Mural Arts Program held a press conference today at Headhouse Square to announce their upcoming project that will pay tribute to The Legendary Roots (which is expected to be completed by July 2012). Artists can submit their ideas for the possibility to be chosen HERE (Deadline: November 21, 2011), and please check out the rest of the deets about the project that the organization posted below.
Mural Arts is excited to announce a brand new mural project that honors the homegrown hip hop trailblazers, cultural icons, and GRAMMY® Award winners, The Roots. From founders Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter and Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson’s humble beginnings at the High School for Creative and Performing Arts, to their staggering thirteen recorded albums, to an endless overseas touring schedule, and their current position as house band on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on NBC, The Roots have influenced generations of artists locally, nationally, and globally.
As we continue to redefine muralism in the 21st century, this mural project promises to be our most ambitious and far-reaching yet. Multimedia elements such as video, online interaction, on-site activation, with city-wide engagement through paint days, pop up studios, a strong curriculum for a youth arts component called “Roots 101”, and much more will be incorporated into this project.
The project will be located along South Street, an area in which Black Thought and ?uestlove practiced and showcased their musical skills. Working alongside Sports & Entertainment Financial Group, LLC (SEFG) and other arts and culture partners, Mural Arts will produce a larger-than-life mural to showcase the breadth of The Roots’ musical accomplishments and their place in the pantheon of Philadelphia’s rich musical history.
