HughE Dillon One-Shot: The Roots Mural in Philadelphia

The Mural Arts Program will honor the homegrown group

Yesterday, the city’s Mural Arts Program announced the launch of an eight-month-long mural project to honor the Grammy Award-winning, Philadelphia group The Roots. On hand were Jane Golden, MAP executive director, Mayor Michael Nutter, and The Roots’ Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and Kamal Gray. Trotter said they were deeply honored that the city would create a mural based on The Roots timeline. He also recalled his past history in creating art on the walls of the city: He was sentenced to take part in the Anti-Graffiti Network after being caught tagging a few Philadelphia walls. Golden says the mural doesn’t have a specific location yet, but will be painted near 3rd and South by artists to be determined. (Interested artists have until November 21st to contact Mural Arts.) The project will feature on-site programming, including an education program called “The Roots 101,” and an interactive website with behind-the-scenes videos of the mural being created. The work will be done on parachute-cloth material, and the public will be able to participate in some aspect of the mural-making process set to begin this fall.