In the Community
It’s All About the Experience By Karen L. Chandler
B
rian Adams believes The Art Room is a missing piece of the puzzle in West Reading. Despite the borough being filled with food, drinks, and a multitude of businesses, his passion is to bring the joy of creativity to everyone who lives in, works in, or visits the area.
“I thought something like this would give people more of a quality of living,” Adams said. “You need a place where you can sit and express yourself.” After a decade spent in the high pressure and frequently superficial life of an executive shopper at Bloomingdales, Adams chose to make a drastic life change by engaging his creativity and making people feel better about themselves through art. The Governor Mifflin grad moved to West Reading about two years ago and opened The Art Room in February of 2021. Entering Adams’ shop means an explosion of color meets the eye, with projects created by Adams available for purchase, in 22
Avenues Spring 2022
addition to original paintings in the front “Wow” room by both Adams and Louise Candelaria, co-owner of Penn Avenue’s Finch + Fern. Special to the main work room space are paintings on display for inspiration and purchase by local artist Charles Fick, an indication of Adams’ New Year focus on working with and encouraging people with disabilities to create art. On the exterior wall adjacent to the shop, Adams has invited people who live or work in West Reading to paint murals, but he reserved about thirty more feet for his customers to “do their own thing.” Adams credits his passion for his craft to family tradition. “My mom was heavily into painting ceramics. It’s a sentimental thing,” he said. “It’s all about my family and tradition. It’s a way to make memories.”
