Mural Arts: Design In Motion

Design In Motion: The Recycling Truck Project is a city-wide public art and graphic design project produced by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program in collaboration with The Design Center at Philadelphia University. The project was commissioned by the City of Philadelphia Streets Department to coincide with the introduction of Philadelphia's new city-wide single-stream recycling program.

The graphic designs which wrap ten City of Philadelphia recycling trucks are inspired by historical and contemporary textile patterns that celebrate elements of nature and are drawn from the collection of The Design Center at Philadelphia University.

From January through March 2009, artist Desireé Bender and over 60 students ranging in age from 8 to 18 enrolled in the Mural Arts Program's free after-school Big Picture program partnered on the conceptualization and design of graphic wraps for the recycling trucks. As part of the creative process, students were introduced by staff from The Design Center to its collection of textiles from around the world, including 19th and early 20th century textiles that document the emergence of Philadelphia as one of America's great textile producers of the time. The City of Philadelphia Streets Department Recycling Office also engaged students in a variety of learning experiences designed to expand their knowledge of and participation in the city's new single-stream recycling program.

On Earth Day 2009—Wednesday, April 22nd—all ten of the recycling trucks designed and wrapped under this new partnership made their debut at Love Park.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Mural ArtsProgram Philadelphia
• Recycling Trucks
• Earth Day
• Desireé Bender
• Big Picture Program
• Love Park
• Philadelphia
• City Hall