Watershed Wheat-paste An ephemeral artwork at Berks Nature

The goal of this project is to create ephemeral works of art along trails that follow Berks County waterways. The imagery is inspired by lifeforms found along the watershed, and was designed by local artists. The medium for this project began with screen printed posters adhered with wheat paste then evolved into a mixture of wheat paste and native clay pulled from the Schuylkill River. The design is modular and the images are arranged spontaneously; filling the space to reflect our complex web of nature.

Location

Berks Nature

(beneath the Route 10

underpass)

575 St. Bernardine St.

Reading, PA 19607

Project Completion

This ephemeral work of art was begun in 2022, and has continued to evolve in form.

Project Support

Project Coordinator:
Michael L. Miller

Participating Artists:

Claire Barone

Gregory Didyoung

Amijae Shells

Mia Guyton

Yenna Hill

Pam Roule

Anna Schweigart

Cary Shurtz

Special Thanks to:

Reading Public Works

Wheat Pasted Posters

2022, 2023

The first two versions of this project were created collaboratively with a series of screen printed posters. In time the damp environment led to the posters peeling off the wall and mold growing on the surface of the artwork.

About the Project

The trails along the Tulpehocken Creek and Schuylkill River have often been the target of vandalism on the nearby highway underpasses. Covering the vandalism with fresh coats of paint is the equivalent of handing someone a fresh sheet of paper, and asking for more of the same. As an experiment on a less tagged wall near Berks Nature’s trails, Reading’s Public Works Department gave permission to cover the vandalism with wheat pasted posters. Several local artists contributed art for the screen-printed posters, and the community was invited to help paste up the work. About a hundred people of all ages helped with the task…from Berks’ Nature’s preschool students to a gathering of educators learning about innovating our education system.

View multiple images of the project's creation above.

Kristi Morris, Photography

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