the marvelous murals of allentown

Today a Senior Girl Scout in the Heritage Patrol was doing a walking tour of the murals in downtown Allentown. My niece is a member of the patrol and volunteered to help.

Originally today was supposed to be raining. Driving rain. Rain of Biblical proportions. The type that gets a weather person so excited. it went north or south or to Timbuktu. Who knows. It's humid, but gorgeous. I called the girl and talked to the mom, what happens if it rains? She told me the plan B, and also mentioned that a minimum of 10 people needed to attend to make it count. I emailed all the people that usually walk with me and we changed course and did The Marvelous Murals of Allentown walk. We were not disappointed.

Attending: Bonnie, Megs, the wee one, Lydia, her friend Joleen, Angel, Darrell, and Bug. Yes, I brought 8 of the 10 people needed to reach the minimum.

 Plaza for the Spirit of the Arts, 2006; lead muralist Michael Webb

 Love Educates, 2006, 4th and Gordon; lead muralist Russell J Buckingham

Weaving the Fabric of Tomorrow, 2012, Gordon and North Jordan; lead muralist Matt Halm. Assistant muralist Alwing Lopez-Lewis. (Megan knows him. Not surprised he grew up to be an artist.)

 Alliance Park Mural, Chew and Law Streets

Bridging Communities, Embracing Change, 2004, 7th and Chew sts; lead Muralist Michelle A Ortiz. Assistant muralist Matt Heim.

 Sam's Mural, 2012, west Turner Street; lead muralist Rigo Peralta

 Preserving the Past to Brighten the Future, 2010, 10th and Turner

Rebirth, 2012, front wall. All three located on the same building between Turner between 9th and 10th. Lead muralist for all, Matt Heim

 Togetherness, 2012, side wall

 Youth, 2012, rear wall

 Better Days, 2013, 113 9th street, side wall of tattoo shop. Lead muralist Alwing Lopez-Lewis

All totaled it was a 5K. A slow 5K, but nevertheless 3.25 miles.  If you had the time, and it was open, then I'd also go to the post office at 5th and Hamilton. Eleven murals, all painted by Grifford Reynolds Beal as part of the New Deal. Murals on the walls, Mercer tiles on the floors.

Right before we returned four more walkers came.  I don't know how many came after I left, but you should go. It's terrific.

Before we left, the girls had a group hug.

[Since I do the Volkssport directions I have suggestions: Cross chew at 10th, not at Poplar. Give instructions to get back and to avoid construction. Make sure the girls talk to the group, not the wall. finally, and this might not be possible, try to always keep in mind a bathroom stop. Lydia was in dire straights. She finally went into a beauty salon and they left her go.]

The event started at the Art Park in Allentown. Right across the street from the Allentown Art Museum.  AAM is free all summer! (The art museum is usually only free Sundays.) Since my niece didn't need to be at her aunts as early as we first thought, we decided to take advantage of free art museum. Little did I know that the child had never been to an art museum. How is this possible? "I didn't know paintings came that large". "Wow". "Awesome". Need I say more? I promised to take her to Philly or the Met. We may never come out.