The Bryant Eagles Playground of Hope
This project provided ample opportunity for this eam of artists to work together to create a truly amazing visual transformation. The William Cullen Bryant School, located at 60th and Cedar Streets in West Philadelphia, is one of the oldest school buildings in the district, dating back to the early 1900’s. Over the years it had seen the addition of a new wing that provided a cafetorium and library (the architecture of which is rather quirky and clashes visually with the older parts of the building). It has also seen countless hits of graffiti tags that had been painted over multiple times, making the exterior of the building a patchwork of mismatching reddish-brown anti-graffiti paint. There was also a very large school yard with no playground equipment. But this project transformed this space into a colorful mural-filled learning environment with a large play structure, a 50’ x 50’ field of padded astroturf, and a quiet, shaded patio with benches and tables (with built-in chessboards).
Birds abound in these murals, echoing the theme of “hope” as well as of of learning – of ideas taking flight in the imaginations of young people. But the numerous birds from various countries and cultures are also meant to foster an acceptance of diversity (of ideas, beliefs, or ethnicities) that is crucial in any good education. Specifically, the diverse cultural birds throughout the murals were meant to symbolize the following array of ideas:
-white dove – universal sign of peace
-owl – universal sign of wisdom
-seagull – symbol of carefree playfulness (because of its presence on beaches)
-bluejay – local bird that can symbolize safety – it protects all in its environment by warning of dangers
-cardinal – beautiful color can symbolize love, also often associated with the peace of the winter holidays
-pelican – a symbol of ultimate love and sacrifice – mother pelicans will pierce their breasts and feed their children their own blood in times of crisis
-peacock (India) – symbol of beauty
-red crowned crane (Japan) – symbol of luck and happiness
-feng huang (Chinese phoenix), Bennu (Egypt), and native -American thunderbird – all are similar symbols of peace and eternity, with the bird rising up again from its own ashes after it dies in flames
-African Senufo bird (hornbill) sculpture and African hornbill – symbols of family unity, the male hornbills help to feed their young
-African sankofa – a bird with its head turned looking backward with a jewel in its beak – symbol of learning from the past
-African Kamerun mask – symbol of how humans aspire to fly and soar to reach their highest hopes.
The abundance of textile patterns from various cultures in the background of these murals were also meant to reinforce the diversity subtheme that the multi-cultural birds represent. Flowers and leaves are also included as background elements throughout the murals, to represent the beauty of the natural world around us and the importance of preserving it. It also can represent the notion of a school as a garden where ideas are cultivated and bloom in young minds. A large sun with a lightbulb in the center of one mural reiterates the notion of free flowing of ideas. There are images of children at play spread throughout the mural, with simplified faces, meant to represent children of all genders and races., suggesting the rising joy that accompanies hope.
The overarching element present throughout all the murals are the many Bryant school students’ drawings based on the themes of joy, safety and hope that were done in workshops at the beginning of the project.
Since 1999, the Philadelphia Eagles (as the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership from 1999-2015) has funded an annual Playground Build that includes the entire Philadelphia Eagles organization, including players, coaches, and staff members, with a Philadelphia school community to transform asphalt school yards into beautiful, imaginative and safe spaces for play and recreation. Mural Arts Philadelphia joined this partnership between the Eagles and the School District of Philadelphia in 2002. Mural Arts leads the development and production of the murals and mosaic tables that are part of these projects. Once a school is selected, Mural Arts leads an introductory pep rally at the school, as well as drawing workshops and after-school art programs with students to involve the school community in developing a theme for the project. Murals are then designed around the theme, often incorporating student drawings and artwork. The projects also include installations of play structures and a mini Eagles turf field in addition to the colorful murals and mosaic tables.
Location Note: Some of the murals are located in the interior of the school and may not be accessible to the public.