Murals that Commemorate and Motivate: Art as a Tool for Social Change

NB: This event has been canceled. Please contact Jesse White, Arts & Spirituality Coordinator, at 610-566-4507, ext. 120 for more information.

Commissioned by Father Paul Washington, artists and musicians Walter Edmonds and Richard Watson painted 14 murals in the Church of the Advocate depicting the parallels between the Hebrew’s journey to the Promised Land and the Black experience in the United States. Valerie Anderson introduces these vibrant and powerful murals and invites participants to reflect on art as a tool for social change. Time and space will be provided for participants to write poetry or illustrate their own expressions/interpretations of a chosen text, just as the muralists did in response to Father Washington’s invitation in the 1970s.

Financial aid may be available. If you are seeking funds to participate in this program, click to review and complete our Financial Assistance Application and a Pendle Hill staff member will follow-up with you shortly (please do NOT register online). Thank you for your interest.

Leader(s)

Valerie Anderson (photo credit: Artwell)

Valerie Anderson is a skilled group facilitator, arts advocate, and social justice educator. She facilitates workshops utilizing the arts to generate discussion, heal trauma, share identity, and bring about social change. Valerie has served as a volunteer docent at the African American Museum in Philadelphia since 2008, and in 2014 she became the lead docent for the Church of the Advocate and its 14 Black history murals that parallel the Bible and the Black experience. Valerie has over 25 years as a master level social worker, and her group facilitation skills include working with women, children, and families on a variety of topics and in a variety of settings. She is a member of Green Street Friends Meeting (PA).

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