How We Fish
Expected Completion Date: October 2012
Artist: Social Impact Studios & Eric Okdeh
Location: Archworks Building, 125 North 8th Street
Work means different things to different people.
What does it mean to you?
Led by Mural Arts and sponsored by Citizens Bank, How We Fish is a city-wide project which will engage stakeholders from the public and private sectors, citizens and business leaders in a series of conversations about the value and meaning of work and the challenges this issue presents to all of us.
Our goal is to create a dramatic new work of community-based public art that brings attention to people’s concerns, struggles, dreams and aspirations. The initiative’s name reflects the proverb as well as the depth and breadth of this project: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Citizens Bank had a dream – they wanted to partner on a project with stakeholders and government leaders from across the city to put a face on a critical issue facing today’s world. They wanted to engage citizens everywhere in meaningful dialogue, and in the visioning and creation of a new city-wide mural that addresses issues of job creation and workforce development – two important components of a healthy economy. This is the story of How We Fish.
The project, which will occur over the next 12 months and potentially engage hundreds of people in a series of community forums, design sessions, charrettes and community paint days that will take us to the completion of the project in 2012. Professionally facilitated by the Penn Project for Civic Engagement, the forums will create an opportunity for Philadelphia residents to share their stories and perspectives with each other, with local leaders and providers, and with the team of artists. All of this critical information will help inform the design of this major center city mural with the idea that art that is done well, art that is relevant, dynamic and moving, can bring important and significant attention to workforce development.
Through an intensive process that began in June, a team of artists consisting of Social Impact Studios and Eric Okdeh were selected to lead the artistic vision of this project. Social Impact Studios (formerly known as Design for Social Impact) has combined artistry and activism to call attention to important issues since 1996. Eric Okdeh is a seasoned Philadelphia-based muralist and arts instructor who has been working closely with Mural Arts since 1998.
Connecting people to meaningful vocations is a cause near and dear to Mural Arts. In our Restorative Justice and Art Education programs, we focus on developing skills in vulnerable populations, increasing their employability and helping people map out career paths. At a press conference announcing the project, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter acknowledged our efforts in this area, thanking Mural Arts for being “so instrumental in promoting and hosting workforce development initiatives for young people, ex-offenders, and other vulnerable populations.”
To learn more: socialimpactstudios.org | ericokdeh.com
SPONSOR:
PARTNERS: District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund, Energy Coordinating
Agency, Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Free Library of
Philadelphia, JEVS, Metropolitan Career Center, Peoples Emergency
Center, Philadelphia Academies, Philadelphia Chinatown Development
Corporation, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia,
U.S. Department of Labor Office of Public Affairs, United Way of
Southeastern Pennsylvania, Welcoming Center
PUBLIC EVENTS: Keep an eye out for citywide meetings in the fall!
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Click thumbnails to view the images for this project
