This We Believe:
A Citywide Mural Project from Mural Arts Philadelphia
Project Leaders: Laura Holzman (Indiana University IUPUI), Lori Goldstein (Public Art Archive), Emily Cooper Moore (Mural Arts Philadelphia)
Overview
This digital exhibition and project archive tells the story of This We Believe: Living in the Presence of History (2008-2009), a large, multi-panel mural by Eric Okdeh, Michelle Angela Ortiz, and Kien Nguyen. The mural was created as a highly collaborative Citywide project that Mural Arts Philadelphia organized to mark its 25th Anniversary. After being displayed temporarily and with much celebration, the panels were to be separated and installed individually throughout the city. But only one panel found a long-term home. Even so, the mural and the process through which it was made are significant elements of Mural Arts’ history, the public envisioning of place in Philadelphia, and the history of muralism in the United States. This digital project establishes a lasting public presence for the mural. Holzman’s research forms the foundation of the exhibit, drawing from planning documents, media coverage, and participant interviews. The three project leaders partnered to design and present the online resource, which went live in 2021.
Image: “This We Believe: A Citywide Mural Project from Mural Arts Philadelphia,” Public Art Archive, 2021. Composite screenshot.
