July 07, 2015
Steve Weinik/Mural Arts Program
"Peace is a Haiku Song" by Parris Stancell and Josh Sarantitis at Broad and Catherine Streets.
In 2014, Mural Arts teamed up with the American Composers Forum Philadelphia chapter for a special community engagement project. "If You Could Hear These Walls" brought together 14 Philadelphia composers to create new musical compositions based on three iconic murals.
"Southeast by Southeast" by Shira Walinsky and Miriam Singer, "Peace is a Haiku Song" (above) by Josh Sarantitis and Parris Stancell and "Henry Ossawa Tanner: Letters of Influence" by Keir Johnston inspired new music and prompted discussion of how art and music affect communities. The composers didn't just write new music; they engaged with the communities living with these works, teaching them about music and composition.
Skout Media created a documentary about this project and will present it during a premiere at International House Philadelphia. The composers of the project and community members will gather for the free screening to watch the powerful statement about public art.
