Eco Mural 14: Barn Swallows
Location: S.S. Bernard LLC, 1004 South Saint Bernard St., Philadelphia, PA
Artist: Designed, illustrated, and painted by Hagopian Arts
Distinctive and Dashing
If you live in America, it’s likely you’ve seen a Barn Swallow. These dashing acrobats dart through the air in order to catch insects, then return to man-made structures where they build their nests out of mud pellets and grass. Their deep blue markings, orange chests, and striking forked tails make them a treasured sight in America.
Indigenous Folklore for Fiery Flier
These beautiful birds have been friends of people in America for centuries, and signal the coming of spring as they make their annual migration back from South America. Swallows are incredible long-distance migrants, flying up to two hundred miles per day in order to reach appropriate temperatures throughout the year. A common Indigenous American folklore tells of a daring swallow who stole fire from the gods in order to give it to humans. In retaliation, an angry deity threw a firebrand at the bird, singeing off the center of his tail, resulting in the unique fork. Science has taught us that Barn Swallows actually use their tails to chase down insects and perform impressive aerial stunts. Swallows also drink and bathe on the wing, dipping into bodies of water near their nests as they soar. Their distinctive tails and the shape of their wings have been studied extensively by scientists and engineers to provide insight for designing airplanes and jets.
Environmental Degradation and Displacement
Barn Swallows are a unique addition to the Eco Mural Project due to their prevalence and success in adapting to human encroachment on wild spaces, but even these birds face the strain of environmental degradation. Barn Swallows that are rural are impacted by agricultural pesticides and the runoff the chemicals create, poisoning their food and water. (For more on pesticide impacts on insects, especially honeybees, visit our Honeybee and Pollination Page.)
Because Barn Swallows almost exclusively create their nests in human-built structures, they are subject to the changing urban landscape and are often displaced by construction and renovation. Many migratory birds like the Barn Swallow are facing major disruptions in their normal migration routes, resulting in huge die-offs each season. Scientists are currently working hard to certify the direct causes, but it is understood that constant human encroachment on their routes and the unpredictable weather conditions caused by climate change are major factors.
True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings.
William Shakespeare
When studying the effects of environmental degradation, pollution, and climate change, it’s important to include species that are extremely populous as well as the endangered ones. Climate change affects all creatures, even those who are seemingly successful in adapting to the impact of humans.
Even Barn Swallows have seen a decline in population over the past few decades, and the causes can all be traced back to inactivity on environmental restoration and stopping climate change.
About the Eco Mural and Wild Medicine Projects
The Eco Mural Project by Hagopian Arts is an ongoing series of public art installations designed to educate and inspire action on ecological and cultural issues. Each mural is a meticulously detailed, one-of-a-kind piece, blending vibrant artistry with rigorous research. These murals transport viewers into immersive natural environments, revitalizing urban spaces while addressing pressing concerns about environmental degradation.
Within this initiative, the Wild Medicine Eco Mural Project focuses specifically on the cultural heritage of medicinal plants. Through detailed depictions and thoughtful programming, the series highlights the historical, cultural, and healing significance of plants, fostering a deeper connection between individuals and the natural world. The Eco Mural Project is rooted in the belief that reconnecting communities with nature can profoundly impact mental and physical health. These murals showcase the beauty of local flora and fauna, enlivening public spaces and encouraging residents to see their environment in a new light. This engagement inspires a sense of pride, belonging, and collective responsibility for the natural world.
To enhance accessibility, each mural includes a scannable QR code linking viewers to a webpage that provides detailed information about the artwork, the plants featured, and their historical and cultural significance. These pages also honor Indigenous histories by sharing the uses, markers, and cultural associations of the depicted flora and fauna.
Community-Driven Programming and Collaborations
Hagopian Arts amplifies the impact of its murals through live events, educational initiatives, and community partnerships that engage people across generations and cultures.
Honoring Indigenous Histories and Local Ecosystems
A standout project in the Wild Medicine Series is Eco Mural 21 at Bartram’s Garden, a series of freestanding mini murals showcasing medicinal plants historically used by the Lenni Lenape people. Designed with community input, the murals feature local flora, Lenape beadwork patterns, and depictions of children on the riverbank where passionflowers grow.
Hagopian Arts conducted extensive research into Bartram’s Garden’s historical catalog to honor the Lenape people’s contributions and highlight the cultural significance of the plants. At the unveiling event on September 15th, Melaney Gilchrist, a West Philadelphia herbalist, and mindfulness yoga practitioner Nakesha Moore of Breathe Moore led workshops for community families. These sessions explored the medicinal properties of the plants while fostering connections between art, history, and wellness practices.
Through its murals and programming, Hagopian Arts creates vibrant spaces for education, inspiration, and dialogue. The Eco Mural Project bridges art and environmental advocacy, encouraging communities to cherish their local ecosystems and honor the cultural and historical ties that bind them to the natural world.
Highlighting Interconnectivity
As part of the Wild Medicine Eco Mural Project, Hagopian Arts created Eco Mural 20: Artelo to celebrate the interdependent relationships between plants, pollinators, and human communities. This mural was a collaborative effort with Square Roots Collective and 14 other public artists contributing uniquely to the Artelo hotel project. While each artist brought a distinct vision to the hotel’s art-filled rooms, Hagopian Arts focused on the ecological and cultural themes central to the Wild Medicine Eco Mural Project.
To expand its reach, Hagopian Arts hosted interactive workshops that engaged community members in the creative process: At Hyacinth Montessori School in West Philadelphia, children aged 6–12 participated in a painting workshop, learning about local flora and pollinators while contributing sections to the mural. This activity incorporated yoga and mindfulness practices led by Breathe Moore, blending creativity and well-being.
At John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, community members painted portions of the mural while learning about the featured species and their roles in local ecosystems.
In September 2024, Hagopian Arts partnered with the Kennett Trails Alliance and Artelo for a public mural painting event during the Hispanic Heritage Festival in Kennett Square. Using a paint-by-number system and hand-mixed colors, participants painted sections inspired by the flora, fauna, and geometric patterns of Eco Mural 20. The mural, once finalized by Hagopian Arts, will be installed in Kennett Square in 2025, further expanding its impact and reach.
Wild Medicine: A Multidimensional Creative Experience
This live event combined public art, botanical installations, body-painted models, and performance art to merge the worlds of creativity and herbal wisdom. Hosted in collaboration with women artists, herbalists, and grassroots organizers, the event invited participants to explore the healing connections between art and nature.
Ancient Ancestral Connections
Eco Mural 18: Women’s Wild Medicine celebrates the ancestral bond between women and medicinal plants, featuring women from diverse cultural backgrounds alongside flora from their heritage. Installed at Penn OB/GYN, the mural also serves as a pilot for the Women’s Wild Medicine Initiative, a community-driven effort that highlights the healing power of native plants and their historical ties to women.
Wild Medicine Coloring Journal and Foraging Guide
In collaboration with educator and illustrator Katie Lillard, Hagopian Arts produced the Wild Medicine Journal and Coloring Illustration Booklet, inspired by the two murals created for Wild Medicine Eco Mural 15: Mugwort, Mullein, and Mallow. The booklet features twenty medicinal plants rendered in Hagopian Arts’ signature style, blending pattern, naturalism, and realism.
Hagopian Arts distributed the journal and accompanying foraging guides to schools and community organizations to introduce youth aged 3-18 to ecological awareness in both traditional and nontraditional learning settings. These resources were also shared during a mural unveiling, empowering community members to safely connect with wild plants and explore their uses in daily life.
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