Sep 1, 2023

Murals on the Move Van Refresh!

by: Jenny Donnelly Johnson

Celebrating National Arts in Education Month 

Murals on the Move is a converted Parks & Recreation van with a colorful and graphic exterior. Inside, the van is outfitted with supplies for a range of art-making activities. Led by trained Mural Arts Teaching Artists Paige Colditz and Santi Castro, the van operates Monday through Thursday during three two-month semesters (summer, fall, and spring). Each recreation center will receive three visits. Over the course of three semesters, each of the 30 participating recreation centers will receive three visits. Each visit will serve 15-30 students. We also provide an intensive summer session at 22 locations throughout the city, reaching over 600 students.  

We are thrilled to share an exciting new mural wrap for this crucial vehicle that brings art education to students throughout the city. Artist Carolina Gomez worked with Paige, Santi, and their students to reimagine the van wrap with a brand-new look. Carolina is a graphic designer and illustrator with a bachelor of fine arts degree in Graphic Design from Temple/Tyler School of Art. She has worked as an assistant muralist and an assistant teaching artist with Mural Arts Philadelphia. She lives in Philadelphia, PA.

The Murals on the Move program seeks to deepen connections between young people and their communities/rec centers, foster positive relationships among youth and between youth and adults, and instill pride among young people who see their work displayed in public, provide basic art-making skills, and inspire students to pursue more in-depth art education.

Summer Recreation Center and Playground Sites include: Fisher Park, Simons, Feltonville, Eastwick Regional, C.B. Moore, East Passyunk, 12th & Cambria, Picariello, Amos, Samuel, Torresdale Playground, American Legion, Michael Palmer, Waterloo, Sturgis, Capitolo, 8th & Diamond, Hawthorne Cultural Center, Waterview, Marian Anderson, Piccoli, and Markward.

The program is funded by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation. 

Murals on the Move in Action! 

  • Barnes on the Block, July 14, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Barnes on the Block, July 14, 2019. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Murals on the Move press conference at Mander Playground, November 18, 2019. Photo by Edwin E. Luks.

  • Murals on the Move press conference at Mander Playground, November 18, 2019. Photo by Edwin E. Luks.

  • Murals on the Move at Playstreets, 2700 North Judson Street, August 18, 2020. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Murals on the Move at Playstreets, 2700 North Judson Street, August 18, 2020. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Murals on the Move at Playstreets, 2700 North Judson Street, August 18, 2020. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Murals on the Move at Playstreets, 2700 North Judson Street, August 18, 2020. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Murals on the Move at Playstreets, 2700 North Judson Street, August 18, 2020. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Murals on the Move at Playstreets, 2700 North Judson Street, August 18, 2020. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Murals on the Move at Playstreets, 2700 North Judson Street, August 18, 2020. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Murals on the Move at Playstreets, 2700 North Judson Street, August 18, 2020. Photo by Steve Weinik.

Last updated: Sep 1, 2023

Art Education

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