One of David Larson's most popular paintings, “A Special Kind of Place,” appears as a mural painted by artist Robert L. Williams on the side of the building at the South Reading Avenue entrance to Boyertown’s Town Center parking lot. This painting features a view of Boyertown’s spring landscape from a porch, originally one of a series of four paintings depicting the town during each season of the year.
After the previous mural on Rita's Water Ice (East Philadelphia Avenue) sustained damage from vandalism, Boyertown rallied to collect donations for its repair and replacement. Over time, a mural committee was formed and a contest was held for a local artist to design an image for the new mural. Philadelphia artist Chris B Murray submitted this design, his wife is a Boyertown alumna. With the winning design, Murray painted the mural himself - showcasing that Boyertown is a vibrant and welcoming community for all.
In 2006, artist Robert Williams and Boyertown Area High School (BASH) Students researched Boyertown's history to select a few glimpses of small town life over the decades. Some features of the mural include the Keystone Fire Company, a Carver Dairy wagon, and one of the oldest homes in the borough. Several other hidden references to our history can be found within the painting. The mural can be found on the side of the historic State Theatre on North Reading Avenue.
The Bear Fever Project began in 2003 with a vision from Jane and Paul Stahl to "promote community spirit and cohesiveness through participation in a unique public art project - the creation of life-sized fiberglass sculptures of our school district's mascot". The bears would be sponsored by assorted businesses, organizations or individuals, and decorated by artists, spreading all over the Boyertown area. Today, over 80 bears have made their homes in front of businesses, inside schools, and in private collections. Visit today to see how many you can find!
