Art House

Art House was a temporary installation that included two mixed-media animations, a sound mural, an installation of youth stories cast into a paper dining room, and a room with housing information and resources. Creators of the components of this site-specific installation included: Damon Reaves and Shira Walinsky, mixed-media animation; Elisabeth Perez-Luna, WHYY sound mural; Ernel Martinez, paper dining room installation.

While housing is globally recognized as a human right, for many Philadelphia residents it remains a dream. A Place to Call Home sheds a light on the unique housing challenges facing urban children and youth while embarking on a significant effort to equip them with the skills and resources necessary to ensure they remain healthy and housed.

Inspired by voices of unhoused youth, the projects within this series included a mixed-media animation created with artist Damon Reaves, a mural and installation of youth stories cast into a paper dining room by muralist Ernel Martinez, a series of site-specific small murals designed by Shira Walinsky (produced in collaboration with her University of Pennsylvania class called Big Picture: Mural Art), and the painting of over 30 facades of homes on the 3800 block of Melon Street, led by muralist Ernel Martinez, all designed to bring the project to the art house where the installation was sited, 3828 Melon Street.

Location Note: Work no longer on view at this location.