The Heart of Baltimore Avenue (Mural) / Sights and Sounds (Audio Soundscape)

The Heart of Baltimore Avenue by artist David Guinn is located in the Cedar Park Neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Painted on two parallel walls, this mural creates a portrait of the surrounding neighborhood with astounding detail. It includes individuals like Benny the barber who owns the building the west facing mural is painted on and has been in the neighborhood since 1950. At the top of the mural are other murals representing those painted over by The Heart of Baltimore Avenue. Even the painted garden can be seen by viewers in real life not far from the wall. This mural set out to depict the heart of a community and in turn painted a portion of its history for all to see.

An audio soundscape accompanied this piece. Sights and Sounds by Guinn and Aleks Martray was a looping 24-hour public sound-art piece that brings a The Heart of Baltimore Avenue to life through an innovative soundscape of local voices, music, and sounds that embody the vibrant West Philadelphia neighborhood. West Philadelphia has a rich legacy of activism, culture, and family, which has endured and evolved through the ebb and flow of urban redevelopment since its beginnings as one of the first city-suburbs. The 24 hour soundscape invites its listeners to experience a day in the life of the neighborhood, and through this, uncover the profound people, places, events, and beliefs that have shaped the course of local history and culture.
The soundscape was accessible to the public at all times as it is broadcast on a daily loop from a 2 block radius radio transmitter located at 4722 Baltimore Avenue and broadcast on 91.3FM.

Listen to the Sights and Sounds Audio Recordings