What Chester Grows: A community Portrait by Misty Sol, 2023

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A seed has blossomed into the Community Mural Art Project’s “Chester Grows,” a 20-by-30-foot vibrantly colored mural, painted by Lead artist Misty Sol, (with assistant muralists Priscilla Bell, Paul Trefz, Ayah Pearson and Mosadi Pearson), now adorns the Melrose Avenue side of Widener’s Metropolitan Hall.

The mural represents and honors Chester’s residents, history, industrial past, and distinct character. 

For Widener to be able to walk past it and educate themselves… I want others to understand the importance of engaging with the community.” — Ijjae Hill '23 '25

The design and creation of the mural is a true community effort.

Mural organizers, the mural artist, and the residents who served as the inspiration for the design, were all on hand for the unveiling.

Flowers and fresh produce are strewn about, inspired by the city’s gardens and specifically the Ruth Bennett Community Farm. Part of the Chester Housing Authority, the farm provides fresh, affordable produce to the community, including to residents who live in public housing. 

“As a black woman and former resident, I know that Chester is a city with the heart of a small town,” said Sol in her artist’s statement. “I know that Chester grows generations of big beautiful black families: legacy, love, genius, and leadership. Chester grows greatness. This mural is a tribute to the rich soil of Chester's history and it is a love letter to the local farms, families, activists, and artists working to ensure that Chester grows a bright future."

Several paint sessions and interviews were held on campus and in the community.

Once the mural design was set, paint sessions were held at Widener and around the city, including at neighboring Stetser Elementary School and at the Boys & Girls Club, so that the greater community had a role in creating the piece. 

“It’s not only a painting of individuals, but it’s painted by individuals. That’s what means the most to me,” said Hill. 

At the bottom of the mural is a short poem written by robotics engineering major Adonijah Allsup ’23: “Special voices. varied in pitch and cadence meant to influence the world. Their presence and influence will be felt from pole to pole and continent to continent.”

The mural was intentionally positioned on a public-facing side of a campus building so that the larger community could reflect on and enjoy it.

questions to consider…and Answers from Misty Sol

1. The main image in the photo is Ms. Debbie. She is a Chester community member, a mother, and she represents the great family matriarchs of Chester, PA.

2. The couch represents home and comfort.

3. This scene takes place in the living room/family photo gallery. That's important because that's the place where everyone comes together.

4. I interviewed many Chester residents at the local farm and asked them about their favorite vegetables and flowers. I included the most popular ones in the painting. Sunflowers are also used to refer to Black people in American popular culture.

5. There are many veggies included in the box including greens like lettuce, kale, collards, squash, cucumbers and tomatoes. During the mural process I attended an environmental justice meeting and residents want fresh clean air. That's why the box says "fresh air".

6. See number 5 :)

7. The books in the mural are important because they are written about Chester and by Chester residents. Some of the books were recommended by elders from Chester.

8. The hands of the clock make a straight line. "Straight" is slang for "everything is ok".

9. The small picture below the clock shows the dirty trash burning factories that pollute Chester's air.

10. The picture of the bass player is a reference to a famous painting by Chester artist Andrew Turner. He's one of my favorite painters!

11. Ruth Bennet was the first president of the Chester, PA chapter of the NAACP.

12. Artwork drawn by the son of a Widener Employee who passed away.

13. A local boy was 10 years old when drowned at the local creek almost 20 years ago.

14. Monika and James Rhodes were artists and community activists who taught children all over Chester about the importance of movement, wellness, and community.

15. Ethel Waters is Chester's most famous resident. Her name is known all over the world as a actress and pioneer of blues.

16. Byron was a friend and young Chester artist who died of complications with diabetes.

17. Jaleel Beats is Chester's most famous living hip hop artist. The object on the shelf is his 2019 Grammy for his production on Anderson .Paak’s “Bubblin". The other object is Chester native Brent Staples' Pulitzer Prize in for editorial writing at the New York Times.

18. The boat represents Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company (1917–1989). It was was a major shipbuilding company in Chester, Pennsylvania on the Delaware River. Many elders talked about having parents that worked there. It's nostalgic of better economic times. The street scene is Chester's growing "overtown" Black arts district.

19. Michael Gray was a community gardener and art curator who taught Chester children the importance of art and urban agriculture.

20. A football player and famous Chester resident who played on Widener's team.

21. see #10