“How does a neighborhood balance urban life and nature?” That’s the question this Wissahickon Mural seeks to answer. It stands proudly near the Wissahickon Regional Rail station.
This Wissahickon Mural’s story began with Chip Roller. He was the acting vice president of WICA. SEPTA planned to renovate the Wissahickon station. WICA saw a chance to beautify the neighborhood.
An initial mural application was rejected. Mural Arts then considered a resubmission. The resubmission needed greater community involvement. Jose Ramos and Janis Chakars joined the mural planning group. They wanted to help.
Ramos teaches literacy at Cook-Wissahickon School. Chakars is a parent of a student there. The mural project became part of the school’s arts curriculum. Students would be involved in creating the Wissahickon Mural.
The Wissahickon Mural’s design draws inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe. He wrote “Morning on the Wissahickon”. Poe described the Wissahickon Creek’s beauty. He felt it was worthy of every bard’s theme.
The mural aims to capture the essence of Wissahickon. It highlights the balance between urban and natural environments. This balance is what people love about the neighborhood. The train station acts as a gateway. It leads to Wissahickon Creek and Fairmount Park.
The Wissahickon Mural fills 2200 square feet. It covers a retaining wall. This wall runs along the outbound platform. SEPTA supports the project. They provided a letter of recommendation.
The mural planners want to integrate art and sustainability. They plan to combine paint with found items. These items include natural and manufactured materials. Live plants could even be part of the Wissahickon Mural. These plants already exist in a bed near the wall. Other elements could include tile metal glass or stone. The Wissahickon Mural should be texture-rich. It should grow out from the wall. It should combine the manufactured and the organic.
The Wissahickon Mural shows a commitment. It highlights the neighborhood’s history. It shows where nature and buildings meet. The Cook-Wissahickon School supports this theme. They have a commitment to sustainability. The school has a meadow for native plants and animals. It serves as an outdoor classroom. The mural can extend this curriculum. It includes native plants animals and the creek.
Diane Burko created Wissahickon Reflections. These are three large-scale murals. They are inspired by the Wissahickon Valley. The murals are located in the Marriott Hotel lobby. The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority commissioned them.
Burko spent a year painting and photographing in the Wissahickon. She needed a 7500 square-foot factory space. This space accommodated the massive project. The paintings were installed in 1996 and completed in 1997.
Burko wanted to share nature’s beauty and complexity. Her art celebrates the Wissahickon Creek’s wonders. She researches beyond expected illusions. She seeks other levels of awareness and meaning.
The Wissahickon Reflections murals create a panoramic view. They show the Wissahickon’s picturesque creek and environs. One mural measures 11.5 x 32 feet. The two companion murals measure 7 x 85 feet and 7 x 97 feet. They are placed 14 feet above the floor. They envelop most of the lobby.