The Mural Arts Program of Philadelphia
presents
Mural Dedication: Tuskegee Airmen: They Met the Challenge
dedication time and location: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm at 20 S. 39th Street (39th & Market Streets)

The dedication will be followed by a “Salon” exhibition of student work associated with the project, to be held at The Rotunda from 3:15 – 5:15 p.m.

Please note: rain location for the dedication will be The Rotunda.

This mural celebrates the achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen, the nation’s first African American military airmen and women. African American men and women participated in air crew, ground crew and operations support training in the Army Air Corp during WWII, and distinguished themselves in combat. Many of the original Tuskegee Airmen hail from Philadelphia, and this mural honors their contribution.

Muralist Marcus Akinlana worked with original members of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen to create a mural design that incorporates images of the airmen when they were young men. The mural has an intergenerational scope. Elements of the design were inspired by Airmen descriptions about their boyhood dreams of learning how to fly.

Last summer, Marcus Akinlana led sculpture workshops with students from the Mural Arts Program Diego Rivera Mural Academy. Bas-relief sculptures designed and created by the students were incorporated in the mural. Students also created portraits of the Airmen, which were exhibited last summer at the Paul Green School of Rock art gallery.

For more information, please contact Cheryl Durgans, Project Manager, at 215.685.0739 or cheryl.durgans@muralarts.org.