El Corazon Culture Del Barrio © 2004 City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program / Danny Polanco, Joe Brenman, Roldan West, 500 West Huntingdon Street. Photo by Steve Weinik.
We’re joining the celebration for Philly Free Streets 2017! This people-powered initiative temporarily closes a designated street route to cars, so that people can walk, bike, and play (and paint!). This year’s car-free route connects the Historic District and El Centro de Oro in Fairhill, with Mural Arts activations along the way.
Four of our staff artists—Nathaniel Lee, David McShane, Willis Humphrey, and James Burns—have been at work on ground murals and parklets along Saturday’s route. Relax in the parklet in front of HACE on North 5th Street, or play outdoor games with our Art Ed department and Parks & Rec in front of our mural at Al Aqsa. Artist Stephanie Acevedo will lead a community paint day at 5th and Somerset, where you can take part in a new mural-in-progress for El Bohio restaurant.
We’ll also have four docents on duty all day at four murals along the route: Liberty Lands Cinema Verde, Windows of Peace/Doorways of Peace, Camilla’s Dream, and El Corazon Culture Del Barrio. In partnership with Niantic, these murals will also be Poké Stops!
Activity Locations
5th Street and Germantown Avenue – Mural Plaza with Chalking (James Burns)
5th Street and Berks Street – Bienvenidos Ground Mural (Willis Humphrey)
Germantown Avenue and Jefferson Street – Mural Plaza with Chalking (David McShane)
2708 North 5th Street – HACE Parklet (Nathaniel Lee)
1501 North Germantown Avenue – Art Ed @ Al Aqsa
5th Street and Somerset Street – El Bohio Mural Paint Day
Mural Locations
912 North 3rd Street – Liberty Lands Cinema Verde
1501 North Germantown Avenue – Windows of Peace/Doorways of Peace
445 West Norris Street – Camilla’s Dream
500 West Huntingdon Street – El Corazon Culture Del Barrio
Check out PhillyFreeStreets.com for full programming information and Saturday’s route map.