Eco Mural 4: Amphibian
Location: University City Housing, Philadelphia, PA
Artist: Designed, illustrated, and painted by Hagopian Arts
Semi-Aquatic Creatures on Every Continent
Amphibians are a class of cold-blooded, semi-aquatic creatures that are divided into three orders: Apoda (caecilians, or limbless serpentines), Anura (frogs and toads), and Urodela (salamanders). Amphibians are found on every continent except for Antarctica and feature some of the more bizarre and wonderful adaptations the animal kingdom has to offer. They come in a surprising range of sizes, the smallest measuring at just a third of an inch (A frog from New Guinea called Paedophryne Amanuensis) and the largest at nearly six feet long (The Chinese Giant Salamander, Andrias davidianus). This Eco Mural features a wood frog, one of the thousands of fascinating frog species found across the globe. Frogs and toads have unique life cycles, undergoing a dramatic metamorphosis: they are born in clusters of eggs that hatch into gilled, water-breathing larvae, called tadpoles. These tadpoles develop in shallow pools of water, eventually growing legs and shedding their tails. They lose their gills and become air-breathing in a matter of weeks, utilizing lungs and their skin as a secondary respiratory surface, with certain species relying only on their skin for breathing.
Frog Life Cycles
Most frogs are absentee parents, producing hundreds of eggs to increase the chance that a large percentage reaches adulthood. However, in 20% of amphibians, one or both parents have some involvement in rearing young, often protecting eggs as they develop or keeping larvae on or in their bodies. Adult frogs predate on a variety of species, including small fish and crustaceans, all manner of insects, algae, and certain underwater plants. Frogs, toads, and other amphibians in northern climates have a remarkable resilience to the cold: they are able to increase the glucose levels in their blood, producing a natural antifreeze. They then slow their circulatory system and hibernate under leaf litter or in burrows; this method allows them to survive temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit all winter long.
New England has a wealth of frog and toad species. Spring Peepers, (Pseudacris crucifer), have come to characterize the sounds and sights of New England springtime, as they are the first frogs to begin calling in a chorus of joyful chirping even before all the snow has melted. As spring approaches, vernal pools gather from snowmelt and precipitation, creating temporary habitats for the Spring Peepers and other amphibians of the Northeast to begin mating and producing offspring. As temperatures rise, New Englanders can see salamanders, toads, and frogs crossing roads and yards to make their way to these pools, gathering there and producing huge communal nests of eggs. As the eggs progress, thousands of tadpoles emerge, grow, and eventually mature into full-grown amphibians, returning the next year to the pool of their birth to continue the cycle.
Amphibians and the Environment
All amphibians are incredibly sensitive to perturbations in their environment, so they are classified as indicator species or creatures that scientists can observe as an accurate representation of the health of an environment. Amphibians are incredibly important links in the chain of ecological interdependence: when their populations suffer losses, entire ecosystems suffer with them. Frogs and toads are important predators, maintaining populations of fish and insects that use shallow-water habitats. Tadpoles manage overgrown algae in shallow water, preventing the depletion of oxygen that is caused by decomposing plant matter.
Amphibians are listed as one of the most endangered classes in the animal kingdom, with over 41% of their subspecies marked as endangered or extinct. Amphibians contribute to a huge portion of biomass in their terrestrial environments, so their decline is a massive blow to global biodiversity.
Human-Caused Degradation
Frogs and toads are threatened by most aspects of human activity: the combined forces of environmental degradation, pollution, climate change, and poaching have massively reduced their numbers since the 1980s. Many amphibians live in environments that are easily damaged or altered by climate change, as the shallow pools they breed in become marred by human interference or cease to exist due to rising atmospheric temperatures. Deforestation has decimated areas that have large populations of amphibians, most notably that of the Amazon Rainforest, which has the highest diversity of amphibian species in the world (427 of 4,000 recorded frog and toad species live exclusively in the Amazon!). Many frogs have become targets of poaching, including the brilliantly colored Poison Dart Frogs, who evolved their hues in order to warn away predators. Unfortunately, their coloring has produced the opposite effect, making them valuable collector’s items for “herpers,” (enthusiasts of herpetology and keeping amphibians) across the world. Although international trade is banned, the black market for these Dart Frogs is disturbingly large. Amphibians are not only precious because of their contributions to their food chains and the maintenance of their environments, but also for humans: some scientists refer to amphibians, specifically frogs, as “hopping pharmacies” due to the medicinal properties of compounds found on their skin.
A jewel peeps up from a pattern. Translucent skin as fragile as life; as delicate as balance. An amphibian tells us without words, “Heaven is anywhere one lets it stay”. N’then there’s us. Of concrete and metal, plastic and wires, ambitiously tinkering, rambunctiously conquering, thumping our chests in dominant delusion while all the while this little jewel is shining up to silently say, “We are one organism peeping through many eyes. What you do unto me you have done to yourself.” Kala paints a picture.
-Philip Hagopian
Understanding the complex relationships amphibians have with their environments can give us clues as to how to conserve the remaining populations across the world. There are currently several international organizations for the protection and maintenance of amphibian species, and they are linked below. The most important and urgent thing we can do for frogs, toads, and salamanders is to alter our daily behavior to prevent habitat loss and pollution, reducing our use of plastics and fossil fuels. Donating to organizations that produce colonies of endangered species and groups that aid in the creation of worldwide ecological heritage sites can make a huge difference.
About the Eco Mural and Wild Medicine Projects
The Eco Mural Project by Hagopian Arts is an ongoing series of public art installations designed to educate and inspire action on ecological and cultural issues. Each mural is a meticulously detailed, one-of-a-kind piece, blending vibrant artistry with rigorous research. These murals transport viewers into immersive natural environments, revitalizing urban spaces while addressing pressing concerns about environmental degradation.
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Within this initiative, the Wild Medicine Eco Mural Project focuses specifically on the cultural heritage of medicinal plants. Through detailed depictions and thoughtful programming, the series highlights the historical, cultural, and healing significance of plants, fostering a deeper connection between individuals and the natural world.
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The Eco Mural Project is rooted in the belief that reconnecting communities with nature can profoundly impact mental and physical health. These murals showcase the beauty of local flora and fauna, enlivening public spaces and encouraging residents to see their environment in a new light. This engagement inspires a sense of pride, belonging, and collective responsibility for the natural world. To enhance accessibility, each mural includes a scannable QR code linking viewers to a webpage that provides detailed information about the artwork, the plants featured, and their historical and cultural significance. These pages also honor Indigenous histories by sharing the uses, markers, and cultural associations of the depicted flora and fauna.
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Community-Driven Programming and Collaborations
Hagopian Arts amplifies the impact of its murals through live events, educational initiatives, and community partnerships that engage people across generations and cultures.
Hagopian Arts transforms urban landscapes through art that bridges the worlds of ecology, education, and cultural heritage. Each mural is a portal into the hidden wonders of the natural world. By blending intricate artistry with educational outreach, Hagopian Arts inspires communities to rediscover the beauty and importance of the environment they call home.
Honoring Indigenous Histories and Local Ecosystems
A standout project in the Wild Medicine Series is Eco Mural 21 at Bartram’s Garden, a series of freestanding mini murals showcasing medicinal plants historically used by the Lenni Lenape people. Designed with community input, the murals feature local flora, Lenape beadwork patterns, and depictions of children on the riverbank where passionflowers grow.
Hagopian Arts conducted extensive research into Bartram’s Garden’s historical catalog to honor the Lenape people’s contributions and highlight the cultural significance of the plants. At the unveiling event on September 15th, Melaney Gilchrist, a West Philadelphia herbalist, and mindfulness yoga practitioner Nakesha Moore of Breathe Moore led workshops for community families. These sessions explored the medicinal properties of the plants while fostering connections between art, history, and wellness practices.
Through its murals and programming, Hagopian Arts creates vibrant spaces for education, inspiration, and dialogue. The Eco Mural Project bridges art and environmental advocacy, encouraging communities to cherish their local ecosystems and honor the cultural and historical ties that bind them to the natural world.
Wild Medicine: A Multidimensional Creative Experience​
This live event combined public art, botanical installations, body-painted models, and performance art to merge the worlds of creativity and herbal wisdom. Hosted in collaboration with women artists, herbalists, and grassroots organizers, the event invited participants to explore the healing connections between art and nature.
Ancient Ancestral Connections
Eco Mural 18: Women’s Wild Medicine celebrates the ancestral bond between women and medicinal plants, featuring women from diverse cultural backgrounds alongside flora from their heritage. Installed at Penn OB/GYN, the mural also serves as a pilot for the Women’s Wild Medicine Initiative, a community-driven effort that highlights the healing power of native plants and their historical ties to women.
Wild Medicine Coloring Journal and Foraging Guide
In collaboration with educator and illustrator Katie Lillard, Hagopian Arts produced the Wild Medicine Journal and Coloring Illustration Booklet, inspired by the two murals created for Wild Medicine Eco Mural 15: Mugwort, Mullein, and Mallow. The booklet features twenty medicinal plants rendered in Hagopian Arts’ signature style, blending pattern, naturalism, and realism.
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Hagopian Arts distributed the journal and accompanying foraging guides to schools and community organizations to introduce youth aged 3-18 to ecological awareness in both traditional and nontraditional learning settings. These resources were also shared during a mural unveiling, empowering community members to safely connect with wild plants and explore their uses in daily life.​​
Highlighting Interconnectivity: Eco Mural 20
As part of the Wild Medicine Eco Mural Project, Hagopian Arts created Eco Mural 20: Artelo to celebrate the interdependent relationships between plants, pollinators, and human communities. This mural was a collaborative effort with Square Roots Collective and 14 other public artists contributing uniquely to the Artelo hotel project. While each artist brought a distinct vision to the hotel’s art-filled rooms, Hagopian Arts focused on the ecological and cultural themes central to the Wild Medicine Eco Mural Project.
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To expand its reach, Hagopian Arts hosted interactive workshops that engaged community members in the creative process: At Hyacinth Montessori School in West Philadelphia, children aged 6–12 participated in a painting workshop, learning about local flora and pollinators while contributing sections to the mural. This activity incorporated yoga and mindfulness practices led by Breathe Moore, blending creativity and well-being.
At John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, community members painted portions of the mural while learning about the featured species and their roles in local ecosystems.
In September 2024, Hagopian Arts partnered with the Kennett Trails Alliance and Artelo for a public mural painting event during the Hispanic Heritage Festival in Kennett Square. Using a paint-by-number system and hand-mixed colors, participants painted sections inspired by the flora, fauna, and geometric patterns of Eco Mural 20. The mural, once finalized by Hagopian Arts, will be installed in Kennett Square in 2025, further expanding its impact and reach.
Related Projects
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Partnership Links:
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Learn More & Get Involved:
Amphibian Survival Alliance​​
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources​
Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project​
Froglife​
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
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