Alley Oop

Alley Oop by artist Brad Carney is located at the Cione Playground in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was painted with the assistance of Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Restorative Justice Rec Crew.

The mural’s design reflects the playfulness of basketball. Colors and textures were inspired by the surrounding area to bring a sense of light, sky, and movement across the wall. Bouncing lines interact, move between, and play along the surface to mimic the movement of playing basketball. The “Alley Oop” is when a player throws up a ball to the net, while another slams the ball into the basket. Carney felt this title fit well with how the mural interacts with the playground. While it is an abstract work of art, one neighbor remarked that the mural felt like “a roller coaster bouncing across the wall” which is a welcome reflection of the art. Carney and the Rec Crew hope that neighbors feel joy and happiness as they walk by or play near the basketball court.

Carney was honored to bring new life to the Cione Rec Center wall. A previous mural painted by Catherine Hughes had been there for a number of years and had faded over time. In keeping with an abstract feel for this place, Brad sat with the space, watching children play basketball, run around the playground, going under and around the equipment, and listening to the joys of play all around.

The yellow of the sun, the blue of the sky, the orange of the ball, the black and gray from nearby brick texture, dance with each other across a brick wall surface at the basketball court.

This project is part of the Anti-Violence Community Expansion Grant from the City of Philadelphia. Mural Arts Philadelphia has partnered with the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to create a Rec Crew of Mural Arts Guild of the Restorative Justice Program alumni who are helping to transform recreation centers in zip codes heavily impacted by violence. The Rec Crew uses paint to create a welcoming interiors for Rec Centers that have an outdated look to freshen up and modernize them. Some rec centers have had existing murals restored, and others have received new murals altogether. The Rec Crew works with the Rec Leader and surrounding community to provide a space everyone can use and enjoy.