and our accountability to each other. The mural will be celebrated on Saturday May 13th as part of Love Your Park, in partnership with the Friends of Malcolm X Park and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.