Feb 22
Nine Murals Remembering African American Heroes
by: Laura Kochman
by: Laura Kochman
Remembering a Forgotten Hero, mural design (not final) by Willis "Nomo" Humphrey and Keir Johnston.
On Octavius Catto’s 179th birthday, we’re over at Universal Institute Charter School celebrating with the unveiling of a new mural design. Our strength is public art, not birthday cakes, so we asked artists Willis Humphrey and Keir Johnston to design a mural that would honor this important early civil rights activist, who has long gone unsung in the public eye.
Since his assassination, Catto has been remembered and celebrated within Philadelphia’s African American communities, and we wanted to bring his memory to a wide audience—making sure that our city’s youth learn about the man who helped desegregate streetcars and fought for voting rights. Catto is one among many figures of Black history that we’ve depicted over the years—local and national, long-gone, recently passed, or still with us today—so we thought we’d invite a few more people to this birthday celebration.
Jackie Robinson by David McShane. James Burns' North Philadelphia Beacon Project is visible in the background. Photo by Steve Weinik.
Holding Grandmother's Quilt (West Wall) by Don Gensler. Photo by Jack Ramsdale.
Tuskegee Airmen: They Met the Challenge by Marcus Akinlana. Photo by Jack Ramsdale.
Legendary by Amber Art & Design featuring Tatyana Fazlalizadeh. Photo by Steve Weinik.
Tribute to Herman Wrice by David McShane. Photo by Steve Weinik.
Staircases and Mountaintops: Ascending Beyond the Dream section by Willis Nomo Humphrey. Photo by Steve Weinik.
ASpire: No Limits by Ernel Martinez. Photo by Steve Weinik.
The Legacy of Bishop Richard Allen and the A.M.E. Church by Willis Humphrey. Photo by Steve Weinik.
Why We Love Coltrane by Ernel Martinez. Photo by Steve Weinik.
Last updated: Feb 23, 2018
I have never seen anything more beautiful than these pieces or better say masterpieces. The color combinations, the compositions, textures, layers, finishing and more over, the Detailing of these murals are simply Outstanding. It's beyond my imagination the way artists have handled such a large scale of the artworks. My salute the the artists, the organiser, the supporters and everyone who has a part in it. God bless!!
Regards
S. Dasgupta
dasguptarts.com
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