PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A nonprofit public health and social services organization in Kensington working to reduce the harms of drug use has unveiled a new mural in its outdoor space. The artist, who is in recovery himself, says he wants the mural to convey his pain and the struggles of addiction — as well as his hopes and dreams for the future.
“It’s my way of journaling. It’s my way of telling my story,” says Victor Sgro of his artistic passion.
His 8-foot by 20-foot mural, “Once Upon a Hope Dream,” is displayed on the artists’ wall at Prevention Point’s outdoor space, in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia.
“This is a place of love,” said Silvana Mazzella, Prevention Point’s interim lead executive officer, describing the space.
“We call it the ‘Love Lot,’ because we welcome our sunshines, we welcome people that we love in here, and we show them warmth and compassion. We give them sustenance. We give them linkage to resources and a place to hang out, be yourself — draw, paint, express yourself.”
Sgro’s work, incorporating symbolism reminiscent of “Alice in Wonderland,” depicts a blonde, barefoot girl in a blue dress spraypainting the word “HOPE” on a wall.
“I made the girl to represent women power,” says Srgo. The artist is in recovery and says his painting draws from his experiences with substance abuse and mental health.
“I was able to find a bright spot in the story, to represent it with bright colors here — which was hard, in the beginning, to find the idea because I couldn’t find happiness anywhere. and I had to resort to some inner happiness.”
He says the bright spots in the story represent the strong women in his life, including his late mother, his girlfriend and case workers who have helped him.
“And I have, like, 10 case workers in here — who went out of their way to help me.”
“Once Upon a Hope Dream” will be displayed for a year in the Love Lot for community members to enjoy.