Article on Civic Power Studio featured at Shelterforce

This article took me a long time — I went back and forth with Aviva, the Village’s executive director and my best editor, many times to make sure my explanation of the Civic Power Studio was succinct, logical, and also captured the passion and creativity of the neighbors who inspired the project.

Anyway, I’m proud of it, and Shelterforce Magazine picked it up. Thanks to the great editors there.

At the center of The Village of Arts and Humanities‘ creative campus in North Philadelphia, 10 tall mosaic angels guard a scrubby grass lot, well-worn with foot traffic. Their graceful hands hold books and swords. Their eyes, made from mirrored glass, catch and reflect all viewers in their gaze.

Village founders Lily Yeh and James “Big Man” Maxton designed and installed this angel mosaic to mark safe passage for children through a dim alleyway on our campus. Angel Park is one of our best-loved murals. It’s also a landmark of civic power. The angels remind us of our community’s ability to see and create what is needed, to shape our environment into images of beauty and power, and to protect our most vulnerable members.