About the Project 

Getting to Green: Routes to Roots is a multi-disciplinary public art project in Philadelphia that encourages residents to explore the city’s green spaces through public transit, promoting the discovery and rediscovery of these areas along how to access them. The artist team of Shira Walinsky and Laura Deutch is guiding this initiative, creatively forging connections between urban dwellers and the city’s natural gems. Walinsky’s unique visual artworks are used to inspire and activate riders, including a captivating bus wrap, eye-catching posters in bus shelters, and hand-drawn printed maps. Two chartered bus rides and four smaller trips constituted adventures on the 38, 64, 7, and 9 bus routes. Deutch’s video profiles document the experiences of diverse riders along the routes in tandem with Walinsky’s visuals as a backdrop to these compelling narratives.

Getting to Green stands as a testament to the seamless integration of art, transit, and nature, inviting residents to embark on a transformative journey by leaving their cars at home in lieu of taking “routes to roots” to Philadelphia’s vibrant green spaces.