“Then and Now and All Around” Dedication

Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Academy of Natural Sciences will dedicate *Then and Now and All Around*, a large-scale mural by scientific illustrator Jane Kim. The work documents Philadelphia’s diverse birdlife and the connections among local species, ecologies, watersheds, and neighborhoods.

Created through the Avian Artist in Residence Program, a partnership between Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Academy of Natural Sciences, the mural grew out of the Academy’s 2023 exhibition *Illuminating Birds: Drawing as a Way of Knowing*. It features 21 bird species observed in Philadelphia between the 1800s and 2021, including species that have disappeared or become rare as well as those that have expanded or returned. Kim developed the project through research in the Academy’s archives, fieldwork, bird walks, and community events. Combining scientific illustration with muralism, the work considers biodiversity loss, resurgence, and adaptation while encouraging viewers to participate in conservation.

The dedication will reflect on Philadelphia’s changing ecosystem, recognize the artists and partner organizations involved in the mural, and honor the Academy of Natural Sciences’ continuing influence on Philadelphia’s scientific and creative communities.

When: November 20, 2026

Showtimes: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Tickets: Price not available

Event: Dedication of *Then and Now and All Around*

Artist: Jane Kim

Venue: 2331 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia

Related project: *Then and Now and All Around*

Program: Avian Artist in Residence Program, a joint partnership between Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Academy of Natural Sciences

Featured content: Twenty-one bird species documented in Philadelphia from the 1800s through 2021

Note: The mural is located at Frankford Avenue and York Street.