Keith Haring in Philadelphia

On Sunday, Husband and I rode our bikes to Philly (27 miles and we are still alive!). I wanted to take some pictures of the collaborative mural that Keith Haring painted with local children in South Philadelphia (visit Keith Haring’s site to read more about the project and look at pictures of the event).

The mural is titled “We the Youth” and was painted in 1987 in celebration of the bicentennial of the US Constitution; it was recently restored and the tiny garden in front of the mural was redesigned.

I find Keith Haring’s painting and sculptures so moving. Perhaps it’s their irrepressible energy; perhaps the simplicity of the lines that burst with meaning and emotion (as you could still perceive the gesture that produced that line). It’s as Keith could communicate directly to my heart, bypassing my head and my defenses. And I’ve always felt that collaborative and public art—that type of creative expression that some scream is “absolutely not art”—is the best art form ever created.

I owe the discovery of the only Keith Haring’s mural in Philadelphia to Albert, who recently wrote about it in his blog. He also wrote that the building has been recently sold and there are rumors that it might be demolished. Does anybody have additional information?

If you want to visit, you can find the mural at the corner between 22nd and Ellsworth Street. You can also look at additional pictures in this slideshow at Smugmug.

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