Commercial murals in Georgetown include “Greetings from Georgetown Texas” by Sarah Blankenship at Gus’s Drugs and “Best Friends” by Jay Rivera and J Muzacz at Wag Heaven. Regardless of the number of murals, the program would be nothing with- out community engagement, accord- ing to Still. Still said the board and the city will host a ceremony for the “Traditions of the Future” mural, located at 215 W. Eighth St., at the Spring Art Stroll on April 21. The celebration will include a photo booth, face painting and dedi- cation fromMayor Josh Schroder. The rst phase of “Traditions of the Future” by Mila Sketch was done in 2018, who was then asked to come back in January 2022 to expand the piece. “I love creating public art in small towns as it’s a more personal con- nection to people. On the one hand, artists canmeet the communitymem- bers, and it’s mutually impactful,” said the Austin-based Sketch. “On the other hand, bringing cool art into small towns positively impacts tour- ism, and makes locals get out more, spend time outside, take memorable pictures and have more fun.” The next mural installation will be at the Heritage Community Garden at 2100 Hutto Road. The board issued a call for artists in February, and an artist will be selected in the coming weeks. Rich in history With Georgetown experiencing record growth, the board has made it a priority to focus on the city’s history and how it ties into its future. “Georgetown is a community with a rich history that surrounds us,” Preservation Georgetown board Chair Mickie Ross said. “The more people you can engage, the better, and we de nitely use our historic buildings
students in local art opportunities,” GISD Fine Arts Director Carol Watson said. The rst visual art implementation between GISD and the board came in 2019 when Georgetown High School art teacher Angela Morin submitted a proposal for “Everyone Deserves Kindness” by Georgetown High School student Peyton Vega located along the south exterior wall of Tejas Meat Supply. Under the renewed agreement between the city, the GAC board and GISD, there will be a newmural added to the wall at Tejas Meat Supply every year. GISD also participates in other citywide programs such as art exhib- its at the Georgetown Public Library and the Georgetown Arts Center. “There is a strong sense of con- nectivity between the city of George- town, the community of Georgetown and Georgetown ISD ne arts,” Wat- son said. “This agreement allows our students to have continued access to showcase their hard work.”
educational opportunities to African American children, according to Still and the Georgetown website. Norma Clark, a local artist and grad- uate of Southwestern University, then added a montage of abstract images adjacent to Smith’s portrait. “The collaboration of the two artists represents the integration of di erent artist styles to create something inno- vative while also preserving local his- tory,” Still said. Supporting GISD art initiatives Georgetown City Council approved an extension of an interlocal agree- ment Feb. 22 between the board and Georgetown ISD for an additional ve years, giving GISD students the opportunity to showcase their work in public venues under the board’s purview. The agreement states that the board, the city and GISD will work together to select student artists and designs suitable for the ongoing proj- ect. GISD is responsible for needed materials up to $500. The city will also hire an artist to oversee the install- ment for a cost not to exceed $500. “It is important to include our
and public art to better that engage- ment for residents and visitors alike.” “Preserving History” is a public mural that showcases Georgetown’s history in the modern era. Located at the African-American Shotgun House, which holds signi cant meaning to Georgetown educators and the Afri- can American community, the mural attracts community members and tourists from all backgrounds. The city purchased the Shotgun House—built between 1920 and 1930— in 1996 and opened it as a museum in 2002 following a 2001 restoration project and had repairs to the building completed in 2016. “Because the mural serves as the backdrop to the Shotgun House, the board worked with the Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial Association to identify a theme that celebrated the surrounding neighborhood and stakeholders,” Still said. “It gave us a really cool opportunity to engage and do some research.” Artist Devon Clarkson chose Mary Smith Bailey as the subject because of her dedication to the youth and her community. Bailey founded the rst preschool in the area to o er
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
APPROVAL Business owners can go through a lengthy process in order to get a mural installed.
“Best Friends” -Jay Rivera & J Muzacz
• Business owner consults with Georgetown arts coordinator about a potential project • Property owner will interview and request artist bids or put
• Artist submits mural design to arts and culture board for approval • Property owner will grant a wall easement to the city • Property owner will complete a funding agreement to privately fund the cost of the mural • GACB will review project/funding as needed before con rming nal approval
out a public call for submissions through the Georgetown Arts & Culture Board
• Installation begins
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GEORGETOWN EDITION • MARCH 2022
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