The Berwick Mural Project

Community Garden
Mural Project

Hi Everyone!  The beautiful weather is back and we’re ready to start painting the town again.   Who’s interested in spreading some color with us?

The Celebrate Berwick Event is happening this Saturday, May 11th from 11-5.  There will be events all over town, including a scavenger hunt at Fuel Fitness, a Wine Festival (at The O’Donnell Winery), Mural Projects; and my brother giving out free hotdogs on Front St across from Turkey Hill!  Contact Amy Shortlidge at the Chamber of Commerce for a full listing of events and locations, or hop on a bus that will take you and your family to the next great activity. There will be information tents at each drop of point.

The Berwick Mural Project will be at the intersection of Front St and Orange St working in the parking lot of the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation.  We will be creating fence posts to be used in Berwick’s own Community Garden on Vine St.  Did you even know that Berwick has a community garden?

The Berwick Young Professionals will be sharing space with us in the parking lot and they will have food for sale, so pick up some lunch while your there.

Join us, bring the family, and put a stake in your community!

Thanks for taking the time to help us make Berwick and our surrounding communities a more colorful place to live!  And remember, an even easier way to help is by sharing this blog with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you spend time online.  Thanks again and happy painting!

Please contact Connie Donlin at 570-578-9412 if you or your group would like to get involved in any way.  The following are tentative dates that we’ll be ‘muralizing’ in and around Berwick this summer.  Your help and support are welcome and appreciated. Thanks!

 Tentative Summer Schedule:

May 11th Celebrate Bwk at CSCF

May 23-24 Coffee shop Farmers Market sinage

June 20-21 Coffee shop Farmers Market sinage with live music from members of SH

July 12 Trio Group from Bloom

Aug 15-16 Greys windows

Aug 22-23 Ymca Garden arrow

Sept 5-6 Theater Vince sin-age

Oct 10th Mural Tour/ Riverfest

Other Happenings:

June 1st Meet Monroe St Block Party (Sponslers Park)

June 29th Opener of Famers Market (behind the football field)

I must say, that was a success! All around, from the mural, to the tour, to the dedication, it all felt right! I appreciate all who came out to paint and celebrate with us!

The tour began with about 20 people.  Along the tour we chatted, laughed and dreamed, and admired the work our fellow community volunteers spent their time creating for all of us.  Vern was right, we did make it to the park a bit late, you told me so Vern.  Thank you everyone who walked with me and came out to here about our projects growth!

Once we arrived, I found my outside voice I belted out my words.  My emotions did catch up with me and I stumbled, but the smiling faces in the crowd were just what I needed.  In celebrating this large mural I feel confident in planning out our next year…..so many exciting things to come.

Let me take this chance to thank all who helped make this vision a reality.  Coles Hardware came out of the blue and donated all the paint and materials to complete this project…this was not the plan.  I had a hard time not hugging Leslie when she told me it was all donated!!!! Thank you Coles and Thank you Leslie and crew for coming to join us in painting!  I would also like to thank Jay Jerret of the Blueprints Community who was critical in logistics, thanks for your partnership.  The Neighborhood Christian Church on LaSalle St. is always helping their community and they have stepped up to the plate once agian.  They provided helpers for our community paint day and donated the scaffolding used for our second community paint day.  Thank you so much Terry and crew for coming out!  Brian Powlus, our artists and designer of this wonderfully colorful and fun mural.  Brian told me he wanted to make this wall an extension of the park and I think he has done that perfectly.  He has many different ideas sprawling across this wall, which makes a perfect back drop to Sponslers Park.  He also included some messages to the children of the community, “Rise Above the Influence” and the “Children are the Future”.  My favorite view is from the Monroe St side of the park looking back through the park.  Thank you Brian for the vision, the effort and a wonderful design!

Last but not least, all of you who came out to be part of this project.  This large wall would not have been completed if there was only 2 of us working on it.  Because of the turn out we had on both community paint days (80 or so on the first day and 30 people the second day) we completed it way sooner then I thought possible.  You all stepped up to the plate and made it happen.

Together we can accomplish so much more! Together is how we will make a difference in this crazy world!  Together we can inspire, rejuvenate one another, and take back our community.  Leave our mark on this place we call home, Together we can Do More, and make more of an impact!!!!!  Thanks for joining our vision!

As for the hand printing and signing of the names, we will wait until spring for that.  I usually kick off the season around earth day in April.  I will keep you posted as soon as I have a date for that. One more reason to get out of your house after a long winter.  I also have T-shirts if you helped paint.  Please get a hold of me so I can get you a shirt.  Connie Donlin 570-578-9412

Thank you all who made this possible and I look forward to painting the town with you over the next few years!!!!

Who doesn’t love before and after shots….This alley is a little brighter for sure!

Call me if your interested or just stop on over. I’ll be working the next few days on finishing up detailing on the Sponslers mural too prepare for next weeks Mural Tour and Dedication Oct 25th 5pm mural tour begins at A Perfect Blend. Please join me in painting, bring your own ladder if you have one. Call Connie Donlin 570-578-9412

We had a second community day of painting at Sponlsers park with Brian Powlus the artist and a great crew of dedicated people who spent 3 hours of their Sunday to give back to their community. We still have some to go on this mural but we are planning a Dedication Ceremony 25th of October. Anyone who helped paint will be able to add their hand print and name to the bottom of the mural. Keep your ears open for the latest happening with the Berwick Mural Project!  Anyone interest in helping plan the Dedication please contact Connie 570-578-9412.

Sept 16th Sunday 1-4pm we will be working on the Sponslers Park mural,on Monroe St in Berwick.  We are looking for adults and mature young adults for ladder and scaffolding work. Young Kids are welcome to watch, and cheer us on!  We will be working on finishing the top of the mural and detailing out some of the design.  If you have a steady hand or have art experience, your help on the detailing work would be appreciated, let me (Connie) know that you are interested in the detail work when you come down on Sunday.  I’ll be the one walking quickly back and forth around the mural, probably wearing my Studio D T-shirt.  Please call if you have any questions or to RSVP for you or your group.  Connie Donlin 570-578-9412 See you all there!!!!

Your Included!

Wow what a success!!! We had over 100 people come out to our event on Sat. Thanks for making it a blast! With a 10am start, about 20 people where on hand to start things off. throughout the day we had people straggling in, some spent most of the afternoon acting as part of the community. We should all be proud of the community spirit displayed that day. I will be posting our finish dates as soon as possible. We will be looking for more adults this time because of the ladders and scaffolding being used. I’ll be in touch. If you are interested in a phone call with the dates please get a hold of me and I can add you to the list. Connie Donlin 570-578-9412

Aug 25th Sat 10-4pm Join your community in a paint be number mural. Everyone is invited all ages, work together on making our town a more inspiring place to grow!!! Large groups please Rsvp by 24 Aug to Connie Donlin
570-578-9412 Rain Date Aug 26th 10-4 pm

A big thank you to everyone who came out this weekend to paint with us! We had a great turn out from some really talented people! The energy was fun and the creativity flowing.  Here’s a few photos from the day. If you missed out on this one, no worries, we will have our schedule out in a few weeks. More chances to create with your neighbors just around the corner. Sponslers Park is in the planning stages now.

 
…and here’s a short video from the event. Thanks for checking it out!

{Song by General Fuzz – ‘Acclimate’}

This Sat join your neighbors and family to help create a bit of inspiration in our town. Artist will be on hand to guide children as well as anyone interested in painting with us. Our theme is “Strong Families make Strong Communities”. We would like you and your family to come join us, in a new way to come together. The mural will be painted on the corner of 3rd and Lasalle St on May 5th Sat, 9-noon. Come and paint or just be part of the community spirit. Lasalle Streets Neighborhood Christian Center will also have and activity for the children and anyone can help us decorate the sidewalks with Chalk Art!! Family Support Alliance and Heart to Art are the other groups involved. They are working together to help bring awareness to the very serious issue of child abuse, talk with them and get some info on how you can be part of the awareness to help protect our children and our future! Looking forward to spending time with my community and I hope to see you there.

We are now we are gearing up for the new year of creating and making Berwick more beautiful!!! Stay informed as the schedule and ideas are being formed for our 3rd season of painting! As always we are looking for artists and community minded people to get involved! Make this your year to get out there and be part of your community!
Contact Connie 570-578-9412