Literacy Loop
This 10,000 square foot ground mural designed and produced by Philadelphia-based artists Jason Killinger and Jenna Robb is intended to support guided play, storytelling, and conversation focused on the development of the Playful Learning Schoolyard’s 6C learning goals for children — communication, collaboration, creative innovation, critical thinking, confidence building, and content.
In addition, the Literacy Loop highlights the local ecology of Northeast Philadelphia, featuring a large redbud tree, baby sparrows being fed, birds and squirrels spreading seeds, dancing bees looking for pollen, and a beehive that incorporates drawings by Farrell’s students. The mural’s “You Belong Here” map illustrates the migration route of the European bumblebee to Pennsylvania and references many of the more than 30 languages that represent Farrell’s student population.
The Literacy Loop ground mural is just one component of Farrell: A Place That’s Alive, a community gameplaying, storytelling, and design initiative that since 2019 has resulted in the overall transformation of Farrell’s schoolyard, including the introduction of greening, landscaping, new play equipment, and additional gathering spaces for the school’s students and the neighboring community’s youth.
Farrell: A Place That’s Alive participants include Mural Arts Project Managers Emma Wu and Shari Hersh; Design Strategists Gamar Markarian and Mateo Fernandez; Farrell Community Design Leaders Negma Ali and Suhad Manna; storyteller Ujjwala Maharjan; SALT Design Studio; School District of Philadelphia; and the youth, families, faculty and staff of Farrell Elementary School.
Literacy Loop artists and installation team include: Lead Artists Jason Killinger and Jenna Robb; Artist Assistants Malachi Floyd, Dan Murphy, Patric Dempsey, Jayna Kirk, Jaq Masters, Kiera Vaughn Evangelist; Interns Nina Tan, Kalindra Tran, Tajah Spencer, and Connie Pan; and Mural Arts Project Manager Sahiti Bonam.
The following poem is featured at the site and captures the spirit of this socially engaged art project:
This is a Place that is just as Alive!
By Ujjwala Maharjanand The Farrell School Community
This is a place that is just as alive,
As the people who live here a part of their lives.
This is a place that is just as alive,
As the bees who gather in their busy beehives.
Playing ball, hitting hoops, chill spots along the fence,
Jumping ropes, the ‘walk-n-talks’, and laughing hard with friends,
Parties and picnics, bike rides after school,
Singing and dancing, in the sun or rain, it’s cool.
Memories that are made here are memories for life –
This is a place that is just as alive!
Quiet time, the right time, pull out fantastic books,
Dreaming, inventing, in creative little nooks
Yellow mellow spots, no ‘Black Friday’ crowd here,
For Alone time, not lone time, for breathing in and out here.
The hearts grow, the minds grow, the souls simply thrive –
This is a place that is just as alive!
The green grass, the cool shade, come watch the flowers grow,
Just remember to keep ‘em away from the Trash-tornado.
Follow a bug. Be amazed. Oh, a little baby bird!
Surprises float like dandelions and butterflies in the air.
Imagination runs wild, the magic here inspires –
This is a place that is just as alive!
It’s Everybody’s playground, families’ and kids’,
Languages from around the world come together here and mix,
All abilities are welcome, and welcome new friends,
To our garden of stories, to our collective lives –
Like of bees who gather in their beautiful beehive,
This is a place that is just as alive!
Location Note: This mural is located on school grounds and may not be accessible for public viewing.
