See below from Netanel Portier, Manager for the Mural Arts Program’s Frankford project, and please help spread the word. We hope you can join us on either of the dates below! Note that you can get a blue recycling bin on the second date listed (November 15th) – as part of the Frankford CDC’s celebration of America Recycles Day.
Hello Frankford,
I hope that you can join Mural Arts and the Frankford Community Development Corporation for a couple of upcoming opportunities to be part of the mural making process.
THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 @ 4900 Griscom Street (Frankford CDC)
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Neighborhood Mural Petition Workshop
Help us spread the word about the murals PLUS show us your neighborhood and your favorite potential mural walls!
Lunch will be provided for participants.
Please RSVP by tomorrow, Tuesday, November 1st
AND
12:30-3:30 p.m. Come tell us your stories of Frankford!
Your story can inspire your community- your story will inspire the mural artist.
Sign up now for a moment to speak with the artist and record your Frankford stories on video. These videos will become part of an online archive for the Frankford community.
Contact Netanel @ 215 685 0725 or netanel@muralarts.org to reserve a time or come by while we are there.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15 @ 4900 Griscom Street (Frankford CDC)
2-6 p.m. Second Session: Come tell us your stories of Frankford!
Your story can inspire your community- your story will inspire the mural artist.
Sign up now for a moment to speak with the artist and record your Frankford stories on video. These videos will become part of an online archive for the Frankford community.
Contact Netanel @ 215 685 0725 or netanel@muralarts.org to reserve a time or come by while we are there.
America Recycles Day is also on the 15th and the Frankford CDC will be distributing recycling bins to those who stop by from 12 to 5 pm!
Thanks so much- we look forward to meeting many of you!
Still have to frown at this mural arts program; I just don’t see how this will create positive change in any neighborhood. Fixing and maintaining a building properly is the only action that will add value to a neighborhood and create a great environment. Painting anything on the side of a deteriorated building is merely another sign that we have given up on this neighborhood; so we have decided to paint a giant tombstone for all to know this neighborhood is dead. I don’t recall a single neighborhood using mural arts as a stepping stone to recovery; do you?
I understand your point of view. However I would suggest you do a google/image search on murals in Philadelphia. Some of those murals are beautiful and may give residents a positive feeling about their neighborhood.
My feeling is that statements such as “Stop The Violence”, a mural in West Philly, should be avoided because it defines a neighborhood as violent. I also feel that political or religious leaders, past or present, should be avoided. Any mural that defines a neighborhood as one specific race should be avoided as Frankford is a multi-racial community and no one race should feel excluded.
What I would really like to see are murals painted on all those ugly security gates that make Frankford Ave. look like a war zone.
I don’t think you can call this a neighborhood revitalization project but it certainly has merit. Some of the public art done in other areas of the city by this program is impressive. The subjects of the art is a work in progress. I’m sure they will take a look at these comments and take them into account.
The only specific personalities I heard mentioned at the meetings as a possible subjects was Billy Gambrel and Butch Ballard. Gambrel is already the subject of a large mural at the playground. It might be more useful to offer suggestions about what should be a subject. Myself I lean toward industries and their part in our history. Textiles, brewing and of course the powder mill.
Butch Ballard: what an asset he was to the Frankford community. In light of his recent passing it would be wonderful to see his image depicted on a mural. Sorry, i’m not familiar with Billy Gambrel.
I lean toward the beautiful homes we have here in Frankford. Some of those beautiful twin homes on the east side of Frankford Ave. with the old wrought iron hair-pin fencing remind me of the Frankford I knew as a child. Our mansions are spectacular even though some could use a little TLC. It would be nice to see our various style homes on a mural. And Gil, I wish you would do the “house of the week” again on the gazette, if you find the time.
Some of the other assets Frankford has:
. SEPTA Transportation Center
. The Free Library that provides much needed services to kids and adults.
. We have our own hospital and firehouse
. Our parks are becomming beautiful spaces for people to come and enjoy nature.
. We have are own Historical Society and Civil War Museum
. We have are own Friends School
. We are culturally diverse
Everyone keeps pointing towards Frankfords history, and that is great that people understand how this neighborhood was built and who was responsible for it’s past successes. But what this neighborhood needs is a vision for a prosperous future and some steps towards achieving that vision. All the great things people have done in the past appear to be all for nothing as every and any achievment is overshadowed by the high crime, litter, grafitti, vagrancy, open-air drug sales, prostitution, etc. etc. How about a mural of a bustling shopping area on Frankford Avenue free of pan-handlers, prostitutes, drug dealers, and thieves. Storefronts free of steel doors and hand painted signs that are nothing more than tomorrows trash in the street. All your wares are sold in your store, not scattered randomly along the sidewalk like some junk rummage sale. Women able to walk down the street and shop with their children; without having cat calls and rude comments made from the useless animals that have taken over the Avenue and clutter the sidewalks with their ignorance and filth. Cops walking the beat down Frankford Avenue and every shopper, shopkeeper, and child waves a friendly hello to him/her. Now that’s a mural that could have a positive impact and proudly display what the future of Frankford is going to be; or did I just describe History??????????
I’ll make sure the artist gets all the comments posted here.