the street is our gallery

The Silent Watcher is an 11,000 square foot mural on the eastern wall of the University Square building, which is 19 stories high. The mural has become a visual landmark and gateway from University City to West Philadelphia.

In the words of Faith XLVII; ‘I come from a country that is seething with the frustration of uncontrollable violence and woman abuse, xenophobia , class and racial divide. And have moved to a country where there seems to be a fundamental crisis in the very soul of the nation.

We know this ache of our lands.
And we all know personal ache.
Everybody has their struggle to bear.

And with the weight of the world on our shoulders,
we must still be able to live with empathy
We must somehow keep our hearts open.

The words on this wall are a reference to the City Seal of Philadelphia which calls out for brotherly love.
This is no small commitment.

It also references a quote ‘Optimism is a strategy for a Better Future.’
Paying tribute to Noam Chomsky who was born in Philadelphia and is 91 years old this year.

The harsh experiences of life can easily make us fall into a negative world view,
But we each have the ability to transform this base metal of knowing suffering,
or inner psychological depression.
into the gold of higher aspiration.

The name of this mural is ‘The Silent Watcher’
We can be the silent watcher, who knows, who loves and who endures.’

Mural Arts Philadelphia is the nation’s largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. For over 30 years, Mural Arts has united artists and communities through a collaborative and equitable process, creating nearly 4,000 artworks that have transformed public spaces and individual lives. Mural Arts aims to empower people, stimulate dialogue, and build bridges to understanding with projects that attract artists from Philadelphia and around the world, and programs that focus on youth education, restorative justice, mental health and wellness, and public art and its preservation. Popular mural tours offer a firsthand glimpse into the inspiring stories behind Mural Arts’ iconic and unparalleled collection, which has earned Philadelphia worldwide recognition as the “City of Murals.”

The Silent Watcher © 2019 City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program / Faith XLVII, 3901 Market Street. Photo by Steve Weinik.

www.muralarts.org – Follow on social media @mualarts for the video.

Photos by Chop ’em Down Films and Steve Weinik