Beautifying Kimberton Whole Foods - Wyomissing

Arts & Culture in the Community

Beautifying Kimberton Whole Foods-Wyomissing by Sara Collins

Michael L. Miller is a local artist who has painted numerous murals over the past twenty years. With the help and cooperation of local organizations he has completed over fifty different art projects to engage the community. Since collaboration is a big component of Miller’s work, he tends to be working on multiple projects at the same time. Miller values his community deeply and tries to incorporate whoever he can into his work.

Before becoming a part of the Albright College’s Science Research Institute (SRI) building, Miller was an art teacher.

As an art teacher, Miller went with a friend on a mural tour in Philadelphia which inspired him to make art within the community. The inspiration being trying to beautify locations inside of Berks County with public art. One of his newest projects is an untitled mural, which will be placed in the Kimberton Whole

Foods. Miller has been working on this mural with students who attend Northeast Middle school as well as college students from Albright College. The afterschool program at the SRI building gives these middle schoolers a chance to contribute on a project that helps the community. He also has people who are not current students help with murals at times such as tattoo artists, and other community members who also would like to have a more peaceful area. For this project there were outside volunteers helping along with the students from the after-school program located at the SRI building.

This mural will be at the front of the Kimberton Whole Foods store, greeting customers as soon as they come in. Through this project they can show how public art can make someone’s day and give it a whole new meaning. If you are within the Wyomissing area you will be seeing the hard work these students put into this mural every time you visit the Wyomissing location of Kimberton Whole Foods at 810 Knitting Mills Way.

What inspired you from the Philadelphia mural tour?

Miller: “I think it was the collaborative process that attracted me to Philly. The way some control of the project’s subject and style is given to the community is something I have tried to emulate in my approach.”

Have you always valued collaboration and community?

Miller: “I see the value of collaboration is something that is important in this type of work. My own style still seems to emerge.” What is the best part of working on a mural with various age groups?

Miller: “Each age has its own unique qualities, and often they have similarities which also fascinate me. I like the energy and wonder, especially with folks who have never painted a piece like this before.”

Who had the idea of putting this mural into Kimberton Whole Foods?

Miller: “The project came about when Kimberton approached me about coordinating the project.”

To view the various work Miller has done within his community visit https:// www.berkscommunitymurals.org/about. If you are more interested in attending events to help create the murals or to see the community coming together to make them, visit Millers Instagram (@berkscommunitymurals) and Facebook page (“Berks Community Murals”).