Promethean Sparks
Inspired by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) building, which turns 100 this year, sixth-grade students at the Alain Locke School in West Philadelphia created the Promethean Sparks mural. The students collaborated with artist and educator Ben Volta to imagine how scientific imagery in the NAS building’s Great Hall—from the Prometheus mural by Albert Herter and the golden dome by Hildreth Meière—might look if recreated in the twenty-first century. Their vibrant mural is exhibited alongside a timeline of the NAS building, which depicts the accomplishments of the Academy in the context of US and world events over the past century.
Working with Mural Arts Philadelphia, students merged diverse scientific symbols to create new imagery and ignite new knowledge insights. Embodying a collective exploration of scientific heritage, this project empowered the students as creators. The students’ collection of unique designs reflects a journey of experimentation, learning, and discovery. Embracing roles beyond their student identities, they engaged as artists, scientists, and innovators.
Embodying a collective exploration of scientific heritage, this project empowered the students as creators.
Ben Volta works at the intersection of education, restorative justice, and urban planning. He views art as a catalyst for positive change in individuals and the institutions surrounding them. After completing his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, Volta began collaborating with teachers and students in Philadelphia public schools to create participatory art that is both exploratory and educational. Over nearly two decades, he has developed this collaborative process with public schools, art organizations, and communities, receiving funding for hundreds of projects in over 50 schools.
Mural Arts Philadelphia, the nation’s largest public art program, is rooted in the belief that art ignites change. For 40 years, Mural Arts has brought together artists and communities through a collaborative process steeped in mural-making traditions, creating art that transforms public spaces and individual lives.
