(June 30, 2016) Children who worked on the second panel of Berlin’s new community mural got a first glimpse at the finished product last Tuesday evening at Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services.
Also attending the event were Berlin Mayor Gee Williams, Economic Development Director Ivy Wells, District Court Judge Gerald Purnell, muralist John Donato, WYFCS Youth Program Coordinator Amanda Chaffee and Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee member Robin Tomaselli.
“We didn’t want to unveil the project to anybody else prior to the kids that worked on it seeing it first. That’s why we’re here tonight,” Tomaselli said.
“I can tell you that it’s been my personal pleasure, and I speak for everybody on our committee, to have partnered with Worcester Youth and Family. We know that this is a valuable service for our community, but until you actually are witnessing it firsthand … you have no idea how priceless it is,” she added.
Tomaselli spent several months working with the children at WYFCS, from early brainstorming sessions, to throwing on an apron and a grabbing a paintbrush.
“The most fun I’ve had is from spending time with you guys. Your creative energy, your ideas about what Berlin should look like in the future has just been incredible,” she said. “They’re the future of Berlin [and] Berlin’s future is incredibly bright. As a matter of fact, it’s brilliant.”
She said the committee had spent years trying to develop a public art program in Berlin, which she referred to as the “community mural project.”
The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore funded the second panel, and other area partners provided support, including the town and the Main Street program.
Tomaselli said she felt “blessed” to have been able to work with Donato, and called Chaffee, in particular, a “superhero.”
“Her superhero outfit would have a superhero, supersized top in a quadruple extra large so it could fit her huge heart,” she said. “The love that you have for these children and what they have for you should just be a lesson for all of us.”
Donato pointed out that the children did most of the painting. Moreover, he said the concepts and images were all things they came up with themselves.
“What you’re going to see is they really do have a voice – and it’s worth listening to,” he said. “They really focused on this.”
The panel will get a public unveiling during Berlin’s 2nd Friday art stroll next month, at the visitor’s center on Main Street.
For more information on WYFCS programs and offerings, visit www.gowoyo.org.
Also attending the event were Berlin Mayor Gee Williams, Economic Development Director Ivy Wells, District Court Judge Gerald Purnell, muralist John Donato, WYFCS Youth Program Coordinator Amanda Chaffee and Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee member Robin Tomaselli.
“We didn’t want to unveil the project to anybody else prior to the kids that worked on it seeing it first. That’s why we’re here tonight,” Tomaselli said.
“I can tell you that it’s been my personal pleasure, and I speak for everybody on our committee, to have partnered with Worcester Youth and Family. We know that this is a valuable service for our community, but until you actually are witnessing it firsthand … you have no idea how priceless it is,” she added.
Tomaselli spent several months working with the children at WYFCS, from early brainstorming sessions, to throwing on an apron and a grabbing a paintbrush.
“The most fun I’ve had is from spending time with you guys. Your creative energy, your ideas about what Berlin should look like in the future has just been incredible,” she said. “They’re the future of Berlin [and] Berlin’s future is incredibly bright. As a matter of fact, it’s brilliant.”
She said the committee had spent years trying to develop a public art program in Berlin, which she referred to as the “community mural project.”
The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore funded the second panel, and other area partners provided support, including the town and the Main Street program.
Tomaselli said she felt “blessed” to have been able to work with Donato, and called Chaffee, in particular, a “superhero.”
“Her superhero outfit would have a superhero, supersized top in a quadruple extra large so it could fit her huge heart,” she said. “The love that you have for these children and what they have for you should just be a lesson for all of us.”
Donato pointed out that the children did most of the painting. Moreover, he said the concepts and images were all things they came up with themselves.
“What you’re going to see is they really do have a voice – and it’s worth listening to,” he said. “They really focused on this.”
The panel will get a public unveiling during Berlin’s 2nd Friday art stroll next month, at the visitor’s center on Main Street.
For more information on WYFCS programs and offerings, visit www.gowoyo.org.