Public Reception for Muralist Aug. 7 at Georgetown Art Center
Muralist Joe Magnano will be honored at a public reception on Friday, August 7, from 6-8 pm at the Georgetown Art Center. The public is invited, and the event is free of charge. The reception will mark the completion of Magnano’s mural, “Jumping Around,” on the alley side of the oldest building on the historic downtown Square, 711 S. Main Street. He began the mural in June working under a commission from the City’s Arts & Culture Board.
Magnano is a Waco-based fine artist who studied at the San Francisco Art Institute and the Artist Students League of New York City. The finished mural provides a piece of public art of interest to residents and visitors to the downtown. Magnano’s mural has a nature-and-wildlife theme with a bit of Texas mythology thrown in for fun, and is vibrant and playful. The mural features a Texas sunset, bluebonnets, bats, cacti, an armadillo, and three jackalopes that are perched on structures of the wall itself. To see photos of the wall and the developing mural, click here.
The Georgetown Art Center is at 816 South Main Street.
ModCat Design
Artist Begins Mural on Oldest Building on the Square
Joseph Magnano has his work cut out for him. He will spend much of July attending to the back of the oldest building on the historic downtown square, 711 S. Main Street. He began work in June beautifying this uninspiring 23 x 15 foot wall, and has already made strides on the stucco surface, working under a commission from the City’s Arts & Culture Board.
Magnano, pictured at right at the mural site, is a Waco-based fine artist who studied at the San Francisco Art Institute and the Artist Students League of New York City. The mural will provide a piece of public art of interest to residents and visitors to the downtown. Magnano’s mural will have a nature-and-wildlife theme with a bit of Texas mythology thrown in for fun, and will be vibrant with color, full of life, inspirational to all ages; fun and playful.
Magnano’s proposal said, This mural is designed to … bring back memory of the simple beauty and expressions that are provided by nature and its wildlife. Nature tells its own story when it looks at us. It’s important to recognize how nature observes us as settlers and how that is ingrained into culture, heritage, preservation; which is relevant to Georgetown’s acknowledged agrarian beginnings.
Eric Lashley, Georgetown Public Library Director and staff liaison to the Arts & Culture Board, said, I am very excited about this project. I hope it inspires other building owners to consider allowing the Arts and Culture Board to add additional murals to the downtown in the future.
Magnano working on the mural July 2, 2015
The mural, Jumping Around, on July 16, 2015. 711 S. Main Street before work on the mural began
The City of Georgetown Arts and Culture Board issued the call for artist proposals for a mural to be located on the rear wall of 711 S. Main Street earlier this year. Nine proposals were submitted, and at its May meeting, with design approval from the building’s owner, the board selected Magnano’s submission. The target date for completion of the mural is August 1.
“Robert Williamson” by Lucas Adams
“Robert Williamson” by Lucas Adams faces the Williamson Museum on Austin Avenue on the downtown Square and has been sponsored by the Williamson Museum.
Robert McAlpin Williamson (c. 1804-1859), better known as “Three-Legged Willie,” came to Texas from Georgia in 1826. He co-founded a newspaper and edited two others, practiced law, and was appointed a major in the Texas Rangers. Williamson fought in the Texian Army alongside San Houston, traveled early Texas as a circuit riding judge, served on the Texas Supreme Court, and was elected Senator for the new state of Texas. He believed that Texas Counties should be named for Texas heroes; our County is named for him. For more information about this fascinating figure and much more, visit the Williamson Museum at 716 S. Austin Ave. or click here to visit the website.
“Got It!” by Rod Garrett
“Got It!” by Rod Garrett is on the second floor of the Georgetown Public Library at 402 W. Eighth Street. Continue reading ““Got It!” by Rod Garrett”
“Horatio II” by Marla Ripperda
“Horatio II” by Marla Ripperda is located in Rivery Park. Continue reading ““Horatio II” by Marla Ripperda”
“Cloudy Day” by Kayla Moore
Kayla Moore’s image, “Cloudy Day” covers the utility box at Eighth Street and Austin Avenue on the downtown Square. Continue reading ““Cloudy Day” by Kayla Moore”
“Madonna and Child” by Charles Umlauf
“Madonna and Child” by Charles Umlauf is located outside the Lois Perkins Chapel on the campus of Southwestern University. Continue reading ““Madonna and Child” by Charles Umlauf”
“Waterin’ the Work Mules” by Bob Coffee
“Waterin’ the Work Mules” by Bob Coffee is on the northeast corner of Main and Seventh streets on the downtown Square. Continue reading ““Waterin’ the Work Mules” by Bob Coffee”
“Henry C. Matysek” by H. Clay Dahlberg
“Henry C. Matysek” by H. Clay Dahlberg is on the lawn of the Williamson County Courthouse in the center of the Square. Continue reading ““Henry C. Matysek” by H. Clay Dahlberg”
