Penn State Berks presents 60th anniversary mural installation on Sept. 26

As part of its 60th anniversary celebration throughout 2018, Penn State Berks will present a special mural installation that highlights the college’s commitment to diversity, research and growth. The event will be held at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, outside the Franco Building. This event is free and open to the public and light refreshments, including a special brownie created for the 60th anniversary, will be served.

The mural installation was coordinated by Marilyn Fox, director of the college’s Freyberger Gallery, and created by local artist Mike Miller, who also teaches art in the Wyomissing School District. The program will include a welcome by Chancellor R. Keith Hillkirk and remarks by Fox and Miller. In addition, a first-year student will briefly discuss the opportunity to work on the mural alongside Miller. The event will conclude with a trivia game with prizes and refreshments.

Miller has been creating murals in the local community for nearly 15 years. In the past, he has worked with a variety of community organizations, including Pennsylvania Migrant Education, Olivet Boys & Girls Club and Opportunity House. As a teacher, he incorporates public art projects into his classes, exposing students to collaborative art and community engagement.

In addition to the mural installation, the Freyberger Gallery presented "Transitions," a special interactive exhibition in which visitors can take a step back in time and view key moments in the college’s history. The exhibition opened on Sept. 6, and will run through the end of the fall semester. In creating "Transitions," artist Robbie Pepper utilized photos taken over the last six decades to construct a series of life-sized displays, allowing visitors to the Freyberger Gallery to take a walk back in time.

Penn State Berks will continue its slate of monthly anniversary events throughout the year for students, faculty, staff and community members. A Haunted Tour and Fall Fest will be held on Oct. 19, and a series of events celebrating the international campus community are slated for November. The year will culminate with a 60th anniversary gala on Dec. 12, at the Berkshire Country Club.

For more information on the Penn State Berks 60th anniversary or any of the upcoming events, visit http://berks.psu.edu/60th-anniversary-events.