(Aug. 10, 2017) The Berlin Historic District Commission enthusiastically endorsed three proposals of the Berlin Arts and Entertainment District last Wednesday: a new public art mural, bike racks, and shop signs affixed to flower boxes.
Brian Robertson, owner and operator of the Berlin Printery, designed the image for the mural. The commission was so pleased with it, it did not stipulate where it had go.
Members of the Arts and Entertainment Committee said several locations were being considered, including the north-facing walls of the Worcester Youth and Family and World of Toys buildings on Main Street, along with the Berlin Butcher Shop on William Street and Bruder Hill on Commerce Street.
Robertson, after the meeting, said a fifth location was also being considered.
Chairwoman Carol Rose called the image timeless and said it would go well with the 150th anniversary of the town next year. The black-and-white design resembles a vintage postcard and includes the phrase “Greetings from Berlin Maryland” and the original incorporation date, 1868.
“We are all in agreement – we love this design,” Rose said.
“My first thought when I heard [about] the mural was no, that’s not historic. And then I saw it,” Commission member Laura Sterns added. “I have to say, I like it.”
Along with being a calling card of sorts for the town, the mural could become a popular backdrop for photographs, Robertson said.
“This type of mural is going to present an opportunity for photos and engagement for visitors,” he said. “They’re going to get their photos taken in front of it [and] share it to social media.”
Committee Chairwoman Heather Layton said one of the primary drivers of the arts and entertainment district designation was promoting public art. Berlin was redesigned as an A&E district about a year and a half ago, she said.
“One of the stipulations [of the designation] is, they want to know what you’ve done to encourage public art, what you plan on doing and what has already been done,” Layton said. “When we fill out the application, we have to promise that we are encouraging artists to create, promote and sell work, in our area.”
The committee is working on the third panel of a planned five-panel mural that hangs on the north-facing wall of the Berlin Visitor’s Center on Main Street. The bike racks and flower boxes, Layton said, would also qualify as public art because of the designs and construction by local artisans.
The bike racks will be placed near the Berlin Butcher Shop and will be attached to benches that face the Burley Inn Tavern on Pitts Street. Layton said they would likely be in place during the next two weeks.
Separate motions to approve the mural and bike racks were unanimous.
The committee also discussed plans for the flower boxes, which were designed to replace the large number of sandwich-board signs on Main Street. No vote was held, but again the commission stated its approval.
Committee member Robin Tomaselli said one flower box placed near the Atlantic Hotel, as an example, could replace sandwich-board signs from Wooden Octopus, the Worcester County Arts Council and Jeffery Auxer Designs.
Tomaselli said the composite wood boxes were co-designed by a local carpenter, with assistance from Planning Director Dave Engelhart and Managing Director Jeff Fleetwood. Town Administrator Laura Allen was also consulted.
Each box would include several hanging “shingles” representing different businesses and directing visitors to businesses based off Main Street. There are more than a dozen large sandwich-board signs on the downtown sidewalks.
She said each shingle would be 12 inches long and three inches tall. Her shingle, advertising Baked Dessert Café on Bay Street, would be shaped like a rolling pin.
Tomaselli challenged other businesses to come up with similarly creative, representational signs.
She will produce a prototype at her own expense. If it is successful, Tomaselli said Berlin Main Street would pay for the construction of additional boxes.
Jan Poli would maintain the flowers and other plants in the boxes, which would be changed seasonally, and the town would assist in finding ADA-compliant locations for each box.
“Not everybody is going to be convinced to take their sandwich-board sign down, but for just the prototype, every single business that I’ve gone to would welcome [removing] their sandwich board sign because, like myself, [they] spend a lot of money maintaining that board,” Tomaselli said. “Between the weather and wind, it’s a huge expense … this would be way less expensive.”
Historic District Commission member Mary Moore heaped praise on all three proposals.
“Hats off to the committee,” she said. “This never would’ve gotten to where it was without … you all putting your heads together and coming up with these very creative, really outstanding ideas,” she said.
Brian Robertson, owner and operator of the Berlin Printery, designed the image for the mural. The commission was so pleased with it, it did not stipulate where it had go.
Members of the Arts and Entertainment Committee said several locations were being considered, including the north-facing walls of the Worcester Youth and Family and World of Toys buildings on Main Street, along with the Berlin Butcher Shop on William Street and Bruder Hill on Commerce Street.
Robertson, after the meeting, said a fifth location was also being considered.
Chairwoman Carol Rose called the image timeless and said it would go well with the 150th anniversary of the town next year. The black-and-white design resembles a vintage postcard and includes the phrase “Greetings from Berlin Maryland” and the original incorporation date, 1868.
“We are all in agreement – we love this design,” Rose said.
“My first thought when I heard [about] the mural was no, that’s not historic. And then I saw it,” Commission member Laura Sterns added. “I have to say, I like it.”
Along with being a calling card of sorts for the town, the mural could become a popular backdrop for photographs, Robertson said.
“This type of mural is going to present an opportunity for photos and engagement for visitors,” he said. “They’re going to get their photos taken in front of it [and] share it to social media.”
Committee Chairwoman Heather Layton said one of the primary drivers of the arts and entertainment district designation was promoting public art. Berlin was redesigned as an A&E district about a year and a half ago, she said.
“One of the stipulations [of the designation] is, they want to know what you’ve done to encourage public art, what you plan on doing and what has already been done,” Layton said. “When we fill out the application, we have to promise that we are encouraging artists to create, promote and sell work, in our area.”
The committee is working on the third panel of a planned five-panel mural that hangs on the north-facing wall of the Berlin Visitor’s Center on Main Street. The bike racks and flower boxes, Layton said, would also qualify as public art because of the designs and construction by local artisans.
The bike racks will be placed near the Berlin Butcher Shop and will be attached to benches that face the Burley Inn Tavern on Pitts Street. Layton said they would likely be in place during the next two weeks.
Separate motions to approve the mural and bike racks were unanimous.
The committee also discussed plans for the flower boxes, which were designed to replace the large number of sandwich-board signs on Main Street. No vote was held, but again the commission stated its approval.
Committee member Robin Tomaselli said one flower box placed near the Atlantic Hotel, as an example, could replace sandwich-board signs from Wooden Octopus, the Worcester County Arts Council and Jeffery Auxer Designs.
Tomaselli said the composite wood boxes were co-designed by a local carpenter, with assistance from Planning Director Dave Engelhart and Managing Director Jeff Fleetwood. Town Administrator Laura Allen was also consulted.
Each box would include several hanging “shingles” representing different businesses and directing visitors to businesses based off Main Street. There are more than a dozen large sandwich-board signs on the downtown sidewalks.
She said each shingle would be 12 inches long and three inches tall. Her shingle, advertising Baked Dessert Café on Bay Street, would be shaped like a rolling pin.
Tomaselli challenged other businesses to come up with similarly creative, representational signs.
She will produce a prototype at her own expense. If it is successful, Tomaselli said Berlin Main Street would pay for the construction of additional boxes.
Jan Poli would maintain the flowers and other plants in the boxes, which would be changed seasonally, and the town would assist in finding ADA-compliant locations for each box.
“Not everybody is going to be convinced to take their sandwich-board sign down, but for just the prototype, every single business that I’ve gone to would welcome [removing] their sandwich board sign because, like myself, [they] spend a lot of money maintaining that board,” Tomaselli said. “Between the weather and wind, it’s a huge expense … this would be way less expensive.”
Historic District Commission member Mary Moore heaped praise on all three proposals.
“Hats off to the committee,” she said. “This never would’ve gotten to where it was without … you all putting your heads together and coming up with these very creative, really outstanding ideas,” she said.