“Watershed” by Sarah Blankenship
“Watershed” by Sarah Blankenship, 2024
Artist Statement:
In Georgetown, creating a healthy watershed and quality outdoor spaces is our goal for the well-being of our residents, flora, and fauna. The story starts at the top of the mural with Lake Georgetown. A spot of beauty, recreation, and a source of our drinking water. Two water towers are shown in the mural, one style from the east side and one from the west. Note the subtle cloud at the very top, a nod to the water cycle. From the lake, you see the San Gabriel River go back and forth to connect the North Fork and South Fork and of course Blue Hole! Fish are a sign of a healthy watershed. Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, and Catfish are found in lake Georgetown. A large Crappie is featured in the lower right corner jumping out of the water. A fisherman is catching a Bass. In the background are other wildlife enjoying the water, turtles, egrets, and ducks. Residents can be seen at Blue Hole swimming and enjoying the outdoors too.
On the left is a farm with plants growing using soil solarization. This heats the soil until temperatures are lethal to diseases, weeds, and some insects. Pesticides can contaminate soil which can runoff into the water. Lady beetles (Coccinellidae} are one insect that is helpful in controlling insect pests such as aphids without using poisons, hence the oversized ladybug image. There is a small scene of a family planting with a compost bin and water barrel nearby. At the bottom left are cows and goats grazing. The animals’ hooves help to break, aerate and mix up the soil. They also help to get rid of infestations of invasive plants. Invasive plants can reproduce and spread rapidly, taking space, nutrients, water, and light from other plants. If uncontrolled, they can damage parks, streams, and infrastructure. The mural shows the cows and goats grazing on invasive species from Georgetown’s Preferred, Controlled, and Prohibited Plant List. The cows are munching on Pampas Grass and Kudzu. The goats are eating Poison Ivy and Cat’s Claw Vine.
Around the arch is beautiful flora from Georgetown’s preferred plant list, along with a Georgetown must, the Poppy! From left to right they are as follows: Woolly Butterfly Bush, Rose ‘Grandma’s Yellow’, Passiflora ‘Passion Flower’, and Papaver rhoeas “Red Poppy”. The plants go down to the ground on either side of the arch where mulch is painted. Mulch helps cut down on erosion, reduces runoff by absorbing water and keeping pollutants out of the waterways. The Wooly has attracted a butterfly, and the Rose has attracted a bee, both are aid in pollination.
“Welcome to Georgetown” by Sarah Blankenship
“Welcome to Georgetown” by Sarah Blankenship, 2023
Sarah J. Blankenship, a dedicated muralist, has been passionately contributing to Georgetown’s artistic landscape since 2018. Prior to her full-time muralist career, she worked in various roles, including the Arts & Culture Coordinator for the City of Georgetown, faux finisher and muralist at In Your Space Collaborative Arts, and Project Design Assistant at the Texas Historical Commission for 13 years.
Sarah’s commitment to Georgetown goes beyond her artistic endeavors. She has volunteered on Georgetown’s Historic and Architectural Review Commission (HARC) and Main Street Program. Alongside her husband, Anthony Blankenship, who volunteers on the GISD school board, they’ve been proud residents of Georgetown since 2003, raising two kids, Adrian and Cassidy, aged 15 & 13.
Her latest achievement is the completion of the ‘Welcome to Georgetown’ mural at the Visitor’s Center, fulfilling her goal of painting on every side of the square. Notable businesses around the square that bear her artistic touch include Tejas, Divine Treasures, Roots, Kilwins, Barrels & Amps, Omnia Outdoors, and the Visitor’s Center. Beyond the square, Blankenship has left her mark on numerous establishments, including the Palace Theatre, Razmataz Salon, Kork Wine Bar, 600 Degrees, Grace Heritage Church, and the Little Lemon in the library.
One of her most well-known Georgetown murals is the ‘Greetings from Georgetown Texas/Red Poppy Capital’ mural at Gus’s drug, a project that involved the collaborative efforts of 151 local residents. For a comprehensive list of mural locations, visit her website at Sarah J. Blankenship’s Mural Locations. Her website’s main page showcases a stunning visual portfolio of her work: Sarah J. Blankenship’s Portfolio.
Stop in the Georgetown Visitors Center at 103 W. Seventh Street to pick up a printed Directory of Public Art or check out Georgetown’s Online Public Art Tour.
Markus Lindsey Photography
Meet Markus Lindsey, a photographer with a passion for freezing moments in time.
Based in Georgetown, Texas, Markus started with old-school 35mm film, capturing the world in classic black and white. Those early days in the darkroom created a love for the craft that still shines through today.
As a wildlife and landscape photographer, my commitment is not just to freeze moments in time but to transport viewers into those moments, allowing them to experience the beauty, serenity, and vitality that define the natural world. Each photograph is an invitation to step into a different dimension, to connect with the profound stories that unfold in the silent language of nature.
