Our Neighborhood: Unity, Growth, Abundance, Love

The result of numerous community meetings in North Philadelphia neighborhoods over 2019-2020, The Viaduct was a monumental effort and collaboration between artists and community leaders to turn three heavily-traveled underpasses into safe and vibrant spaces for all. The designs are reflective of the strength and resilience of surrounding neighborhoods and pay homage to the complexity, history and beauty of the community, portrayed in bright, abundant colors to demonstrate the power of accomplishing together what we cannot do alone.

Community Engagement

As part of the design development process artists were asked to host a series of community events in the neighborhood near their assigned underpass mural. These events started in January 2019 and ran through early spring 2020. They ranged from painting large sunflowers and making mosaic pots, to community dinners and a dress-up photoshoot. Events helped artists further engage with the community, collect input, images and stories to help evolve their designs. Photographers Shawn Theodore and John Noble captured the community spirit of these events.

Susquehanna Underpass

Our Neighborhood: Growth, Unity, Abundance, and Love by Priscilla Bell and Anthony Torcasio is focused on community, abundance and growth aimed to portray the pivotal strengths that exist with the community. The design incorporates elements that are specific to the neighborhood, such as specific row homes and sunflowers that grow at a neighboring community garden in the summer. The fractured lines in the background illustrate the interconnect-ness of all the living beings represented in the mural, from the pollinators, to foliage and people.