South Street's Artistic Voice

By Lucy Erdelac

Like a phoenix, the healing power of the Arts can raise us up in times of crisis. On South Street, artistic statements speak to shared humanity, innate strength and resilience.

The Gift of the Inner Child

During a time of turbulence, Love Bubbles embodies a moment of connecting peace. This mural, located at 226 South Street, was painted by acclaimed artist Amir Campbell.

Love Bubbles can be seen at 226 South Street.

When, on June 6, an estimated 50,000 people participated in Black Lives Matter protests in Philadelphia, the enormity of the moment hit home for Amir. “Of course, me being African American I’ve experienced a lot of things,” he said.

“Some people were made to fight and some to remain neutral . . . we’re all still human. What was my part of the conversation?” said Amir, relating his thoughts from early June.

Artist Amir Campbell

Within days, Amir’s artistic voice was given a public channel through a commission by the South Street Headhouse District. Describing his vision for Love Bubbles, Amir said, “I was thinking that it would speak to everybody. That it would harbor peace that would create that frequency, no matter what race, what creed.” See more from Amir at www.instagram.com/amiracleartistry. ■

EMERGE

The Latin root of the word Emergence, emergere, means “to bring to light.” It was also the vision that inspired the Mural Arts Philadelphia EMERGE campaign of wheatpaste posters at 501 South Street.

EMERGE is a series of Public Service Announcements using wheatpaste posters, radio commercials and social media.

Quote by Nina “Lyrispect” Ball, member of Fellows in The Guild Graphic Design: Mark Strandquist and Kate DeCiccio. Photo: Philadelphia Mural Arts..

The campaign aims to foster inspiration and hope and acknowledge the intersections of COVID-19 and systemic racism and the innate strength and resilience of people of color impacted by both pandemics. The Guild, a job readiness program for citizens returning from incarceration, paired Guild Fellows with a writing coach to develop original PSAs, sponsored by the City of Philadelphia and the Hess Foundation. “What emerged from a weekly meeting of rappers, poets and artists in the midst of the COVID-19 shutdown and worldwide protests for Black Lives, was hope itself,” said Kali Silverman, project manager for Mural Arts Philadelphia.

Quote by Saul Miller, member of Fellows in The Guild. Graphic Design: Mark Strandquist and Kate DeCiccio. Photo: Philadelphia Mural Arts.

Quote by Wayne Gainey, member of Fellows in The Guild. Graphic Design: Mark Strandquist and Kate DeCiccio. Photo: Philadelphia Mural Arts.

To learn more about this project, see muralarts.org/ artworks/emerge. ■