By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

The month-long debate over how well a somewhat fanciful mural fits into the historic downtown image the town works to maintain ended last week when the Berlin Historic District Commission issued its approval.

At its meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, the commission voted 4-1 to allow local artist Evan Fitzgerald to depict a marsh scene on the side of the Poole Building at 10 South Main Street. The image includes a girl playing music surrounded by (mostly) native animals on the side of the Poole Building at 10 South Main Street. The sole dissenting vote was board member Mary Moore.

Fitzgerald said that the mural will likely be completed around late April, when warmer weather returns to ensure the paint dries properly.

The commission’s vote comes a month after the body initially heard the proposal from by Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director, on behalf of the municipality’s Arts and Entertainment Advisory Board.

At that Oct. 1 meeting, Wells said the mural, which will feature an  Eastern Shore marsh populated by a crab, a blue heron, a young woman in a headdress playing the guitar, and a fox/deer-like creature with antlers, strengthens the town’s commitment to artistry and local talent.

Much of the historic district commission, however, had trouble connecting with the piece, and argued that the heron was too big and overpowered the space, and that the fox/deer was too “weird.”

“What catches my eye is the blue heron, where everything is so real and alive, it’s almost like somebody just put it there,” Moore said last month. “Everything else is flowing…To me, with my art eye, with my background, what I see first is the blue heron. And he looks like something you buy at a garden center.”

Fitzgerald, who was watching the initial meeting from home, showed up in person to defend his artwork. Fitzgerald said he was depicting animals acting in a human-esque manner. He added that the large heron was a result of playing with scale to elicit an emotional response from the painting’s viewers.

The conversation became strained, and the commission opted to delay the vote until last week’s session. Wells told commission members she understands they are trying to prioritize Berlin’s historic appeal.

“I care deeply about Berlin’s historic district and I have great respect for everything that you do,” she said. “We wouldn’t be where we are today if we didn’t have a historic district and a historic district commission. I have the utmost respect for everything that you do and I appreciate the job that you do; it isn’t easy so thank you for doing this for our town.”

The commission members expressed their positions to Wells, Fitzgerald, building owner Mike Poole, along with a packed audience.

Norman Bunting, the commission chair, asked Fitzgerald if he had modified his design since the original request as he suggested he might be willing to do.

Fitzgerald replied that his design remained the same.

“I took the time and I started removing things, and honestly, I was just a little confused as to how much of what I put into it I would need to take out to make it not harmful to the town,” Fitzgerald said. “I wasn’t sure how much needed to be removed, so I needed clarification on what about the marsh scene and music being played, and local animals are offensive.”

Commission member Carol Rose jumped in, saying that she has never had a problem with the design, and that she was willing to approve the request at last month’s meeting.

“I personally didn’t think that you should be asked in any way, shape, fashion, or form to change your work,” Rose said.

Commission members John Holloway, Lisa Doyle, and Laura Stearns agreed, arguing that the building is not historic, art is subjective, and that the new mural would cover up the structure’s exterior, which is unappealing due to its cinder block appearance.

Moore voted against the proposal, saying that she would have preferred to see a painting that would offer some historical significance, aligning with the Town of Berlin’s old-school charm and architecture. Moore added that, although the building itself may not be historic, it is still situated in the historic district.

“I would have liked to have seen something in the mural that gave me a sense of history, whatever the artist felt, how he wanted to create something like that,” she said. “There are other ways to incorporate something that says, this is Berlin, Maryland, this is a historic town…My whole issue with it is that, as interesting as it is, it in no way gives me any historical significance, so for that reason, I feel negatively about thinking that this would be perfect on that wall…We are trying to keep the standards of Berlin pristine.”

Additionally, the commission members addressed what they claimed was hateful rhetoric directed toward the group on social media following the body’s concerns of the mural in October.

Stearns defended the committee’s role, arguing that the team needs to ask questions and review each request carefully to ensure the town’s historic aesthetic remains intact.

“I would just like to take a minute to explain why we’re here, mostly because of the negativity on social media towards this commission, which was very disheartening,” she said. “We’re supposed to keep Berlin charming. When I look at the photos of the Atlantic Hotel and walk out front, the town looks the same as it did in the 1890s. And that’s what’s making this town so successful…The more we add, the more we’re taking away from what we already have. That’s the way I feel, and that’s the way I’m here.”

Rose added that each request must be carefully examined to determine if an addition aligns with Berlin’s mission of preserving its Victorian beauty. She continued, arguing that she remembers in the 1960s and 1970s when Berlin was run down and the storefronts were empty.

“I cannot allow that to happen again,” she said.

Poole said that, as the owner of the building, he is in favor of the mural and believes it will add to Berlin’s value.

“This town means a lot to me,” he said. “We wouldn’t do something that’s against what the town wants. [Fitzgerald’s] painting is beautiful, and it’s different. There are going to be so many people who are going to want to stand in front of that and take a picture.”