Every month, the Philadelphia Art Commission considers various projects from across the city. Their input on everything from signs outside local businesses to the layout of new playground equipment impacts the way that public spaces look in every neighborhood. A couple weeks ago, we told you about the Commission’s approval of a deal that ensures the Frank Rizzo statue will not return to its former perch on the front steps of the Municipal Services Building. Also this month, the Commission gave the green light to another project near City Hall when they approved plans from Mural Arts to replace a prominent mural overlooking LOVE Park.

Declaration of Independence by artist Peter Pagast appeared on the YMCA building at 1419 Arch St. in 2000 as part of a group of murals commissioned in advance of the Republican National Convention being held here. Some of those murals have stuck around for the last 25 years, while others disappeared rather quickly. For example, Symbolic Building of a City, which was located near 17th & Market, disappeared in 2002 when the building hosting it was demolished to make way for the Comcast Center. Impressively, Declaration of Independence has stuck around and has avoided being stolen. That doesn’t mean the mural isn’t a bit worse for the wear, with the bottom being painted over in 2018. Seemingly lacking an appetite to repair the mural, the owners of the property have pushed for a replacement.

From the Art Commission meeting, we learned that Mural Arts facilitated a commission from artist Shepard Fairey for a work exploring the issue of justice. Considering that the building housed the DA’s office for decades and with the Family Court building across the street, this feels quite apropos. After identifying their preferred option from the initial three submissions, modest modifications were implemented, including the removal of the text from the top of the mural, which will eventually get replaced with signage for the hotel currently operating at the property. Textile patterns were added in a nod to the city’s long connection with the industry and the use of the color yellow connects the work with the colors on the City’s flag. With the Art Commission approving the new mural (with the signage for the Courtyard Marriott already having the green light), installation is set to take place over a few days in September.

While murals aren’t intended to become permanent fixtures of the built environment, the 25 year old Declaration of Independence is substantially older than the newest iteration of LOVE Park across the street. The mural was there before Mayor Street kicked the skaters out of the park in 2001 (though unfortunately it’s not included in the LOVE Park level of Tony Hawk 2). We’ll see if the new mural, with fingernails that shine like justice and measuring 30′ across and 112′ tall, will have similar staying power.