Melting Pot at Capitolo Playground

Melting Pot at Capitolo Playground was created by artists Jonathan Laidacker and David Woods. They describe the work in their Artist’s Statement:

The goal of the project was to visually portray the diversity of folks living in the surrounding neighborhood. By spending twenty minutes in the playground at Capitolo Recreation Center, the artists were struck by the many different cultures and ethnicities that gather at this site in South Philly.

The design was built around the idea of dedicating pieces of it to different regions of the world being represented by the surrounding population. This was accomplished by creating murals of continental maps within the overall mural. The inclusion of the map of North America, and the US specifically, is meant to represent the idea that this country was built on immigration from all the other regions represented.

Interacting with and walking in front of the maps are life-sized trompe l’oeil figures, all of which are based on actual members of the neighborhood. Adorning some of the architectural elements of the design are David Woods’ methodical and intricate glass and ceramic mosaic work.

Many times, while the artists were working, folks would bring their kids, grandkids, parents, or grandparents up to the wall, and say, “Look, that’s me!” or “I worked on that piece during the paint day.”