Dedicated to 50 years of Excellence in Education at Penn State Berks
Our 50th Anniversary Mural: "Penn State Berks in Motion"
Designed by Beverly Leviner and selected by the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee chaired by Lisa Weidman, University Relations, our 50th Anniversary mural is installed at the Perkins Student Center.
The mural represents the physical and academic transformation of the campus from its early partnership with the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in 1927, to the first Berks campus in 1958, to today's modern facility. Featured icons in the mosaic tile include a tribute to the WPI, the Nittany Lion, residence halls, the Labyrinth, and academic disciplines including agriculture, science, and arts and literature.
Hundreds of hours were spent creating this mural, as each piece is formed from raw clay, rolled, cut, kiln fired, hand glazed, and fired a second time. Each piece is then laid out, numbered, and packed for transport.
Back on campus, a grid was created on the wall that the mural was to be mounted on. Each section of the grid corresponds with the scale drawing of the completed mural and the numbered sections of tile. The wall was then sprayed with water and mastic was applied. Piece by piece, number by number, the tiles were adhered to the wall. Starting from left and heading to the right, the main tiles of the design were first applied, followed by the small pieces of tile that fill the space between the images. Finally, grout was applied on the entire wall of tiles and gently wiped off, creating the beautiful mural in front of the Perkins Student Center.
Chancellor Susan Speece declared, "The mural is a wonderful collaboration between the artistic staff and our students. The history of the institution, starting with the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institution and ending up here on our beautiful campus is all revealed in this wonderful work of art. It truly is a celebration of our wonderful college."
Beverly Leviner, a part-time instructor at Penn State Berks, is also a Roster Artist for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Her mural projects can be seen at the Reiffton School in the Exeter School District, Governor Mifflin Intermediate School, the Remcon building on South Second Street, Wyomissing Hills Elementary Center, Exeter Public Library, and the Opportunity House in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Project assistants: Luis Beltran, Kelly Grady, Paul Engel and Deb Sullum; also Daniel Schlenker (Freyberger Gallery preparatory) and Jessica Didow (assistant to Marilyn Fox, arts coordinator).
Project funded by the 50th Anniversary Committee.