Philadelphia Microcosm
June 18, 2019
Life is reflected in art in this collection of murals by Jon Laidacker. Philadelphia Microcosm is the newest addition to SEPTA's Jefferson Station thanks to Mural Arts! Come see for yourself - the murals are located in the Jefferson Station entryway at 12th & Filbert.
Philadelphia Microcosm by Jon Laidacker tells a story, but it also creates awareness around significant landmarks, people, and experiences of our city's past. This beautiful new mural celebrates the history of Reading Terminal Market over its 125 years of existence, including an incredile amount of diversity in merchants, goods, and experiences.
In a way, the Reading Terminal Market is a microcosm of the City of Philadelphia, full of people from all walks of life, from all over the world, and all of them are welcome. It's a place full of intersections, and it's intimately connected with the city's transit system - SEPTA - which brings people to and from the Reading Terminal Market.
The mural also showcases the interconnected world of SEPTA, and the network of sights and experiences our city offers through public transportation. Jefferson Station is the perfect setting for these stories!
Art can transform spaces - now what were once empty walls have become an experience where two worlds come together: a transportation hub and the connection to commerce at Reading Terminal Market. It also provides a better - more aesthetic experience for people passing through.
Mural Arts works with artists from Philadelphia and from all the world. Philadelphia Microcosm is part of Mural Arts Community Murals initiative which is deeply rooted in Mural Arts’ beginnings as a grassroots platform for the voices of everyday citizens. They collaborate with community members to imagine and lead projects that build social capital, develop a sense of communal ownership over space, represent diversity, and empower people to make change in their city.
Community Mural projects often highlight important figures and themes from Philadelphia’s history. A rigorous behind-the-scenes process provides community members with the tools and creative space to envision and then express what their stories look like in a public space.
The resulting artworks bring together neighbors and new friends, lifting up our leaders and heroes—visual reminders of who we are, who we have been, and where we are going.
Philadelphia Microcosm is the perfect example of this.
