AACR Philadelphia Marathon Joins Mural Arts Philadelphia In New Collaboration

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Four artists. Four wonderful designs depicting 25 years of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Philadelphia Marathon -- a great race for a great cause.  This year, in honor of the 25^th Anniversary, and in a special collaboration, Mural Arts Philadelphia is joining together with the Marathon to create a new mural and have the runners and the public vote for their favorite design, which will then be painted on a wall on the race route and unveiled next year. The designs will be displayed both in the Health and Fitness EXPO at the Convention Center, Friday November 16 from 11:00 am ? 9:00 pm and Saturday, November 17, from 11:00 am ? 7:00 pm as well as on the Jumbotrons at the AACR Philadelphia Marathon Finish Line on Sunday, November 18.

Stated Executive Director of Marathon Events, Leo Dignam, "Everyone connected to the AACR Philadelphia Marathon is excited about this. Mural Arts is a phenomenal partner, and given that Philadelphia is known as 'the City of Murals,' what could be better than immortalizing the Philadelphia Marathon with a mural along the race route? These artists are amazing, and we can't wait to see what the winning design will be."

Remarked Jane Golden, Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia: "Each year, people from all over the world come to Philadelphia to see our murals, just as they come from all over the world  to compete in the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend. When they approached us to help celebrate their 25^th year, we were thrilled at the opportunity to create a new mural along the marathon route that will celebrate and commemorate the joy and excitement of the race."

The proposed mural designs will be displayed at the Philadelphia Marathon EXPO, and at the Marathon itself on the Jumbotrons. Ballots may be cast at the EXPO as well as online at www.philadelphiamarathon.com/mural. Only one vote is allowed per person.

The artists included in the competition are:

Ernel Martinez was born in Belize. He was raised in South Central Los Angeles and Detroit. His introduction to the art world came in the form of graffiti. He studied art at Pratt Institute and attained his BFA from  Kutztown University. In 2004, he received his MFA from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2003, Ernel began making public art in the City of Philadelphia, as well as working with various non-profits and social services to provide art to disenfranchised youth. His artistic practice focuses on creative methods to give urban communities the tools to tell their stories through art making. He uses their stories as a framework to produce social practice artwork to engage and build dialogue.

David McShane has been a lead mural project artist for Mural Arts Philadelphia since 1996, and has completed over 100 large, outdoor, community-based murals in the Philadelphia area.  His murals include over a dozen elementary school transformations projects in partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Phillies Mural, the Philadelphia Stars Negro League Mural, the Herman Wrice Mural, the Larry Fine Mural, the Jackie Robinson Mural, several fallen police officer and firefighter tribute murals, and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Mural. Outside of Philadelphia, David has received grants to create community murals in Coatesville and Middletown Township, PA, Dublin, Ireland, and in the suburbs of Paris, France.  He also creates fine art paintings in his studio, and has exhibited his work at the LaSalle University Art Museum, Artists' House Gallery, Temple Gallery of the Tyler School of Art, the University City Arts League, the Philadelphia Office of Arts and Culture, and Nexus Gallery.  David was raised in Audubon, New Jersey and received degrees from LaSalle University and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  He is married to artist Eurhi Jones and has two daughters.

Kala Hagopian is a Philadelphia-based muralist best known for vibrant, highly detailed public art pieces. She was born in rural Peacham, Vermont, and was highly influenced by a childhood spent in nature. Kala has been a working artist in Philadelphia since 2005, and received her Certificate from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 2009. After graduating, she co-founded her first mural collective, Chroma Dolls. In 2015, she established Hagopian Arts, a company that has gained a reputation for luminous and environmentally minded murals. Kala describes herself as a "fine-art muralist," specializing in meticulous realism interspersed with bright pattern and atmosphere. Hagopian Arts recently began the Eco Mural Project, an initiative that seeks to raise environmental awareness by introducing depictions of natural ecosystems into urban spaces.   

Cesar Viveros Herrera has spent nearly 20 years creating public art in the United States and his Native Mexico, and has collaborated with Mural Arts Philadelphia since 1997. His public work has been inspired by the communities he has served throughout the years, to whom he has become the extended voice of their particular ideology, recurring primarily on documentary work that helped him to visually articulate these individual stories to be exposed to a broader audience. Aztec dances and ceremonies, miniature altars, sculptures, fresco painting, mosaic, and feather work are some signature elements of his work.

Mural Arts Philadelphia is the nation's largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. For over 30 years, Mural Arts has united artists and communities through a collaborative and equitable process, creating nearly 4,000 artworks that have transformed public spaces and individual lives. Mural Arts aims to empower people, stimulate dialogue, and build bridges to understanding with projects that attract artists from Philadelphia and around the world, and programs that focus on youth education, restorative justice, mental health and wellness, and public art and its preservation. Popular mural tours offer a firsthand glimpse into the inspiring stories behind Mural Arts' iconic and unparalleled collection, which has earned Philadelphia worldwide recognition as the "City of Murals."

About Philadelphia Marathon Weekend:
The Philadelphia Marathon Weekend welcomes nearly 30,000 runners, 60,000 spectators, and 3,000 volunteers each year. Race Weekend 2018 features the AACR Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 18; the Dietz & Watson Half Marathon, Rothman Orthopaedics 8K and Dunkin' Munchkin Run on Saturday, November 17; and a free two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17. Race participants pass many of Philadelphia's famous attractions on the swift and scenic USATF-certified course, which is a Boston qualifier. Take the first step to experiencing 26.2 miles of fun, beauty, history and excitement by registering at www.philadelphiamarathon.com.

For more information, call 215-685-0750 or visit muralarts.org. Follow us on social media: @muralarts on Twitter and Instagram, MuralArtsPhiladelphia on Facebook, and phillymuralarts on YouTube. For more information about the AACR 2018 Philadelphia Marathon, please visit www.philadelphiamarathon.com.

SOURCE AACR Philadelphia Marathon