Mural Arts Program Offers Walking/Riding Tours of Philadelphia's Giant Artworks

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Expanding its reach, Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program storefront at the Gallery shopping mall has launched its 2012 tour season.

If you stop by the Mural Arts Program's multi-use space on the second floor of the Gallery at Market East, you can check a giant wall board for the latest Mural Arts events going on.

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Nearby, there is exhibit and studio space where you can see artists like James Burns (top photo) and join him in a project by painting on a canvas that will later grace the side of a wall somewhere in the city.

"We have been able to engage a lot more people in the process, working on the cloth," he says. "Having a great public space like this, we had all the families who contributed images for the mural -- 50 or 60 people -- in.  And then we also had one of our court programs (that) brought a class in at the same time."

There are several mural tours planned.  You can buy a ticket, then walk, bike, take a trolley ride, or even eat and drink at establishments along excursion routes.

For more information, go to muralarts.org.