“Then and Now and All Around” Dedication

Join Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Academy of Natural Sciences to dedicate Then and Now and All Around, a new large-scale mural by scientific illustrator Jane Kim, documenting the wide variety of birds found in Philadelphia and their fascinating connections to local ecologies, watersheds, and neighborhoods.

Born out of the 2023 exhibition Illuminating Birds: Drawing as a Way of Knowing, Kim’s mural highlights 21 species observed in the city from the 1800s to 2021, portraying those that have disappeared or become rare alongside those that have expanded or returned.

Through the Avian Artist in Residence Program, a joint partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Academy of Natural Sciences, Kim researched Philadelphia’s changing avian and ecological landscape through the Academy’s archives, as well as hands-on fieldwork, bird walks, and community events. Combining techniques of scientific illustration and muralism, Kim tells a story of biodiversity loss, resurgence, and adaptation in Philadelphia, and invites viewers to take an active role in conservation efforts.

At this dedication, we’ll reflect on Philadelphia’s changing ecosystem, celebrate the artists and partners behind Then and Now and All Around, and honor the Academy’s lasting impact on the scientific and creative community of Philadelphia.

A guided bird walk will follow the program (around 11 am) in nearby Konrad Square, led by Academy staff and neighborhood birder Albert Yee. Binoculars will be provided.