Philadelphia (AP) — The mayor of Philadelphia served as the muse for her series, “Abbott Elementary,” during a ceremony on Wednesday honoring actor and producer Quinta Brunson, who received the city’s keys, alongside another mural at Brunson’s alma mater.
The producer, writer, and comedian marveled at the glimmering key presented to her by Philadelphia Mayor Sherrel Parker and exclaimed, “Wow! I want to spark everyone’s curiosity: what’s open?”
Brunson utilized the event held at Andrew Hamilton School to emphasize the significance of public education and the invaluable role of public school teachers, as well as the importance of music and arts education. Her family members attended, along with teachers and classmates who inspired the fictional school’s name in her show.
The mural, titled Blooming Function, was crafted by artist Athena Scott and incorporated feedback from students and staff at both Branson and Hamilton schools. The vibrant portrayal of actual people at school envelops the red brick exterior of the building.
Brunson shared that she was motivated by the murals along the metro route, particularly when seeing one of her teachers depicted. She expressed her hope for the mural to evoke a similar impact.
The actor shared that she produced the initial mockup that transformed her portrayal on the Emmy Award-winning show into a representation of a real community member by ABC.
“You don’t need to see celebrities on the wall; you need to see yourself on the wall,” she mentioned. “We are beautiful. It makes a difference, and it made a difference for me. I know that even a single child matters, as it can change their life.”
Jane Golden, executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia, expressed enthusiasm when Brunson highlighted her organization in an episode of the show. Philadelphia holds the title for the most murals in the U.S.
“Visitors to Philadelphia are often captivated by the art that embellishes the sides of buildings across the city,” she remarked. “For us, it’s about equity. It’s wonderful to have a world-class gallery or museum, but the ability to step outside and see vast public artwork that represents the community, especially through schools, is what truly matters.”
Source: apnews.com