3 Cultures, 1 Heart

3 Cultures, 1 Heart by artist Parris Stancell is located in the Fairhill neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The mural is a reenvisioning of one sponsored by Taller Puertoriqueño at the same location in 1986. The mural, like the organization, is about preserving the cultural heritage of the Puerto Rican community in Philadelphia. This reenvisioned mural replaced one of Mural Arts Philadelphia’s oldest murals in 2015. As with the previous mural, this one celebrates different aspects of Puerto Rican cultural heritage.

The figures at the bottom of the large wall are called vejigante, folkloric characters used in festivals across Puerto Rico. Boricua is the original name of the island and some still consider themselves Borician. The white cowrie shells arching at the top represent African culture. The ferns are native to Puerto Rico. The indigenous frog at the top connecting the shells is known as the coqui. Further down left is a parrot, and to the right, a spindalis, Puerto Rico’s national bird. The Statue of Liberty represents the trip to America, with the flag on the statue representing turmoil of the 1970’s when a group of Puerto Ricans fought for their independence from the U.S. On the smaller wall to the right of the main wall, the people in the boat represent the three cultures which make up the Puerto Rican culture: Spanish, African, and indigenous Indian.