Frisco | October 2022

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT McKinney’s silo mural project completed, portrays community

BY SHELBIE HAMILTON

Van Helten said the mural was completed about a week late due to weather-related delays. Van Helten also said that, at the time of the event, a title for the piece had not been nalized, as he prefers to wait for a “reective moment” once the piece is nished to make that decision. The piece remains untitled as of this publication’s press time, according to McKinney Communications and Media Manager Denise Lessard. “Sometimes I don’t even give them titles because I feel like the place is an identier enough for that project,” Van Helten said. The mural is painted on the 100-foot-tall concrete silos and grain elevator on Louisiana Street across from SH 5 on the McKinney Mill building. Van Helten began the project earlier this year when he took more than 5,000 photos, interacted with residents in the historic neighborhoods

A project to cover McKinney’s 100- foot historic grain silos with a commu- nity-inspired mural is now complete. At a ribbon cutting event for the artwork on Aug. 31, McKinney Mayor George Fuller said the work will sup- port the “strong community identity” of McKinney. “In a world where places tend to start looking like each other, places with strong public art expressions give communities a stronger sense of identity and celebrate the qualities that make one place dierent from another,” Fuller said. Representatives of the project’s sponsors, Robert Shaw of Columbus Realty and Matt LoBello of HEB, also spoke. Mike Buchanan, owner of McK- inney Hat Co., gifted the Australian artist completing the project, Guido Van Helten, a custom hat as a “little piece of Texas,” Buchanan said.

The mural was completed at the beginning of September by artist Guido Van Helten and illustrates the community of McKinney. (Shelbie Hamilton/Community Impact)

surrounding the silos and visited local businesses, according to the city website. Van Helten said he used that time to immerse himself in the city and guide his vision for the mural. The silo mural is one element of the revitalization taking place east of SH 5. The project will serve as the backdrop for the city’s new Municipal Commu- nity Complex, which will break ground in October, according to Grimes.

VIRGINIA ST.

LOUISIANA ST.

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