Wister Eagles Dream Yard Murals and Mosaics

Wister Eagles Dream Yard is a series of outdoor and indoor murals and mosaic benches & tables. Exterior murals cover 12,000 sq. ft., spanning most of the building. The design incorporates student drawings and ideas. A “dream machine” made of flower-like and trumpet machine-like gears has color pouring out of each end creating waves that travel in both directions around the building sections. Along the waves there are many features, including a compass, machine gears and a CFL light bulb (to think green for preservation). Textile patterns represent worldwide cultures: Japanese water Korean blessing symbol, yin/yang symbol, Indian flower, Islamic patterns, African kente cloth & sankofa bird, European Celtic knots, North American Aztec sun & Gees Bend quilts, Native American thunderbird, Canadian maple leaves, South American Peruvian patterns, and Antarctica snowflakes. Elements of nature are also portrayed, such as rockets, planes, fish, butterflies, and bees. Learning features include alphabet letters, numerals, math symbols, molecules, and a tree of learning. A white dotted line runs throughout all walls to keep the eye moving and connect elements.
An interior mural in the hallway features sunflowers, bees and cultural symbols; in the cafeteria, fruits and vegetables are featured. A mural featuring famous musicians in located in the auditorium, and one depicting exercise and sports equipment is located in the gymnasium.

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: Interior murals are located inside a school building and therefore are not available for public viewing.