MILLBROOK, June 14 — A sweeping new mural painted across the east façade of the Millbrook Arts Center officially debuted Saturday, drawing hundreds of residents to the Garfield Street building for a ribbon-cutting celebration that lasted well into the evening. The three-story work, titled Threads & Time, was created by local muralist Daria Voss over the course of eight months and depicts the looms, mill workers, and river landscapes that defined Millbrook's industrial past.
A Community Effort Years in the Making
The project was funded through a $47,000 grant from the Millbrook Community Arts Fund, supplemented by nearly $12,000 raised through a neighborhood crowdfunding campaign. Arts Center director Wendell Okafor said the mural represents more than pretty paint on a wall. "This is a love letter from the city to the people who built it," Okafor told the crowd gathered on the sidewalk. Voss, who grew up in the Eastside neighborhood and whose great-grandmother worked at the now-demolished Harlow Mills, called the experience deeply personal. Several retired mill workers and their families attended Saturday's unveiling, some visibly emotional as they recognized faces and tools incorporated into the imagery.
What's Next for the Arts Center
The unveiling kicks off a busy summer programming season at the Arts Center, which includes:
- A companion photography exhibition, Cotton & Concrete, opening July 5
- Free guided mural tours every Saturday morning in July and August
- A panel discussion with local historians on August 12
- A youth mural workshop series launching in late July
Admission to the Arts Center remains free on the first Sunday of every month. For the full summer schedule, visit the Arts Center's website or stop by the front desk at 440 Garfield Street.
