murals – Ornamento

What I made in Olivia Surratt’s Class

I first met Olivia Surratt at a two-day workshop the Philadelphia Area Polymer Clay Guild sponsored with Robert Dancik. For some reason, I liked Olivia right from the start. I don’t know why; sometimes that’s the way it goes. So when Olivia offered to teach a wire and fusing class to benefit the guild, I jumped at the chance to take it, even though wire working is not new to me. Not only has Olivia studied with some great teachers, no matter what you think you know, you can always learn something new or a better way to do something from a good teacher. Olivia did not disappoint me.

One of the first things I did was to replace my portable butane torch with the model Olivia likes best, the original Blazer GB 2001 Self Igniting Micro Blazer Torch. It actually costs less than the torch I already have, but works so much better.

Olivia and Pauline, her trusty assistant, led us through her methods for fusing fine solver and wrapping with copper wire. I used beads I made. Here are some pictures. I give the class an A plus!

It’s Mural Arts Month in Philadelphia. Go out and kiss a mural!!!

For earlier posts on Philadelphia Murals, press here and here.

Twenty Five Years of Mural Art in Philadelphia

Happy Birthday to the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program which is 25 years old this month and still going strong. I feel lucky to live in a city where I can see beautiful paintings on the sides of buildings where ever I go. I get to walk past two of my favorite murals on my way to work.

The mural at Hahnemann Hospital on North Broad Street is near my workplace.

The mural of former mayor Frank Rizzo is near my home in the heart of South Philadelphia. Some people loved him and some people hated him, but he was always larger than life. And so is his mural.

Here’s to the next 25 years!

But wait, there’s more!

Wall Watching is an invitational photography exhibit of showing the murals as part of the city landscape instead big paintings. The exhibit is free to the public and runs to November 13 in the West portal hallway of City Hall in Philadelphia. You can even follow the mural program on Twitter! And check out Art in City Hall to get information about the many other interesting art exhibits scheduled there.

Isaiah Zagar’s Walls

One of the things I love about Philadelphia are its tiny streets and lanes located off the main avenues. These thoroughfares date from long ago when servant’s quarters and horse barns (now desirable and expensive living quarters) were situated in the back alleys, and houses had boot scrapers near their doors so people could clean mud off their shoes before entering.

I didn’t discover these little streets until I stopped taking the bus everywhere and started walking. One of the most attractive features of the little byways in the Bella Vista neighborhood of Philadelphia are Isaiah Zagar’s tile and glass mosaics. They cover the facades of selected buildings waiting to surprise you as you turn a corner.

Here’s a slideshow of pictures I took on a walk through the neighborhood.

Synergy I: Looking Back

The National Guild asked Synergy attendees to bring memorabilia to pin on a giant bulletin board in the back of The Big Room. The idea was to commemorate milestones in polymer clay. If I’d been more attentive, I would have noted things like Marie Segal adapting the pasta machine and Judith Skinner’s invention that ranks up there with antibiotics and air conditioning. But I didn’t. I was having too much fun. This is what I got. I hope these pictures bring back some memories for you.

Philadelphia Murals

By: ornamento.blog August 1, 2007August 2, 2007

art, creativity, crafts, inspiration, history, Landscape, murals, Personal History, politics4 Comments

Philadelphia is a city of row houses. That’s one of our claims to fame. We used to be an industrial city and row houses provided cheap shelter for the people who worked at places like the Baldwin Locomotive Works and the Stetson Hat Company. When a row house was torn down, however, a party wall was exposed that was pretty ugly. We also battle a graffiti problem.

The Philadelphia Mural Arts program began as a way to beautify the City and to combat graffiti. We now have beautiful murals in all parts of the City. They are a vibrant reflection of life and character of each neighborhood.

The pictures you see here are of two of my favorite murals. There are lots more. If you come to Philadelphia, you should ride around and take a look at them. For more information on the mural arts program, go to

http://www.muralarts.org/about/