The evening of Nov. 7th, 2012 was a big occasion for one member of Plymouth State University’s alumni; Kaleb Hart, a member of the graduating class of 2011 debuted his first documentary piece “The Berlin Mural”. The film is a touching glimpse into the history of the small, quaint New Hampshire town Berlin, and documents the task beset by twelve Plymouth State University art students. Not only do we experience the adventure through time which chronicles the lush history of Berlin, but we also experience the adventure taken by the PSU art students, faculty, citizens of Berlin, and Kaleb Hart as he pursues the dream of making films.
The story of the film starts when Hart, in searching for internships was referred to the Center of World Partnerships as a videography/photographer. In the midst of dabbling with various projects, Hart was notified that The Northern Forest Heritage Park had a project of their own. The Northern Forest Heritage Park in Berlin was aiming to renovate the build research and development building left by the Brown Pulp & Paper Company when they closed their doors in 1980. The goal was more than just nostalgic, but a reminder of the prosperous and prominent town that once was a leader in the paper industry.
The empty buildings of the Brown Pulp & Paper Company stand in place today like skeletal chambers for voices from the past. In 1852, the idea for the company was beginning to hatch, and soon with the help of a railroad installment into the land, the company soon became a lucrative operation combining the skills of loggers, factory technicians, and smart minded businessmen. What truly set the Brown Pulp & Paper Company apart from their competition and launched them globally and a leading producer of paper, was the creation of a new department in the early 1900’s: Research and Development. The Research and Development department wanted to show the world that the company was more than interested in maintaining what at the time was a blossoming industry and also how they had their eyes on the future of the industry, of all industry.
In order to reinstall the rich history of the town, members of the Northern Heritage Forest Park met with twelve hand-picked Plymouth State University art students and from there the project was birthed. The idea was to document the history of the Brown Company and of Berlin life through the ages by adorning the windows on the west-wing of the Research and Development Building which had been unsightly boarded up, with twenty-four mural panels that the art students would craft. These murals depict a time that once was and effectively imprints the bustling life of past townsmen on the minds of the present and future generations. We trail through scenes intermingled with the working lives of those within the Brown Pulp & Paper Company and the family life as well.
In viewing the film at its premier, one couldn’t help but leave with the satisfying sense of progress and success, a feeling eagerly accepted with a refreshing quality. The film itself is made with such astonishing quality, one might think it was produced by a professional who had spent years within the industry, yet it was made by a recent graduate exploring the field of his choice.
What we have in “The Berlin Mural” is positive activity from all angles. The Northern Heritage Forest Park have successfully achieved their goal in illuminating the rich history that would be a shame if lost, the Plymouth State University art students have applied their passion and conceived a gift to a community they can bring with them where ever the world takes them. Kaleb Hart, too, is achieving the goal dreamt by so many individuals: pursuing their dream and doing what they’re passionate about for a living.
You can view all of “The Berlin Mural” now on YouTube for free at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NouEKzcNUE8