Nature’s Mosaic – Reflections of Millerstown

The colorful mosaic designs for the Grave Street tunnel in Millerstown, Pennsylvania are based on nature in the landscape representing the local topography along with the birds and animals that live there. The left side (Sky/Air) depicts an abstracted landscape with rolling hills focusing on a large sky that incorporates various-sized yellow circles that contain silhouettes of birds found in the area. The right side (Land/Water) depicts the sinuous line of the Juniata river in the landscape as it meanders to the Susquehanna river. The various-sized blue circles include silhouettes of animals and fish.

About the Artist
Karen Rich Beall was born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics from the University of Florida in 1986, Beall moved to New York City and worked as a studio assistant, wood restorer, and Circulation Director for Artforum Magazine while pursuing her own artwork. In 1992 Beall left New York to attend graduate school at the University of Tennessee, where she received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture in 1995. Beall then moved to Atlanta where she worked as the Public Art Assistant for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. She also worked for several years at the Fulton County Arts Council as the Public Art Coordinator. In 2002, Beall and husband Michael Pittari moved to Pennsylvania where Pittari accepted a full-time teaching position. Beall currently teaches Ceramics, Sculpture and Environmental Art as an adjunct instructor of art at Lebanon Valley College and lives in Mount Gretna with her husband, son, daughter, dog and two cats. She established krb ceramics in the summer of 2015. Her work can be seen at www.krbceramics.com.

Project Coordination & Support
This mural is a vital component of the Downtown Revitalization project in Perry County. Each borough, through their Main Street Committee, selected the type of public art they desired and collaborated with a chosen artist to bring their vision to life. By engaging with the community and the artist, these committees have ensured that the mural reflects the unique history and aspirations of their borough, contributing to the overall enhancement and revitalization of Perry County’s downtown areas.