It’s International Nursing Day, and Florence Nightingale’s birthday today, and nurses, administrators, sponsors and the media gathered at Broad and Vine Streets for a press conference.

It’s all kinds of up and down on the lift. Rather than use scaffolding, the team at Broad and Vine gets maximum flexibility with the lift.

Work continues on two panels. Here are James, Meg and Martin in various stages of liftoff, some anlges near and far, and a view from the top.

This past Thursday was the annual Mural Arts Program gala. Most glamorous. The studio team had a blast.

Mural is making exterior progress. Pre-painted panels are now being installed on the center panel of the work. And on the left side, a rough sketch is in place to guide installation of the next batch. Lights are all installed.

In the studio, wild color and beats. Erica and Steve paint away.

Here is a video of the lights being lifted up.

Watch the slideshow, or click on it to get a full screen view of images.

Some heavy lifting on the mural site today. A massive crane was brought in, along with a lift, to install a series of 2000 pound LED lighting brackets. Each bracket holds three lights. Saligman says there is a logic in putting the lights before the paint. “We can test the paint in the light, and make sure things are placed properly.” She also explains that all this activity could damage a freshly painted surface, so best to get it done first.
Once the lights are hooked up, expect a miracle on Broad Street.

The wall at Broad and Vine is prepped and ready for paint. Final touches in the studio happening on panels before they’re installed.
A massive grid will help in accurate placement of the panels.

On Thursday April 8 2010, Meg Saligman hosted a party for the Mural Arts Program of Philadelphia at the studio. On display were images from the upcoming nursing mural at Broad and Vine Streets. Here are a few snapshots of the event, which was sponsored by Glenmede Trust.