Mural Arts Launches New Tour Program in Norris Square as a Part of CAICU

Recently, rapid real estate development in Philadelphia has led to displacement disproportionately impacting Black and Latino/a/x communities. In response, artists and community leaders in Norris Square have galvanized to strengthen community and public awareness of the neighborhood’s history and identity. Mural Arts’ CAICU will bring new dimensions to this process through public art and by fostering cultural exchanges with Loíza, Puerto Rico.

CAICU is a socially-engaged public art and cultural organizing series led by Philadelphia-based curator Marángeli Mejía-Rabell and Puerto Rico-based muralist Celso González in Philadelphia’s Norris Square neighborhood and Loiza, Puerto Rico.

Mural Arts is in the process of launching a pilot tour program as part of CAICU, engaging Norris Square neighbors and community members to lead walking tours through the gardens and creative spaces of Norris Square.

Since January, a group of 8 student-guides, composed of team members from local organizations, residents and former Norris Square Neighborhood Project Youth Program participants, have been meeting with CAICU Project Manager Ricky Yanas, Mural Arts’ Tours Director Ellen Soloff, and a host of muralists (Betsy Casañas, Calo Rosa) and community leaders (Iris Brown of Grupo Motivos, Andria Bibiloni of Norris Square Neighborhood Project, Esperanza Lopez of Norris Square Senior Community Center) to learn more about the incredible works of art, community, labor, and stewardship that keep the neighborhood so vital.

In March the group began their “field work” practicing their memory and presentation skills. There’s been a lot of  information to take in, but veteran MAP Tour Guide & Mentor Phyl Francis was present offering notes and advice to the blossoming guides. Some important suggestions included: always face your audience with your back to the mural; start with a cheat sheet; learn your timing; include a personal anecdote when possible–make the tour your own; AND practice, practice, practice. The guides joined the first tours of the season this weekend in Center City to “see how it’s done.”

The tours will launch on April 19th as part of the dedication event for a new CAICU mural at Front & Susquehanna, on the southern-facing wall of the former Fine Fare Supermarket. This mural brings together a phenomenal team including visiting artist Omar García aka “Angurria”, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, who served as the lead artist for this project along with Celso González. They worked with local artists Dan One,  Calo Rosa, and Vanessa Vega (Taina Sisters) to revisit the site of their previous pieces from the Norris Square Neighborhood Portraits mini-mural series Tree of Life, Taíno Emojis, and Campesino (2021) to collaborate on the wall at a larger scale. The work celebrates the rich history of the Norris Square community and its Latino-Caribbean roots.

The mural and the dedication/ block party promise to be a festive celebration of the robust cultural history that makes Norris Square such a vital part of the Philadelphia ecosystem. The day will begin with a park cleanup led by the Friends of Norris Square Park at 9:00 am and ease into dedication festivities starting at 11:00 am. Event contributors will include the Norris Square Senior Community Center’s Grupo Alegría and Philly’s own DJ Bobby Flowers, students from Mad Beatz (an afterschool drumming program based in Kensington), with delicious food by Amy’s Pastelillos, celebrating their one year anniversary.

As part of the dedication festivities for the new CAICU mural at Front St and Susquehanna St, Mural Arts is offering a day of free 30 – 45 minute tours for dedication guests. These mini-tours will offer a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to learn about the  beautifully tended sites and artworks merging Boricua and local histories of Norris Square in addition to the artists, the community process, and the sites where these works were created and maintained. Registration is requested. Sign up for a tour here.

Starting in May, full 90 minute tours of Norris Square will be offered through Mural Arts Tours’ website.

Leading up to the dedication, Front & Susquehanna muralist Dan One, will be working with students from Norris Square Neighborhood Project’s Semillas Youth Program on a series of airbrush workshops. The first part took place this past Wednesday, where Dan One shared a little bit about his history as an artist, making money from your work, and the basic mechanics of painting with the airbrush system. For the second part of the series, the students will create CAICU merch that will be available at the NSNP which will include live-airbrushing.

Caption for hero image: CAICU Tour Student-Guides listening to veteran MAP Guide Tish share information about a mural on the Center City Mural Mile Tour. Photo by Ricky Yanas.