DOORWAY TO SUCCESS

Doorway to success

Acrylic Paint on Polytab

2020

22’ x 52’

4600 Saybrook Ave., Philadelphia, PA

Doorway to Success is a replacement project for a painting that once existed in this same location. In 2007 I worked with a group of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to create a piece titled Doorway to Achievement. In 2017 the elementary school the mural was painted on was torn down and the lot sold to neighboring University of the Sciences. The neighborhood had become attached to Doorway to Achievement and lobbied the University to have an updated version of it created for their new residential building that was to be built on the lot. To their credit, U-Sciences didn’t hesitate and immediately reached out to me.

I worked to create a piece that paid proper homage to the lost painting while incorporating it’s new facilitators as well.

This project was sponsored and funded by University of the Sciences and Mural Arts Philadelphia.

A look at the process

This is a mural titled Doorway to Achievement. I created this in 2007 with a group of twenty 4th, 5th, and 6th graders at Alexander Wilson Elementary School at 46th and Woodland Ave. in west Philadelphia.

After 10 years the school was abandoned, the building torn down, and the lot sold to neighboring University of the Sciences.

I was commissioned to reimagine the main portion of the mural. The challenge was in successfully paying homage to the previous painting while updating it to reflect its new facilitators.

Miss Lucille was the block captain in 2007. She also assumed a prominent role in the painting. In 2019 she was not in the best of health and requested that I use her image from 12 years earlier. Here she sits on her front porch with her portrait from the demolished mural. The demolition team took special care to save it for her.

The original mural referenced a painting by 19th century painter James Tissot titled London Visitors. For my reference I used Brian and Susan, two close friends. Twelve years later they reprised their roll for an updated version.

These two images were taken in approximately the same location, however, in two separate buildings over a decade apart.

Studio Detail

Installation