New book honors Berks County painter of the stars
In 1902 at the young age of 14, Milton J. Hill (1887-1972) of Virginville completed his very first barn decoration job in the vicinity of Perry Township, Berks County. Hill was a third generation barn painter, who went on to become the region’s preeminent barn star artist in the 20th century, producing unique and elaborate star murals that profoundly contributed to the evolution of this classic Pennsylvania Dutch folk art tradition. His influence can still be seen in the landscape of rural Berks County today.
On Dec. 15, the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University released the very first comprehensive study and celebration of the life and work of this venerated artist in the form of a lavishly illustrated hardcover book, “Painter of the Stars: The Life and Work of Milton J. Hill (1887-1972).” In order to produce this work, I am honored to have collaborated with Milton’s grandson, Lee S. Heffner of Hamburg, whose memories, family photographs, biographical ephemera and deep personal experiences with the artist himself provided the primary sources through which we interpreted Milton Hill’s unique artistic legacy. Together with over a decade’sworth of my fieldwork documenting the decorated barns and barn painters in the region, Lee and I are delighted to share our discoveries. We hope this book will be a welcome and cherished tribute in Milton Hill’s home community in the rolling hills of Berks County.
The decorated barns of southeastern Pennsylvania have captured the American imagination ever since their “discovery” in the early twentieth century — sparking generations of debate over the real meaning of these celestial, geometric depictions of the stars. As a native speaker of Pennsylvania Dutch, Milton had been quietly painting Schtanne (stars) on local barns throughout the rural communities of Northern Berks for decades before the term “hex sign” was introduced to popular American culture through tourist literature beginning in the 1920s. Milton’s early work provides a rare view into the life, beliefs and motivations of a barn star painter prior to the advent of tourism in the region.
In this new book, readers can follow Milton’s journey from the family farm to the national spotlight as a celebrated American folk artist, who introduced this colorful living tradition of barn star painting to the world through his important contributions at the Kutztown Folk Festival, the nation’s first and longest-running celebration of American folklife.
Milton’s career as a barn star painter roughly spanned the first three quarters of the twentieth century, a time of momentous change for his Pennsylvania Dutch community and for American society as a whole. Milton’s art embraced this era of transition, demonstrating the power of regional folk art to embody and sustain a cultural community. Rooted in tradition and with an openness to new forms of folk-cultural expression, Milton is not only credited with having created the most visually complex barn murals in the region, but he also was the very first to paint barn stars on commercial plywood panels, and introduce them to broader American audiences.
Complete with historical and contemporary views of decorated barns, early photographs and a visually stunning catalogue of works, “Painter of the Stars” is sure to captivate readers who are eager to explore the rich artistic traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch through the life and work of one of Berks County’s most colorful folk artists.
For more information or to reserve a copy of the book (price is $35), call the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at 610-6831589. Books may be picked up through Dec. 23. To order online, visit Masthof.com.