Five Murals in Your Neighborhood: Germantown

No matter what neighborhood you call home, there’s a mural that you walk by every day. Whether it’s the highlight of your morning commute or a familiar backdrop, public art is part of community identity, and we’re celebrating by calling out five murals in every Philly neighborhood. In the second installment of this series, we’ve got all our Germantown friends covered. Stay tuned for your neighborhood!

Growing Up in Germantown by Ann Northrup

On the back of Mount Tabor Church, Growing Up in Germantown uses a traditional triptych (three-part) style with a stained glass effect at the top, representing this family-friendly neighborhood. The project was created with artists from the Center in the Park, Germantown High School, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, and Philadelphia Youth Corps.

Sunshine Surrounds Us by Willis “Nomo” Humphrey

Sunshine Surrounds Us is located at Happy Hollow Recreation Center (Philly’s oldest!) where several prominent athletes and coaches got their start. The mural reflects the rec center’s warm history along with its bright future, depicting images from past and present, all surrounded by the colors of the sun’s rays.

Voa Nu, Pwisans Nu (Our Voice, Our Strength) by Felix St. Fort, Ernel Martinez, and Parris Stancell

After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, 18 survivors relocated to temporary housing in Germantown. A year later, we worked with the survivors and the larger Haitian community in the neighborhood to create a mural that initiated a healing conversation.

History, Commerce, Community: A Short Retrospective on Germantown by Jared Bader

History, Commerce, Community was a truly collaborative community effort. This project was spearheaded by a volunteer committee of Germantown leaders and stakeholders, steering democratic decision-making and creating joint ownership of public space in this diverse neighborhood.

The Women of Germantown by David McShane and Carla Forte

The Women of Germantown on the historic YWCA building celebrates three influential women born in the neighborhood: Louisa May Alcott, a writer known for the novel Little Women; Clarice Herbert, the first African American woman on the YWCA’s central board of directors; and Sarah McClean, whose patronage built the Germantown Y in 1912.