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Community Spotlight: Murals – A Statement Of Community

by The Berks Alliance

Dec 20, 2021

This Fall more than 150 people gathered on Cherry Street in Reading to celebrate the “unveiling” of the Hope Mural.  Commissioned by the Berks County Suicide Prevention Task Force as part of its ruOK Berks program, the mural is designed to underscore the support available for those struggling with depression and mental illness.  But the mural is much more.

The skyline of Reading is in the background of the mural, a statement about this community.  And in the foreground of this photo are many of the people who helped produce this important statement about our community.  Eighteen organizations and over 300 people engaged in some way in the production of this mural, led by local artists Mike Miller and Greg Didyoung.

Join us for our Community Spotlight on the Hidden Treasure of Public Art our Region. This spotlight will focus on a Mural Walking Tour in West Reading, along Dean’s Way, truly a hidden asset in our community.  But is more than just a display of these works of art.

Murals are public art, out in the open for all of us to see.  And yet many times they go unnoticed.  These murals tell stories.  They teach us lessons about our communities, and about our neighbors.  And they are available for each of us to see.  They speak of inclusiveness, of community and of engagement.  They celebrate events and organizations, and they help to create a sense of place and belonging.  This is truly the focus of this Spotlight. Murals are a public statement about the importance of community.  Learn more about how you can support or become involved in this important aspect of our region.

Some background on Dean’s Way:  Dean Rohrbach was the force behind the West Reading Elm Street initiative (the residential complement to the Main Street Program).  He understood the importance of public art.  “We like our public art to be serendipitously discovered as residents and visitors wander around West Reading.  Public art adds vitality and liveliness to our community, and best of all, it is free to our community.”  With some 30 murals along Cherry Street and others in adjacent streets, these murals help define the community that is West Reading.

 

When: Jan 27, 2022, 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tceihrzksE9Ia6K8YgkKj_Gkkj80SFfVx

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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