Seeds of Sharswood

Seeds of Sharswood is a sunny and vibrant mural that is a tribute to the ethos of Sanctuary Farm and the people who were integral to the organization’s founding as an urban farm that provides organic, fresh produce and promotes health and well-being in the community. With funding support from Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE), Mural Arts was able to do a range of work for Sanctuary Farm starting with repairing their exterior building wall.

In August 2024 an advisory committee of Sanctuary Farm stakeholders was formed to engage in artist selection, community input, and design development. Cindy Lozito was selected as the design artist and she began community engagement and design development immediately after. For Sanctuary Farm’s Fall Festival in October, Lozito led a painting activity and shared a design draft of the mural to get feedback from community members. The festival was well attended, with lots of laughter and engagement.
In January 2025, muralist De’von Downes was brought in as the lead muralist for this project to oversee the production and installation of the mural. They began the work by painting the ghost print polytabs in their studio, with assistance from Isabella Akhtarshenas and Brittany Baum. Lozito was available to consult on the mural project, creating a lovely team of artists for this mural.

On March 1, 2025, Sanctuary Farm hosted the Community Paint Day. At least 50 participants contributed by painting on some of the polytab sheets, with special requests of painting Jake the dog and Ms. Ruby Brown-Glover, the mother of Ms. Lashield Myer who was a part of the advisory committee.
By mid-April, the artist team began mural installation on site at Sanctuary Farm. Despite certain complications such as technical issues with the lift, the artist team successfully installed the mural with on the ground support from Sanctuary Farm staff and volunteers.

The Seeds of Sharswood mural was dedicated on the hot morning of June 25, 2025. It was a heartwarming event attended by neighbors, supporters, and the community of Sanctuary Farm. Attendees were greeted with live music by Al Zamora. The speakers included Mural Arts Executive Director Jane Golden, District Councilperson Jeffery Young Jr, Sanctuary Farm Executive Director Andrea Vettori, Cindy Lozito, De’von Downes, and the daughters of the honored portraits of the mural.