Renee Sevenski
Contributing Writer

(Photo Provided)

In June of 2024 I was given a task to put together a few words to announce in a press release that The Ella Sharp Museum in Jackson, MI has accepted a sculpture created by Darryl Miller, a 1968 graduate of Charlotte High School. In beginning the process of putting such an article together and gathering information I reached out to Darryl Miller directly, thinking that I would receive the information straight from the sculptor himself. He spoke to me in a humble way as I carried on asking questions. I quickly found myself intrigued with the account of his journey toward becoming a sculptor. I scribbled many notes and ended the conversation saying that I would be in touch with final article for him to proof. I started writing and putting my notes together. This included me not having trust in myself to correctly spell a few names of places, people, an artist that he had mentioned. A few spell checks turned into hours of enjoyable reading and ended up sparking more questions for Darry Miller. I immediately identified that this would not be a simple story about a local museum receiving a local sculptor’s piece of art.

This is a story of Darryl Miller, one of Charlotte’s own, a local sculptor, who has traveled internationally, and would like to share his work etched in history.

I invite you to take a walk through the life of Darryl Miller with me.  Here is where his story begins.

Darryl Miller was born in our beautiful town of Charlotte in 1950 at the old mansion Hayes -Green -Beech Hospital. His mother said at the exact moment of his birth, a train sped by blowing its whistle. He was born into a working-class family. His father worked as a letter carrier to provide the necessities of life for his family.  His mother was a hard worker as well, at jobs including Murphys Dime Store and Wilcox Gay Company where they made radios and transcription recorders here in Charlotte. Darryl has a brother who is retired from GM, and a sister, a talented ballerina, who tragically died at the age of 22 leaving behind her husband and two young children. Darryl adds that he has taken inspiration from her as many of his works involve the dance.

Darryl attended Galewood Elementary where he was praised for his drawings by his classmates and teachers at a very young age. He mentions that he liked the feeling of that praise which spurred him on, and that art was the only thing he thought he could do well. He was an average student, very small and although he loved sports was terrible in playing them.

At the age of ten Darryl discovered the work of Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564), an Italian Renaissance artist and inventor known as one of the most highly productive painters and sculptors in history. Michelangelo once said, “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and that it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” Darryl was thunderstruck by Michelangelo’s abilities. He could identify with Michelangelo’s depictions of suffering and his power to portray it whether in fresco or marble.  Here was someone to learn from!

While attending Galewood Elementary, Darryl was nurtured by his 6th grade teacher, Louise Barbour who encouraged him to draw.  He remembers her covering the wall with eight foot by three foot paper and letting Darryl work on his drawing as others studied academics.  After spending an hour a day for a few weeks, he had completed his own masterpiece. At the Parents-teacher conferences Mrs. Barbour displayed Darryl’s work, “The Sistine Chapel.”  One of Darryl’s classmates stated that Mrs. Barbour was overheard telling another teacher as they were admiring the artwork, “Darryl will do great things.”  Years later when Louise Barbour heard that Darryl had received his master’s degree, she broke down and cried.

Darryl attended Charlotte High School, and once again in his senior year, 1968, was encouraged by his art teacher Leta Sullins. She allowed him to paint a copy of Michelangelo’s, “Creation of Adam” on the art room wall. Darryl holds fond memories of how Louise Barbour and Leta Sullins were great influences; both saw great potential in him. After Darryl discovered Michelangelo, he was determined to be an artist.  His other influences are the ancient Greeks, Renaissance sculptor Donatello, modern artist Giacomo Manzú, and the sculptor August Rodin.

After graduation Darryl received a call from a sign shop saying that they had found his sketchbook in a building at the Eaton County fairgrounds where he had been working designing the Charlotte homecoming football float. After seeing his drawings, the sign company was determined to hire Darryl as an apprentice sign painter. Darryl accepted their offer.  At the same time, he entered a new government program which required that Darryl must take a class at Lansing Community College. There he took his first class in sculpture. Upon taking this class he met a professor who saw his work and called him brilliant. He had never heard this before! From there, he created a sculpture called “Struggle,” inspired by the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago that same year he graduated from high school.

This is only the beginning of Darryl’s fascinating journey which will take us  across the country in many ways. It all started right here in Eaton County. Stay tuned for more!