Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 20, 2015 - Philadelphia Federal Credit Union (PFCU) and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (Mural Arts) today announced community members have selected the design concept created by local artists Jeff Kilpatrick and Brad Carney for the new mural coming to the Fishtown/East Kensington section of Philadelphia. The mural will be created on an exterior wall of A C Auto Body, which is located at the corner of East Dauphin Street and Frankford Avenue, and is slated to be dedicated at the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby & Arts Festival in May 2016.
“PFCU started this initiative with the intention of creating a focal point in the Fishtown/East Kensington area that celebrates everything the neighborhood has to offer and the selected mural design by Jeff and Brad surpasses our expectations,” said James McAneney, President/CEO of Philadelphia Federal Credit Union. “The mural is not only a nod to the artists and other members of the community who have made the area what it is today, but it represents the people who will make Fishtown/East Kensington an even better place for future generations. We cannot wait to see Jeff and Brad’s design concept come to life.”
Over the summer, PFCU and Mural Arts held a Call for Artists and received dozens of submissions from a diverse and highly competitive group of applicants who live or work in the Fishtown/East Kensington area. A special committee was tasked with narrowing down the submissions to three finalists who were contracted to create an original design concept for the mural. In addition to Carney and Kilpatrick, these finalists included Marie Elcin and the artist team of Emily White and Kien Nguyen.
From Oct. 2 to Oct. 16, PFCU held a public exhibition at its Fishtown branch. During this time, members of the Philadelphia community were invited to view the design concepts, meet the artists and vote for their favorite mural design concept. Thousands of Philadelphians voted on the credit union’s Facebook page, which ultimately determined that Carney and Kilpatrick’s design would become the mural.
"We are so thankful to the communities of Fishtown and East Kensington for selecting our design concept for the mural that speaks to the culture of the neighborhood,” said Carney. “After making art here for many years, we are excited to be given the opportunity to give something back,” said Kilpatrick.
The community will have more opportunities to participate in the mural-making process, including paint days that will be announced in early 2016.
“The local community’s decision to select Jeff and Brad’s design is a testament to their skill, ingenuity and vision,” said Jane Golden, Executive Director of the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. “The artists’ keen eye for detail and ardent imaginations really helped to capture all that embodies the spirit of the neighborhood in their mural.”
For more information on this initiative, please contact Leslie McShane Lodwick, Mural Arts Program Project Manager, at Leslie.Lodwick@muralarts.org.
About Philadelphia Federal Credit Union
Founded in 1951, PFCU is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution that serves Philadelphia and Columbia County, Pa. PFCU is among the top five credit unions in the Greater Philadelphia area with 10 branch locations, more than $948 million in assets, 112,000 members and more than 400 Select Employee Groups. PFCU returns its profits to members in the form of higher dividend rates, lower loan rates, better services and investment in the community. For more information, visit www.pfcu.com and connect with PFCU on Facebook and Twitter.
About the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (Mural Arts), the nation’s largest public art program, is dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. For 30 years, Mural Arts has united artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural making, to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives. Mural Arts engages communities in 50 to 100 public art projects each year and maintains its growing collection through a restoration initiative. Core Mural Arts programs such as Art Education, Restorative Justice, and Porch Light yield unique, project-based learning opportunities for thousands of youth and adults. Each year, 12,000 residents and visitors tour Mural Arts’ outdoor art gallery, which has become part of the city’s civic landscape and a source of pride and inspiration, earning Philadelphia international recognition as the “City of Murals.” For further information, call 215-685-0750 or visit muralarts.org. Follow us on social media: @muralarts on Twitter and Instagram, phillymuralarts on YouTube, and MuralArtsPhiladelphia on Facebook.
Media Contacts:
Michelle Woolford
Brownstein Group on behalf of PFCU
267-238-4144
mwoolford@brownsteingroup.com
Nicole Steinberg
Director of Communications and Brand Management
City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
215-685-0754
nicole.steinberg@muralarts.org