The Heart of Kensington

The Heart of Kensington by artist Ann Northrup is in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This mural depicts a street festival which takes place each year under the elevated railroad, at a spot widely known as K & A. At the top of the picture, the railroad goes off into the distance, and as it comes to a point in perspective, it looks like the indent at the top of a heart. As the el comes forward, the railroad’s supporting arches form rounded shapes on either side. This was the inspiration for a large graphic heart that overlays and unites the complex festival scene. Symbolically, it represents the human feeling that supports this gritty and troubled neighborhood.

The purpose of The Heart of Kensington mural is to make visible the spirit and pluck of the people who live there, and to highlight the fun and color of this multi-cultural neighborhood. Though the crime in this area of the city cannot be denied, there is also strong and stable support for all that is good: active businesses, decent families, and pleasant neighborhood blocks, a re-furbished ice skating rink, the McPherson Square Library (a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia), an ambitious summer camp for children with art and film programs, karaoke nights, plant sales, and more. But the true heart of Kensington is the people: the families, the children, and the workers who are striving every day to make it the safe, beautiful, and nurturing environment everyone wants for their families.