The Animal Rescue League of Berks County, a shelter that transforms the lives of animals, has recently received a transformation of its own.
In a span of just three days, Reading-based artist Nettie Price, has brought a new breath of life to the facility’s “Meet and Greet” room with a donation of the mural “A Good Home.”
The “Meet and Greet” room offers a place for adoptive families to interact with the pets off the leash to get a feel for their personalities and see if the animal would be a good forever fit. Price’s signature style utilizes a glittery look; the mural at the ARL is painted with acrylic paint for easy upkeep.
“It’s going to sparkle,” Price said. “It will be fun.”
Price began her relationship with the ARL back in November 2014 when she donated some of her art to the shelter’s Annual Gala. The animal paintings received such positive feedback that the ARL now lines their walls with Price’s artwork – all of which is for sale. From every sale Price makes from the art, she donates 20 percent directly to the Berks County shelter. She also offers a referral program for those who buy directly from her website, nettieprice-com.myshopify.com. To date, over $500 has been donated to the ARL.
In December 2014, she came with a trailer full of her artwork for the Open House.
Price also teamed up with the ARL for an idea for a mini book, “Friends and Their Hearts,” about what happens to animals after they die.
The local artist hopes to encourage “people to come in” and “make them feel good and happy.” The mural, which fills two of the previously white walls with a splash of color, does exactly that.
“It’s a great match for the people that come,” Marketing Director Beth Ireland told Berks-Mont Newspapers. “We are all animal lovers.”
The artwork has provided a refreshing feel to the animal shelter.
“We had her artwork in there and that even made a difference,” one ARL employee said, referring to the “Meet and Greet” room.
Price is known for her animal themed “sparkling art” and incorporated adoptable pets from the ARL, dog Zeus and cat Oliver, into the mural.
“I didn’t intend to paint Zeus,” Price said. “I just go out and see what happens.”
Price has been painting her whole life and has worked as a professional artist for the past two to three years. In college, she majored in Animal bioscience, but decided to go with the artistic track.
“Anything I can do to help,” she said about donating both her time and the mural. “I want people to take them (the animals) home and be responsible parents. It’s what it’s about.”
Price has also painted murals at St. Joseph Medical Center, The Children’s Home of Reading and for private residences.
For Price and the ARL, “it was the perfect fit.” Stop by the ARL to view the mural and visit with the animals who may be the perfect fit for you and your family.
Find more on the Animal Rescue League of Berks County at BerksARL.org.
