Cruz Bay [Courtyard]

Cruz Bay by artist Diane Pieri was painted on three courtyard walls of the the Cruz Recreation Center located in the Ludlow neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These painted walls presented a view of a small village or neighborhood nestled in fanciful hills filled with flowers and flowering trees. Nine suns were painted in the mural to encourage youth to use their imagination to be creative. The small painted seas were inhabited by tropical fish and birds that live in and around the waters of Puerto Rico and the surrounding Caribbean. The idea of radiance was important to Pieri who wanted to give the neighborhood a gift of color through the mural. Situated across the street from Ludlow Middle School this mural took on a more inspirational role for the students who could see it outside of their classroom windows.

The mural was restored and expanded to two additional walls in 2011. It was painted out in 2020 and the location now houses new murals.

Location Note: Mural no longer on view at this location (painted out in 2020).