Public sinks marked by murals have been installed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 around Philadelphia, PA, USA. This initiative to install hand washing stations and large artworks was led by Nicole Renae McDonald from The Broad Street Ministry, Ginger Rudolph from HAHA Magazine, Conrad Benner from the Streets Dept, and Jane Golden from Mural Arts Philadelphia. Sponsorship came from Starbucks and the Independence Foundation.
During this pandemic, The Broad Street Ministry will continue to provide life-sustaining services to the most vulnerable and marginalized Philadelphians. Their main facility will remain open throughout the novel coronavirus pandemic to provide takeout meals, personal care bags, and mail delivery for people who depend upon their services. If you have the means at this time, please donate to The Broad Street Ministry’s efforts.
Many of us likely found ourselves at a loss when The World Health Organization characterized the impact of Covid-19 as a global pandemic. However, our comprehension of the seriousness of this health threat was both cemented and compounded by the sweeping changes this designation meant for our overall wellness. In a moment where life as we know it has halted, we are forced to acknowledge our glaring economic disparities wherein access to simple resources that can keep us all safe and healthy, such as a place to wash our hands, heightened precarity for some and a slight reprieve for others. We hope that with more public resources, grace will abound in our communities, even as we respectfully and responsibly continue to practice social distancing.
There are four murals, painted by artist Symone Salib, Dora Cuenca, NDA, and Nile Livingston. The 8 foot by 8 foot artworks along with public sinks can be found at the following locations: Broad Street Ministry (315 South Broad Street), 839 South Street, 2774 Kensington Avenue, and 1700 Block of East-Bound Vine Street.
