Faith XLVII’s Largest Mural Promotes Positivity for a Golden Future, Philadelphia 2019

International urban artist Faith XLVII has recently painted her largest mural to date… a 19 storey high mural! produced by Mural Arts Philadelphia and created for University Square complex.

The huge mural is titled ‘The Silent Watcher’, and covers 11,000 square feet on the eastern wall of the University Square building. A young woman watches over the east side of University Square, an affordable housing complex for seniors. With the use of geometric lines and a gold colour gradient, the viewers eyes and focus are lifted upwards, encouraging hope and positive aspirations for a brighter future. Faith XLVII included the words “Philadelphia Maneto” from the City’s official seal, meaning “Let Brotherly Love Endure.”

‘I come from a country that is seething with the frustration of uncontrollable violence and woman abuse, xenophobia , class and racial divide. And have moved to a country where there seems to be a fundamental crisis in the very soul of the nation. 
We know this ache of our lands. And we all know personal ache. Everybody has their struggle to bear. 
And with the weight of the world on our shoulders, we must still be able to live with empathy. We must somehow keep our hearts open. 
The words on this wall are a reference to the City Seal of Philadelphia with calls out for brotherly love. This is no small commitment. 
It also references a quote ‘Optimism is a strategy for a Better Future.’ Paying tribute to Noam Chomsky who was born in Philadelphia and is 91 years old this year.
The harsh experiences of life can easily make us fall into a negative world view, or inner psychological depression. But we each have the ability to transform this base metal of knowing suffering, into the gold of higher aspiration. 
The name of this mural is  ‘The Silent Watcher’ We can be the silent watcher, who knows, who loves and who endures.’ Faith XLVII

The alchemical quest describes this process which transmutes us from base metal into gold, bringing us from a state of ignorance and fragmentation into one of enlightenment and wholeness.

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.” Noam Chomsky

Check out the short video below covering the murals creation by Chop’em Down Films …

Film / Photo Credit as stated Chop’em Down Films and Steve Weinik of Mural Arts Philadelphia

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