Community Paint Day: Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy

Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy, together with ArtWell and the Mural Arts Program, invites volunteers from across the region to share in a day of painting and reflection on January 9 and January 30. The pieces created will be part of a new public mural adorning Al-Aqsa Islamic Society.

The partnership between ArtWell, Mural Arts Philadelphia and Al-Aqsa began over a decade ago, when ArtWell and Mural Arts initiated a powerful collaboration which brought together youth and community from Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy, La Salle Academy and Moffett Elementary Schools as well as neighbors and volunteers from all over the city.

Through school-based and community arts workshops, the collaborators created a large-scale mosaic, Doorways to Peace, and a painted mural, transforming Al Asqa and everyone who participated.

Earlier this year, Al-Aqsa invited ArtWell, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and the original school partners to collaborate again. The aim of this project is to activate the power of art to open doors to strengthened relationships and understanding.

So far, the group has facilitated a number of poetry and tile-making workshops led by Joe Brenman with the students across the three schools and with community members at the spring 2015 ArtWell Festival. Lead muralist Parris Stancell created the mural design, which will include the tiles.

The paint days will take place on January 9 and January 30 at 4:00 p.m. at Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, 1501 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19122.

Read more about the project on ArtWell’s Blog.

Source: https://www.philaculture.org/groundswell/join-artwell-mural-arts-al-aqsa-community-paint-day-january-9-30