Recently we spoke with Mulkey Michael, long-time board member and now consultant at Perry Wellness Center. With decades of experience as a photographer, art instructor, and printer, Mulkey often brings his creative eye to the PWC environment.

Drawing upon memories of his teaching experiences, Mulkey described the evolution of screen printing: “At Americus High School, I was lucky to have students who wanted to learn screen printing. Back then, the concept was rather new, but not it is a multi-billion-dollar business. Preparation of the screen itself was simple, but selecting an appropriate message to print on tee shirts and other items was sometimes difficult.”

Mulkey pointed out the importance of having both graphics and text that provided a punch to the creation. This is particularly important to keep in mind when doing marketing and advertising. Mulkey used an example of how a simple phrase, paired with a striking picture, can provide both an informational and emotional message.

Using the framed example below, Mulkey described the potential impact of the three words in the simple phrase: “Happiness grows here.” He pointed out that the word “happiness” is a positive concept understood by all who see it. “Grows” in an active description of how something that occurs in a happy environment brings growth. The last word, “here,” locates the process at a certain place and time; i.e., now, at Perry Wellness Center.

Mulkey thinks that this graphic could be placed throughout the PWC campus. After speaking with PWC founder and CEO Stuart Perry, he looks forward to purchasing some bright paint to screen print this message. It makes a good reminder for peers, staff, and visitors to seize the moment and find happiness and personal growth.