At the Crossroads

At the Crossroads by artist Ernel Martinez is located in the Upper Holmesburg neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The name of the mural plays at a popular idiom (a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words) meaning to be at an important junction in one’s life. The importance of a crossroads as a transitionary point goes all the way back to the ancient Greeks and Romans who held rituals at crossroads which were believed to have spiritual meaning. This mural is located on a prison and marks a transitionary location for both those who have been convicted of crimes and those who have served their sentences, and are to be released. This mural represents idea that those who go to prison are met with a choice, a crossroads in their lives and must make a decision on how to move forward, hopefully towards a just and good life depicted through the balanced scales of justice in the middle of the mural.

Location Note: Mural located on the exterior of the Prison Administration Building and may not be accessible for public viewing.