Hank Gathers: The Legacy Continues

Located at the Hank Gathers Recreation Center in North Philadelphia, Hank Gathers: The Legacy Continues is a mural designed by Ernel Marinez and executed by Mtukufu Mtumaini-El and several participants in Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Restorative Justice Rec Crew. This new mural replaces the mural of Hank Gathers that Martinez painted in the same location in 2005. Resembling a collector’s card from the 1980s, the mural features a waist-up portrait of Gathers in his Loyola Marymount Lions uniform, along with an image of him passing the ball under his leg, a move for which he was well known. Sadly, Hank Gathers died way too early and never got a chance to play in the NBA, but if he did, this mural is emblematic of the basketball card everyone would have wanted to collect.

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 The Rec Crew uses paint to create a welcoming interiors for Rec Centers that have an outdated look to freshen up and modernize them.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.