Transcendence-Community Mural
By May 2023 our group settled on a design for the mural that would be installed at 545 Pershing Ave (Centro Hispano). Initial conversations included a desire to see the history of the block, butterflies, bright colors, and faces of important figures. We debated including faces of contemporary or current people and ultimately chose to focus on things like hands of contemporary neighbors and people from the group as a way of keeping the mural timeless. The final images were selected by mural lead artist Salina Almanzar-Oree with approval from neighbors.
The mural utilized a similar method to the Beaver Street mural: a hand painted background and mural cloth elements adhered on top of the background. Claudia Rojas was the assistant artist and painted the mural cloth butterflies as well as installed and helped oversee the completion of the mural. josh graupera also assisted in painting the floral background and mural cloth butterflies. Salina and Claudia were assisted by Bruno Cervera, Osmyn Oree, Ana Quintino Juarez, and Sra. Lucy.
Here is more information about the images included in the final design:
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
Each image was deliberately chosen as a snapshot of what this community had experienced together and hopes to continue to build together.
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 title of the mural is Transcendence. 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.
