Donors hope to keep school murals going up

When retired accountant David Perelman heard about the Philadelphia School District's budget cuts in the spring, he felt that he had to act.

He was particularly disturbed that the district was cutting $355,000 from the Philadelphia Mural Arts program, which over the last three years had brought artists into 68 city schools to work with students on painting murals that depict their schools' cultures and students. It is one of two supplemental arts programs that saw their funding axed.

"When there are money problems, it's always the arts that go first," said Perelman, 80, a city native who now lives in Whitemarsh. "They worry about what's on the table rather than what's in our souls."

So Perelman and his friend Phil Lindy, 77, a Center City resident who has been in construction and real estate management, decided to make donations to keep the program going. Lindy has pledged $20,000 and Perelman $5,000.

It doesn't end there.

They hope their generosity will start a cascade of corporate and private donations to the program.

"Our job is to just be two guys who are concerned and who are asking the rest of the city to join in with us, as these are everybody's kids and it's everybody's city," Perelman said. ". . . Public spirit is a kind of inertial thing. It doesn't start moving easily, but once set in motion, it can attain enormous strength. We see this as a way to start that inertial flow."

Jane Golden, director of the mural program, who is trying to raise money to keep the school program going, was elated. A total of $80,000 has been pledged so far from four sources.

A fund-raiser also is planned for Thursday.

A second school arts program is also turning to the public to make up cuts in district funding.

The Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership, which brings professional artists into schools and received a $330,000 cut in funding, also is planning a fund-raiser in November to help keep that program going. The group has raised about $85,000.

"It's our first foray into a fund-raising gala," said Pearl Schaeffer, executive director, who added that proceeds also would benefit other programs run by the partnership. "It's a way to start not only raising money, but actually raising awareness for arts in education and for these programs."

District officials say they appreciate the efforts.

"The school district is extremely grateful to the cultural community that has been there to support us so much and continues to be a vibrant force to ensure a quality education for every child," said Dennis Creedon, the administrator for the district's office of creative and performing arts.

While funding increased for the arts under former chief executive officer Paul Vallas - including $3 million for new instruments - many schools are without art and music teachers, which were a staple in every school decades ago.

The latest budget crisis, which left the district with a deficit that was recently closed, forced the cuts in the mural and professional artists programs.

The district funding for Mural Arts had supported murals at 20 schools each year, plus three intensive summer programs, Golden said.

The artists work with 30 to 50 students at each school, usually creating one major mural and several smaller ones. The students share in the designing and painting and learn about the subjects of the murals.

The murals, both inside and outside the schools, have become a bright spot in a district where buildings are often old and shabby.

At Olney High, students with the help of adult artists used the theme of heritage and designed a mural with panels depicting culture and scenes from each of the seven continents. The mural, which also features portraits of Olney students and several of their collaborators who are from Ireland, was painted on panels of parachute paper and is being glued on a 180-by-30-foot section on the Ashdale Street side of the building.

"I'm so happy," said Monica Mathieu, 17, a senior, as she gazed up at her portrait. "I never thought I would actually be on a mural. Now I'm on it. Knowing that's going to be here for a long time, I'm so psyched."

Rita J. Hardy, principal of Olney West, said she was gratified to watch students on their hands and knees painting the mural in the summer. About 100 students from around the city were involved in the painting. The outdoor mural is in addition to two other murals inside the building.

"What stands out the most for me is that it represents hopes and aspirations," Hardy said of the mural. "Everyone is looking up, because they're looking toward their dreams."

Yvonne Fuller, 17, a senior, surprised herself.

"I didn't think it was going to come out this good," she said proudly. "Like a pro did it."

At Gideon School in North Philadelphia, a project resulted in a mural painted in part by students and in part by Graterford Prison inmates. Some students at Gideon have parents who are incarcerated, Golden said, explaining the link. The students depicted in the mural have perfect attendance or straight A's.

The project at Richard Wright School in North Philadelphia yielded portraits of students and words of hope and inspiration.

Students at South Philadelphia High School studied mural-making and classical architecture as they helped to depict an ancient Greek building and some students dressed in classical garb.

Hackett School in Fishtown features a mural with a Celtic theme for the school's large Irish population.

Bank of America, a longtime corporate partner of Mural Arts, has donated $25,000 and plans to lead an effort to get other corporate sponsors.

"We have to get our young people to say no to guns and yes to art and opportunities," said Daniel Fitzpatrick, who heads Bank of America's operations in the Philadelphia area.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has promised $30,000, Golden said. Other foundations are contemplating donations.

Rhonda Lauer, chief executive officer of Foundations Inc., a nonprofit managing four city schools in northwest Philadelphia, said Lindy's money would be used toward a mural at Kinsey Elementary. In addition, Foundations will try to raise about $5,000 from the community to support the mural.

"When there is that match, there is that buy-in on the part of the people who live there," Lauer said.

Also, a mural was recently completed at Chester Arthur School. A project also is under way at Taggart Elementary, and others are under discussion at Hartranft and Bache Martin, Golden said.

The larger Mural Arts program, which has been operating in the city since 1997, is diverting funds from two other youth initiatives to help with the school-based program, Golden said.

"As more funds come in," she said, "we'll look at the waiting list and make decisions about which schools we can serve."

To contribute to the Philadelphia Mural Arts program, call 215-685-0759 and ask for Robert Smith.

To contribute to the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership, call 215-717-6596 and ask for Pearl Schaeffer.EndText

View a video interview with Jane Golden, Mural Arts Program director, at http://go.philly.com/olneymural

and a slideshow with more pictures at http://go.philly.com/olneyhighmural.EndText

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