A Family Garden

A Family Garden was located in the Mantua neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Led by artists Donald Gensler and Jane Golden, it was created as a collaboration between Mural Arts Philadelphia, students from the University of Pennsylvania and the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI) through community partner Pennsylvania Horticultural Society/Philadelphia Green.

The theme of “A Family Garden” came out of a series of discussions with the home owner and members of the Mantua community. Eventually, discussions centered on the family’s 19-year history of community gardening – the idea of giving, receiving and abundance, intergenerational exchange and the tradition of farming brought from the South. People can help one another through what they’re able to grow or do or teach. The mural is dedicated to the memory of longtime neighborhood resident and gardener, Tina Baldwin.

The mural was painted in collaboration with students from the University of Pennsylvania, Changing Tracks, and the Belmont Charter School. The elementary school students had the opportunity to beautify their neighborhood and interact with college students through mural-painting.

The neighborhood response to the mural was very positive. Young people commented that they bike blocks out of their way to see it. Neighbors enjoyed painting, music and food during the Community Day on October 30, 2004. Participants created mosaic stepping-stones that were placed across the lot and garden.

Location Note: Mural no longer on view at this location (lost to demolition ca. 2020).