World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program Reveal Plans for a Mural Honoring the Visit of Pope Francis
Philadelphia, PA (May 28, 2015) – The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program today announced plans to create a mural honoring the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and the historic visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia in September 2015.
Inspired by the theme of the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015, “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive,” the mural will be titled The Sacred Now: Faith and Family in the 21st Century. It will be displayed on the external walls of Saint Malachy School, an Independence Mission School, located in North Philadelphia. Wells Fargo & Company [NYSE: WFC] was also announced as the sponsor of this commemorative mural.
Designed by renowned muralist Cesar Viveros, the 4,239 square feet work of art will be a lasting testament to the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and Papal Visit. As Mr. Viveros shared in his artist’s statement, the mural is aimed at capturing the powerful impact of “relationship, interaction, constructivism, actions, inclusion, compassion, and every moment of life that gives us the opportunity to share who we are by living this mission of love.” In accordance with his vision, Mr. Viveros’ mural, created from 153 individual panels measuring 5′ x 5′ in size, will be installed across three sections of the building comprising Saint Malachy School to become the final mural.
This technique of creating mural panels individually allows – and encourages – community members across the region to participate in painting the mural before it is installed on Saint Malachy School. A series of “Paint Days,” co-sponsored by the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and Mural Arts were also announced and include the following sites:
– Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (University City)
– Divine Providence Village Day Services Program at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Secane (Delaware County)
– Father Judge High School & Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls (Northeast Philadelphia; “Paint Day” Location at Father Judge High School)
– Holy Family Regional Catholic School (Bucks County)
– Little Sisters of the Poor Holy Family Home (West Philadelphia)
– Saint Helena Parish (North Philadelphia)
– Saint Malachy School (North Philadelphia)
– The Joseph Fund (Camden, NJ)
Saint Malachy School will host the first “Paint Day” on Tuesday, June 2. Dates and times are forthcoming for the remaining sites and additional sites may be considered for participation in the months preceding the Papal Visit. Select panels will also be reserved so that the World Meeting of Families Congress participants from around the world can participate in painting portions of the mural at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from September 22-25, 2015. It is expected that this vibrant mural will be completed in November 2015.
“We are absolutely delighted to partner with The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program on this unique initiative to commemorate the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and Pope Francis’ visit,” said Donna Crilley Farrell, Executive Director of the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015. “Through the incredible generosity of Wells Fargo, The Sacred Now: Faith and Family in the 21st Century will be a vibrant reminder of one of the region’s proudest and most exciting moments ever – and it will serve as a source of inspiration, for years to come, to Saint Malachy School and the surrounding neighborhood.”
“The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program is thrilled to be integrally involved in creating an uplifting work of public art that will forever commemorate the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and Pope Francis’ visit to our extraordinary and beloved city,” said Jane Golden, Executive Director of the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. “We at Mural Arts believe deeply in the power of art to transform lives and spaces. To have the unprecedented opportunity to transform a school and a neighborhood through this mural and to honor one of the world’s most transformative leaders is a wonderful privilege. I deeply believe that this mural, from the incredibly creative Cesar Viveros, will cultivate critical conversations about the family bond and its importance in our world.”
“At Wells Fargo, we proudly say ‘Small is huge’ in terms of community engagement and support,” said Greg Redden, Greater Philadelphia/DE Region President, Wells Fargo. “But in this case, ‘Huge is huge!’ To transform this school building through such a large scale and visionary project from Mural Arts while also commemorating the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia perfectly reflects the way Wells Fargo works to strengthen communities. We are proud to sponsor this beautiful artwork and we are equally proud to support the efforts that will bring this project to the wider community so that many more can participate in its creation.”
Co-sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the World Meeting of Families is a triennial global event that seeks to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe and highlight its intrinsic value to the good of society. The 2015 international gathering will be held in the United States for the first time ever and will welcome Pope Francis to the country for the first time in his Papacy.
For more information regarding the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia next September, please visit www.WorldMeeting2015.org. For more information regarding The Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family, which co-sponsors the World Meeting of Families with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit www.familiam.org/famiglia_eng/00002554_HOME_ENG.html.
An online retail store, featuring t-shirts, hats, pins and other small mementos, is also open and can be accessed at wmof.myshopify.com/. You can also engage the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia on Facebook (World Meeting of Families 2015) (Encuentro Mundial de las Familias – Filadelfia 2015), Twitter (@WMF2015) (@WMF2015ES) and Instagram (WMF2015).
About World Meetings of Families
Beginning with 1994, The Year of the Family, the Pontifical Council for the Family has been responsible for organizing the World Meetings of Families in Rome (1994); Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); and now, Philadelphia (2015). Since its inception by Saint John Paul II, the World Meeting of Families has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe.
About The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program is the nation’s largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. For 30 years, Mural Arts has united artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural-making, to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives. Mural Arts engages communities in 50-100 public art projects each year, and maintains its growing collection through a restoration initiative. Core Mural Arts programs such as Art Education, Restorative Justice, and Porch Light yield unique, project-based learning opportunities for thousands of youth and adults. Each year, 12,000 residents and visitors tour Mural Arts’ outdoor art gallery, which has become part of the city’s civic landscape and a source of pride and inspiration, earning Philadelphia international recognition as the “City of Murals.” For further information, call 215-685-0750 or visit www.muralarts.org. Follow along on social media: @muralarts on Twitter and Instagram, phillymuralarts on YouTube, and MuralArtsPhiladelphia on Facebook.
Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747