TRANSCENDENCE, SEED PROJECT MURAL SERIES, PERSHING AVENUE NEIGHBORS, 2023
Transcendence was completed in October of 2023 and was initiated by neighbors in the Winter of 2022.This project was made possible by the seed project which is funded in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Creative Communities Initiative and the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation.
The process: Salina Almanzar-Oree, Claudia Rojas, and Josh Graupera. The neighbors meet weekly with SACA’s Jack Howell to discuss various community improvement projects. In the winter of 2022, seed project began a series of creative workshops to tease out ideas and imagery to include in the final design of the mural. Throughout the year, neighbors expressed an interest in seeing something bright that told parts of the history of the neighborhood, depicted a sense of unity, and included butterflies and native plants especially Mountain Laurel. Almanzar-Oree presented several drafts of the mural and solicited feedback throughout the Spring of 2023. By the summer of 2023, neighbors decided on the final design and gave their stamp of approval for the production of the artwork to begin.
The meaning and content: Transcendence means to have an existence or experience beyond the norm. It also implies a rising above despite what might be holding someone or something back. Butterflies are a symbol of transcendence, transformation, hope, migration, resilience and mental health. As neighbors settled on the butterfly as a theme. Salina, who typically depicts nature in a larger than life style, proposed the idea of having a swarm of butterflies and using the segments of the wings as a frame for vignettes. This direction was approved quickly and together the group settled on historical and future visions as elements to be in the wings. Here are the images that appear in the wings from left to right and top to bottom:
Along the small wall, is the image of Jesus Molina’s hand releasing the butterflies. As a group, neighbors expressed an interest in using male hands as a symbol of contrasting hard and soft imagery, something that is not often shown. The hand emerges from a few sprigs of Mountain Laurel, the state flower of Pennsylvania, and one of the native plants requested by neighbors to symbolize their childhood memories of being able to go outside and enjoy nature.
The process: Salina Almanzar-Oree, Claudia Rojas, and Josh Graupera. The neighbors meet weekly with SACA’s Jack Howell to discuss various community improvement projects. In the winter of 2022, seed project began a series of creative workshops to tease out ideas and imagery to include in the final design of the mural. Throughout the year, neighbors expressed an interest in seeing something bright that told parts of the history of the neighborhood, depicted a sense of unity, and included butterflies and native plants especially Mountain Laurel. Almanzar-Oree presented several drafts of the mural and solicited feedback throughout the Spring of 2023. By the summer of 2023, neighbors decided on the final design and gave their stamp of approval for the production of the artwork to begin.
The meaning and content: Transcendence means to have an existence or experience beyond the norm. It also implies a rising above despite what might be holding someone or something back. Butterflies are a symbol of transcendence, transformation, hope, migration, resilience and mental health. As neighbors settled on the butterfly as a theme. Salina, who typically depicts nature in a larger than life style, proposed the idea of having a swarm of butterflies and using the segments of the wings as a frame for vignettes. This direction was approved quickly and together the group settled on historical and future visions as elements to be in the wings. Here are the images that appear in the wings from left to right and top to bottom:
- Two images of General Black Jack Pershing circa 1917: General Black Jack Pershing is the namesake of Pershing Avenue and an anti-segregationist who included, and lauded Black soldiers as equals during his time serving for the US Military.
- Boys Club members playing volleyball during summer camp (provided by Gerald Wilson)
- Boys Club members learning archery during summer camp (provided by Gerald Wilson)
- A child holding an elder’s hand
- A Sanborn Fire Insurance map depicting Freiburg Avenue the former name of Pershing Avenue (pre-1918)
- The re-dedication of Freiburg Avenue as Pershing Avenue circa 1918
- Community member’s from Centro Hispano playing Bingo (based on photograph by Claudia Rojas)
- Lucy Molina’s hands holding a Potho’s plant as a symbol of growth and hope (based on photograph by Salina Almanzar-Oree)
- Image of community member’s from Centro Hispano playing Dominoes
Along the small wall, is the image of Jesus Molina’s hand releasing the butterflies. As a group, neighbors expressed an interest in using male hands as a symbol of contrasting hard and soft imagery, something that is not often shown. The hand emerges from a few sprigs of Mountain Laurel, the state flower of Pennsylvania, and one of the native plants requested by neighbors to symbolize their childhood memories of being able to go outside and enjoy nature.
