History In Motion

History in Motion by artist Eric Okdeh is located at the Philadelphia District Health Center, on the border of the Ludlow and Northern Liberties neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This series of five mosaic panels was created by Mural Corp students led by Okdeh as the teaching artist. The design illustrates the myriad cultural, industrial, and recreational highlights that have populated Girard Avenue throughout the years. The panels juxtapose historical reference points such as jazz great John Coltrane, references to Philadelphia’s brewery history, and animals from the Philadelphia Zoo (the nation’s first) against backdrops of cityscapes punctuated by the faces of local residents. These scenes are connected by the implied motion of the historic Girard Avenue trolley and the Market-Frankford elevated train.

Okdeh describes the project: “The historic, contemporary, and future cultural identity of Girard Avenue is at the heart of the History in Motion project. Our intent is to create a visual link between a rich past, exciting present, and boundless future of the area. A visual link is also intended on a more formal level, connecting neighborhood spaces with a pacing that can engage both the pedestrians walking those traveling by car and trolley. Essentially, a new landmark is created at which one is engaged with meaningful content while having an exciting and visceral aesthetic experience.”