Philadelphia
MURALS AGAINST CRIME
The Mural Arts Program (MAP)
began in 1984 as a program for the youths in the Anti-Graffiti Network of Philadelphia. Although it was intended to be a 6 week program, 25 years later it is still serving its original purpose using the creation of murals to battle crime and positively influence Philadelphia communities. Philadelphia is known for its high crime rate. A murder a day characterized the crime rate in 2007, which is higher than that of other large cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. The violent crime rate per capita is also over 2 times the national average. Out of 32 cities with 500,000+ residents, Philadelphia (population of 1.5 million) was ranked the 6th most dangerous large city. For a long time, Philadelphia’s frequent graffiti problem was closely connectted to gangs and more violent crimes. To combat crime, MAP gets communities actively involved in the creation of a mural. Often times, communities request the help of MAP to revitalize their neighborhood. MAP has a number of programs that involve adults and juveniles at local correctional and residential facilities, as well as victims of crime. Participants in the programs learn social skills, discuss the effects of crime, and receive the opportunity to help restore the communities that they had negatively affected through their crime. The murals have become a symbol of Philadelphia.
1
Murals to Date 21 Figuritive
17 Cultural
19 Social Concern
5 Abstract
N 35th St.
Wallace St.
Race
St.
.
3 History
2
Po p Sprin Fairm lar g G oun St. arde t A n St ve. . Vin eS t. E xpy Rac Arche St. St. Mar Che ket St. s Wal tnut S nut t St. . Spr u c e Pine St. Sou St. th S t. Fitz wa ter Ch S t. ris t Was ian S hing t. ton Wh Ave arto . nS t.
26t hS t. 24t hS t. 22n dS t. 20t hS t. 18t hS t. 16t hS t. Bro ad St. 12t hS t. 10t hS t. 8th St. 6th St. 4th St. 2nd St.
t rd S
S 33
W. M
ast er S t. irar dA ve
W. G
9 Portrait
28 Landscape
6 Youth
Crime in 2008 26 Robberies
60 Thefts
S3
4th
St.
N 35th St.
Wallace St.
.
t rd S
Race
St.
Po p Sprin Fairm lar g G oun St. arde t A n St ve. . Vin eS t. E xpy Rac e Arch St. St. Mar Che ket St. Wal stnut S nut t St. . Spr u c Pine e St . Sou St. th S t . Fitz wa ter Ch St. ris tia Was nS hing t. ton Wh Ave arto . nS t.
ast
er S t. irar dA ve
28t
26t
hS t. hS t. 24t hS t. 22n dS t. 20t hS t. 18t hS t. 16t hS t. Bro ad St. 12t hS t. 10t hS t. 8th St. 6th St. 4th St. 2nd St.
S 33
W. M
W. G
20 Burglaries
10 Assaults
3
Murals and Crime by Zip Code
19102 # of murals per year
social concern
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
portrait
cultural
landscape
history
figurative
abstract
youth
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
theft
robbery
3500
# of crimes per year
3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
6
burglary
assault
From 1999 to 2006
3 murals & 5,116 crimes occured in19102
6 mo. period in 1999
2000
6 mo. period in 2008
arch st.
15th st.
15th st.
arch st.
Freedom 15th & Arch Sts.
7
19103 19103 # of murals per year # of murals per year
socialconcern concern social
10 10 99 88 77 66 55 44 33 22 11 00
portrait portrait
cultural cultural
landscape landscape
history history
figurative figurative
abstract abstract
youth youth
1999 1999
2000 2000
2001 2001
2002 2002
2003 2003
2004 2004
2005 2005
2006 2006
1999 1999
2000 2000
2001 2001
2002 2002
2003 2003
2004 2004
2005 2005
2006 2006
theft theft
robbery robbery
3500 3500
# of crimes per year # of crimes per year
3000 3000 2500 2500 2000 2000 1500 1500 1000 1000 500 500 00
88
burglary burglary
assault assault
From 1999 to 2006
6 murals & 12,833 crimes occured in19103
6 mo. period in 1999
2000
6 mo. period in 2008
arch st.
20th st.
20th st.
arch st.
Reach High and You Will Go Far 1926 Arch St.
9
19104 # of murals per year
social concern
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
portrait
cultural
landscape
history
figurative
abstract
youth
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
theft
robbery
3500
# of crimes per year
3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
10
burglary
assault
From 1999 to 2006
8 murals & 23,535 crimes occured in19104
6 mo. period in 1999
6 mo. period in 2008 ma ntu
ve .
aa
ve .
34th st.
aa
34th st.
ma ntu
2000
Patti Labelle 3402 Mantua Ave.
11
19106 # of murals per year
social concern
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
portrait
cultural
landscape
history
figurative
abstract
youth
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
theft
robbery
3500
# of crimes per year
3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
12
burglary
assault
From 1999 to 2006
6 murals & 8,663 crimes occured in19106
6 mo. period in 1999
2006
6 mo. period in 2008
chestnut st.
7th st.
7th st.
chestnut st.
Lincoln Legacy Project 707 Chestnut St.
13
In the 25 years MAP has operated, over 2,850 murals have been created, and only 6 murals have been defaced.
Abstract
Cesar Viveros, artist of The Healing Walls (to the left and right), was helped by inmates of Graterford prison and by families of victims.
Social Concern
Cultural
Students from five public elementary schools and inmates at Graterford Prison helped create the Lincoln Legacy Project mural (to the left).
History
In the late 1990s, the Grays Ferry neighborhood suffered from racial violence. The community rallied around the creation of the multicultural mural, The Peace Wall (to the left). Today, it is ‘an icon.’
Youth
Figuritive
The Mural Arts Program currently works with over 100 communities and five facilities focused on helping troubled youths.
Landscape
Ann Northrup collaborated with inmate artists at Riverside Correctional Facility on the mural Going Home. Angela Crafton, a former inmate of the Philadelphia prison system, now teaches twelve mural classes at the jail in which she was imprisoned.
Portrait
MAP has helped to transform the city of Philadelphia into the world capital of murals.
19107 # of murals per year
social concern
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
portrait
cultural
landscape
history
figurative
abstract
youth
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
theft
robbery
3500
# of crimes per year
3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
16
burglary
assault
From 1999 to 2006
10 murals & 16,429 crimes occured in19107
6 mo. period in 1999
2003
6 mo. period in 2008
market st.
13th st.
13th st.
market st.
Tree of Knowledge 1301 Market St.
17
19123 # of murals per year
social concern
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
portrait
cultural
landscape
history
figurative
abstract
youth
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
theft
robbery
3500
# of crimes per year
3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
18
burglary
assault
From 1999 to 2006
16 murals & 9,506 crimes occured in19123
6 mo. period in 1999
2000
6 mo. period in 2008
spring garden st.
11th st.
11th st.
spring garden st.
Creating the Future 1039 Spring Garden St.
19
19130 social concern
# of murals per year
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
portrait
cultural
landscape
history
figurative
abstract
youth
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
theft
robbery
3500
# of crimes per year
3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
20
burglary
assault
From 1999 to 2006
12 murals & 10,647 crimes occured in19130
6 mo. period in 1999
2004
6 mo. period in 2008
girard ave.
16th st.
16th st.
girard st.
A Celebration of Poetry 1531 Girard Ave.
21
19146 social concern
# of murals per year
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
portrait
cultural
landscape
history
figurative
abstract
youth
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
theft
robbery
3500
# of crimes per year
3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
22
burglary
assault
From 1999 to 2006
9 murals & 16,434 crimes occured in19146
6 mo. period in 1999
2000
6 mo. period in 2008
fitzwater st.
16 th st.
16 th st.
fitzwater st.
Children of Philadelphia 726 16th St.
23
19147 social concern
# of murals per year
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
portrait
cultural
landscape
history
figurative
abstract
youth
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
theft
robbery
3500
# of crimes per year
3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
24
burglary
assault
From 1999 to 2006
13 murals & 18,874 crimes occured in19147
6 mo. period in 1999
2001
6 mo. period in 2008
south st.
12th st.
12th st.
south st.
Spirit of Creativity 1210 South St.
25
MURALS AGAINST CRIME
W. M
Race
St.
Po pl Fai a r ng G mou r St n arde t A . n St ve. .
Spri
4th S3 St.
28t
26t
Vin e
St. Exp y Rac e S Arch t. St. Mar Che ket St. Wal stnut S nut t St. . Spr u Pine ce St . Sou St. th S t. Fitz wa ter Ch St. ris tia Was nS hing t. ton Wh Ave arto . nS t.
hS t. hS t. 24t hS t. 22n dS t. 20t hS t. 18t hS t. 16t hS t. Bro ad St. 12t hS t. 10t hS t. 8th St. 6th St. 4th St. 2nd St.
rd S 33
ast
er S t. irar dA ve
W. G
St.
N 35th St.
Wallace St.
27