The Abundant City

The mural shows the intersection of local community strength and a forward-thinking focus on the importance of the land. City blocks shown in prismatic shades of blues and greens create a birds-eye view from the Schuylkill to the Delaware. The abstracted grid shows a slice of the city with the color interest concentrated on the Brewerytown/Sharswood section. Topographical map lines highlight the actual lay of the land, as well as fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants that are grown locally.

This macro view of the human-created city pattern is paired with the micro view of a beehive pattern. In recent years, both native and introduced honeybees are on the decline. At least one third of what Americans eat depend upon pollinators for production. There is an active beehive at Marathon farm as well as an educational program about agriculture and nutrition. Relating the human community to that of bees is a way to raise awareness and make connections between people and systems in nature.