The city of Philadelphia A unique collection of artwork honoring victims of violent crime was unveiled Wednesday by District Attorney Larry Krasner, Mural Arts Philadelphia representatives, and families affected by homicide. Russell Craig’s two-year residency with the District Attorney’s Office CARES Unit, which provides trauma-informed resources to co-victims of homicide, comes to an end with the reveal.
Craig’s artwork, which honors the lives of Philadelphians lost to violence, will be exhibited in several notable city landmarks, such as the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice, LOVE Park, and City Hall. The banners will be displayed as an homage to healing and commemoration by Mural Arts Philadelphia, which is well-known for its expansive public art initiatives.
Craig, a self-taught artist who started making paintings when he was incarcerated for almost ten years, has gained global notoriety for his creations. The Philadelphia African American Museum has displayed his artwork, and publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post have highlighted it. Craig has also received other notable fellowships, such as the Ford Foundation’s Art for Justice Fellowship, and is a graduate of Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Restorative Justice Guild program.
Eric Smith Sr., whose son Eric Smith Jr. was murdered by gun violence, considered the meaning of the images during the unveiling. He added that victims of gun violence are speaking up. Smith gave appreciation to the CARES Unit of the District Attorney for providing him with hope following the death of his son. “They helped me get back up when I was at my lowest,” he said.
The partnership was commended by Jane Golden, Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia, who emphasized the transformational potential of public art. Murals are really huge. According to her, they astonish us, envelop us with significance, and function as instruments of empathy, compassion, and healing.
Craig’s residency and the artwork that sprang from it serve as a moving reminder of the long-lasting effects of gun violence while providing a way for those impacted to find healing.
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