A Love Note to Phiadelphia
A series of murals proclaim their love for the city and its residents throughout the Market Frankford Line. Ride westbound on the Market-Frankford line past 45th Street and one will instantly notice something different about the next set of streets. A series of murals dance past riders up until 63rd Street and have been captivating riders since 2010.
was painted by Powers, and is left up to the viewer to decide who is being spoken of. To some, it is from the residents of West Philly to their own neighbourhood; to others it is a note from a man to a woman, or even from an artist to his hometown.
Some of the murals are playful and open to interpretation Four years ago, artist, Steve Powers was commissioned by the city such as, “I want you like coffee, I of Philadelphia Mural Arts program need you like juice, I won’t put you on the side like bacon, you can have to paint these colourful murals. Turning the El into a moving gallery, me over easy.” These playful murals mix in with others that state, “Open it captures attention at every stop. Each different painting holds its own your eyes, I see the sunrise.” Powers meaning that is in turn a sort of love incorporated lively colors and playful words to entice viewers to crane their letter. necks to read each mural as the El zooms past. The Philadelphia Mural Arts program was started as an When the murals were first anti-graffiti initiative. The program painted, they were very visible from spreads art throughout the city on the El and their bright colors caught walls near open lots, abandoned attention in every train. Today, these buildings or even schools. murals are a bit worn down. Some are hidden by built up neighborhoods Powers is originally from West Philadelphia, although he now that weren’t there four years ago. Powers originally agreed to do the lives in New York. Each love note
82
project because he stated he wanted to, “put something on these rooftops that people would care about.” As time passes, its clear that it’s getting harder to see these works of art and one might argue its because the residents stopped caring. Whatever the reason may be, Love Letters still dazzle new El riders daily. Those who never knew they existed catch themselves gasping and quickly whipping their heads around to read the message that may have once been shared privately. Seeing these murals leaves riders feeling the love spread throughout the City of Brotherly Love.
All photos were taken during the month of April 2014.