Stories from the Square

Stories of the Square by artist Henry Bermudez is located in the Norris Square neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The symbolism in the mural is thought-provoking and full of hope and emotions of people who created it. The youth and senior citizens of the community unite around a tree in their park. The larger birds in the tree represent the older members of the community, while the small birds symbolize the children; both generations listening to the other and learning from each other. The bottom of the mural includes various pieces of artwork created throughout the workshop sessions. Each piece represents a view of the participant who created it of something positive and something challenging in their neighborhood. Additionally, skulls are painted at the roots of the trees; an idea developed by a participating teenager who shared that the community should not ignore the ugliness in the community, but try to overcome it. The colors intensify in the upper-half of the mural, where a colorful sunset is emphasized. This is the contribution of a youth who shared that it is one of the beautiful things she can count on seeing everyday in her neighborhood.