Open Spaces and Underground Rivers

Open Spaces and Underground Rivers by artist Paul Santoleri was located next to the playground at the Nothern Liberties Recreation Center in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The open spaces the title refers to are what drew Santoleri to the Northern Liberties neighborhood as a place to live. Open spaces also speaks to the industrial history of the neighborhood and the kind of products that were made there at one time, including things like accordion postcards, carpeting, and record albums. There were also tanneries, iron foundries, and a peanut roasting factory. Artifacts are buried in the earth, and in the history of the neighborhood.

Underground rivers refers to the tributaries of the Delaware River, on which the neighborhood was built. The painted dove is reflective of a bird building its nest in the community and the double meaning of peace in turbulent times. Santoleri considers this mural to be a companion piece to Through the Cracks in the Pavement nearby at 717 North 5th Street, in that it includes images of healing herbs.

Location Note: Mural no longer on view at this location (painted out in 2022).