14 Movements: A Symphony in Color and Words

Running down the center of South Broad Street, along its median, Mat Tomezsko’s 14 Movements: A Symphony in Color and Words was a brightly colored, mile-long temporary mural that serves as a vibrant gateway between City Hall and South Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention in 2016. Presented by Mural Arts and the DNC Host Committee, the mural is painted on a temporary vinyl ground covering and stretches 14 blocks from City Hall to Washington Avenue.

The visual movement of 14 Movements unfolds like a classical sonata: rippling colors and forms are introduced, developed, and then revisited as onlookers make their way up or down one of the city’s busiest corridors. The work also featured words and imagery found in Philadelphia Poet Laureate Yolanda Wisher’s celebrated book of poems, Monk Eats an Afro. Tomezsko’s painterly symphony represents the desire of all people to be seen, heard, and represented, and reflects the importance of placing open discussion and the exchange of ideas at the forefront of our democratic society.

Location Note: This temporary installation is no longer on view at this location.