Over the summer and fall, commuters along Philadelphia’s Vine Street Expressway have been treated to the spectacle of a ten-story tall mural rising on the side of the Crane Building, the mixed-used building that includes much-needed affordable housing and community facilities for the Chinatown neighborhood.
承前啓後 – The Past Supporting the Future, is a mural that was inspired by the Chinatown and AAPI communities throughout Philadelphia: their migration stories, the uniqueness of the neighborhood, and their visions for the future of Chinatown. The wondrous work – by Asian artists Eurhi Jones, Chenlin Cai, and Yvonne Lung, was commissioned by Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation as part of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority’s Percent for Art Program, in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC). The mural has been three years in the making.
Shortly after the artists were selected in early 2020, COVID-19 hit and spread rapidly across our country, permeating throughout our communities and ratting our most vulnerable populations. The artist team recognized that with the pandemic and its ensuing economic and social impacts on the Chinatown and AAPI populations, reaching out to the community to hear their stories and experiences was critical to their planning process. However, with the pandemic came challenges to traditional, in person efforts. Restrictions on in person events across the city lead Mural Arts Philadelphia to facilitate virtual community engagement and intergenerational oral history sessions to gather stories and information. Art workshops were held later on in a mix of virtual and in person settings.
In 2021, Chinatown celebrated 150 years since its establishment. These years were not without struggle, as the neighborhood has faced challenges that threatened its very existence. Fights against government organizations, developers, and gentrification have engrained a sense of intergenerational resiliency and a deep love for their neighborhood. In July 2022, Chinatown was challenged by a $1.3 billion project proposal for a new arena for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Past Supporting the Future is filled with cultural symbolism for both the Chinese and widespread AAPI communities across Philadelphia, artist Chenlin Cai told The Philadelphia Inquirer in October. For example, the crane taking flight sybolizes a for Chinatown to have a bright and prosperous future, and the lanterns which will bring luck and protecting to the neighborhood. Cai added that the collaborative efforts of the mural expanded far beyond the three lead artists, and included artist assistants and interns, as well as hundreds of youth volunteers. Cai noted that this is a “dream come true project” for him, and hopes to be able to celebrate the mural with everyone who is involved when it is completed, hopefully in mid-November.
To see more images of this mural, visit @phillychinatowncranemurals on Instagram.
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